ISTQB CTFL4 Practice Test - Questions Answers, Page 10

A test oracle is a mechanism or principle that can be used to determine whether the observed behavior or output of a system under test is correct or not1.A test oracle can be based on various sources of expected results, such as specifications, user expectations, previous versions, comparable systems, etc2.Reference: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 Syllabus, Section 1.2.1, Page 91; ISTQB Glossary of Testing Terms, Version 4.0, Page 332.

The testing of software does not demonstrate the absence of defects, but rather the presence of defects or the conformance of the software to the specified requirements1.Testing can never prove that the software is defect-free, as it is impossible to test all possible scenarios, inputs, outputs, and behaviors of the software2.Testing can only provide a level of confidence in the quality of the software, based on the coverage, effectiveness, and efficiency of the testing activities3.

The other options are correct because:

A .Properly designed tests that pass reduce the level of risk in a system, as they verify that the system meets the expected quality attributes and satisfies the needs and expectations of the users and clients4.Risk is the potential for loss or harm due to the occurrence of an undesirable event5.Testing can help to identify, analyze, prioritize, and mitigate the risks associated with the software product and project6.

C .Software testing identifies defects, which can be used to improve development activities, as they provide feedback on the quality of the software and the effectiveness of the development processes7. Defects are flaws or errors in the software that cause it to deviate from the expected or required results or behavior. Testing can help to detect, report, track, and resolve the defects, and prevent them from recurring in the future.

D . Performing a review of the requirement specifications before implementing the system can enhance quality, as it can ensure that the requirements are clear, complete, consistent, testable, and aligned with the needs and expectations of the users and clients. Requirements are the specifications of what the software should do and how it should do it. Testing can help to validate that the requirements are met by the software, and verify that the software is implemented according to the requirements.

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1ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0, 2023, p. 10

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7ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0, 2023, p. 14

[8] ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0, 2023, p. 15

[9] ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0, 2023, p. 16

[10] ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0, 2023, p. 17

[11] ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0, 2023, p. 18

[12] ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0, 2023, p. 19

Regression testing is the re-running of functional and non-functional tests to ensure that previously developed and tested software still performs as expected after a change1It does not involve retesting of a fixed defect, testing of new functionality, or applying only to functional testing.Tests that are used for regression testing should be repeatable, because they are used to verify the stability of the software after each change2Reference= ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 Syllabus, Chapter 4, Section 4.2.2, Page 291; ISTQB Glossary of Testing Terms v4.0, Page 292

According to the ISTQB Glossary of Testing Terms, Version 4.0, 2018, page 18, a failure is ''an event in which a component or system does not perform a required function within specified limits''. In this case, the calculator software does not perform the required function of calculating the correct result for 5+6 within the specified limits of accuracy and precision. Therefore, this is an example of a failure.

The other options are incorrect because:

A mistake is ''a human action that produces an incorrect result'' (page 25). A mistake is not an event, but an action, and it may or may not lead to a failure. For example, a mistake could be a typo in the code, a wrong assumption in the design, or a misunderstanding of the requirement.

A fault is ''a defect in a component or system that can cause the component or system to fail to perform its required function'' (page 16). A fault is not an event, but a defect, and it may or may not cause a failure. For example, a fault could be a logical error in the code, a missing specification in the design, or a contradiction in the requirement.

An error is ''the difference between a computed, observed, or measured value or condition and the true, specified, or theoretically correct value or condition'' (page 15). An error is not an event, but a difference, and it may or may not result in a failure. For example, an error could be a rounding error in the calculation, a measurement error in the observation, or a deviation error in the condition.

Reference= ISTQB Glossary of Testing Terms, Version 4.0, 2018, pages 15-18, 25; ISTQB CTFL 4.0 - Sample Exam - Answers, Version 1.1, 2023, Question 96, page 34.

A failure is an event in which a component or system does not perform a required function within specified limits1.A requirement is a condition or capability needed by a user to solve a problem or achieve an objective2. In this case, the requirement is that the diagnostics tests should execute in less than 2 seconds. Therefore, any event that violates this requirement is a failure. The only option that clearly violates this requirement is B. The diagnostic tests take too much time to execute. If the diagnostic tests take more than 2 seconds to complete, then they do not meet the specified limit and thus fail. The other options are not necessarily failures related to the specified requirement. Option A. The diagnostic tests fail to start after a system reset is a failure, but not related to the time limit. It is related to the functionality of the self-diagnostics module. Option C. The diagnostic tests that measure the speed of the memory, fail is also a failure, but not related to the time limit. It is related to the accuracy of the memory tests. Option D. The diagnostic tests fail due to incorrect implementation of the test code is also a failure, but not related to the time limit. It is related to the quality of the test code.Reference=ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0,Requirements Engineering Fundamentals.

The question is about identifying an example of testing contributing to higher quality.Quality is the degree to which a component, system or process meets specified requirements and/or user/customer needs and expectations1.Testing is the process consisting of all lifecycle activities, both static and dynamic, concerned with planning, preparation and evaluation of software products and related work products to determine that they satisfy specified requirements, to demonstrate that they are fit for purpose and to detect defects2.

Therefore, testing contributes to higher quality by verifying and validating that the software products and related work products meet the specified requirements, are fit for purpose and have no defects, or at least have a reduced number of defects.Testing also provides information about the quality of the software products and related work products to the stakeholders, who can make informed decisions based on the test results3.

