Certified Tester Advanced Level-Test Analyst Interview Questions

The ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level Certificate(ISTQB-CTAL-TA) exam ensures that the candidate possesses the professional knowledge outlined in the exam overview. The Advanced Level Test Analyst exam has been developed who are working at the top level and in software testing and plan to develop their expertise in test analysis and design. Remember that a test analyst is more than a Test Analyst, whose feedback is critical not only for the product’s quality but also for the process used to test the software.

Since you are preparing for the interview it is always advisable to conduct a mock test prior so that you are well prepared for the final interview. But before you prepare you must focus on key technical skill areas when preparing for the interview –

• Performing appropriate testing activities with reference to software development lifecycle
• Identifying proper prioritization of the testing activities
• Choose and apply suitable test techniques
• Creating appropriate level of documentation relevant to their testing activities
• Identifying suitable types of functional testing to be performed
• Focus on improving the efficiency of the test process with the use of tools.

1. What is your perspective on a test plan?

Things become easier when you have a clear idea of what, when, how, and who. The same is true for software testing, where the test plan is a document that includes the scope, approach, resources, an outline of the testing project, as well as activities for tracking the project’s progress.

2. List some of the major challenges encountered while performing Software Testing.

Indeed, complete testing is impossible to achieve due to the numerous challenges involved. There are some challenges that must be overcome when performing software testing on any project, no matter how small or complex it is.

A few key challenges are listed below:

• Lack of skilled testers, who frequently face issues with subject knowledge as well as a lack of knowledge of the customer’s business.
• When there is a long list of tasks to complete, testers usually focus on task coverage rather than test coverage with quality testing.
• Unavailability of best tools required to complete testing in less time

3. Define the term “Use Case Testing.”

Use Case testing is a functional black-box testing technique that captures the sequence of interactions that have occurred between ‘actors’ and systems.’ The users and their interactions serve as ‘Actors’ in this case.

4. Explain Test Strategy.

Test Strategy is defined as a set of guidelines or testing approaches that are usually carried out by the project manager to determine the test design and general testing approach. It can be found in a small section of the test plan and is used by several projects.

Various test approaches are used depending on factors such as the nature and domain of the product, the risk of product failure, expertise in working with proposed tools, and so on.

5. In your opinion, what is the best time to begin QA in a project?

According to the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), the Testing phase occurs after the ‘Implementation and Coding’ phase is completed. However, in today’s scenario, in order to achieve the best results, the QA of the project or product must begin at the beginning of the project.

Following this approach will result in the following major benefits:

• Early process planning is required to meet the quality expectations of the customer.
• Communication between teams that is open and honest.
• Allows for plenty of time for setting up the testing environment.
• Allows for the review and approval of test plans at an early stage.

6. Describe the advantages of Destructive Testing.

Destructive testing is a type of testing performed by a testing team to determine the point of failure of a product under different loads, i.e. to evaluate the application structural performance to determine its strength, toughness, hardness, or robustness.

The following are the advantages of destructive testing:

• The application’s design flaw is identified.
• Determine the application’s service life.
• It aids in the reduction of costs and failure.

7. What are your thoughts on Data-Driven Testing?

Every automation tester understands that automation test scripts only cover the area of the application to be tested with a recorded sequence of user actions. Normally, these actions do not result in errors because only the input data is used under the conditions that we specified while recording.

This is where data-driven testing comes into play, as we want the application to work as expected for any type of input value. Data required for data-driven testing is not hardcoded for this purpose, but test scripts get their data from data sources such as CSV files, ODBC sources, and so on.

8. What exactly is a Traceability Matrix? Is it necessary for every project?

A traceability matrix is a method of tracking the progress of a project in terms of the implementation of new functionalities, the enhancement of existing functionalities, and so on. A traceability matrix allows you to keep an eye on the project’s progress at all times, with every aspect kept up to date.The traceability matrix is made up of the parameters listed below, which are taken directly from the requirement specification document.

