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ISTQB Foundation Level Syllabi
Certified Tester
Foundation Level Syllabus
Version 2011
International Software Testing Qualifications Board
Copyright Notice
This document may be copied in its entirety, or extracts made, if the source is acknowledged.Copyright Notice © International Software Testing Qualifications Board (hereinafter called ISTQB®)
ISTQB is a registered trademark of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board,Copyright © 2011 the authors for the update 2011 (Thomas Müller (chair), Debra Friedenberg, and the ISTQB WG Foundation Level)
Copyright © 2010 the authors for the update 2010 (Thomas Müller (chair), Armin Beer, Martin Klonk, Rahul Verma)
Copyright © 2007 the authors for the update 2007 (Thomas Müller (chair), Dorothy Graham, Debra Friedenberg and Erik van Veenendaal)
Copyright © 2005, the authors (Thomas Müller (chair), Rex Black, Sigrid Eldh, Dorothy Graham, Klaus Olsen, Maaret Pyhäjärvi, Geoff Thompson and Erik van Veenendaal).
All rights reserved.
The authors hereby transfer 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 2011 | Effective 30-Mar-2011 | Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus Maintenance Release - see Appendix E - Release Notes |
| ISTQB 2010 | Effective 30-Mar-2010 | Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus Maintenance Release - see Appendix E - Release Notes Syllabus 2010 |
| 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
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)1.3 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)
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)2.2.1 Component Testing (K2)
2.2.2 Integration Testing (K2)
2.2.3 System Testing (K2)
2.2.4 Acceptance Testing (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: Re-testing and Regression Testing (K2)
3.1 Static Techniques and the Test Process (K2)
3.2.1 Activities of a Formal Review (K1)
3.2.2 Roles and Responsibilities (K1)
3.2.3 Types of Reviews (K2)
3.2.4 Success Factors for Reviews (K2)
4. Test Design Techniques (K4)
4.1 The Test Development Process (K3)
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 (K4)
4.4.1 Statement Testing and Coverage (K4)
4.4.2 Decision Testing and Coverage (K4)
4.4.3 Other Structure-based Techniques (K1)
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 (K3)
5.2.1 Test Planning (K2)
5.2.2 Test Planning (K2)
5.2.3 Test Planning Activities (K3)
5.2.4 Exit Criteria (K2)
5.2.5 Test Estimation (K2)
5.2.6 Test Strategy, Test Approach (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)
6. Tool Support for Testing (K2)
6.1.1 Understanding the Meaning and Purpose of Tool Support for Testing (K2)
6.1.2 Test Tool Classification (K2)
6.1.3 Tool Support for Management of Testing and Tests (K1)
6.1.4 Tool Support for Static Testing (K1)
6.1.5 Tool Support for Test Specification (K1)
6.1.6 Tool Support for Test Execution and Logging (K1)
6.1.7 Tool Support for Performance and Monitoring (K1)
6.1.8 Tool Support for Specific Testing Needs (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)
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/Cognitive Level of Knowledge
Level 1: Remember (K1)
Level 2: Understand (K2)
Level 3: Apply (K3)
Level 4: Analyze (K4)
10. Appendix C - Rules Applied to the ISTQB
Foundation syllabus
10.1.1 General Rules
10.1.2 Current Content
10.1.3 Learning Objectives
10.1.4 Overall Structure
11. Appendix D - Notice to Training Providers
12. Appendix E - Release Notes Syllabus 2010