CTFL_Syll2018 Exam Dumps - iSQI CTFL2018 Questions and Answers

The testing effort required to test a software product depends on various factors, such as the size and complexity of the product, the quality of the requirements and design documents, the testability of the product, the test strategy and scope, the test environment and tools, the skills and experience of the testers, and the quality expectations and standards of the stakeholders1. Among these factors, the requirements for reliability and security in the product will most affect the testing effort required to test a software product1. Reliability and security are quality attributes that measure how well a software product performs its intended functions under specified conditions and protects itself from unauthorized access or harm1. Testing for reliability and security requires more rigorous and thorough testing techniques, such as reliability testing, security testing, penetration testing, stress testing, etc1. These techniques may require more time, resources, tools, and skills to perform effectively1. Therefore, the requirements for reliability and security in the product will most affect the testing effort required to test a software product.

  The correct answer is C, as three additional test cases are needed to ensure full coverage of all valid input equivalence partitions. Equivalence partitioning is a black-box test technique that divides the input domain into partitions of equivalent data from which test cases can be derived1. In this case, the input domain is the combination of the number of consecutive hours studied and the average intensity of focus on the material during the study time. The partitions are the possible combinations of these two factors. There are four possible values for the number of hours studied (below 4 hours, 4 to 8 hours, 9 to 12 hours or above 12 hours) and three possible values for the intensity of focus (low, medium or high). Therefore, there are 12 possible partitions in total. The given test cases cover nine partitions, as shown in the table below:

The missing partitions are marked with a dash (-). To cover these partitions, three additional test cases are needed, such as:

• TC9: Hours = 4 to 8, Intensity = High
• TC10: Hours = 9 to 12, Intensity = Low
• TC11: Hours = 9 to 12, Intensity = High

References: 1, Section 4.2.3

Incorrect interface specifications are most likely to be found by a review during static testing. A review is a type of static testing technique that involves a manual examination of a work product by one or more individuals who follow a defined process. A review can be applied to any work product, such as requirements specifications, design specifications, code, test cases, test plans, user manuals, etc. A review can help find defects and improve the quality of any work product at any stage of the software development lifecycle. Incorrect interface specifications are defects that affect the definition and communication of the interfaces between components or systems. These defects can be detected by reviewing the interface specifications document and comparing it with the requirements and design specifications.

References: Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus, Section 3.2.1

• Defect 1: Missing test case for validation failure of ‘Password’ field being blank. According to checklist item C2, there must be one test case for each error path. The test basis document specifies that the ‘Password’ field must be mandatory, and that if it is blank, Error Number 13 should be displayed. However, none of the test cases cover this scenario. Therefore, a test case for this validation failure is missing and should be added.
• Defect 2: Incorrect field name in TC3. According to checklist item C3, each test case must use terminology consistent with the test basis document. The test basis document uses the term ‘User Name’ to refer to the field that identifies the user. However, TC3 uses the term ‘User Id’, which is inconsistent and confusing. Therefore, TC3 should be corrected to use the term ‘User Name’ instead of ‘User Id’.
• Defect 3: Incorrect error number in TC3. According to checklist item C3, each test case must use terminology consistent with the test basis document. The test basis document specifies that if the ‘User Name’ entered does not exist on the database, Error Number 12 should be displayed. However, TC3 states that Error Number 23 should be displayed, which is incorrect and does not match the test basis document. Therefore, TC3 should be corrected to use Error Number 12 instead of Error Number 23.

The pesticide paradox principle of testing states that if we do not regularly review and revise our tests, we’ll stop finding defects, because the same tests will no longer be effective at detecting new or different defects in the software12. The other options do not explain the pesticide paradox principle of testing. Option B is false, because repeatedly running a set of tests will not ensure that a system is defect free, but rather that it meets the same quality criteria as before12. Option C is related to the defect clustering principle of testing, which states that defects are often contained in a small number of modules12. Option D is a metaphor that compares testing to spraying pesticide, but it does not explain the paradoxical effect of using the same tests over and over again

Explanation of Correct Answer: Decision table testing is a test design technique that can be used for effectively testing system requirements consisting of logical conditions. Decision table testing is based on the idea that the system behavior can be represented by a table, where each column corresponds to a possible combination of inputs and each row corresponds to the expected outputs for that combination. Decision table testing helps to identify and cover all possible scenarios and outcomes for a given requirement12.

