CTFL-Foundation Questions and Answers

Statement testing is a white-box test technique that involves creating test cases to execute specific statements in the code. The goal is to ensure that all statements in the program are executed at least once during testing. This technique requires knowledge of the internal structure of the code and focuses on verifying the flow of execution and logic within the program​​.

According to the decision table, Test Case 1 is valid because an employee who is not a car or motorcycle driver cannot claim expenses, as shown in Rule 1. Test Case 3 is valid because a motorcycle driver can claim expenses, as indicated in Rule 2, with expenses claim band A. However, Test Case 2 is invalid because, according to Rule 5, a car driver with a diesel engine greater than 1600cc cannot claim expenses. The expected result should be that the expense claim is not allowed, not band C​​.

Good testing practice involves early involvement of testers in the software development process. This helps identify defects early and provides better understanding and clarification of requirements. Involving testers in reviewing requirements or user stories as soon as drafts are available allows for early detection of defects, which is more cost-effective and efficient. This practice is beneficial regardless of the software lifecycle model used​​ .

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In the provided state table, an invalid transition is represented by an empty cell. According to the table, Event E from State S4 is an invalid transition as the cell for this combination is empty. This indicates that the transition from State S4 on Event E is not defined​​.

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Debugging is the process that involves locating the cause of a failure and fixing the defect. Therefore, activities b) "Locating the cause of failure" and c) "Fixing the defect" are debugging activities. Identifying a failure and checking that the fix has resolved the failure are parts of testing, not debugging​​.

An independent test function in an organization helps improve defect finding during reviews and testing by providing an unbiased perspective on the software. Independent testers are not influenced by the development team’s constraints and can evaluate the software more objectively. This leads to the identification of defects that might be overlooked by developers who are too close to their own code. Independent testing enhances the quality and reliability of the software by bringing fresh insights and ensuring thorough testing​​.

A keyword-driven testing approach is effective because it separates the test logic (actions) from the test data. This makes the scripts more reusable and easier to maintain. By organizing tests this way, any changes in the data or the actions can be made independently without affecting the other, enhancing the efficiency and manageability of automated tests​​.

Boundary value analysis involves testing at the boundaries between partitions. For the Frequency input, valid boundaries are 1 and 5, while invalid boundaries are 0 and 6. For the Duration input, valid boundaries are 1 and 60 minutes, while invalid boundaries are 0 and 61 minutes. Therefore, Option C includes the correct set of valid and invalid boundary values for both inputs​​.

Load testing is a type of non-functional testing used to verify that the system can handle a specified load of users performing transactions within acceptable performance parameters. In this case, load testing would ensure that up to 100 users can carry out transactions simultaneously with response times within 5 seconds. This testing helps identify performance bottlenecks and ensure that the system meets the performance requirements under expected user load conditions​​.

When a developer makes a mistake that introduces a fault in the code, and this fault is not detected during testing, it becomes a latent defect. The definite consequence is that if this defect is executed under specific conditions, it may cause the system to fail. The actual failure occurs only when the defect is triggered during the system's operation. This emphasizes the importance of thorough testing to catch such defects before the software is released​​.

Equivalence partitioning is a black-box test design technique that divides input data into partitions that are expected to be treated similarly by the system. In this case, 0600 falls into the peak-time tariff, 1000 is at the boundary of peak-time but still included in it, and 1200 falls into the off-peak tariff. This ensures that each input is from a different equivalence partition, testing different functional areas of the system​​.

The amount of testing effort is highly influenced by the predicted number of defects and the subsequent amount of rework required. If a high number of defects are expected, more effort will be needed to identify, document, and retest the defects after they are fixed. This impacts the overall testing workload significantly compared to other factors such as the ratio of developers to testers, which affects team dynamics but not the core testing effort​​.

The level of risk is determined by evaluating both the impact and the likelihood of an adverse event occurring. This approach ensures that both the severity of potential consequences and the probability of the event are considered. The impact assesses how serious the consequences would be if the event happened, while the likelihood evaluates how probable it is that the event will occur. This combination provides a comprehensive measure of risk, helping organizations prioritize their risk management efforts effectively​​.

Writing test summary reports is typically the responsibility of a test leader or manager, who consolidates testing activities and results to communicate with stakeholders. Testers are more involved in preparing and acquiring test data, setting up and checking the test environment, and reviewing tests developed by others. These tasks are more hands-on and technical, aligning with the role of a tester​​ .

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Providing support for the test team using the tool is crucial for successful deployment. This includes training the test team on how to effectively use the tool, offering ongoing support to address any issues, and integrating the tool into existing processes. By ensuring that the team is well-equipped and confident in using the tool, the organization can maximize the benefits of the tool and improve overall testing efficiency​​.

