Pass the ISTQB Foundation Level CTFL-Foundation Questions and answers with CertsForce

Common metrics used for monitoring test preparation and execution typically include quantitative measures such as the number of test cases passed and failed, the percentage of planned test cases designed, and the percentage of tasks completed in test environment preparation. These metrics provide insights into the progress and effectiveness of the testing process. However, the number of test plan review comments is not a typical metric for this purpose, as it does not directly measure the progress or quality of test execution​​.

The correct sequence in the causal chain is "Error, fault, failure". An error (or mistake) made by a person can lead to a fault (or defect) in the software. When the fault is executed, it may cause a failure in the software system. This sequence is important to understand the cause and effect relationship in software testing and defect management​​ .

Load testing is a type of non-functional testing used to verify that the system can handle a specified load of users performing transactions within acceptable performance parameters. In this case, load testing would ensure that up to 100 users can carry out transactions simultaneously with response times within 5 seconds. This testing helps identify performance bottlenecks and ensure that the system meets the performance requirements under expected user load conditions​​.

A keyword-driven testing approach is effective because it separates the test logic (actions) from the test data. This makes the scripts more reusable and easier to maintain. By organizing tests this way, any changes in the data or the actions can be made independently without affecting the other, enhancing the efficiency and manageability of automated tests​​.

Static analysis tools are designed to analyze code without executing it. They are particularly good at finding defects related to code structure, such as variables that are not used or improperly declared. These tools can parse the code and identify issues that may not be easily detected through dynamic testing methods. Other issues like omission of a major requirement (A), inadequate decision coverage (B), and component memory leakage (C) are typically found through dynamic testing or higher-level verification techniques​​ .

The amount of testing effort is highly influenced by the predicted number of defects and the subsequent amount of rework required. If a high number of defects are expected, more effort will be needed to identify, document, and retest the defects after they are fixed. This impacts the overall testing workload significantly compared to other factors such as the ratio of developers to testers, which affects team dynamics but not the core testing effort​​.

Testing is primarily aimed at detecting defects, verifying the functionality, and providing information to stakeholders for decision-making. While investigating defects is part of the testing process, fixing defects is not typically considered an objective of testing; it falls under the development activities. The main objectives of testing include preventing defects (through early testing activities), gaining confidence in the system, and providing valuable information to stakeholders​​.

Specification-based techniques, also known as black-box techniques, derive test cases from the specifications or requirements of the system. These techniques can be particularly useful when the test basis (such as documentation or requirements) is poorly defined or incomplete, as they provide a structured approach to testing based on the available specifications. This ensures that testing can proceed even when detailed documentation is lacking, helping to identify defects related to missing or incorrect functionality​​.

For a system with complex business rules and many branches, decision testing (a white-box technique) is appropriate because it ensures that each decision point (branch) in the code is tested. Equivalence partitioning (a black-box technique) complements this by ensuring that all functional areas (based ondifferent inputs) are adequately tested. This combination provides thorough coverage of both the internal logic and the functional requirements of the system​​.

Debugging is the process that involves locating the cause of a failure and fixing the defect. Therefore, activities b) "Locating the cause of failure" and c) "Fixing the defect" are debugging activities. Identifying a failure and checking that the fix has resolved the failure are parts of testing, not debugging​​.