Fundamentals of Testing

Ch1
Fundamentals of testing
7 Questions
Ch 2
Testing throughout the
Software Life Cycle
6 Questions
Ch 3
Static Techniques
3 Questions
Ch 4
Test Design Techniques
12 Questions
Ch 5
Test Management
8 Questions
Ch 6
Tool Support for Testing
4 Questions

K1
• Remember (20 Questions)
K2
• Understand (12 Questions)
K3
• Apply (8 Questions with K4)
K4
• Analyze (8 Questions with K3)

Course Structures
 Videos of maximum length 15 minutes
 Questions after each section
 Mock Exam on Each Chapter
 Sample Exams
 Exam Tips

Important Notes
 Exam Price : 600 L.E “Application through
website”
 Location : ITIDA, Smart Village, Cairo
First Thursday of every month
 Facebook Post “How to pass in ISTQB Exam”

Chapter 1
Fundamentals of Testing
 1.1 Why is Testing Necessary ?
 1.2 What is Testing ?
 1.3 Seven Testing Principles
 1.4 Fundamental Test Process
 1.5 psychology of Testing

1.1.1 Software Systems Context
 Most people have had an experience with software
that didn’t work as expected.
 Software that doesn’t work correctly can lead to
many problems, including
 Loss of Money, time, or business reputation
 Could cause injury or death
1.1Why is testing necessary

1.1.2 Causes of Software Defects
 Defects may result in failures, but not all defects do so.
Error (mistake)
Defect (fault-
bug)
Failure

 Causes of Defects :
 Human beings are fallible
 Time pressure
 Complex code
 Complexity of infrastructure
 Changing technologies
 Many system interactions

 Failures can be caused by enviromental conditions like :
 Radiation
 Mangetism
 Electronic Fields
 Pollution

1.1.3 Role of Testing in Software Development,
Maintenance, and Operations
 Rigorous Testing can help to reduce the risk of problems occuring
during operation and contribute to the quality of the system, if
defects found are corrected before release.
 Testing may also be required to meet contractual or legal
requirements, or industry-specific standards.

1.1.4 Testing and Quality
 With the help of testing, we can measure the quality of software for
both functional and non-functional requirements.
 Testing gives confidence in the quality of the software if it finds few or
no defects.
 When testing finds defects, the quality of the software systems
increases when those defects are fixed.

1.1.4 Testing and Quality
 Lessons should be learned from previous projects. By understanding the
root cause of defects, processes can be improved, which prevents those
defects from reocurring and improves the quality of the system
 Testing should be integrated as one of quality assurance activities

1.1.5 How Much Testing is Enough
 It depends on :
 Level of risk including technical, safety, and business risks
 Project constraints such as time and budget
 Testing should provide sufficient information to stakeholders
to make decisions about the release of the software.

Sample Questions
 Deciding how much testing is enough should take into accout:-
 i. Level of risk including technical and business product and project risk
 ii. Project constraints such as time and budget
 iii. Size of testing team
 iv. Size of development team
a) i,ii,iii are true and iv is false
b) i,,iv are true and ii is false
c) i,ii are true and iii,iv are false
d) ii,iii,iv are true and i is false

Sample Questions
 According to the ISTQB Glossary, the word “bug” is synonymous with
which of the following:
a) Error
b) Incident
c) Defect
d) Mistake

Sample Questions
 A phone is ringing in an adjacent cubicle momentarily distracts a
programmer, causing him to improperly program the logic that checks the
upper boundary of an input variable. Later, during system testing, a tester
notices that this variable accepts input values. The improperly coded logic
for the upper boundary check is:
a) The error
b) The defect
c) The root cause
d) The failure

 A perception of testing is that it only consists of running tests
(Executing the software). This is part of testing but not all of the testing
activities.
1.2 What is Testing ?

 Testing activities exist before and after test execution. These activities
include:
 Planning and control
 Choosing test conditions
 Designing and executing test cases
 Checking results
 Evaluating exit criteria
 Reporting on the testing process and system under test
 Finalizing or completing closure activities after a test phase has been
completed
 Reviewing documents (including source code) and conducting static analysis

 Both dynamic testing and static testing can be used as a means for
achieving similar objectives, and will provide information that can be used
to improve both the system being tested and the development and
testing processes
 Testing can have the following objectives:
Finding defects
Gaining confidence about the level of quality
Providing information for decision-making
Preventing defects

 The thought process and activities involved in designing tests early in the
life cycle (verifying the test basis via test design) can help to prevent
defects from being introduced into code.
 Reviews of documents (e.g., requirements) and the identification and
resolution of issues also help to prevent defects appearing in the code.

