CTAL-ATT Certified Tester Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester Questions and Answers

The correct BDD scenario for the given user story is option C, which aligns with the principles of Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) and the Gherkin syntax. This scenario clearly specifies the context (Given), the action (When), and the outcome (Then), along with handling alternate flows (ELSE). It ensures that the customer can access and update their booking details only if they provide both the correct surname and flight number, which is a common practice for verifying a customer’s reservation. This scenario also includes an error handling path, which is essential for a comprehensive test case.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester syllabus and related materials emphasize the importance of creating testable acceptance criteria for user stories using requirements engineering and test techniques, which include the formulation of BDD scenarios in Gherkin format123.

Definition of Virtualized Services:Virtualized services simulate the behavior of real services, including handling data and interactions, without performing actual backend processing.

Stateful Nature:Unlike stateless mocks or stubs, virtualized services can maintain state and mimic complex behaviors of the original service.

Analysis of Options:

A describes a stateless mock, not a virtualized service.

B refers to third-party production services, not virtualization.

C correctly identifies a stateful mock that behaves like the real service.

D describes simple stubs, not virtualized services.

Conclusion:Option C is the best description of a virtualized service.

What is Static Code Analysis?

Static code analysis examines code without executing it, identifying issues such as inefficiencies, complexities, and vulnerabilities.

How It Reduces Technical Debt:

By pinpointing areas of inefficient or overly complex code, developers can address these issues early, reducing the accumulation of technical debt over time.

Security vulnerabilities identified through static analysis prevent future costly rework or fixes.

Analyzing the Options:

A: Correctly identifies the benefits of identifying inefficiencies, complexities, and insecure code.

B: Static analysis happens after code is written, not during the writing process.

C: Static analysis complements but does not replace code reviews.

D: Static analysis does not replace unit tests, as they serve different purposes.

References:Aligned with ISTQB Advanced Agile Technical Tester syllabus on technical debt management and the role of static code analysis.

Test automation is a key component in Agile development, particularly in the context of continuous deployment and delivery. The level of test automation can indeed influence and potentially constrain the frequency of code deployments. This is because the extent and robustness of automated tests determine how quickly and reliably new code can be pushed to production. If the test automation is not comprehensive or reliable, it may require additional manual testing or cause delays in deployment. Conversely, a high level of test automation can support more frequent and confident deployments by ensuring that new changes do not break existing functionality.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester syllabus discusses the importance of test automation in Agile projects, including its impact on continuous deployment and delivery12.

The user story provided is quite broad and encompasses multiple functionalities, which suggests it is more of an epic than a small, deliverable user story. The INVEST criteria for Agile user stories require that stories be Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable. In this case:

Independent: This user story seems to have dependencies, as the ability to print the bill, view it in different currencies, and flag items are likely interconnected functionalities.

Negotiable: The user story provides specific solutions rather than outlining the problem to solve, which limits the negotiation on how to implement the solutions.

Valuable: The story does provide value to the hotel guest, which is clear.

Estimable: With the information provided, the development team can likely estimate the effort required.

Small: The story is not small; it covers multiple features that probably cannot be delivered in a single iteration.

Testable: The acceptance criteria are testable, although they are quite detailed and prescriptive.

References = The explanation is based on the INVEST criteria as described in Agile methodologies1234. The criteria are used to assess the quality of a user story, ensuring it is well-defined and suitable for Agile development practices. The user story in question does not fully meet the ‘Negotiable’ and ‘Small’ criteria, which is essential for maintaining flexibility and delivering incremental value in Agile projects.

A deterministic unit test is one that produces the same results every time it is run under the same conditions. This characteristic is crucial for unit tests because it ensures that the tests are reliable and that their results are repeatable. Deterministic tests help in identifying when a change in the codebase has introduced a defect, as any variation in the test outcome can be attributed to the change rather than an unpredictable test behavior12.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester syllabus and study resources emphasize the importance of deterministic behavior in unit tests as part of ensuring test reliability and effectiveness34.

