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

Test execution tools include tools that directly assist in the execution of tests and comparison of actual outcomes with predicted outcomes. A test harness (b) is used to execute tests by providing the necessary context and data inputs for running a test. Test comparators (d) are used to compare the actual results produced by the system under test with the expected results, which is a key part of test execution.

The highest level of independence in testing is achieved by having independent test specialists who focus on specific test types such as usability, performance, or certification testing. This independence helps in unbiased defect detection and evaluation, minimizing cognitive biases that might affect testers who are closer to the development process.

For user acceptance testing (UAT) of the first release of a new software product aimed at a general market and built using Agile methods, appropriate test objectives would be to ensure the product works as expected (c) and to assess the overall quality of the product (d). These objectives focus on validating that the software meets user needs and overall quality standards.

Use-case testing involves scenarios based on the use cases of a system. In a use-case diagram, an actor represents a type of user (i). A use-case describes interactions between actors and the system (iii). Test cases can be based on use-case scenarios (v), and use-case testing often identifies gaps not found by testing individual components (vi). However, an actor is not always a human user (iv), and use-cases are not the most common test basis for unit testing (ii).

Experience-based test design techniques rely on the tester's skill, intuition, and experience to derive test cases. Techniques like error guessing and exploratory testing fall under this category. These methods do not depend on formal specifications but rather on the tester's understanding of the system and potential areas where defects might exist.

State transition testing is the most effective test design technique for testing screen-dialog flows. This technique is used to model the different states of a system and the transitions between those states, which is ideal for verifying that the system behaves correctly as the user navigates through different screens and dialogs.

Testing is primarily used to identify defects in the software. While it can show the presence of defects, it cannot guarantee that no defects are present. Thus, testing helps in demonstrating that there are defects, which can then be addressed.

Experience-based and intuition-based testing techniques, such as error guessing and exploratory testing, can be valuable in uncovering defects that formal techniques might miss. These approaches leverage the tester's knowledge, intuition, and experience, providing a complementary layer to more structured and formal testing techniques.

Statement coverage is a white-box testing technique that involves executing all the statements in the code at least once. It is not considered a black-box technique because it requires knowledge of the internal structure of the code being tested. Black-box techniques, such as equivalence partitioning, state transition testing, and boundary value analysis, focus on testing the functionality of the software without considering its internal code structure.

Functional and structural tests are types of testing techniques that can be applied at various levels of testing. According to the ISTQB CTFL syllabus, functional and structural tests are not restricted to any specific test level but are applicable across all levels of testing. This includes component, integration, system, and acceptance testing. The use of both types of tests helps ensure comprehensive testing coverage, addressing both the functional requirements and the internal structure of the software product​​.