References: 1: Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus, Version 2018 v3.1.1, Section 4.3.2 2: A Study Guide to the ISTQB® Foundation Level 2018 Syllabus, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.2

Product risk analysis is an approach to testing that aims to reduce the level of product risks and inform stakeholders of their status, starting in the initial stages of a project1. It involves the identification of product risks and the use of risk levels to guide the test process1. Product risks are uncertain situations that can affect the quality or value of the software product2. One of the factors that can influence the testing approach is the test design technique to be applied3. Test design techniques are methods to derive and select test cases based on the test objectives, test conditions, and test basis2. Decision table testing is a test design technique that is suitable for testing complex business rules that have logical conditions and outcomes2. Therefore, if the product risk analysis identifies that the complex business rules could result in costly failures, then decision table testing will be used for test case design to cover all the possible combinations of conditions and outcomes2.

The other options are not examples of how product risk analysis can influence the testing approach, because they are either not related to product risks or not based on risk levels. They are:

• Performance failures were much lower than expected, so more test analysis will be conducted in this area (B). This is not related to product risk analysis, but to test monitoring and control, which is the process of comparing actual progress against the plan and reporting the status2. Test analysis is the activity of analyzing the test basis and defining test objectives2. If the performance failures were much lower than expected, then more test execution or evaluation might be needed, not more test analysis.
• There is a lack of automation skills in the test team, so training for the automation tool will be rolled out ©. This is not related to product risk analysis, but to test management, which is the process of planning, monitoring, and controlling the test activities and resources2. Test automation is the use of software to perform or support test activities2. The lack of automation skills in the test team is a project risk, not a product risk, and it should be addressed by providing adequate training, tools, and resources for the test team2.
• There are no product risks recorded around security, so security testing will be given priority as a contingency measure (D). This is not based on risk levels, but on the absence of risk identification, which is a poor practice in product risk analysis. Security testing is a type of testing that determines whether the software protects data and maintains functionality as intended2. Product risk analysis should identify the potential security risks and assign them appropriate risk levels based on their probability and impact1. Security testing should be prioritized based on the risk levels, not on the lack of risk identification, which could lead to overlooking or underestimating the security risks1.

References:

• ISTQB Foundation Level 2018 syllabus
• Risk in Software Testing
• Risk-Based Testing
• Test Approach

Maintenance testing is a type of testing that is done on an existing system after modifications or migration, or to prevent deterioration or obsolescence. Maintenance testing can be triggered by various events or situations, such as:

• System migration from one platform to another, which can affect the functionality, performance, or compatibility of the system.
• Preparation for an audit of a system, which can require verifying the compliance of the system with standards or regulations.
• Modifications to a system, which can introduce new defects or affect existing ones.

Therefore, statements a, c, and d are correct.

References: Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus, Section 5.5

Screen-dialog flows are sequences of screens and dialogs that represent the user interface and interaction of a system. Use case testing is a technique that uses use cases as a test basis to derive test cases1. A use case is a description of interactions between actors and a system to achieve a goal1. Use case testing is the most effective technique in testing screen-dialog flows, as it can capture the user requirements, scenarios, and expected outcomes of the system. Boundary value testing is a technique that uses boundary values as a test basis to derive test cases1. A boundary value is an input value or output value on the edge of an equivalence partition or at the smallest or largest value of a range1. Boundary value testing is not the most effective technique in testing screen-dialog flows, as it is more suitable for testing numerical inputs and outputs. Statement testing and coverage is a technique that uses statements in the source code as a test basis to measure the coverage achieved by a test suite1. A statement is a minimal executable unit of source code1. Statement testing and coverage is not the most effective technique in testing screen-dialog flows, as it is more suitable for testing the internal logic and structure of the code. State transition testing is a technique that uses state transition diagrams as a test basis to derive test cases1. A state transition diagram shows the states of a system and the transitions between them triggered by events or conditions1. State transition testing is not the most effective technique in testing screen-dialog flows, as it is more suitable for testing systems that have complex or dynamic behavior based on different states.