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ISTQB Foundation Cheat Sheet

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Testing Fundamentals

  • 20% of exam
  • Core Terms Seven Principles Test Process Testing Mindset

Testing Across SDLC

  • 15% of exam
  • SDLC Models Test Levels Test Types Maintenance Testing

Static Testing

  • 10% of exam
  • Static Basics Review Roles Review Types Review Picker

Test Analysis + Design

  • 28% of exam
  • Black-Box White-Box Experience-Based Technique Picker

Managing Test Activities

  • 23% of exam
  • Risk-Based Testing Metrics Defects Report Picker

Test Tools

  • 5% of exam
  • Tool Types Automation Tool Risks Tool Picker

Quick Facts

  • Exam CTFL v4.0
  • Questions 40 MCQ
  • Points 40 total
  • Pass 26/40
  • Time 60 min
  • Extension 75 min
  • Prereq None
  • Focus Apply concepts

Defect Chain FU

  • Error -> Defect -> Failure
  • Human error Work product defect Runtime failure Root cause why

Verification vs Validation FU

Verification

  • Meets specification
  • Built right
  • Requirements focus

Validation

  • Meets need
  • Right product
  • User focus
  • Spec vs need

Process Picker FU

  • Define scope → Planning
  • Track progress → Monitoring
  • Change approach → Control
  • Find conditions → Analysis
  • Write cases → Design
  • Prepare suites → Implementation
  • Run tests → Execution
  • Archive evidence → Completion

Core Terms FU

  • Error Human mistake
  • Defect Work product flaw
  • Failure Observed wrong behavior
  • Root cause Underlying reason
  • Quality Needs satisfied
  • Risk Likelihood x impact
  • Testware Testing work products
  • Traceability Linked test evidence

Process Flow FU

  • Plan, analyze, design, build, run, close
  • Planning Analysis/design Implementation/execution Completion

Testing vs Debugging FU

Testing

  • Reveal failures
  • Provide evidence
  • Report defects

Debugging

  • Find cause
  • Fix defect
  • Confirm fix
  • Find vs fix

Seven Principles FU

  • Presence Shows defects
  • Exhaustive Normally impossible
  • Early Find defects sooner
  • Clustering Defects group
  • Pesticide Tests go stale
  • Context Approach varies
  • Fallacy Wrong product fails

Test Process FU

  • Planning Objectives and approach
  • Monitoring Compare actual plan
  • Control Adjust testing
  • Analysis Identify test conditions
  • Design Create test cases
  • Implementation Prepare testware
  • Execution Run and log
  • Completion Close and archive

Test Levels SD

  • Component -> Integration -> System -> Acceptance
  • Unit first Interfaces next Whole system Business fit

Confirmation vs Regression SD

Confirmation

  • Retest fix
  • Same failure
  • Defect closed

Regression

  • Check side effects
  • Existing behavior
  • Change impact
  • Fix vs side effects

SDLC Models SD

  • Sequential Phased delivery
  • V-model Test levels aligned
  • Iterative Repeated cycles
  • Incremental Partial delivery
  • Agile Short feedback loops
  • DevOps Build-operate feedback
  • Shift-left Test earlier
  • Retrospective Improve process

Test Levels SD

  • Component Single unit
  • Integration Interfaces interact
  • System Whole system
  • Acceptance Fit for use
  • Driver Calls component
  • Stub Simulates called part
  • Contract Interface expectation
  • Environment Execution context

Test Types SD

  • Functional What it does
  • Non-functional How it behaves
  • White-box Internal structure
  • Change-related After modification
  • Confirmation Fix works
  • Regression Nothing broke
  • Maintenance Changed live system
  • Impact analysis Change consequences

Static vs Dynamic ST

Static

  • No execution
  • Find early
  • Reviews/tools

Dynamic

  • Execute software
  • Observe failures
  • Runtime evidence
  • Inspect vs run

Review Picker ST

  • Quick feedback → Informal
  • Author explains → Walkthrough
  • Expert consensus → Technical review
  • Formal defects → Inspection
  • Tool scans code → Static analysis
  • Viewpoint assigned → Perspective reading

Static Basics ST

  • Static testing No execution
  • Dynamic testing Execute software
  • Review Human examination
  • Static analysis Tool examination
  • Checklist Prompt defects
  • Scenario reading Workflow viewpoint
  • Role-based Stakeholder viewpoint
  • Perspective-based Assigned viewpoint

Review Roles ST

  • Author Created work product
  • Moderator Runs review
  • Facilitator Guides meeting
  • Scribe Records findings
  • Reviewer Finds anomalies
  • Manager Provides resources
  • Leader Owns review
  • Participants Review team

Review Types ST

  • Informal Ad hoc feedback
  • Walkthrough Author-led review
  • Technical review Consensus defects
  • Inspection Formal review
  • Planning Define scope
  • Kick-off Align reviewers
  • Individual review Find issues
  • Communication Discuss findings

Coverage Strength TE

  • Decision coverage includes statement coverage
  • Branches imply lines Lines miss branches K3 calculation

