ISTQB Sample Exam Questions

Which of the following is the correct list of the triggers for maintenance testing? a. A component in production is modified, migrated, or retired. b. A fix has been received for a product that is in development c. A regression has been discovered in a set of fixes just received from the developer d. A new requirement has been received for the software that is currently under test that may result in an architectural change.

a. A component in production is modified, migrated, or retired. Maintenance testing is conducted for products that have been released to production that have been modified, migrated, or had some component retired. B is not correct because the product is still in development, not in production. C is not correct because the product is still in testing and has not yet been released. D is not correct because this is a product that is still in development that has not yet been released to production.

Which of the following is a correct statement? a. A developer makes a mistake which causes a defect that may be seen as a failure during dynamic testing b. A developer makes an error which results in a failure that may be seen as a fault when the software is executed c. A developer has a failure which results in a defect that may be seen as a mistake during dynamic testing d. A developer makes a mistake which causes a bug that may be seen as a defect when the software is executed

a. A developer makes a mistake which causes a defect that may be seen as a failure during dynamic testing. The developer makes a mistake/error which causes a defect/fault/bug which may cause a failure when the code is dynamically tested or executed. B is incorrect because fault and failure are reversed. C is incorrect because failure and mistake are reversed. D is incorrect because it's a failure that's seen during execution, not the defect itself. The failure is a symptom of the defect.

Which of the following is the lowest level of independence? a. Tests are designed by the person who wrote the code b. Tests are designed by a developer other than the one who wrote the code c. Tests are designed by an independent test team d. Tests are designed by an outsourced test team

a. Tests are designed by the person who wrote the code When the person who wrote the code is the person designing the tests, that is the lowest level of independence possible. The higher levels of independence come from separating the test design from the development of the code.

Which of the following is a good reason to use experience-based testing? a. You can find defects that might be missed by more formal techniques b. You can test for defects that only experienced users would encounter c. You can target the developer's efforts to the areas that users will be more likely to use d. It is supported by strong tools that can be automated

a. You can find defects that might be missed by more formal techniques Experienced-based testing is often used to fill in the gaps left by the more formal testing techniques. B is not correct because it is used by experienced testers and has nothing to do with the experience level of users. C is not correct because it is a test technique, not a development technique. D is not correct. There is not much tool support for these test techniques and automation is not usually a goal because the effectiveness depends on the experience of the tester.

How does a test condition relate to a test case? a. A test condition defines the test case b. A test case tests a test condition c. A test condition is the output from a test case d. A test case creates test conditions

b. A test case tests a test condition. A test condition is what a test case targets for testing.

Which of the following is a true statement about exhaustive testing? a. It is a form of stress testing b. It is not feasible except in the case of trivial software c. It is commonly done with test automation d. It is normally the responsibility of the developer during unit testing

b. It is not feasible except in the case of trivial software Exhaustive testing, all combinations of inputs and preconditions, is not feasible unless the software is trivially simple. Otherwise it would take too long and might not even be possible.

Usability testing is an example of which type of testing? a. Functional b. Non-functional c. Structural d. Change-related

b. Non-functional

In a V-model lifecycle, what should testers be doing when the design documents are available? a. Preparing unit test code b. Preparing functional and non-functional test cases c. Reviewing the high-level requirements documents d. Preparing system acceptance tests

b. Preparing functional and non-functional test cases. When design documents are finished, the tester should have enough information to be writing the functional and non-functional test cases. This can also be used as a way to review the design documents. A is not correct because unit tests are the developer's job. C is not correct because this should have been done before the requirement documents were signed off and design started. D is not correct because this could have been done from the requirements documents and should already be complete at this point.

Which testing technique would be most effective in determining and improving the maintainability of code (assuming developers fix what is found)? a. Peer reviews b. Static analysis c. Dynamic testing d. Unit testing

b. Static analysis Static analysis with tools will give the best results for improving maintainability and ensuring adherence to good coding practices. A, peer reviews, may help, but depending on the peer, it may just reinforce bad habits. C, dynamic testing, is unlikely to help because only failures will be observed, not the underlying code. D, unit testing, may help, but since it's usually done by the developer who wrote the code, it's unlikely to highlight maintenance issues.

