CTFL-Foundation Exam Dumps - ISTQB Foundation Level Questions and Answers

The three decisions are in sequence and the conditions are all mutually exclusive (if any one is true the others must be false). Hence a test case that makes the first decision true will make the second and third decisions false and so on.

So test case 1 (say Time = 6) would exercise the path True, False, False, test case 2 (say Time = 15) would exercise the path False, True, False. Test case 3 would have to be Time = 12. This combination achieves 100 per cent decision coverage because each decision has been exercised through its true and its false outcomes.

Re-testing and regression testing are essential concepts in software testing, each serving a different purpose. According to the ISTQB CTFL Syllabus, version 4.0, the difference between these two types of testing is highlighted as follows:

Re-testing(also known as confirmation testing) involves executing the same tests again on the same version of the software after defects have been fixed. The primary goal is to confirm that the original defects have been successfully removed and that the software behaves as expected.

Regression testing, on the other hand, is performed to ensure that recent code changes have not adversely affected the existing functionalities of the software. This testing aims to detect any unexpected side effects introduced by the new changes.

The syllabus states: "Re-testing is running a test again; regression testing looks for unexpected side effects"​​. This explanation clarifies that while re-testing focuses on verifying specific defect fixes, regression testing ensures the overall stability and integrity of the software after changes.

Quality in software testing is best defined as conformance to requirements. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 states that quality is the degree to which a component, system, or process meets specified requirements and/or user/customer needs and expectations​​.

McCabe’s Cyclomatic Complexity is a metric used to measure the complexity of a program. It is calculated using the formula:

Cyclomatic Complexity=E−N+2P\text{Cyclomatic Complexity} = E - N + 2PCyclomatic Complexity=E−N+2P

where:

E = number of edges in the flow graph

N = number of nodes in the flow graph

P = number of connected components (usually 1 for a single program)

In the given program, there are 2 decision points (IF and THEN). The cyclomatic complexity is calculated as:

Cyclomatic Complexity=2−1+2=3\text{Cyclomatic Complexity} = 2 - 1 + 2 = 3Cyclomatic Complexity=2−1+2=3

Hence, the answer is B. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.3.2​​.

The concept of introducing a small change to the program and having the effects of that change show up in some test is known as "introducing mutations." This is part of mutation testing, where small changes (mutations) are made to the code to see if the existing test cases can detect the errors introduced by these changes. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of the test cases in identifying defects. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.3.4​​.

When a defect is detected and fixed, the software should be retested to confirm that the original defect has been successfully removed. This process is called confirmation testing (or re-testing). According to the ISTQB CTFL Syllabus, version 4.0, confirmation testing involves re-running a test to verify that a specific defect has been fixed. The main objective of this type of testing is to ensure that the initial defect no longer exists after the fix has been applied.

The syllabus states that confirmation testing is distinct from regression testing, which checks for unintended side effects of changes in the software. Confirmation testing specifically targets the areas where defects were found and fixed to ensure those defects are resolved​​.

The impossibility of complete testing has several important consequences. It means we can never be certain that the program is entirely bug-free (A). There is no definite stopping point for testing, which can make it easier for some managers to justify minimal testing (B). Additionally, there is no simple answer for which testing tasks should always be required, as each task takes time that could be allocated to other critical activities (C). Therefore, all these consequences (D) are valid and important considerations in software testing. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 2.2​​.

Debugging is the process that developers follow to find, analyze, and fix the root causes of defects in the software. This includes identifying the source of the problem, correcting the code, and then testing the changes to ensure the defect has been properly fixed and that the fix does not introduce new issues.

The other answers are incorrect because:

(ii) Walkthroughs do not require code and static analysis does require code.

(iv) Static techniques do not execute the code and therefore can be run before and after the code is ready for execution.

One of the seven key principles of software testing, as outlined in the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0, states that exhaustive testing is impossible except for trivial cases. This principle emphasizes that it is not feasible to test all possible input/output combinations due to the sheer number of permutations, and therefore, testing should be risk-based and prioritized to ensure the most critical aspects are tested effectively.