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

02 - 04 October 2023
16 - 18 October 2023
30 October - 01 November 2023
13 - 15 November 2023
13 - 15 November 2023
27 - 29 November 2023
11 - 13 December 2023
03 - 05 January 2024
15 - 17 January 2024
29 - 31 January 2024
12 - 14 February 2024
26 - 28 February 2024

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.

Senior Test Analyst, Retail

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