9. Explain the advantages of Agile Testing.

As a tester, the focus shifts to delivering a quality product in less time by understanding the end-user requirements and, most importantly, ensuring that there are no defects from the end-user side. Agile testing enters the picture here, as it adheres to the principles of agile software development and quickly validates the client’s requirements.

10. What exactly is Negative Testing?

Negative testing is a method of ensuring that a product or application’s stability is maintained, or that it does not fail when unexpected input is provided. The primary goal of this type of testing is to validate the application against any potentially invalid input data.

This type of testing is also known as ‘failure testing’ or ‘error path testing,’ and its primary goal is to assess the application’s reliability under adverse conditions. It also exposes software flaws, identifies flaws, and provides a clear picture of data corruption.

11. Why is Automation Testing preferred over Manual Testing?

Both automation testing and manual testing are important and exist in the world of testing.

The following are some of the key reasons why automation testing is preferred over manual testing:

• Since the same test script can be used to run the test every time, automation testing is regarded as the most reliable and efficient method.
• Regression testing and repeated execution are usually preferred.
• Automation testing is thought to be cost-effective in the long run, resulting in higher software quality.
• Test scripts are reusable, fast, and the results are visible to everyone.
• When compared to manual testing, tools used for automation testing are faster and more reliable.

12. What do you mean by the terms ‘test effectiveness’ and ‘test efficiency’?

Calculating the number of resources and test code consumed to perform or say execute a specific function is what test efficiency is all about. It also determines the number of resources used in the development of software products.

This can be calculated using the following formula:

• (Number of defects resolved/total number of defects submitted)* 100
• Test Effectiveness is a metric for assessing the test environment and its impact on the software application. When the application’s requirements are met, the customer’s response is evaluated.
• This can be calculated using the following formula:
• Test efficacy = (number of defects discovered/number of test cases executed)

13. Describe the Project Tailoring process.

Project tailoring is a consistent and ongoing process that ensures project performance is correct and in accordance with business requirements. The entire process entails reviewing and modifying the project data in accordance with the organization’s current operational requirements. The review process takes place at the organisational level, but the tailoring plans are implemented at the project level. The two major factors that should be considered in the process are the organization’s main goal and requirements, as well as customer and user relationships.

14. Why is Performance Testing required for any application?

In layman’s terms, performance testing is used to determine an application’s behaviour and response in a variety of situations. This aids in gathering data on application stability, scalability, and speed, among other things.

15. What exactly is Specification-Driven Testing (SDT)?

As the name implies, specification-driven testing is performed based on the application’s requirement specifications, with functional specifications serving as the foundation of the tests performed. This type of testing is similar to ‘Black box testing,’ in which the user enters multiple data points and then observes the results. It is suitable for all levels of testing, including specification and test plan.

16. Describe the benefits of implementing CMMI.

There are numerous benefits to implementing CMMI. The following are a list of them:

• It provides comprehensive coverage and reporting of the product lifecycle, assisting in process improvement.
• As part of CMMI implementation, the organization’s existing standards, processes, and procedures are improved.
• There is an increase in on-time delivery and customer satisfaction as a result of CMMI implementation.
• It also leads to more effective management and cost savings because errors are detected earlier.

17. Enlist the help of some Automation Testing Tools.

The following are some automation testing tools:

• Selenium
• Watir
• Windmill
• SoapUI
• Tellurium

18. Is it possible to perform regression testing in Unit Testing?

Without a doubt. Regression testing is used to identify any undesired defects that may have crept into the code as a result of other defects being fixed. Unit testing is the test execution of a small independent and distinct piece of code. Regression testing can be performed at any stage, from unit testing to integration testing to acceptance testing. Regression testing is a perspective-based approach to testing, whereas unit testing is a level-based approach (Bottom Up, Top-down).

19.What is the distinction between smoke and sanity testing?

• Firstly, Smoke testing is the testing of the build’s old prominent features or existing features, whereas Sanity testing is the validation of newly added modules and fixed defects.
• Next, Smoke testing comes first, followed by sanity testing.
• Smoke testing encompasses the testing of critical software-provided functionalities, and it extends throughout the software. Sanity testing, on the other hand, is limited to the most recently added modules and is thoroughly tested.