 Different viewpoints in testing take different objectives into account
 In development testing (e.g., componenet, integration, and system
testing), the main objective may be to cause as many failures as possible
so the defects in the software are identified and can be fixed.
 In acceptance testing, the main objective may be to confirm that the
system works as expected, to gain confidence that it has met the
requirements.

 In some cases the main objective of testing may be to assess the quality
of the software (with no intention of fixing defects), to give information to
stakeholders of the risk of releasing the system at a given time.
 Maintenance testing includes testing that no new defects have been
introduced during development of the changes.
 During operational testing, the main objective may be to assess system
characteristics such as reliability or availability

 Debugging and Testing are different:
Dynamic testing can show failures that are caused by defects
Debugging is the development activity that finds, analyzes and removes the cause
of the failure.
Subsequent re-testing by a tester ensures that the fix does indeed resolve the
failure.
The responsibility for these activities is usually testers test and developers debug.

Sample Questions
 Software testing activities should start:
a) When the requirements have been formally documented
b) As soon as possible in the development life cycle
c) During the design stage
d) During the stakeholder meeting

Sample Questions
 Software testing activities should start:
a) When the requirements have benn formally documented
b) As soon as possible in the development life cycle
c) During the design stage
d) During the stakeholder meeting

Sample Questions
 A company recently purchased a commercial off the shelf application to
automate their bill paying process. They now plan to run an acceptance
test against the package prior to putting it into production. Which of the
following is their most likely reason for testing?
a) To train the users
b) To gather evidence for a lawsuit
c) To detect bugs in the application
d) To build confidence in the application

Sample Questions
 According to the ISTQB Glossary, a risk relates to which of the following?
a) Negtive consequence that could occur
b) Negative consequence that will occur
c) Negative consequence for the test object
d) Negative consequences that have occured

Sample Questions
 Debugging is:
a) Checking that no unintended consequence have occured as a
result of a fix
b) Testing/checking whether the software performs correctly
c) Identifying the cause of a defect, repairing the code and checking
the fix is correct
d) Checking that a previously reported defect has been corrected

Sample Questions
 When is testing complete ?
a) When there is enough information for sponsors to make an
informed decision about release
b) When time and budget are exhausted
c) When there are no remaining high priority defects outstanding
d) When every data combination has been exercised successfully

 A number of testing principles have been suggested over the past 40
years and offer general guidelines common for all testing
1.3 Seven Testing Principles

 Principle 1 – Testing shows presence of defects
Testing can show that defects are present, but cannot prove that there are no
defects. Testing reduces the probability of undiscovered defects remaining in the
software but, even if no defects are found, it is not a proof of correctness.

 Principle 2 – Exhaustive testing is impossible
Testing everything (all combinations of inputs and preconditions) is not feasible
except for trivial cases. Instead of exhaustive testing, risk analysis and priorities
should be used to focus testing efforts.

 Principle 3 – Early testing
To find defects early, testing activities shall be started as early as possible in the
software or system development life cycle, and shall be focused on defined
objectives.

 Principle 4 – Defect clustering
Testing effort shall be focused proportionally to the expected and later observed
defect density of modules. A small number of modules usually contains most of the
defects discovered during prerelease testing, or is responsible for most of the
opeartional failures.

 Principle 5 – Pesticide paradox
If the same tests are repeated over and over again, eventually the same set of test
cases will no longer find any new defects. To overcome this “pesticide paradox”,
test cases need to be regularly reviewed and revised, and new and different tests
need to be written to exercise different parts of the software or system to find
potentially more defects.

 Principle 6 – Testing is context depenent
Testing is done differently in different contexts. For example, safety-critical software
is tested differently from an e-commerce site.

 Principle 7 – Absence-of-error fallacy
Finding and fixing defects does not help if the system built is unusable and does
not fulfill the users’ needs and expectations.