An incident report typically includes the version(s) of the software under test, expected results and actual results, and precise steps to reproduce the problem. However, the test execution schedule is not a standard part of an incident report. It is more relevant to test planning and management documents rather than incident reporting​​.

The testability of requirements is evaluated during the Test Analysis and Design stage of the fundamental test process. In this stage, the test team reviews the requirements to ensure they are clear, complete, and testable. The focus is on understanding the test basis and defining the test conditions, test cases, and test data necessary to verify the requirements​​.

A Test Procedure Specification is a document that outlines the precise steps required to execute a test. It includes detailed instructions on the setup, execution, and teardown of the test environment, as well as the specific actions to be performed and the expected results. This document ensures that tests are conducted consistently and repeatably​​.

Common metrics used for monitoring test preparation and execution typically include quantitative measures such as the number of test cases passed and failed, the percentage of planned test cases designed, and the percentage of tasks completed in test environment preparation. These metrics provide insights into the progress and effectiveness of the testing process. However, the number of test plan review comments is not a typical metric for this purpose, as it does not directly measure the progress or quality of test execution​​.

Static analysis tools are designed to analyze code without executing it. They are particularly good at finding defects related to code structure, such as variables that are not used or improperly declared. These tools can parse the code and identify issues that may not be easily detected through dynamic testing methods. Other issues like omission of a major requirement (A), inadequate decision coverage (B), and component memory leakage (C) are typically found through dynamic testing or higher-level verification techniques​​ .

Maintenance testing is typically triggered by changes to the operational system, such as data migration, system modification, or system retirement. These triggers require testing to ensure that the changes do not negatively impact the existing functionality. However, the introduction of a test management tool does not directly affect the operational system and is not considered a trigger for maintenance testing​​.

According to the decision table:

For TC1, since Paul is not a full member but is a Loyalty Card holder and requests 18 holes with a buggy/cart, the applicable action is £18 Green Fees plus £5 for buggy/cart, totaling £23.

For TC2, since Cheryl is not a full member, does not have a Loyalty Card, and requests 9 holes with a buggy/cart, the applicable action is £16 Green Fees with no buggy allowed​​.

During the test planning stage, it is important to assign resources for the planned activities. This ensures that the necessary personnel, equipment, and time are allocated to execute the test plan effectively. Analyzing the test basis, designing test environments, and writing a test execution schedule are activities that come after the initial planning and resource allocation​​.

Measurement of code coverage is important because it helps ensure that all code is exercised by tests. This does not guarantee that there are no coding errors or that all requirements are covered, but it helps identify untested parts of the code, allowing for better test coverage and more robust testing processes​​.

Decision coverage is a testing metric used to ensure that all possible paths (decisions) in the code have been executed at least once. It is not used to verify the correctness of module calls, which ismore related to integration testing or control flow testing. Options A, B, and D describe valid uses of decision coverage, ensuring that decisions are exercised in programs, business processes, and measuring the extent of coverage by a test suite​​ .

Equivalence Partitioning is a black box test design technique used to divide input data into partitions that are expected to be treated the same by the system. It focuses on ensuring that each partition represents a set of valid or invalid states for the input, and one test case from each partition is enough to cover the entire set. This technique does not rely on the internal structure of the code but rather on the functionality and behavior as seen from the user's perspective​​.

Structural testing, also known as white-box testing, focuses on the internal structure of the software. It includes testing all paths, achieving decision coverage, and ensuring that all branches within the component calls are tested. Ensuring that users can navigate to all fields on the screen, however, is a form of functional testing, which focuses on the behavior and usability of the application from the user's perspective, rather than its internal structure​​.

Test planning involves defining the overall approach to testing, including setting objectives, strategies, and resources. It ensures that the level of detail in test procedures is appropriate for the subsequent test execution phase. Effective test planning helps in aligning the testing activities with the project goals and ensures that the tests are executed as per the defined procedures.

One limitation of static analysis tools is that they tend to generate a large number of warning messages when applied to new code. This can occur even if the code meets established coding standards, as the tools are designed to identify a wide range of potential issues, leading to a high volume of output that needs to be reviewed and addressed.

Statement coverage is a white-box testing technique that involves executing all the statements in the code at least once. It is not considered a black-box technique because it requires knowledge of the internal structure of the code being tested. Black-box techniques, such as equivalence partitioning, state transition testing, and boundary value analysis, focus on testing the functionality of the software without considering its internal code structure.