 Service virtualization is a technique used in software testing where a virtualized service simulates the behavior of dependent components that are not available for testing. This allows testing to proceed without waiting for the actual components to be available or operational. It is particularly useful in Agile and continuous testing environments where components may be developed in parallel or where integration points may not yet be stable. Service virtualization helps to create a more controlled and deterministic testing environment, enabling more thorough testing of the product under development.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester syllabus includes service virtualization as one of the key concepts to understand in the context of Agile testing123.

 Option D is written in correct Gherkin format and is appropriate for the User Story. It clearly states the precondition (three Purchase Orders with a total value of £21.75 have been placed), the action taken by the Purchasing Manager (requesting the list of Purchase Orders placed this month), and the expected outcome (the 3 orders and their total value of £21.75 are displayed). This scenario directly addresses the Purchasing Manager’s desire to see a list of all Purchase Orders placed so far this month with their total value, which aligns with the User Story’s goal of controlling the amount of money being spent.

References = ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester documents and Training resources12.

When creating a test charter for an exploratory test session, it’s important to consider the following: a) The user roles specified in the user stories are crucial as they determine the perspective from which the testing will be conducted. c) Ensuring the session fits within a 60 to 120 minutes time box is important for maintaining focus and efficiency. e) Understanding the actions performed by the user roles according to the acceptance criteria is essential for defining the scope of the testing.

These considerations are aligned with the ISTQB guidelines for Agile Technical Testing, which emphasize the importance of understanding user roles, maintaining efficient testing sessions, and ensuring that the acceptance criteria are met through the actions performed during testing12.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester documents and training resources provide guidance on creating test charters and conducting exploratory testing sessions. They highlight the importance of focusing on user roles, session time management, and the actions required to meet the acceptance criteria12. Additionally, resources available at Software Testing Help offer practical insights into the application of these principles in real-world testing scenarios34.

 Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD) is a collaborative approach that involves customers, developers, and testers to define acceptance criteria before development begins. This practice helps ensure that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of the requirements and can prevent misunderstandings like those experienced in the first release. By using examples in ATDD, the team can clarify what the software should do, which aligns with the user stories and supports the Test-Driven Development (TDD) process12.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester documents and resources from Software Testing Help discuss the benefits of ATDD in aligning team members and stakeholders on the expected outcomes of user stories, which is particularly useful when there have been previous misunderstandings34.

Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD) involves the whole team collaboratively discussing acceptance criteria, with examples, and then distilling them into a set of concrete acceptance tests before development begins. It’s a way to get clear on what to build, and it’s done in a way that allows the team to know when a story is complete. ATDD helps to make sure that all the stakeholders have a common understanding of what is being built and what the success criteria are.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester documents emphasize the importance of defining testable requirements within an Agile team and creating and implementing various Agile test approaches using appropriate techniques1. It also supports the contribution to test automation activities in an Agile project2, which aligns with the principles of ATDD.

When a conflict arises regarding user story requirements, it is essential to engage in active collaboration to resolve the issue. The tester should work with the Business Analyst (BA) and the product owner to clarify and negotiate the requirements. This approach ensures that the user story reflects the needs of all stakeholders and that the acceptance criteria are agreed upon before testing proceeds. It aligns with Agile principles, which emphasize teamwork, customer collaboration, and the ability to respond to change.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester documents highlight the importance of collaboration and communication within Agile teams to resolve differences and refine requirements. It also underscores the role of the tester in facilitating discussions to ensure that the user stories are well-understood and testable12.

 The BDD test scenario provided describes a customer performing a withdrawal transaction after entering the correct PIN and having sufficient funds in their account. The outcome is the customer receiving money and a receipt. This aligns with the user story in option C, which focuses on the customer’s desire to withdraw money for a specific purpose, which is to buy a present. The other options do not match the actions described in the BDD test scenario.