Sample Questions
 A test team consistently finds between 90% and 95% of the defect present in the
system under test. While the test manager understands that this is a good defect
detection percentage for her test team and industry, senior management and
executives remain disappointed in the test group saying that the test team misses too
many bugs. Given that the users are generally happy with the system and that the
failures which have occured have generally been low impact, which of the following
testing principles is most likely to help the test manager explain to these managers
and executives why some defects are likely to be missed
a) Exhaustive testing is impossible
b) Pesticide paradox
c) Defect clustering
d) Absence of errors fallacy

Sample Questions
 A test team consistently finds between 90% and 95% of the defect present in the
system under test. While the test manager understands that this is a good defect
detection percentage for her test team and industry, senior management and
executives remain disappointed in the test group saying that the test team misses too
many bugs. Given that the users are generally happy with the system and that the
failures which have occured have generally been low impact, which of the following
testing principles is most likely to help the test manager explain to these managers
and executives why some defects are likely to be missed
a) Exaustive testing is impossible
c) Defect clustering

Sample Questions
 A programmer is working on code which is very complex. Which of the
following is a general testing principle that may affect his work ?
a) Defect clustering
c) Exhaustive testing is impossible

 The most visible part of testing is test execution. But to be
effective and efficient, test plans should also include time to
be spent on planning the tests, designing test cases,
preparing for execution and evaluating results.
1.4 Fundamental Test Process

 The fundamental test process consists of the following main
activities:
 Test planning and control
 Test analysis and design
 Test implementation and execution
 Evaluating exit criteria and reporting
 Test closure activities
 Although logically sequential, the activities in the process may overlap
or take place concurrently. Tailoring these main activities within the
context

 Test planning is the activity of defining the objectives of testing
and the specification of test activities in order to meet the
objectives and mission.
 Test control is the ongoing activity of comparing actual progress
against the plan, and reporting the status, including deviations
from the plan. It involves taking actions necessary to meet the
mission and objectives of the project. In order to control testing,
the testing activities should be monitored throughout the project.
 Test planning takes into account the feedback from monitoring
and control activities
1.4.1 Test Planning and Control

 Test analysis and design is the activity during which general
testing objectives are transformed into tangible test conditions
and test cases.
1.4.2 Test Analysis and Design

 Test analysis and design activity has the following major tasks:
Reviewing the test basis (such as requirements, software integrity
level (risk level), risk analysis reports, architecture, design, interface
specifications)
Evaluating testability of the test basis and test objects
Identifying and prioritizing test conditions based on analysis of test
items, the specification, behavior and structure of the software

 Test analysis and design activity has the following major tasks:
Designing and prioritizing high level test cases
Identifying necessary test data to support the test conditions and
test cases
Designing the test environment setup and identifying any required
infrastructure and tools
Creating bi-directional traceability between test basis and test cases

 The degree to which software complies or must comply with a set
of stakeholder-selected software and/or software-based system
characteristics (e.g., Software complexity, risk assessment, safety
level, security level, desired performance, reliability, or cost) which
are defined to reflect the importance of the software to its
stakeholders.
Software integrity level

 Test Implemetation and execution is the activity where test
procedures or scripts are specified by combining the test cases in
a particular order and including any other information needed for
test execution, the environment is set up and the tests are run.
1.4.3 Test Implementation and Execution

 Test Implemetation and execution has the following major tasks:
 Finalizing, implementing and prioritizing test cases (including the
identification of test data)
 Developing and prioritizing test procedures, creating test data and,
optionally, preparing test harnesses and writing automated test scripts
 Creating test suites from the test procedures for efficient test execution
 Verifying that the test environment has been set up correctly

 Verifying and updating bi-directional traceability between the test basis
and test cases
 Executing test procedures either manually or by using test execution
tools, according to the planned sequence
 Logging the outcome of test execution and recording the identities and
versions of the software under test, test tools and testware
 Comparing actual results with expected results

 Reporting descrepancies as incidents and analyzing them in order to establish
their cause (e.g., a defect in the code, in specified test data, in the test
document, or a mistake in the way the test was executed)
 Repeating test activities as a result of action taken for each discrepancy, for
example, re-execution of a test that previously failed in order to confirm a fix
(confirmation testing), execution of a corrected test and/or execution of tests in
order to ensure that defects have not been introduced in unchanged areas of
the software or that defect fixing did not uncover other defects (regression
testing)

 Evaluating exit criteria is the activity where test execution is
assessed against the defined objectives. This should be done for
each test level.
 Evaluating exit criteria has the following major tasks:
 Checking test logs against the exit criteria specified in test planning
 Assessing if more tests are needed if the exit criteria specified should be
changed
 Writing a test summary report for stakeholders
1.4.4 Evaluating Exit Criteria and Reporting

 Test closure activities collect data from completed test activities to
consolidate experience, testware, facts and numbers.
 Test closure activities occur at project milestones such as when a
software system is released, a test project is completed (or
cancelled), a milestone has been achieved, or a maintenance
release has been completed.
1.4.5 Test Closure Activities