Test planning should be a continuous activity throughout the software development lifecycle. This ensures that the test plans remain relevant and effective, adapting to any changes in the project scope, requirements, or timelines.

A data-driven approach to test automation design involves separating the test data inputs from the test scripts. This approach allows the same generic script to read different sets of test data and execute the same test steps with various inputs. This method enhances reusability and efficiency in automated testing by allowing testers to run multiple test scenarios using the same script but different data sets​​.

For a review process to be successful, several factors must be in place. According to the ISTQB syllabus, successful reviews generally have clearly defined objectives (a), involve the right people who understand the objectives of the review (c), and place an emphasis on learning and process improvement (d). These elements ensure that the review is focused, effective, and contributes to the overall improvement of the software development process​​.

To ensure that the statement 'Print 'Hold'' is exercised:

X=2, Y=4, Z=3 This test case will follow the path where X ≤ Y (False), Y > Z (True), leading to the 'Print 'Hold'' statement.

Testing support tools are typically used to automate activities that are resource-intensive when done manually, repetitive tasks, and repetitive inspections. However, they are not usually designed to automate activities that cannot be executed manually at all, as such activities may require complex and sophisticated human intervention or decision-making.

The configuration management process ensures that all items of testware are identified, version controlled, and tracked for changes. This process helps maintain traceability throughout the testprocess, ensuring that all test artifacts are managed systematically and changes are monitored effectively.

A test condition is defined as an item or event of a component or system that can be verified by one or more test cases. This means that a test condition is something that can be tested to determine if it meets the expected behavior. It forms the basis for creating test cases that will verify the condition's correctness​​.

Independence in software testing refers to the separation of testing activities from the development and production processes. This separation helps ensure objectivity and reduces the risk of bias in the testing results. Independent testers are more likely to identify defects that developers might overlook due to familiarity with the code. The ISTQB syllabus highlights the importance of independence in testing as a key factor in promoting effective and unbiased testing practices​​.

The selection of a software development model should be based on the specific characteristics of the product and project. Factors such as project size, complexity, requirements stability, and team expertise influence the choice of the most suitable development model. The ISTQB syllabus explains that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the decision should be tailored to the context and needs of the project​​.

To achieve 100% decision coverage, each decision point in the pseudo code must be tested for both true and false outcomes. In the provided pseudo code, the decision point is the if-else statement checking the gender. Therefore, we need two test cases: one where Gender is 'female' and one where Gender is not 'female' (e.g., 'male'). This ensures that both paths (true and false) are covered​​.

Equivalence partitioning divides input data into partitions where each partition is expected to be treated the same way by the system. The values $2,000 (no duty), $2,001 (taxed at 10%), and $10,000 (partially taxed at 12%) fall into three different equivalence classes based on the provided tax brackets, ensuring different behaviors for each class.

Integration testing focuses on the interactions between integrated components or systems. It aims to identify defects in the interfaces and interaction points between different parts of the system. According to the ISTQB syllabus, the test basis for integration testing typically includes software and system design documents, while the test objects are the interfaces and interactions between components. The goal is to ensure that the integrated parts function together as intended​​.

From the decision table:

Carol has a student railcard and a Flexible Standard Class ticket, which means she is eligible to upgrade.

James has a senior railcard and a Super Saver ticket, which means he cannot use the service as per the conditions specified in the table.

When considering the use of testing tools, it is essential to first perform an analysis of the current test process. This analysis helps identify areas where tool support can provide the most benefit. Introducing tools without this assessment might lead to inefficiencies or the selection of inappropriate tools. A thorough evaluation ensures that the tools will effectively support and enhance the existing test process.

The application failed due to a defect in the purchase identification module. This defect could have been caused by a programmer mistake or an error in the specification. The incorrect counting of purchase attempts indicates a flaw in the logic or implementation of the module responsible for identifying successful purchases.

Effective ways to improve communication and relationships between testers and other team members include communicating factual information in a constructive way (a) and trying to understand how the other person feels and why they react the way they do (b). These approaches foster a collaborative and empathetic environment, reducing friction and enhancing teamwork.

An effective incident report should provide a clear and detailed description of the issue, including the title, reproducibility, a detailed description of the failure, and any relevant references to specifications. This helps in accurately identifying, reproducing, and resolving the defect. In this case, including the specific reference to the PID and a screenshot helps provide all necessary information for resolving the issue.

Determining whether enough testing has been performed involves considering several factors. These include:

(i) The exit criteria, which define the conditions that must be met to conclude testing. (ii) The budget, which affects the extent of testing that can be conducted. (iv) The product's risk profile,which helps prioritize testing efforts on high-risk areas. (vi) Sufficient details of the system status to allow decisions, ensuring that stakeholders have the necessary information to make informed decisions about the software's readiness.

