ISTQB® Certified Tester – Foundation Level V4.0

On completion of ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level, attendees will be able to:

• Promote efficient and effective communication by using a common vocabulary for software testing
• Demonstrate understanding of fundamental software testing concepts and optimising test practices
• Use established techniques for designing tests at all test levels, and interpreting tests from test specifications
• Report on test results, including defect reports
• Understand test management principles, and project factors, for resources, strategies, and planning
• Understand the value that software testing brings to stakeholders, and contribute effectively in reviews
• Identify essential skills required for testing and understand the impact of risk on testing
• Know risks and benefits related to test automation

Fundamentals of Testing

• What is testing?
  Test Objectives, Testing and Debugging
• Why is testing necessary?
  Testing’s Contributions to Success, Testing and Quality Assurance (QA), Errors, Defects, Failures, and Root Causes
• Testing Principles
  Test Activities, Testware and Test Roles
  Test Activities and Tasks, Test Process in Context, Testware, Traceability between the Test Basis and Testware, Roles in Testing
• Essential Skills and Good Practices in Testing
  Generic Skills Required for Testing, Whole Team Approach, Independence of Testing

Testing throughout the Software Development Lifecycle

• Testing in the Context of a Software Development Lifecycle
  Impact of the Software Development Lifecycle on Testing, Software Development Lifecycle and Good Testing Practices, Testing as a Driver for Software Development, DevOps and Testing, Shift-Left Approach, Retrospectives and Process Improvement
• Test Levels and Test Types
  Test Levels, Test Types, Confirmation Testing and Regression Testing
• Maintenance Testing

Static Testing

• Static Testing Basics
  Work Products Examinable by Static Testing, Value of Static Testing, Differences between Static Testing and Dynamic Testing
• Feedback and Review Process
  Benefits of Early and Frequent Stakeholder Feedback, Review Process Activities, Roles and Responsibilities in Reviews, Review Types, Success Factors for Reviews

Exam

• Mock examination
• Formal ISTQB examination – while the course is delivered LIVE online rather than in-class, this exam will be run separately as an online e-proctored exam.

Test Analysis and Design

• Test Techniques Overview
• Black-box Test Techniques
  Equivalence Partitioning, Boundary Value Analysis, Decision Table Testing, State Transition Testing
• White-box Test Techniques
  Statement Testing and Coverage, Branch Testing and Coverage, The Value of White-box Testing
• Experienced-based Test Techniques
  Error Guessing, Exploratory Testing, Checklist-Based Testing
• Collaboration-based Test Approaches
  Collaborative User Story Writing, Acceptance Criteria, Acceptance Test-driven Development

Managing the Test Activities

• Test Planning
  Tester's Contribution to Iteration and Release Planning, Entry Criteria and Exit Criteria, Estimation Techniques, Test Case Prioritization, Test Pyramid, Testing Quadrants
• Risk Management
  Risk Definition and Risk Attributes, Project Risks and Product Risks, Product Risk Analysis, Product Risk Control
• Test Monitoring, Test Control and Test Completion
  Metrics used in Testing, Purpose, Content and Audience for Test Reports, Communicating the Status of Testing
• Configuration Management
• Defect Management

Test Tools

• Tool Support for Testing
• Benefits and Risks of Test Automation

This course is appropriate for everyone involved in, or interested in, software testing.  There is no necessary pre-reading to be completed.

The ISTQB has a supporting series of courses to take the tester further in their career:

• ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Analyst
• ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Manager
• ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level Technical Test Analyst
• ICAgile Certified Agile Fundamentals

This course is most relevant to anyone interested in career learning paths for roles such as Test Programme Managers, Test Managers, Test Analysts, Test Engineers, Requirements Engineers, Software Developers, Functional Testers, Agile Testers, User Acceptance Testers, Test Automation Specialists, Performance Test Specialists, Test Environments Specialists, Security Testing Specialists, and Test Consultants. The course is also appropriate for anyone who wants a basic understanding of software testing, such as Project Managers, Quality Managers, Software Development Managers, Business Analysts, IT Directors, and Management Consultants.