Designing and prioritizing high level test cases occurs during which activity in the fundamental test process? a. Test planning b. Test analysis and design c. Test implementation and execution d. Evaluating exit criteria

b. Test analysis and design The design and prioritization of the high level test cases happens during test analysis and design. Prioritization of the test procedures happens during implementation and execution.

Which document specifies the inputs and outputs for a test? a. Test design specification b. Test case specification c. Test procedure specification d. Test plan

b. Test case specification The inputs and outputs are defined in the test case.

If test cases are derived from looking at the code, what type of test design technique is being used? a. Black-box b. White-box c. Specification-based d. Behavior-based

b. White-box A, C, and D are all black-box and use the specifications or requirements for the test design.

Which of the following is an example of debugging? a. A tester finds a defect and reports it b. A tester retests a fix from the developer and finds a regression c. A developer finds and fixes a defect d. A developer performs unit testing

c. A developer finds and fixes a defect Debugging is what the developer does to identify the cause of the defect, analyze it and fix it. D may involve debugging, if the developer finds a defect, but the act of unit testing is not the same as debugging.

Which of the following is a type of issue that is best found in static analysis? a. An inaccurate formula b. A memory leak c. A piece of dead code d. A problem with the code not matching the requirements

c. A piece of dead code Dead code should be detected by a static analysis tool and it can be quite hard to find any other way. A is not correct because inaccurate formulas is better found by a code review or dynamic testing. B, a memory leak, is better found in dynamic testing. D, a problem with the code not matching the requirements, may help, but since it's usually done by the developer who wrote the code, it's unlikely to highlight maintenance issues.

When should the testers start reviewing project documents? a. When they have been baselined and approved b. After the first revision c. As soon as the draft is available d. When the developers have started coding

c. As soon as the draft is available Exhaustive testing, all combinations of inputs and preconditions, is not feasible unless the software is trivially simple. Otherwise it would take too long and might not even be possible.

If you are using error guessing to target your testing, which type of testing are you doing? a. Specification-based b. Structure-based c. Experience-based d. Reference-based

c. Experience-based

When test cases are designed early in the lifecycle, verifying the test basis via the test design, what common test objective is being achieved? a. Gaining confidence b. Finding defects c. Preventing defects d. Providing information for decision making

c. Preventing defects

In a formal review, which role is normally responsible for documenting all the open issues? a. The moderator b. The author c. The scribe d. The manager

c. The scribe The scribe is normally responsible for documenting all issues, problems, and open points. The author may take notes as well, but that is not their primary role.

Which of the following is most correct regarding when non-functional tests may be executed? a. Unit and integration b. Integration and system c. System and acceptance d. All levels

d. All levels Non-functional testing should be conducted at all levels.

Which of the following is most correct regarding when functional tests may be executed? a. Unit and integration b. Integration and system c. System and acceptance d. All levels

d. All levels. Functional testing should be conducted at all levels.

If you are testing a module of code, how do you determine the level of decision coverage you have achieved? a. By taking the number of decisions you have tested and dividing that by the total number of executable statements in the module b. By taking the number of decisions you have tested and dividing that by the total number of decisions in the model c. By taking the number of decisions you have tested and dividing that by the total lines of code in the module d. By taking the number of decision outcomes you have tested and dividing that by the total number of decision outcomes in the module

d. By taking the number of decision outcomes you have tested and dividing that by the total number of decision outcomes in the module. Decision coverage looks at the number of decision outcomes, not just the decision statements.

When following the fundamental test process, when should the test control activity take place? a. During the planning activities b. During the implementation and execution activities c. During the monitoring activities d. During all the activities

d. During all the activities Control occurs throughout the project to ensure that it is staying on track based on the plan and to take any corrective steps that may be necessary. The monitoring information is used to determine if control actions are needed.