 Test closure activities include the major following tasks:
 Checking which planned deliverables have been delivered
 Closing incident reports or raising change records for any that remain open
 Documenting the acceptance of the system

 Test closure activities include the major following tasks:
 Finalizing and archiving testwaree, the test environment and test
infrastructure for later reuse
 Handing over the testware to the maintenance organization
 Analyzing lessons learned to determine changes needed for future
releases and projects
 Using the information gathered to improve test maturity

Sample Questions
 The following statements relate to activites that are part of the fundamental test process.
(i) Evaluating the testability of requirements
(ii) Repeating testing activities after changes
(iii) Designing the test environments set up
(iv) Developing and prioritizing test cases
(v) Verifying the environment is set up correctly
Which statement is true
1-(i) and (iii) are part of analysis and design, (ii), (iv), and (v) are part of test implementation and execution
2-(i) and (ii) are part of analysis and design, (iii), (iv) , and (v) are part of test implementation and execution
3-(i) and (v) are part of analysis and design, (ii),(iii), and (iv) are part of test implementation and execution
4-(i) and (iv) are part of analysis and design, (ii), (iii), and (v) are part of test implemetation and execution

Sample Questions
 Which of the following is a fundamental test activity ?
a) Test Planning and Design
b) Test Implementation and Execution
c) Evaluating Entry Criteria and Reporting
d) Test Design and Implementation

Sample Questions
 Which of the following is not decided in the test planning phase ?
a) Types of Test Cases
b) Hardware and Software
c) Entry and Exit Criteria
d) Schedules and Deliverables

Sample Questions
 Evaluating Testability of the requirements and system are a part of which phase
?
a) Test Analysis and Design
b) Test Planning and Control
c) Test Implementation and Execution
d) Evaluating Exit Criteria and Reporting

 The mindset to be used while testing and reviewing is different from
that used while developing software. With the right mindset
developers are able to test their own code, but seperation of this
responsibility to a tester is typically done to help focus effort and
provide additional benefits, such as an independent view by trained
and professional testing resources. Independent testing may be carried
out at any level of testing.
1.5 The Psychology of Testing

 A certain degree of independence (avoiding the author bias) often
makes the tester more effective at finding defects and failures.
Independence is not, however, a replacement for familiarity, and
developers can efficiently find many defects in their own code.

 Several levels of independence can be defined as shown here from high to
low:
 Tests designed by the person(s) who wrote the software under test(Low level of
independence)
 Tests designed by another person(s) (e.g., from the development team)
 Tests designed by a person(s) from a different organizational group (e.g., an
independent test team) or test specialists (e.g., usabilitiy or performance test
specialists)
 Tests designed by a person(s) from a different organization or company (i.e.,
outsourcing or certification by an external body)

 People and projects are driven by objectives. People tend to allign
their plans with the objectives set by management and other
stakeholders, for example, to find defects or to confirm that software
meets its objectives. Therefore, it is important to clearly state the
objectives of testing.

 Identifying failures during testing may be perceived as criticism against
the product and against the author. As a result, testing is often seen as
a destructive activity, even though it is very constructive in the
management of product risks.
 Looking for failures in a system requires curiosity, professional
pessimism, a critical eye, attention to detail, good communication with
development peers, and experience on which to base error guessing.

 If errors, defects or failures are communicated in a constructive way,
bad feelings between the testers and the analysts, designers and
developers can be avoided. This applies to defects found during
reviews as well as in testing.
 The tester and test leader need good interpersonal skills to
communicate factual information about defects, progress and risks in a
constructive way.
 For the author of the software or document, defect information can
help them improve their skills. Defects found and fixed during testing
will save time and money later, and reduce risks.

 Communication problems may occur, particularly if testers are seen
only as messengers of unwanted news about defects. However, there
are several ways to improve communication and relationships between
testers and others:
 Start with collaboration rather than battles – remind everyone of the common goal of
better quality systems
 Communicate findings on the product in a neutral, fact-focused way without criticizing
the person who created it, write objective and factual incident reports and review
findings
 Try to understand how the other person feels and why they react as they do
 Confirm that the other person has understood what you have said and vice versa

Sample Questions
 Which list of levels of tester independence is in the correct order, starting with the most
independent first?
a) Tests designed by the author; tests designed by another member of the development
team; tests designed by someone from a different company
b) Tests designed by someone from a different department within the company; tests
designed by the author; tests designed by someone from a different company
c) Tests designed by someone from a different company; tests designed by someone from a
different department within the company; tests designed by another member of the
development team
d) Tests designed by someone from a different department within the company; tests
designed by someone from a different company; tests designed by the author