EP vs BVA TE

EP

  • Value classes
  • One representative
  • Valid/invalid

BVA

  • Class edges
  • Boundary neighbors
  • Range defects
  • Class vs edge

Technique Picker TE

  • Input classes → EP
  • Range edges → BVA
  • Business rules → Decision table
  • States change → State transition
  • Code paths → White-box
  • Weak specs → Exploratory

Black-Box TE

  • EP Partition values
  • BVA Test edges
  • Decision table Condition combinations
  • State transition States and events
  • Use case User workflow
  • Coverage Items exercised
  • Valid class Accepted values
  • Invalid class Rejected values

Statement vs Decision TE

Statement

  • Lines executed
  • Weaker coverage
  • Misses branches

Decision

  • Outcomes executed
  • Stronger coverage
  • Covers branches
  • Line vs branch

White-Box TE

  • Statement Executable statement
  • Statement coverage Statements executed
  • Decision Branch outcome
  • Decision coverage Outcomes executed
  • Cyclomatic Independent paths
  • Control flow Execution paths
  • Data flow Variable lifecycle
  • Dead code Unreachable code

Experience-Based TE

  • Error guessing Likely mistakes
  • Exploratory Learn while testing
  • Checklist-based Guided experience
  • Charter Exploration mission
  • Session Timeboxed testing
  • Heuristic Helpful rule
  • Attack Targeted fault idea
  • Tour Exploration pattern

Risk Formula MA

  • Risk = likelihood x impact
  • Likelihood Impact Priority Residual risk

Severity vs Priority MA

Severity

  • Technical impact
  • Failure seriousness
  • Quality view

Priority

  • Business urgency
  • Fix order
  • Stakeholder view
  • Impact vs urgency

Management Basics MA

  • Test plan Scope and approach
  • Entry criteria Start conditions
  • Exit criteria Stop conditions
  • Estimation Predict effort
  • Prioritization Order by value
  • Strategy Overall test approach
  • Independence Less bias
  • Whole team Shared quality

Product vs Project Risk MA

Product

  • Quality failure
  • User impact
  • System behavior

Project

  • Delivery threat
  • Schedule/cost
  • Team constraints
  • Quality vs delivery

Risk Management MA

  • Product risk Quality threat
  • Project risk Delivery threat
  • Likelihood Chance of failure
  • Impact Damage if occurs
  • Risk level Likelihood plus impact
  • Mitigation Risk reduction
  • Residual risk Remaining exposure
  • Risk control Ongoing response

Metrics + Reports MA

  • Progress Run/not run
  • Quality Product measures
  • Defect metrics Found/fixed counts
  • Coverage Requirements or code
  • Cost metrics Testing spend
  • Progress report Ongoing status
  • Completion report Final summary
  • Dashboard Visual status

Defects + Config MA

  • Anomaly Possible problem
  • Defect report Failure record
  • Severity Technical impact
  • Priority Business urgency
  • Lifecycle Defect states
  • CM Version integrity
  • Baseline Approved version
  • Change control Managed updates

Tool Picker TO

  • Trace requirements → Management tool
  • Scan source → Static tool
  • Run regression → Execution tool
  • Measure branches → Coverage tool
  • Simulate load → Performance tool
  • Pipeline feedback → CI tool

Tool Types TO

  • Management tool Plan and track
  • Static tool Analyze work products
  • Design tool Generate tests
  • Execution tool Run tests
  • Coverage tool Measure exercised code
  • Performance tool Simulate load
  • Monitoring tool Observe operation
  • CI tool Pipeline feedback

Automation TO

  • Benefit Fast repeatability
  • Risk False confidence
  • Maintenance Script upkeep
  • Pilot Small evaluation
  • Rollout Phased adoption
  • ROI Value over cost
  • Data-driven Inputs separated
  • Keyword-driven Action words

Common Traps

Testing proof

  • Shows defects ≠ Never proves absence

Testing scope

  • Includes work products ≠ Not execution only

Validation wording

  • User need ≠ Not just specification

Debugging owner

  • Fixing cause ≠ Not reporting failure

BVA targets

  • Edges matter ≠ Middle optional

Decision tables

  • Combinations tested ≠ Not single ranges

Acceptance testing

  • Confidence for use ≠ Not unit checks

Automation promise

  • Supports testing ≠ Never replaces judgment

Severity priority

  • Severity is impact ≠ Priority is urgency

Risk-based testing

  • Prioritizes effort ≠ Does not remove risk

Last Minute

  • 1. CTFL: 40Q, pass 26
  • 2. K3 means apply
  • 3. Ch4 has most questions
  • 4. Error causes defect
  • 5. Failure is observed
  • 6. Testing is evidence
  • 7. Verification checks specification
  • 8. Validation checks need
  • 9. Static means no execution
  • 10. EP classes, BVA edges
  • 11. Decision table for combinations
  • 12. Regression checks side effects
  • 13. Severity impact; priority urgency
  • 14. Risk equals likelihood impact
  • 15. Automation needs maintenance

ISTQB Foundation Level (CTFL)

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