ISTQB Foundation Level Syllabi

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

Copyright © 2007 the authors for the update 2007 (Thomas Müller (chair), Dorothy Graham, Debra Friedenberg and Erik van Veendendal)

Copyright © 2005, the authors (Thomas Müller (chair), Rex Black, Sigrid Eldh, Dorothy Graham,
Klaus Olsen, Maaret Pyhärvi, Geoff Thompson and Erik van Veendendal).

All rights reserved

The authors are transferring the copyright to the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB). The authors (as current copyright holders) and ISTQB (as the future copyright holder) have agreed to the following conditions of use:

1) Any individual or training company may use this syllabus as the basis for a training course if the authors and the ISTQB are acknowledged as the source and copyright owners of the syllabus and provided that any advertisement of such a training course may mention the syllabus only after submission for official accreditation of the training materials to an ISTQB-recognized National Board.

2) Any individual or group of individuals may use this syllabus as the basis for articles, books, or other derivative writings if the authors and the ISTQB are acknowledged as the source and copyright owners of the syllabus.

3) Any ISTQB-recognized National Board may translate this syllabus and license the syllabus (or its translation) to other parties.

Revision History

Version Date Remarks
ISTQB 2007 01-May-2007 Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus
Maintenance Release – see Appendix E – Release
Notes Syllabus 2007
ISTQB 2005 01-July-2005 Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus
ASQF V2.2 July-2003 ASQF Syllabus Foundation Level Version 2.2
"Lehrplan
„Grundlagen des Softwaretestens"
ISEB V2.0 25-Feb-1999 ISEB Software Testing Foundation Syllabus V2.0
25 February 1999


Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction to this syllabus

Purpose of this document
The Certified Tester Foundation Level in Software Testing
Learning objectives/level of knowledge
The examination
Accreditation
Level of detail
How this syllabus is organized

1. Fundamentals of testing (K2)

1.1 Why is testing necessary (K2)

1.1.1 Software systems context (K1)
1.1.2 Causes of software defects (K2)
1.1.3 Role of testing in software development, maintenance and operations (K2)
1.1.4 Testing and quality (K2)
1.1.5 How much testing is enough? (K2)

1.2 What is testing? (K2)

1.3 General testing principles (K2)

1.4 Fundamental test process (K1)

1.4.1 Test planning and control (K1)
1.4.2 Test analysis and design (K1)
1.4.3 Test implementation and execution (K1)
1.4.4 Evaluating exit criteria and reporting (K1)
1.4.5 Test closure activities (K1)

1.5 The psychology of testing (K2)

2. Testing throughout the software life cycle (K2)

2.1 Software development models (K2)

2.1.1 V-model (sequential development model) (K2)
2.1.2 Iterative-incremental development models (K2)
2.1.3 Testing within a life cycle model (K2)

2.2 Test levels (K2)

2.2.1 Component testing (K2)
2.2.2 Integration testing (K2)
2.2.3 System testing (K2)
2.2.4 Acceptance testing (K2)

2.3 Test types (K2)

2.3.1 Testing of function (functional testing) (K2)
2.3.2 Testing of non-functional software characteristics (non-functional testing) (K2)
2.3.3 Testing of software structure/architecture (structural testing) (K2)
2.3.4 Testing related to changes (confirmation testing (retesting) and regression testing) (K2)

2.4 Maintenance testing (K2)

3. Static techniques (K2)

3.1 Static techniques and the test process (K2)

3.2 Review process (K2)

3.2.1 Phases of a formal review (K1)
3.2.2 Roles and responsibilities (K1)
3.2.3 Types of review (K2)
3.2.4 Success factors for reviews (K2)

3.3 Static analysis by tools (K2)

4. Test design techniques (K3)

4.1 The TEST DEVELOPMENT PROCESS (K2)

4.2 Categories of test design techniques (K2)

4.3 Specification-based or black-box techniques (K3)

4.3.1 Equivalence partitioning (K3)
4.3.2 Boundary value analysis (K3)
4.3.3 Decision table testing (K3)
4.3.4 State transition testing (K3)
4.3.5 Use case testing (K2)

4.4 Structure-based or white-box techniques (K3)

4.4.1 Statement testing and coverage (K3)
4.4.2 Decision testing and coverage (K3)
4.4.3 Other structure-based techniques (K1)

4.5 Experience-based techniques (K2)

4.6 Choosing test techniques (K2)

5. Test management (K3)

5.1 Test organization (K2)

5.1.1 Test organization and independence (K2)
5.1.2 Tasks of the test leader and tester (K1)

5.2 Test planning and estimation (K2)

5.2.1 Test planning (K2)
5.2.2 Test planning activities (K2)
5.2.3 Exit criteria (K2)
5.2.4 Test estimation (K2)
5.2.5 Test approaches (test strategies) (K2)

5.3 Test progress monitoring and control (K2)

5.3.1 Test progress monitoring (K1)
5.3.2 Test Reporting (K2)
5.3.3 Test control (K2)

5.4 Configuration management (K2)

5.5 Risk and testing (K2)

5.5.1 Project risks (K2)
5.5.2 Product risks (K2)

5.6 Incident management (K3)

6. Tool support for testing (K2)

6.1 Types of test tool (K2)

6.1.1 Test tool classification (K2)
6.1.2 Tool support for management of testing and tests (K1)
6.1.3 Tool support for static testing (K1)
6.1.4 Tool support for test specification (K1)
6.1.5 Tool support for test execution and logging (K1)
6.1.6 Tool support for performance and monitoring (K1)
6.1.7 Tool support for specific application areas (K1)
6.1.8 Tool support using other tools (K1)

6.2 Effective use of tools: potential benefits and risks (K2)

6.2.1 Potential benefits and risks of tool support for testing (for all tools) (K2)
6.2.2 Special considerations for some types of tool (K1)

6.3 Introducing a tool into an organization (K1)

7. References

Standards
Books

8. Appendix A – Syllabus background

History of this document
Objectives of the Foundation Certificate qualification
Objectives of the international qualification (adapted from ISTQB meeting at Sollentuna, November 2001)
Entry requirements for this qualification
Background and history of the Foundation Certificate in Software Testing

9. Appendix B – Learning objectives/level of knowledge

Level 1: Remember (K1)
Level 2: Understand (K2)
Level 3: Apply (K3)

10. Appendix C – Rules applied to the ISTQB

Foundation syllabus
General rules
Current content
Learning Objectives
Overall structure

11. Appendix D – Notice to training providers

12. Appendix E – Release Notes Syllabus 2007