CTFL-V4-Foundation Exam Information and Guideline
ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
ISTQB has recently launched CTFL 2018 V3.1 with minor changes. You can find all the info needed in the download area.
The Foundation Level Syllabus forms the basis for the International Software Testing Qualification at the Foundation Level.
The International Software Testing Qualifications Board® (ISTQB®) provides it to the national examination bodies for them to accredit the training providers and to derive examination questions in their local language.
Training providers will produce courseware and determine appropriate teaching methods for accreditation, and the syllabus will help candidates in their preparation for the examination.
The Certified Tester Foundation Level in Software Testing
The Foundation Level qualification is aimed at anyone involved in software testing. This includes people in roles such as testers, test analysts, test engineers, test consultants, test managers, user acceptance testers and software developers.
This Foundation Level qualification is also appropriate for anyone who wants a basic understanding of software testing, such as project managers, quality managers, software development managers, business analysts, IT directors and management consultants. Holders of the Foundation Certificate will be able to go on to a higher level software testing qualification.
Fundamentals of Testing
Learning Objectives for Fundamentals of Testing:
- What is Testing?
- Identify typical objectives of testing
- Differentiate testing from debugging
- Why is Testing Necessary?
- Give examples of why testing is necessary
- Describe the relationship between testing and quality assurance and give examples of how testing contributes to higher quality
- Distinguish between error, defect, and failure
- Distinguish between the root cause of a defect and its effects
- Seven Testing Principles
- Explain the seven testing principles
- Test Process
- Explain the impact of context on the test process
- Describe the test activities and respective tasks within the test process
- Differentiate the work products that support the test process
- Explain the value of maintaining traceability between the test basis and test work products
- The Psychology of Testing
- Identify the psychological factors that influence the success of testing
- Explain the difference between the mindset required for test activities and the mindset required for development activities
Keywords
coverage, debugging, defect, error, failure, quality, quality assurance, root cause, test analysis, test basis,
test case, test completion, test condition, test control, test data, test design, test execution,
test implementation, test monitoring, test object, test objective, test oracle, test planning, test procedure,
test process, test suite, testing, testware, traceability, validation, verification
Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle
Learning Objectives for Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle
- Software Development Lifecycle Models
- Explain the relationships between software development activities and test activities in the software development lifecycle
- Identify reasons why software development lifecycle models must be adapted to the context of project and product characteristics
- Test Levels
- Compare the different test levels from the perspective of objectives, test basis, test objects, typical defects and failures, and approaches and responsibilities
- Test Types
- Compare functional, non-functional, and white-box testing
- Recognize that functional, non-functional, and white-box tests occur at any test level
- Compare the purposes of confirmation testing and regression testing
- Maintenance Testing
- Summarize triggers for maintenance testing
- Describe the role of impact analysis in maintenance testing
Keywords
acceptance testing, alpha testing, beta testing, change-related testing, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS),
component integration testing, component testing, confirmation testing, contractual acceptance testing,
functional testing, impact analysis, integration testing, maintenance testing, non-functional testing,
operational acceptance testing, regression testing, regulatory acceptance testing, sequential development
model, system integration testing, system testing, test basis, test case, test environment, test level, test
object, test objective, test type, user acceptance testing, white-box testing
Static Testing
Learning Objectives for Static Testing
- Static Testing Basics
- Recognize types of software work product that can be examined by the different static testing techniques
- Use examples to describe the value of static testing
- Explain the difference between static and dynamic techniques, considering objectives, types of defects to be identified, and the role of these techniques within the software lifecycle
- Review Process
- Summarize the activities of the work product review process
- Recognize the different roles and responsibilities in a formal review
- Explain the differences between different review types: informal review, walkthrough, technical review, and inspection
- Apply a review technique to a work product to find defects
- Explain the factors that contribute to a successful review
Keywords
ad hoc review, checklist-based review, dynamic testing, formal review, informal review, inspection,
perspective-based reading, review, role-based review, scenario-based review, static analysis, static
testing, technical review, walkthrough
Test Techniques
Learning Objectives for Test Techniques
- Categories of Test Techniques
- Explain the characteristics, commonalities, and differences between black-box test techniques, white-box test techniques, and experience-based test techniques
- Black-box Test Techniques
- Apply equivalence partitioning to derive test cases from given requirements
- Apply boundary value analysis to derive test cases from given requirements
- Apply decision table testing to derive test cases from given requirements
- Apply state transition testing to derive test cases from given requirements
- Explain how to derive test cases from a use case
- White-box Test Techniques
- Explain statement coverage
- Explain decision coverage
- Explain the value of statement and decision coverage
- Experience-based Test Techniques
- Explain error guessing
- Explain exploratory testing
- Explain checklist-based testing
Keywords
black-box test technique, boundary value analysis, checklist-based testing, coverage, decision coverage,
decision table testing, error guessing, equivalence partitioning, experience-based test technique,
exploratory testing, state transition testing, statement coverage, test technique, use case testing, whitebox test technique
Test Management
Learning Objectives for Test Management
- Test Organization
- Explain the benefits and drawbacks of independent testing
- Identify the tasks of a test manager and tester
- Test Planning and Estimation
- Summarize the purpose and content of a test plan
- Differentiate between various test strategies
- Give examples of potential entry and exit criteria
- Apply knowledge of prioritization, and technical and logical dependencies, to schedule test execution for a given set of test cases
- Identify factors that influence the effort related to testing
- Explain the difference between two estimation techniques: the metrics-based technique and the expert-based technique
- Test Monitoring and Control
- Recall metrics used for testing
- Summarize the purposes, contents, and audiences for test reports
- Configuration Management
- Summarize how configuration management supports testing
- Risks and Testing
- Define risk level by using likelihood and impact
- Distinguish between project and product risks
- Describe, by using examples, how product risk analysis may influence the thoroughness and scope of testing
- ement
- Write a defect report, covering a defect found during testing
Keywords
configuration management, defect management, defect report, entry criteria, exit criteria, product risk,
project risk, risk, risk level, risk-based testing, test approach, test control, test estimation, test manager,
test monitoring, test plan, test planning, test progress report, test strategy, test summary report, tester
Tool Support for Testing
Learning Objectives for Test Tools
- Test tool considerations
- Classify test tools according to their purpose and the test activities they support
- Identify benefits and risks of test automation
- Remember special considerations for test execution and test management tools
- Effective use of tools
- Identify the main principles for selecting a tool
- Recall the objectives for using pilot projects to introduce tools
- Identify the success factors for evaluation, implementation, deployment, and on-going support of test tools in an organization
Keywords
data-driven testing, keyword-driven testing, test automation, test execution tool, test management tool