References = The answer is verified based on the ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester documents which emphasize the importance of aligning BDD scenarios with the corresponding user stories to ensure that the tests reflect the user’s needs and interactions with the system12.

Updating the test automation suite during each iteration as the code is received ensures that the suite evolves with the software. It allows for immediate feedback on the impact of changes, supports continuous integration, and helps in identifying defects early in the development process. This practice is in line with Agile principles, which advocate for continuous testing and integration to improve quality and reduce the time to market1.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester documents outline the importance of maintaining and updating test automation suites in an Agile environment to support continuous integration and delivery, and to ensure that the tests provide adequate coverage throughout the development cycle2.

When creating a user story, it is essential to consider the perspective of the end user. This is because user stories are meant to capture the requirements and experiences of the actual users who will interact with the system or product. The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester syllabus emphasizes the importance of analyzing user stories and epics using requirements engineering techniques, which include creating and evaluating testable acceptance criteria from the end user’s perspective. This approach ensures that the developed features will meet the real needs and expectations of the users, leading to a more user-centered and valuable product.

References = ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester documents and Training resources12.

 Refactoring of test cases in agile projects is primarily done to ensure that the test cases remain relevant and effective as the functionality of the product evolves. This process involves updating and improving the test cases to match the current state of the product’s functionality. The main benefits of this practice include enhancing the quality and effectiveness of regression test cases and ensuring that the tests continue to align with the code base and product functionality. This alignment is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the testing process and ensuring that the tests accurately reflect the product’s requirements and behavior.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester syllabus and related materials emphasize the importance of refactoring test cases in agile projects. It is highlighted as a necessary activity to adapt to changes in functionality and to maintain the relevance and effectiveness of the test suite1.

The increase in automated test coverage allows for more frequent and extensive testing of the software, which in turn provides more up-to-date information about the current state of the system. This enables testers to apply reactive strategies effectively, as they can focus manual testing efforts on areas that are most likely to be affected by recent changes or that are identified as high-risk. Reactive strategies are adaptive and context-dependent, making them well-suited for the dynamic and iterative nature of Agile projects.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester syllabus and study materials emphasize the importance of integrating automated testing within the Agile process to support continuous integration and delivery. It also highlights the need for manual testing to complement automated tests by focusing on areas that require human judgment and exploratory testing skills12.

The TDD process, as described, seems to lack comprehensive testing that covers all the acceptance criteria. Specifically, the tests provided by the developers do not address the full range of input validation, such as ensuring that names with up to 30 characters are accepted and that standard error processing is in place to limit user errors. This indicates that the tests are insufficient and need to include more options to fully validate the feature against its acceptance criteria. The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester syllabus emphasizes the importance of creating testable acceptance criteria within an Agile team and implementing various Agile test approaches using appropriate techniques12. It also highlights the need for supporting and contributing to test automation activities in an Agile project12, which includes ensuring that all acceptance criteria are met and that tests are sufficiently robust to catch potential errors.

References =

ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester Syllabus1

ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester Learning Objectives2

The testable acceptance criteria for the user story are those that can be verified through testing to ensure they meet the user’s needs and the system’s functionality. In this case:

Criterion (i) is testable because you can verify the payment methods.

Criterion (ii) is testable as you can check if the acknowledgement email is sent after form submission.

Criterion (iv) is testable by confirming that the information is stored in the database correctly.

Criteria (iii) and (v), while important, are not explicitly testable from the user story’s perspective without further clarification on how spam protection is measured and what constitutes ‘incorrect’ user inputs.

References = The ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester materials emphasize the importance of creating testable acceptance criteria that are clear, measurable, and verifiable within the context of the user story12. This ensures that the developed feature meets the user’s requirements and functions as intended2.

