ISTQB Certification Test On Design Techniques!

Both specification-based and structure-based testing techniques are useful because they find different types of defects. Specification-based techniques focus on testing the software against the requirements and specifications, ensuring that it meets the intended functionality. On the other hand, structure-based techniques examine the internal structure of the software, looking for potential defects in the code, algorithms, and data structures. By using both techniques, a wider range of defects can be identified and addressed, increasing the overall quality and reliability of the software.

The correct answer is 100% decision coverage always means 100% statement coverage. This means that if every possible decision outcome has been tested, then every statement within those decisions must have also been executed. Decision coverage is a stronger criterion than statement coverage because it ensures that all possible decision outcomes have been tested, which in turn guarantees that all statements within those decisions have been executed. Therefore, if decision coverage is at 100%, statement coverage must also be at 100%.

Error guessing and exploratory testing are good to do because they have the capability to identify defects that may have been overlooked by other techniques such as specification-based and structure-based testing. These methods involve using intuition, experience, and creativity to uncover potential issues in the software. Unlike formal techniques, error guessing and exploratory testing do not require extensive training to be effective. However, it is important to note that these methods do not guarantee that all code or system components will be thoroughly tested.

Structure-based testing techniques are focused on assessing the structure of a specification. These techniques not only measure coverage but also design tests to increase coverage. By analyzing the structure of the software or component, these techniques ensure that all possible paths and conditions are tested, leading to thorough coverage of the system. This approach is effective in identifying potential defects and ensuring that the software meets the desired quality standards.

The correct order for the test execution schedule is as follows:
1. Confirm existing customer is on the database by opening that record.
2. Change customer address: postal code.
3. Change customer address: house number and street name.
4. Print modified customer record.
5. Try to add a new customer with no details at all.
6. Capture and print the on-screen error message.
7. Close the customer record and close the database.

This order ensures that the existing customer is verified first, then their address is modified, followed by printing the modified record. After that, an attempt is made to add a new customer with no details, and any resulting error message is captured and printed. Finally, the customer record and the database are closed.

To assess the coverage achieved for specification based (black-box) test techniques, one could use partitions, boundaries, or state transitions. These techniques help in ensuring that different input values and scenarios are tested, leading to a comprehensive coverage of the specifications. Decision outcomes exercised and statements exercised are not specifically mentioned as applicable to specification-based testing, so they are not included in the answer.

A high-level outline of the test conditions and general steps to take would be effective and efficient for a project under severe time pressure because it provides a clear structure and guidance for the testing process. With a highly experienced tester and a good business background, they would be able to understand the overall objectives and requirements of the project. By having a high-level outline, they can focus on the critical test conditions and prioritize their efforts accordingly. This approach allows them to quickly identify and execute the necessary steps without getting bogged down in unnecessary details, saving time and ensuring efficient testing.

Use case testing is useful for designing acceptance tests with users or customers, making sure that the mainstream business processes are tested, and finding defects in the interaction between components.

In the IEEE 829 standard, the document that provides instructions for the steps to be taken for a test, including set-up, logging, environment, and measurement, is the Test Procedure Specification. This document outlines the specific procedures and guidelines that need to be followed during the testing process to ensure consistency and accuracy. It provides detailed instructions on how to execute the test, including the necessary set-up, the required environment, and the measurements to be taken. The Test Procedure Specification acts as a guide for testers to perform the test accurately and consistently.

Structure-based test design techniques, also known as white-box testing techniques, are most likely to be applied to options 3 and 4. Option 3, the business process flow for mortgage approval, can be analyzed and tested using structure-based techniques to ensure that all possible paths and conditions in the flow are covered. Option 4, the control flow of the program to calculate repayments, can also be analyzed and tested using structure-based techniques to ensure that all logical branches and conditions in the program are tested thoroughly.

The test case "SS - S1 - S2 - S4 - S1 - S3 - ES" is the minimum series of valid transitions to cover every state because it starts from the initial state (SS), goes through all the states (S1, S2, S4, S3), and ends at the end state (ES) while following the valid transitions in the state diagram.

The statement coverage of these three tests is 80%. This means that 80% of the statements in the given scenario are covered by the tests. The tests cover the scenarios of a gold card holder getting upgraded to business class, a non-gold card holder staying in economy, and a person getting bumped from the flight. However, it is possible that there are additional statements or scenarios in the scenario that are not covered by these tests.

The coverage measure for state transition testing involves ensuring that all states have been reached (V), every transition has been exercised (X), and specific sequences of transitions have been exercised (Z). This means that the testing process aims to cover all possible states, transitions, and sequences to ensure thorough testing of the system's behavior. The response time for each transaction (W) and exercising all boundaries (Y) may be important considerations in other types of testing, but they are not directly related to coverage in state transition testing.

The postal rates for 'light letters' are divided into different ranges based on weight. The equivalence partitioning technique suggests selecting test inputs that fall within the different ranges to ensure that all possible scenarios are covered. In this case, the test inputs 4, 15, 65, 92, and 159 grams cover the following ranges: 4 grams falls within the range of 25p up to 10g, 15 grams falls within the range of 35p up to 50g, 65 grams falls within the range of 35p up to 50g plus an extra 10p for each additional 25g, 92 grams falls within the range of 35p up to 50g plus an extra 10p for each additional 25g, and 159 grams falls outside the range of 100g. These inputs cover all the different ranges and help ensure the accuracy of the postal rate calculations.

Decision-table testing involves creating a table that lists different combinations of inputs and their corresponding expected outputs. In this case, a financial application applied at the system-test level would likely involve rules for mortgage applications, as mortgages are a common financial transaction. Therefore, a table containing rules for mortgage applications would be an example of decision-table testing for a financial application.

Experience-based techniques differ from specification-based techniques because they rely on an individual tester's personal view and understanding of the system's structure, rather than solely relying on a documented record of what the system should do.

When choosing which technique to use in a given situation, the following factors should be taken into account:

Previous experience of types of defects found in this or similar systems (V)

The existing knowledge of the testers (W)

The type of test execution tool that will be used (Y)

The documentation available (Z)

These factors help ensure that the chosen technique is appropriate for the context and that the testers can effectively apply it.