ISTQB Advanced Level Syllabi

Certified Tester Advanced Level Syllabus
Version 2007
International Software Testing Qualifications Board

Copyright Notice
This document may be copied in its entirety, or extracts made, if the source is acknowledged.

Copyright © International Software Testing Qualifications Board (hereinafter called ISTQB®).
Advanced Level Working Party: Bernard Homès (chair), Graham Bath, Rex Black, Sigrid Eldh,
Jayapradeep Jiothis, Paul Jorgensen, Vipul Kocher, Judy McKay, Klaus Olsen, Randy Rice, Jürgen
Richter, Eric Riou Du Cosquer, Mike Smith, Geoff Thompson, Erik Van Veenendaal; 2006-2007.

Revision History

Version Date Remarks
ISEB v1.1 04 SEP01 ISEB Practitioner Syllabus
ISTQB 1.2E SEP03 ISTQB Advanced Level Syllabus from EOQ-SG
V2007 12OCT07 Certified Tester Advanced Level syllabus version 2007

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

0. Introduction to this syllabus

0.1 The International Software Testing Qualifications Board.

0.2 Expectations

0.2.1 Advanced Level Test Manager.
0.2.2 Advanced Level Test Analyst.
0.2.3 Advanced Level Technical Test Analyst

0.3 Learning Objectives / Level of Knowledge

0.4 Learning Objectives for Test Managers

0.5 Learning Objectives for Test Analysts

0.6 Learning Objectives for Technical Test Analysts

1. Basic Aspects of Software Testing

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Testing in the Software Lifecycle

1.3 Specific Systems

1.3.1 Systems of Systems
1.3.2 Safety Critical Systems

1.4 Metrics & Measurement

1.5 Ethics

2. Testing Processes

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Test Process Models

2.3 Test Planning & Control

2.4 Test Analysis & Design

2.4.1 Identification of Test Conditions
2.4.2 Creation of Test Cases

2.5 Test Implementation & Execution

2.5.1 Test Implementation
2.5.2 Test Execution

2.6 Evaluating Exit Criteria and Reporting

2.7 Test Closure Activities

3. Test Management

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Test Management Documentation

3.2.1 Test Policy
3.2.2 Test Strategy
3.2.3 Master Test Plan
3.2.4 Level Test Plan

3.3 Test Plan Documentation Templates

3.4 Test Estimation

3.5 Scheduling Test Planning

3.6 Test Progress Monitoring & Control

3.7 Business Value of Testing

3.8 Distributed, Outsourced & Insourced Testing

3.9 Risk-Based Testing

3.9.1 Introduction to Risk-Based Testing
3.9.2 Risk Management
3.9.3 Risk Management in the Lifecycle

3.10 Failure Mode and Effects Analysis

3.10.1 Areas of Application
3.10.2 Implementation Steps
3.10.3 Benefits & Costs

3.11 Test Management Issues

3.11.1 Test Management Issues for Exploratory Testing
3.11.2 Test Management Issues for Systems of Systems
3.11.3 Test Management Issues for Safety Critical Systems
3.11.4 Other Test Management Issues

4. Test Techniques

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Specification-based

4.3 Structure-based

4.4 Defect- and Experience-based

4.4.1 Defect-based techniques
4.4.2 Experienced-based techniques

4.5 Static Analysis

4.5.1 Static Analysis of Code
4.5.2 Static Analysis of Architecture

4.6 Dynamic analysis

4.6.1 Overview
4.6.2 Detecting Memory Leaks
4.6.3 Detecting Wild Pointers
4.6.4 Analysis of Performance

5. Testing of Software Characteristics

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Quality attributes for domain testing

5.2.1 Accuracy Testing
5.2.2 Suitability Testing
5.2.3 Interoperability Testing
5.2.4 Functional Security Testing
5.2.5 Usability Testing
5.2.6 Accessibility Testing

5.3 Quality attributes for technical testing

5.3.1 Technical Security Testing
5.3.2 Reliability Testing
5.3.3 Efficiency Testing
5.3.4 Maintainability Testing
5.3.5 Portability Testing

6. Reviews

6.1 Introduction

6.2 The Principles of Reviews

6.3 Types of Reviews

6.3.1 Management review and audit
6.3.2 Reviews of particular work products
6.3.3 Performing a formal review

6.4 Introducing Reviews

6.5 Success Factors for Reviews

7. Incident Management

7.1 Introduction

7.2 When can a Defect be detected?

7.3 Defect Lifecycle

7.3.1 Step 1: Recognition
7.3.2 Step 2: Investigation
7.3.3 Step 3: Action
7.3.4 Step 4: Disposition

7.4 Defect Fields

7.5 Metrics & Incident Management

7.6 Communicating Incidents

8. Standards & Test Improvement Process

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Standards Considerations

8.2.1 General Aspects on Standards
8.2.2 International Standards
8.2.3 National Standards
8.2.4 Domain Specific Standards
8.2.5 Other Standards

8.3 Test Improvement Process

8.3.1 Introduction to Process Improvement
8.3.2 Types of Process Improvement

8.4 Improving the Test Process

8.5 Improving the Test Process with TMM

8.6 Improving the Test Process with TPI

8.7 Improving the Test Process with CTP (CTP)

8.8 Improving the Test Process with STEP

8.9 Capability Maturity Model Integration, CMMI

9. Test Tools & Automation

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Test Tool Concepts

9.2.1 Cost benefits and Risks of Test Tools and Automation
9.2.2 Test Tool Strategies
9.2.3 Integration & Information Interchange Between Tools
9.2.4 Automation Languages: Scripts, Script Language
9.2.5 The Concept of Test Oracles
9.2.6 Test Tool Deployment
9.2.7 Usage of Open Source Test Tools
9.2.8 Developing Your Own Test Tool
9.2.9 Test Tool Classification

9.3 Test Tools Categories

9.3.1 Test Management Tools
9.3.2 Test Execution Tools
9.3.3 Debugging & Troubleshooting Tools
9.3.4 Fault Seeding & Fault Injection Tools
9.3.5 Simulation & Emulation Tools
9.3.6 Static and Dynamic Analysis Tools
9.3.7 Keyword-Driven Test Automation
9.3.8 Performance Testing Tools
9.3.9 Web Tools

10. People Skills – Team Composition

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Individual Skills

10.3 Test Team Dynamics

10.4 Fitting Testing Within an Organization

10.5 Motivation

10.6 Communication

11. References

11.1 Standards

11.1.1 Per chapter
11.1.2 Alphabetical

11.2 Books

11.3 Other references

12. Appendix A – Syllabus background

13. Appendix B – Notice to the Readers

13.1 Examination Boards

13.2 Candidates & Training Providers

14. Appendix C – Notice to Training Providers

14.1 Modularity

14.2 Training Times

14.2.1 Training per module
14.2.2 Commonality
14.2.3 Sources

14.3 Practical Exercises

15. Appendix D – Recommendations

15.1 Recommendations for Industrialization