 The correct statement about performing exploratory testing with test charters is that the result of such testing is finding defects and specification defects. Exploratory testing with test charters is a structured but flexible approach that focuses on learning about the system and designing tests as one explores the system12. It allows testers to uncover not just defects in the code, but also gaps or ambiguities in the specifications or requirements. This approach is particularly useful when there are no detailed specifications available, as it relies on the tester’s skill and intuition to explore the system’s behavior12. Test charters guide the exploratory testing session but do not prescribe specific expected results upfront, as is done in black-box testing. Instead, they provide a mission or objective for the testing session, allowing for a more investigative approach to testing12.

References =

ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester Syllabus1

ISTQB Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester Learning Objectives2

Please ensure to refer to the latest ISTQB documents and resources for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD):

BDD uses the Gherkin syntax to write test scenarios in a human-readable format: Given-When-Then.

The focus is on defining the behavior of the system in terms of user actions and outcomes.

Evaluating Options:

A: Correctly follows the Given-When-Then format, aligns with the user story, and focuses on the shopper's experience and entitlement to discounts.

B: Written from the perspective of the store clerk, which does not match the story's focus on the shopper.

C: Does not fully capture the conditions and behavior expected in the story.

D: Swaps the order of "Then" and "When," which violates the proper BDD syntax.

References:Aligned with ISTQB guidance on creating effective BDD scenarios that reflect user stories and desired behaviors.

Service Virtualization in Agile:Virtualized services are ideal for simulating unavailable components, enabling comprehensive testing without waiting for the actual service to be developed.

Minimizing Extra Work:Using a service virtualization tool reduces the need for manual creation and maintenance of stubs or other temporary solutions.

Analysis of Options:

A is impractical, as testers should not develop production services.

B is less efficient than service virtualization and requires ongoing setup/teardown.

C provides an efficient and reusable solution.

D risks misalignment with the new system.

Conclusion:Option C is the best approach for agile test automation progress.

Common Test Automation Challenges:As test suites grow, execution time often increases, leading to delays in feedback cycles. This can make it challenging to run tests frequently, especially in continuous integration pipelines.

Scalability Concerns:Longer execution times can affect productivity and may require optimization or selective test execution strategies.

Conclusion:Option B is correct as it describes a common scalability problem in automation suites.

Preferred Approach for Acceptance Criteria:

Collaboratively eliciting examples from the product owner ensures that the acceptance criteria reflect real-world usage and expectations.

Combining these examples with testing techniques ensures coverage of edge cases and system behavior.

Analyzing Options:

A: Proposes specific criteria but does not involve the product owner in the process.

B: Boundary value analysis is useful but does not address broader acceptance criteria.

D: Lists numerous acceptance criteria without first understanding the product owner’s expectations.

References:Aligned with ISTQB Agile Technical Tester syllabus emphasizing collaboration with stakeholders to define robust acceptance criteria.

Automation and System Criticality:

For mission-critical systems, automation ensures consistent, repeatable testing, particularly for high-risk functionalities.

As risk increases, automation plays a key role in validating critical features and reducing the chance of human error.

For non-critical systems, the focus on automation is generally reduced, depending on cost-benefit analysis.

Analyzing the Options:

A: Correctly states that automation is prioritized for mission-critical systems as risk increases.

B: Incorrectly diminishes the importance of automation for non-critical systems without clarifying context.

C: Misrepresents automation levels as equal for critical and non-critical systems.

D: Incorrectly dismisses automation for non-critical systems, which can be valuable depending on the context.

References:ISTQB Agile Technical Tester syllabus emphasizes automation for high-risk systems while balancing cost and risk for non-critical systems.

Review of User Story:The story's focus is on notifying the customer of the delivery time, not the shipping fee or free shipping qualification.

Analyzing the Charter:

The charter mentions verifying shipping fees, which is unrelated to the functionality of the user story.

It does not address delivery time notifications, which are the main purpose of the user story.

Alignment with Agile Testing Principles:Agile testing requires charters to align closely with the story’s intent and customer goals.

Conclusion:The main flaw is that the charter does not test the core functionality of the story, making Option B correct.