Who Should Attend?
- Test Analysts
- User Acceptance Testers
- Test Managers
- Quality Managers
- Project Managers
- Those getting started in Software Testing
Exam Details
A remotely proctored exam is available for £199. This allows you to take the exam from the comfort of your own home, using your own device. All you need is a webcam, microphone and stable internet connection.
Successful completion leads to the award of the ISTQB Foundation Certificate, an Internationally recognised qualification in software testing, from the ISTQB and the British Computer Society.
Objectives
- Be aware of techniques and standards for software testing
- Understand the basic steps of the testing process and understand where testing fits in to each stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC)
- Perform effective testing of software based on established methods and techniques
- Gain a detailed understanding of both functional and non-functional test levels
- Be able to develop a test plan and other documentation, based on International standards
- Have an awareness of testing tools and what they can achieve
Select a date
Course Content and Agenda
The course consists of six modules, spread over three days.
What is Testing
- Identify typical objectives of testing
- Differentiate testing from debugging
Why is Testing Necessary?
- Examples of why testing is necessary
- The relationship between testing and quality assurance explained, with examples of how testing contributes to higher quality
- Distinguishing between error, defect, and failure
- Distinguishing between the root cause of a defect and its effects
Seven Testing Principles
- The seven testing principles explained
Test Process
- The impact of context on the test process
- Test activities and respective tasks within the test process
- Differentiation of the work products that support the test process
- 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
Software Development Lifecycle Models
- The relationships between software development activities and test activities in the software development lifecycle
- Reasons why software development lifecycle models must be adapted to the context of project and product characteristics
Test Levels
- A comparison of the different test levels from the perspective of objectives, test basis, test objects, typical defects and failures, and approaches and responsibilities
Test Types
- A comparison of functional, non-functional, and white-box testing
- An explanation that functional, non-functional, and white-box tests occur at any test level
- A comparison of the purposes of confirmation testing and regression testing
Maintenance Testing
- A summary of the triggers for maintenance testing
- A description of the role of impact analysis in maintenance testing
Static Testing Basics
- The types of software work product that can be examined by the different static testing techniques
- Examples to describe the value of static testing
- An explanation of 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
- A summary the activities of the work product review process
- The different roles and responsibilities in a formal review
- The differences between different review types: informal review, walkthrough, technical review, and inspection
- Applying a review technique to a work product to find defects
- Factors that contribute to a successful review
Categories of Test Techniques
- 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
- How to derive test cases from a use case
White-box Test Techniques
- Statement coverage
- Decision coverage
- The value of statement and decision coverage
Experience-based Test Techniques
- Explain error guessing
- Explain exploratory testing
- Explain checklist-based testing
Test Organisation
- Explain the benefits and drawbacks of independent testing
- Identify the tasks of a test manager and tester
Test Planning and Estimation
- The purpose and content of a test plan
- Explanation of the various test strategies
- Examples of potential entry and exit criteria
- Applying knowledge of prioritisation, and technical and logical dependencies, to schedule test execution for a given set of test cases
- Factors that influence the effort related to testing
- The difference between two estimation techniques: the metrics-based technique and the expert-based technique
Test Monitoring and Control
- Recall metrics used for testing
- A summary of the purposes, contents, and audiences for test reports
Configuration Management
- A summary of 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
Defect Management
- Write a defect report, covering defects found during testing
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 organisation

I did the ISTQB Software Testing Foundation Course last year – achieving an 86% pass mark. This was in no small way attributable to the teaching received during the course – highly recommended.