Sample Questions
 Which of the following are aids to good communication and which hinder
it ?
 (i) Try to understand how the other person feels
 (ii) Communicate personal feelings, concentrating upon individuals
 (iii) Confirm the other person has understood what you have said and vice versa
 (iv) Emphasize the common goal of better quality
 (v) Each discussion is a battle to be won
a) (i), (ii) and (iii) aid, (iv) and (v) hinder
b) (iii), (iv) and (v) aid, and (i) and (ii) hinder
c) (i), (iii), and (iv) aid, (ii) and (v) hinder
d) (ii), (iii) and (iv) aid, (i) and (v) hinder

 Involvement in software testing enables individuals to learn
confidential and privileged information. A code of ethics is necessary,
among other reasons to ensure that the information is not put to
inappropriate use.
1.6 Code of Ethics

 Recognizing the ACM and IEEE code of ethics for engineers, The ISTQB
states the following code of ethics:
 PUBLIC – Certified software testers shall act consistently with the public interest
 CLIENT AND EMPLOYER – Certified software testers shall act in a manner that is in the
best interests of their client and employer, consistent with the public interest
 PRODUCT – Certified software testers shall ensure that the deliverables they provide
(on the products and systems they test) meet the highest professional standards
possible
 JUDGMENT – Certified software testers shall maintain integrity and independence in
their professional judgment
1.6 Code of Ethics

 Recognizing the ACM and IEEE code of ethics for engineers, The ISTQB
states the following code of ethics:
 MANAGEMENT – Certified software test managers and leaders shall subscribe to and
promote an ethical approach to the management of software testing
 PROFESSION – Certified software testers shall advance the integrity and reputation of
the profession consistent with the public interest
 COLLEAGUES – Certified software testers shall be fair to and supportive of their
colleagues, and promote cooperation with software developers
 SELF – Certified software tester shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the
practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of
the profession
1.6 Code of Ethics

Sample Questions
 Test planning has which of the following major tasks?
 i. Determining the scope and risks, and identifying the objectives of testing
 ii. Determining the test approach (techniques, test items, coverage, identifying and
interfacing the teams involved in testing, testware)
 iii. Reviewing the Test Basis (such as requirements, architecture, design, interface)
 Determining the exit criteria
a) i,ii,iv are true and iii is false
b) i, iii,iv are true and ii is false
c) i, ii are true and iii,iv are false
d) ii, iii, iv are true and i is false
Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Testing

Sample Questions
 Test planning has which of the following major tasks?
i. Determining the scope and risks, and identifying the objectives of testing
ii. Determining the test approach (techniques, test items, coverage,
identifying and interfacing the teams involved in testing, testware)
iii. Reviewing the Test Basis (such as requirements, architecture, design,
interface)
Determining the exit criteria
a) i,ii,iv are true and iii is false
b) i, iii,iv are true and ii is false
c) i, ii are true and iii,iv are false
d) ii, iii, iv are true and i is false

Sample Questions
 Which of the following is part of test closure activities:
i. Checking which planned deliverables have been delivered
ii.Defect report analysis
iii.Finalizing and archiving testware
iv.Analyzing lessons
a) i, ii, iv are true and iii is false
b) i, ii , iii are true and iv is false
c) i, iii, iv are true and ii is false
d) All of the above are true

Sample Questions
 When what is visible to end-user is a deviation from the specific or expected
behavior, this is called:
a) An error
b) A fault
c) A failure
d) A defect
e) A mistake

Sample Questions
 What qualities must an individual possess to test effectively a software
application:
a) Good communication skills
b) Good Error Guessing
c) Good Analytical skills
d) All Of The Above

Sample Questions
 What is COTS:
a) Commercial on-the-shelf software
b) Commercial off-the-shelf software
c) Common Offshore testing software

Sample Questions
 During which fundamental test process activity do we determine if more tests
are needed:
a) Test implementation and execution
b) Evaluating test exit criteria
c) Test analysis and design
d) Test planning and control

Sample Questions
 Which of the following is a major task of test planning:
a) Determining the test approach
b) Preparing test specifications
c) Evaluating exit criteria and reporting
d) Measuring and analyzing results

Sample Questions
 Enough testing has been performed when:
a) Time runs out
b) The required level of confidence has been achieved
c) No more faults are found
d) The users won’t find any serious faults

Fundamentals of Testing

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