Out of the four given statements, only option D is an example of testing contributing to higher quality, as it shows that testing has detected a defect (a flaw in a component or system that can cause the component or system to fail to perform its required function4) and that the defect has been resolved (fixed and confirmed) prior to release (delivery of the software product to the customer or end user). This means that testing has prevented a potential failure (an event in which a component or system does not perform a required function within specified limits) from occurring in the operational environment, and thus has improved the quality of the software product.

Option A is not an example of testing contributing to higher quality, as it is a reporting activity that summarizes the test results and evaluates the test objectives, but does not directly affect the quality of the software product or related work products. A test summary report is a document that records and communicates the outcomes of testing activities, including test completion criteria, test results, incident reports, test summary and evaluation, and lessons learned.

Option B is not an example of testing contributing to higher quality, as it is a planning activity that estimates the resources and time needed for testing activities, but does not directly affect the quality of the software product or related work products. A test effort estimate is an approximation of the amount of work and/or the duration of time required to perform testing activities.

Option C is not an example of testing contributing to higher quality, as it is a preparation activity that sets up the test environment (an environment containing hardware, instrumentation, simulators, software tools, and other support elements needed to conduct a test), but does not directly affect the quality of the software product or related work products. A test environment installation is a process of installing and configuring the test environment according to the test environment specification.

1: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 10

2: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 11

3: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 12

4: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 13

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 13

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 77

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 78

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 79

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 80

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 81

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 82

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: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 85

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: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 87

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 88

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 89

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 90

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 91

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 92

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 93

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 94

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 95

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 96

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 97

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 98

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 99

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 100

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 101

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 102

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 103

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 104

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 105

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 106

: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 2018, Version 4.0, p. 107

The thought process of the software company is incorrect, because it assumes that each artifact can be reviewed using only one review method, and that the review method depends solely on the criticality of the artifact. This is a simplistic and rigid approach that does not consider the benefits and limitations of different review methods, the context and purpose of the review, and the feedback and improvement opportunities that can be gained from multiple reviews. According to the CTFL 4.0 Syllabus, the selection of review methods should be based on several factors, such as the type and level of detail of the artifact, the availability and competence of the reviewers, the time and budget constraints, the expected defects and risks, and the desired outcomes and quality criteria. Moreover, the same artifact can be reviewed using different review methods at different stages of the development lifecycle, to ensure that the artifact meets the changing requirements, standards, and expectations of the stakeholders. For example, a requirement specification can be reviewed using an informal review method, such as a walkthrough, to get an initial feedback from the users and developers, and then using a formal review method, such as an inspection, to verify the completeness, correctness, and consistency of the specification. Therefore, the software company should adopt a more flexible and context-sensitive approach to selecting and applying review methods for different artifacts, rather than following a fixed and arbitrary rule.Reference= CTFL 4.0 Syllabus, Section 3.2.1, page 31-32; Section 3.2.2, page 33-34; Section 3.2.3, page 35-36.

Structural testing is a type of testing that measures its effectiveness by tracking which lines of code were executed by the tests. Structural testing, also known as white-box testing or glass-box testing, is based on the internal structure, design, or implementation of the software. Structural testing aims to verify that the software meets the specified quality attributes, such as performance, security, reliability, or maintainability, by exercising the code paths, branches, statements, conditions, or data flows. Structural testing uses various coverage metrics, such as function coverage, line coverage, branch coverage, or statement coverage, to determine how much of the code has been tested and to identify any untested or unreachable parts of the code. Structural testing can be applied at any level of testing, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, or acceptance testing, but it is more commonly used at lower levels, where the testers have access to the source code.

The other options are not correct because they are not types of testing that measure their effectiveness by tracking which lines of code were executed by the tests. Acceptance testing is a type of testing that verifies that the software meets the acceptance criteria and the user requirements. Acceptance testing is usually performed by the end-users or customers, who may not have access to the source code or the technical details of the software. Acceptance testing is more concerned with the functionality, usability, or suitability of the software, rather than its internal structure or implementation. Integration testing is a type of testing that verifies that the software components or subsystems work together as expected. Integration testing is usually performed by the developers or testers, who may use both structural and functional testing techniques to check the interfaces, interactions, or dependencies between the components or subsystems. Integration testing is more concerned with the integration logic, data flow, or communication of the software, rather than its individual lines of code. Exploratory testing is a type of testing that involves simultaneous learning, test design, and test execution. Exploratory testing is usually performed by the testers, who use their creativity, intuition, or experience to explore the software and discover any defects, risks, or opportunities for improvement. Exploratory testing is more concerned with the behavior, quality, or value of the software, rather than its internal structure or implementation.Reference= ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 syllabus, Chapter 4: Test Techniques, Section 4.3: Structural Testing Techniques, Pages 51-54; Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Testing, Section 1.4: Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle, Pages 11-13; Chapter 3: Static Testing, Section 3.4: Exploratory Testing, Pages 40-41.

Option D correctly explains what is represented by the lines A, B and the axes X, Y in a testing metrics chart. According to option D:

X-axis represents Time

Y-axis represents Count

Line A represents Number of open bugs

Line B represents Total number of executed tests

This information is essential in understanding and analyzing the testing metrics of a completed project.