These factors together ensure a balanced and informed decision-making process regarding the sufficiency of testing​​.

The failure rate in testing already completed is a useful metric to monitor progress along with test preparation and execution. It provides insight into the effectiveness of the tests and the quality of the product, helping to identify areas that may require additional attention or resources.

Quality in software testing is best defined as conformance to requirements. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 states that quality is the degree to which a component, system, or process meets specified requirements and/or user/customer needs and expectations​​.

Structure-based testing, also known as white-box testing, uses information about the software’s internal structure to derive test cases. This method often involves measuring coverage, such as statement coverage or decision coverage, to ensure that different parts of the code are exercised by the tests. These techniques require a deep understanding of the software's construction and are used to validate the implementation rather than the functionality. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.3.1​​.

Failures in software can be caused by various reasons, including testing faults, software faults, design faults, environment faults, and documentation faults. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 discusses that these types of issues can all contribute to failures in software, highlighting the importance of thorough testing and review processes throughout the software development lifecycle​​.

Early test design can prevent fault multiplication, find faults, and cause changes to the requirements. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 explains that starting test design early in the lifecycle helps to identify defects sooner, which can prevent the propagation of defects into later stages and reduce the overall cost of fixing them. While it can influence the requirements, it does not necessarily take more effort, and faults found early are typically less expensive to fix than those found later​​.

Iterative development involves users in the testing throughout the development process. This approach allows for continuous feedback from users, ensuring that the evolving system meets user requirements and expectations. Unlike the traditional waterfall model, iterative development accommodates changes and improvements based on user feedback, making it suitable for dynamic environments like website development. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 2.1.3​​.

One of the most likely benefits of using static techniques is productivity improvements in the development process. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 states that static techniques, such as reviews and static analysis, help in identifying defects early, which reduces the time and effort required for rework, thus improving overall productivity in the development process​​.

Structure-based (white-box) test case design techniques involve deriving test cases systematically from the delivered code. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 describes that these techniques focus on the internal structure of the software, using knowledge of the code to create test cases that ensure comprehensive coverage of the code's pathways and logic​​.

The test basis for integration testing typically includes technical specifications. According to the ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0, integration testing focuses on the interactions between components or systems, and the technical specification provides the necessary details about these interactions and interfaces​​.

Retesting, also known as confirmation testing, involves executing a previously failed test case after the defect has been fixed. The objective is to ensure that the original defect has been successfully removed. This type of testing is critical in verifying that the defect fixes are effective and that the software now operates as expected under the same conditions that previously caused the failure.

The fundamental test process consists of the following broad chronological steps:

Planning and control

Analysis and design

Implementation and execution

Evaluating exit criteria and reporting

Test closure activities

Option B correctly places three of these steps in the correct order: Analysis and design, followed by Evaluating exit criteria and reporting, and finally Test closure activities. This order reflects the logical sequence of performing detailed test analysis and design before executing tests and then evaluating the results to determine if exit criteria have been met, followed by wrapping up the testing activities.

Test planning involves defining the overall approach to testing and assigning resources. According to the ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0, the activities that form part of test planning include determining the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing activities. Developing test cases, building the test environment, and writing test conditions are activities that belong to the later phases of the testing process, such as test design and implementation​​.

Test implementation and execution involve several major tasks, which include:

i. Developing and prioritizing test cases, creating test data, writing test procedures, and optionally preparing the test harnesses and writing automated test scripts. This is crucial for ensuring that all aspects of the software are thoroughly tested and that the tests are prepared systematically.

ii. Creating the test suite from the test cases for efficient test execution. This helps organize the test cases in a way that optimizes the testing process and ensures coverage.

iii. Verifying that the test environment has been set up correctly. Ensuring that the test environment is correctly configured is critical for valid test results.

iv. Determining the exit criteria is part of the test planning phase, not the implementation and execution phase.

According to the ISTQB CTFL Syllabus, version 4.0, these activities are critical for the successful implementation and execution of tests. Therefore, the statement "i, ii, iii are true and iv is false" accurately reflects the tasks involved in this phase​​.

Testing provides valuable information about the quality of the software by identifying defects and issues before the software is released. It helps stakeholders make informed decisions about the release and deployment of the software. While testing can identify defects and provide confidence in the quality of the software, it cannot guarantee the absence of defects or ensure that thesoftware quality will inherently increase. The primary goal of testing is to reveal problems and provide an indication of the software's current state of quality.

