Software Tester - Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0

Examine how testing integrates with the software development life cycle, adapting to SDLC models and agile practices with TDD, ATDD, BDD, and DevOps CI/CD.

Explore test levels from component to acceptance and test types such as functional and non-functional, including black-box and white-box testing, with automation and regression considerations.

Maintenance testing covers corrective, adaptive, and performance changes, including planned and unplanned releases, deployments, hot fixes, data conversions, retirement, with impact analysis, assessment of change success, and regression checks.

Apply static testing to evaluate work products without execution, using reviews and static analysis to improve quality, detect defects, and assess readability, correctness, and maintainability early in the SDLC.

Secure early quality by implementing early and frequent stakeholder feedback throughout the SDLC, guiding planning, initiation, individual reviews, and analysis using ISO/IEC 20246 standard.

Understand test analysis and design to determine what to test and how, using black-box, white-box, and experience-based techniques for test conditions and data, aligned with ISO-IEC-IEEE-2-9-119-4-4.

Explore black-box test techniques, including equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis, decision tables, and state transition testing, with coverage criteria for all states and valid transitions.

Explore statement testing and branch testing as core white-box techniques that measure coverage, explain how 100% statement or branch coverage is achieved, and discuss limitations like data-dependent defects.

Explore experience-based test techniques such as error guessing, exploratory testing, and checklist-based testing to anticipate defects, guide time-boxed sessions, and improve test coverage.

Collaborate to avoid defects and deliver value through collaboration-based test approaches, using the three Cs and INVEST to craft clear, testable user stories with acceptance criteria.

Learn to plan testing effectively by outlining objectives, resources, release and iteration planning; define entry and exit criteria, risk analyses, test levels and techniques, and a practical execution schedule.

Apply risk-based testing by identifying and assessing risks early in the sdlc, then mitigate and monitor product and project risks to guide testing scope and techniques.

Learn how to monitor testing to assess progress and exit criteria, reprioritize tests as risks emerge, adjust test schedules, and complete testing with metrics and clear reporting.

Configuration management in testing identifies, controls, and tracks test plans, cases, scripts, results, logs, and reports as configuration items, preserving baselines through formal change control to maintain traceability.

Understand defect management from discovery to closure, logging, analyzing, and classifying anomalies including false positives and change requests across SDLC, and generate defect reports with reproduction steps, severity, and priority.

Discover tool support for testing across the SDLC, including test management, static testing, test design and execution, nonfunctional testing, and DevOps automation for efficient coverage and collaboration.

Explore the benefits and risks of test automation, including time saved by reducing repetitive manual work, consistent tests, and easier test management, while avoiding unrealistic expectations and unsuitable tools.

Explore ISO standards references for software testing concepts, processes, documentation templates, techniques and coverage, non-functional quality characteristics, a generic review process, maintenance, and risk management.

Explore the certification exam structure: a 60-minute, 40-question mcq test with four options, 1 point per correct answer, 26-point pass, plus chapter and knowledge level distribution.