20. How do you tell the difference between a requirement, a defect, and an enhancement?

• A requirement is a user storey that must be implemented, tested, and delivered.
• An enhancement is a new or improved feature that is added to an existing one.
• A defect, on the other hand, is a complete deviation from the expected user stories.
• Also, if a defect reveals a specific area of a requirement that is not stated unless otherwise specified in the specification, it can be referred to as a requirement or a part of it.

21. What comes first between Re-testing or Regression testing?

Re-testing comes first because it involves re-running the code; in layman’s terms, it is the repeated execution of pre-defined steps. It should not be required after a code has been fixed. A regression test, on the other hand, is used to evaluate the side effects of a fixed defect. Certainly, fixing one defect and introducing another into the code is not the goal of the testing process. Testers’ best finds and catches are usually regression flaws. A build should never be released unless it has been thoroughly tested for regression.

22. What are some alternatives to Beta Testing?

Beta testing is performed at the client’s location with the least amount of developer involvement, with failures recorded in the real production environment. If a company does not follow this practice, a safer bet is to ship the product first to clients who are not in line for the latest build. For a few days, certain service consultants at the client’s site can use the software, record, and monitor the activities that ensure the stability of the release in their environment, so that even if a major bug is left unfixed, it can be tested before delivering it to the targeted client.

23. What were the disadvantages of the Agile implementation/methodology that you encountered?

The following are the drawbacks:

• Sprints are typically very time-constrained.
• The priority is not documentation.
• It is common to switch between PBIs (Product Backlog Items).

24. What is the significance of impact analysis?

Impact analysis must be performed in order to practise risk-based thinking. As a result, test cases can be designed in such a way that all severe bugs, critical in the eyes of the customer, can be resolved in a timely manner. A thorough examination of the business, the client’s requirements, and their use of the software is required.

For example, in the banking domain, the most significant risk associated with software is security. Any new form added to pre-existing software can be exploited. A good amount of security testing is recommended, which includes adding proper links, redirection, and navigation to the correct page, as well as installing a proxy if necessary.

25. What has been one of your most difficult challenges while performing regression testing?

When performing regression testing, you may encounter a variety of difficulties.

• Repeatedly executing tests may become tedious for testers.
• Time-consuming, because such testing sometimes necessitates thinking outside the box.
• Business value has been compromised.
• An incorrect selection of regression test cases may result in the failure to detect a major regression defect.
• As a result, reproducing the defect during production becomes inconsistent.
• A large suite must be executed.

26. What was the format of the Bug Report that you used?

The following information should be included in a bug report:

• Bug Id
• Mapping to Requirement/ Enhancement/Existing bug
• Bug Summary/title
• A version of the product
• Priority
• Configuration (System specifications)
• Pre-requisites
• Steps

27. How do you choose regression test cases and build a regression test suite?

Yes, it is. This is the result of an impact analysis. It is a simple mapping of the features used or accessed in the various areas that you are testing, as well as their integration with other features and throughout as end-to-end or flow testing of a system. You can also retrieve previously filed defects for the same functionality in previous builds. One defect should ideally be regression tested using at least five different test cases that make use of the functionality.

28. Can you provide an example of one of the following flaws?

• Priority is low. Defect of Extreme Severity
• Defect with a high priority but a low severity
• Answer: A defect that crashes the application only when reproduced at a specific time stamp on a specific operating system may be of high severity but of low priority.
• A defect filed against a view that does not open with a double click but rather with a right-click can be both high priority and low severity.

29. What exactly is Charter testing?

Charter testing refers to session testing that is performed prior to beginning testing based on the goals and agendas listed in a charter.

30. What is the distinction between a build and a release?

• Build: A number assigned by the development team to installable software that is distributed to the testing team.
• Release: A number assigned by the tester or developer to installable software that is handed over to the customer.