Functional Testing: ISTQB Advanced

Course Outline
General Description
Adequate test designs and specifications are the key to precise test cases and an efficient
and cost effective testing process. You can reduce time pressure on your testing
department if you are familiar with a variety of different methods from which you can
quickly and reliably identify the most appropriate one for your current testing task.
This training course presents a comprehensive palette of methods and techniques for
deriving and specifying software tests at the black box level. It gives attendees hands-
on experience with successfully selecting and applying techniques for test case
derivation, such as equivalence partitioning, classification tree method, boundary value
analysis and state transition testing. We’ll also look at supplementary techniques such
as exploratory testing and random testing.
For quick and creative testing tasks we’ll cover the subject of reviews. Reviews are an
uncomplicated, proven and rapid technique for the effective testing and checking of
design documents, source codes and other substantial project documents. No other
quality assurance technique allows faults to be recognized and corrected so simply yet
successfully. We’ll look at review techniques for testing specifications, source code,
manuals and other documents, and will see how a review culture can be established
within the project as a permanent accompaniment to the process. The techniques
presented are oriented towards the “IEEE Standard for Software Reviews” (IEEE Std.
1028-1997).
This seminar is the ideal preparation for the Functional Tester examination – part of the
“ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level” certification. In preparation for the exam,
participants will learn the subject matter behind the test standard and deepen their
understanding by working through case studies and exercises. In group exercises,
typical review situations are played out and analyzed. We can arrange for the advanced
exam to be offered at your site at the end of the seminar.

Learning Objectives
Through presentation, discussion, and hands-on exercises, attendees will learn to:
• Understand the goals, strategies, and tactics of effective and efficient testing.
• Assess and use functional and other testing techniques including:
+ Equivalence partitioning
+ Boundary value analysis
+ Classification tree method
+ State transition testing
+ Exploratory tests
+ Random testing

Functional Testing ISTQB Advanced (v1.0) 1 Copyright © 1999-2006, Rex Black, All Rights Reserved
 Course Outline

• Select and implement appropriate and high quality review techniques including:
+ Review principles and roles
+ Informal review
+ Walkthrough
+ Technical review
+ Inspection
+ Management review and audit

Session Plan
Day One
Introductions, objectives and overview
Motivation
§ Classifying testing techniques
§ Definition test case
§ The V-Model
Exercise: identify testing techniques used in your company.
Functional testing techniques (part 1)
§ Requirement based testing
§ Equivalence partitioning
§ Boundary value analysis
§ Classification tree method
§ Cause/effect graph method
Exercise: Equivalence partitioning - and boundary value analysis
Exercise: CTE in the classification tree, combination criterion!
Exercise: Cause/effect graph method and decision tables.
Day Two
Functional testing techniques (part 2)
§ State transition testing
§ Syntax test
§ Random testing
Exercise: State diagram, transition diagram
Exercise: Execute syntax test
Supplementary techniques
§ Ad-hoc-testing
§ Error guessing
§ Explorative testing
§ Soap-Opera- testing
§ Object oriented test
§ Symbolic testing
§ Tools
Selecting testing techniques
§ Testing techniques and test phases
§ Assessment criteria
§ Standards and guidelines
§ Selecting the appropriate technique for your testing task (practically-oriented selection)

Functional Testing ISTQB Advanced (v1.0) 2 Copyright © 1999-2006, Rex Black, All Rights Reserved
 Course Outline

Day Three
Review-principles and roles
Motivation
Scope of a review
IEEE standard for software reviews 1028-1997
Fundamentals
§ Roles and responsibilities
§ Introducing reviews in a company
§ Why reviews can fail
Review- techniques
Informal review
§ Goals of an informal review
§ Products for an informal review
§ Roles
§ Running an informal review
§ Characteristics
Walkthrough
§ Goals of a walkthrough
§ Products for a walkthrough
§ Roles
§ Running a walkthrough
§ Characteristics
Technical review
§ Goals of a technical review
§ Products for a technical review
§ Roles
§ Running a technical review
§ Characteristics
Inspection
§ Goals of an inspection
§ Products for an inspection
§ Roles
§ Running an inspection
§ Characteristics
Summary
§ Definition of the various review-techniques
§ Comparing contents of the various review-techniques
§ Comparing effort and form
§ Criteria for selection
Glossary, bibliography, and resources

Recommended Readings And Preparation

The class materials include an extensive bibliography of books related to software
testing, project management, quality, and other topics of interest to the test professional.
We recommend that the attendee has completed an ISTQB Foundation-level
certification course or the equivalent prior to taking this course.

Functional Testing ISTQB Advanced (v1.0) 3 Copyright © 1999-2006, Rex Black, All Rights Reserved