ISTQB Combined Software Testing Foundation and Agile Extension

The course is aimed at the following groups of professionals:

1. Anyone currently involved in testing or about to move into a testing role
2. Professionals who have achieved in-depth testing experience in traditional methods and would like to attain the ISTQB Certified Tester - Foundation Level and the Agile Tester Certification
3. Junior professional testers who are just starting in the testing profession, and would like to know more about the tester’s role in an traditional and Agile environment.
4. Professionals who are relatively new to testing and are required to implement test approaches, methods and techniques in their day to day job.
5. Professionals who are experienced in their role (including unit testing) and need more understanding and knowledge about how to perform and manage testing on all levels in Agile projects.

Specific job roles this course may be suitable for are: testers, test analysts, test engineers, test consultants, test managers, user acceptance testers, and software developers.

The course may also be appropriate for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of software testing in the traditional and Agile world, such as project managers, quality managers, software development managers, business analysts, IT directors, and management consultants.

Successful completion of the BCS-ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level is a pre-requisite to taking the ISTQB® Agile tester – Foundation Level Extension exam.

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• Explain the terminology associated with the ISTQB understand the principles and psychology of testing
• Describe verification, validation and the steps in the testing lifecycle produce a project test plan
• Understand the test management lifecycle
• Produce test designs using equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis and state transition techniques
• Use static techniques to assess quality and coverage appreciate the different tools available for automating testing
• The Fundamentals of Agile Software Development
• The different agile approaches
• The Differences between Testing in Traditional and Agile Approaches
• Testing in Agile Projects
• Roles and skills of a tester in Agile Projects
• Agile testing techniques and methods
• Assess product quality risks within an Agile project
• Estimate testing effort based on iteration content and quality risks
• Tools in Agile Projects

Day 1 – Day 3: Foundation Certificate in Software Testing

1. Fundamentals of Testing

Testing terminology; General testing principles; Why testing is necessary; Fundamental test process; The psychology of testing.

2. Testing Throughout the Lifecycle

Models for testing; Component, System Integration and Acceptance testing; Maintenance testing; Non-functional system testing; Functional system testing.

3. Static Techniques

Reviews and the test process; Costs and benefits of reviews; Types of review: Walkthrough, technical review, inspections, informal review; Static analysis

4. Test Design Techniques

Black and White box testing; Black box test techniques including equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis and state transition testing; White box test techniques including statement and decision testing; Experience-based techniques; Choosing test techniques

5. Test management

Organisation; Project test plan; Configuration management; Test estimation: Inclusion in project schedule; Monitoring and control; Tracking progress and deviations from plan; Incident management: Logging, tracking and analysis; Risk and testing.

6. Test tools

Types of test tool; Requirements testing; Static analysis; Test design; Data preparation; Capture/replay; Test running; Test harnesses, drivers and simulators; Performance testing; Dynamic analysis; Debugging; Comparison; Test management; Coverage measurement; Effective use, benefits and risk; Introducing a tool into an organization.

Day 4 & Day 5: Foundation Level Extension - Agile Tester

1. Understand the fundamentals of Agile Software Development

How the various agile approaches differ and understanding the concepts of the Agile Manifesto; How the tester needs to adapt in the agile process for maximum effectiveness; Apply the various aspects relating to agile, such as: Writing and reviewing User Stories, Working in a continuous integrated environment and Performing agile retrospectives to improve the process.

2. Apply the fundamental Agile testing principles, practices and processes

How testing differs when working in an agile lifecycle compared to a more traditional lifecycle; How to work in a highly collaborative and integrated environment; How independent testing can be used within an agile project; How to report progress and the quality of the product to business stakeholders; Understand the role and skills of a tester within an agile team.

3. Know the key testing methods, techniques and tools to use within an Agile project

Understand Test Driven Development (TDD), Acceptance Driven Development (ADD), Behaviour Driven Development (BDD) and the concepts of the Test Pyramid; Perform the role of a tester within a Scrum team: Perform test estimation and assess product quality risks within an agile project, Interpret the information produced during an agile project to support test activities, Write ADD test cases, Write test cases for both functional and non-functional user stories; Execute exploratory testing within an agile project; Recognise the various tools available to the tester for the various agile activities.

Certification/Exams

• The ISTQB exam is now available online via remote proctoring. Delegate can take the exam at any location at the time of their choosing. More information will be provided during the course
• The course includes the cost of two exams, the ISTQB® Certified Tester – Foundation Level and ISTQB® Certified Tester – Foundation Level Extension, Agile Tester exam.
• The ISTQB® Certified Tester – Foundation Level has dual accreditation with the BCS as well as the ISTQB and successful candidates will receive certification with both BCS and ISTQB®.
• Both exams are 1 hour duration each (and extra 15 minutes is given to people who do not have English as their first language), 40 question multiple-choice exam with the pass mark being 65%.
• Passing the ISTQB® Certified Tester – Foundation Level is a pre-requite to sitting the the ISTQB® Certified Tester – Foundation Level Extension, Agile Tester exam.