Non-functional requirements define how the system performs a certain function, rather than specific behaviors or functions of the system. Security, performance, usability, reliability, and maintainability are common examples of non-functional requirements. Ensuring the security of customer details is a non-functional requirement because it specifies a quality attribute that the system must have. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.1​​.

"Having to say NO" in the context of software testing typically means informing stakeholders that the software is not ready for production deployment. Testers have the responsibility to ensure that the software meets the required quality standards before it is released. Saying "no" to the release of software that does not meet these standards is crucial to prevent potential issues in the production environment. This decision is based on the identification of critical defects or incomplete functionality that could adversely affect the user experience or system performance​​.

A driver is a piece of code that calls a function or module to be tested and passes it the necessary test data. It is commonly used in bottom-up integration testing to simulate the higher-level modules thatinvoke the function being tested. Stubs, on the other hand, are used to simulate lower-level modules. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.3.1​​.

Re-testing and regression testing are essential concepts in software testing, each serving a different purpose. According to the ISTQB CTFL Syllabus, version 4.0, the difference between these two types of testing is highlighted as follows:

Re-testing(also known as confirmation testing) involves executing the same tests again on the same version of the software after defects have been fixed. The primary goal is to confirm that the original defects have been successfully removed and that the software behaves as expected.

Regression testing, on the other hand, is performed to ensure that recent code changes have not adversely affected the existing functionalities of the software. This testing aims to detect any unexpected side effects introduced by the new changes.

The syllabus states: "Re-testing is running a test again; regression testing looks for unexpected side effects"​​. This explanation clarifies that while re-testing focuses on verifying specific defect fixes, regression testing ensures the overall stability and integrity of the software after changes.

Regression testing serves to demonstrate that unchanged areas of the software have not been unintentionally affected by changes. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 states that while regression testing can be carried out at various stages of the lifecycle and is often automated, its primary purpose is to ensure that existing functionality remains unaffected after changes​​.

Regression testing is designed to verify that recent code changes have not adversely affected existing functionality. It is particularly well-suited for test automation because automated tests can be rerun quickly and consistently. While regression tests are essential in many testing phases, they are distinct from acceptance testing, which focuses on validating that the system meets business requirements.

The main purpose of the component build and integration strategy is to specify which components to combine when, and how many at once. This strategy helps manage the complexity of integrating different parts of the system by providing a structured approach to combining components incrementally. It ensures that integration is done systematically, reducing the risk of integration issues and making it easier to identify and resolve problems as they arise​​.

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100% statement coverage means that every statement in the code must be executed at least once. To achieve this, we need to ensure that the conditionIf A > Biggestis both true and false at least once during the test.

Test case D (10, 11, 0) will cover all the statements:

InitialBiggestset to 10.

WhenAis 10, the conditionA > Biggestis false.

WhenAis 11, the conditionA > Biggestis true, andBiggestis updated to 11.

WhenAis 0, the loop exits.

This covers all possible paths through the code, ensuring 100% statement coverage. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.3.1​​.

The main objective during development testing is to cause as many failures as possible to identify defects in the software. This proactive approach ensures that defects are discovered and addressed early in the development process, improving the overall quality and reliability of the final product​​.

Logging the outcome of test execution is part of the test execution phase, not directly related to the exit criteria. Major tasks of exit criteria include checking test logs against specified criteria, assessing if additional tests are needed, and writing test summary reports for stakeholders. The ISTQB CTFL Syllabus specifies these tasks as part of the exit criteria to ensure that testing meets the planned objectives and that sufficient testing has been conducted before concluding the testing phase​​.

Static analysis of a software model is most likely to be performed by developers. This involves examining the code and software structure without executing the program, using tools to identify potential issues, such as coding standards violations, security vulnerabilities, and other quality issues. Developers often use static analysis as part of their development process to ensure code quality and maintainability. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 3.1.1​​.

It is unlikely that developers will have a better understanding of the requirements than testers, partly because testers work closely with the user community (and may be drawn from it) and partly because developers seldom work with the complete set of requirements in a medium to large development.

Testers may raise incidents related to the difference between user expectations and the specification, but these are not unnecessary. Such issues are more likely to arise at the later stages of testing.

Early testing (unit testing) is usually done most effectively by developers with a good understanding of the code and the development environment; they can be more efficient andmore effective at this level. Later independent stages of testing offset any disadvantage from the lack of independence at unit testing level.

Testing should be stopped based on risk criteria defined for the system being tested. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 outlines that the decision to stop testing is influenced by risk levels, coverage achieved, time and budget constraints, and the criticality of the system under test. Stopping criteria should ensure that the risk of remaining defects is acceptable for the project stakeholders​​.