ISTQB-CT-TAE Real Exam Questions and Verified Answers

Question 1 Single choice

Which of the following is an advantage of using automated installation of the TAS from a central repository?

A
Validation tests are not needed because the TAS is known to be good.
B
The TAS will have more flexibility for selecting test preconditions because of the loose coupling with the
SUT.
C
The TAS will automatically align itself with the special requirements of the SUT.
D
It is unlikely that unexpected test results will be caused by an incorrect version of a TAS component.

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Correct answer: D

Question 2 Single choice

Which of the following is a characteristic of a SUT that has been designed for testability?

A
Interfaces that could be used to change or control the SUT are protected and not accessible.
B
Interfaces between components are masked so that results can be viewed but inputs cannot be altered.
C
Interfaces in the form of stubs are included in the production code that can be used by the test automation to exercise error states.
D
Interfaces are provided that allow the test automation to check the system behavior that results from a tested stimulus.

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Correct answer: D

Question 3 Single choice

Six months ago, you released a TAS for use on a new project. This test automation is run weekly to provide a thorough regression test. You've been carefully monitoring the defects identified by this tool and are disheartened to see that the number of defects found on each execution remains about the same. At this point, you don't know if the automation is finding the same defects or different ones.

What should you do to get more information?

A
Modify the expected outputs to include verification for known defects to allow you to identify which defects are new while continuing to report on the known defects.
B
Introduce trend analysis so you can see if the number and type of defects is varying over time.
C
Integrate the tool with a third party spreadsheet to allow better charting and graphing capabilities and implement an automatic distribution of the reports to the stakeholders.
D
Implement a dashboard that will allow the development manager to delve deeper into the failures.

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Correct answer: B

Question 4 Single choice

Your company is new to test automation and as TAE. you have designed a TAS which successfully supports the SUT for the current project. There are other systems currently in operation which have been tested manually and more systems are planned over the coming years. Based on this success, your company requires test automation be rolled out to other current and future SUTs with consistency being a key objective.

Which of the following is the BEST way to achieve that?

A
Design a new TAS for each SUT, and manage each one through a dedicated automation support team.
B
Install the current TAS into a central repository so that other tests on different SUTs use the same version of the TAS.
C
Check for correct connectivity to internal and external systems to ensure that the TAS has been installed and configured correctly for each SUT.
D
Develop a tool that keeps track of automation failures across the different SUTs and produces regular reports to stakeholders.

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Correct answer: B

Explanation

Installing the current Test Automation System (TAS) into a central repository allows for consistent use across different Systems Under Test (SUTs). This approach promotes reusability and maintainability of the automation scripts and resources, which is crucial for a company that is expanding its test automation efforts. By using the same version of the TAS, the company ensures that all teams are working with the same tools and standards, which facilitates collaboration and reduces the complexity associated with managing multiple versions of the TAS. Additionally, it helps in streamlining the automation process, as updates and improvements to the TAS can be disseminated quickly and efficiently to all SUTs.

References:
The answer is based on the principles outlined in the ISTQB Test Automation Engineer certification materials, which emphasize the importance of consistency, maintainability, and efficiency in test automation practices.

Question 5 Single choice

You have a TAS that has been running for several years testing a mortgage calculation system. It was originally planned to complete execution within two hours once a week, but after more and more tests have been added, it now takes eight hours to run to completion. Due to other system requirements, you have been told that the execution must be restricted to two hours on any one night.

On further analysis, you have determined that one set of tests takes four hours to complete. These tests are quite complex and deal with the interest rate and payment calculations that consider many parameters.

What is the most practical approach to make the test automation execution fit within the two hour window?

A
Decompose the set of tests into smaller and more maintainable units. Execute these in sets that will take less than two hours. Spread the test execution over multiple nights as needed.
B
Design new tests to replace the existing, complex tests. Ensure that the new test set will execute within the two-hour window.
C
Examine the test set and remove all test cases that have not identified a defect in the last year. If the reduced test set will not fit in the two-hour window, continue removing test cases starting with the oldest identified defect and moving forward until the test set fits.
D
Move the execution to the weekend evenings to avoid impacting regular weekday processing.

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Correct answer: B

Question 6 Single choice

Which of the following CORRECTLY describes how automation SHOULD be applied to confirmation testing?

A
Confirmation tests are not good candidates for automation as they are not designed to run many times
B
Confirmation tests should only be automated if they fail to pass on the first attempt
C
Confirmation tests can be automated and incorporated into an automated regression suite to show whether defects that were previously fixed reoccur
D
A confirmation test should only be automated after it has been run manually

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Correct answer: C

Explanation

Confirmation testing, also known as retesting, involves verifying that defects identified during earlier tests have been fixed. The ISTQB guidelines suggest that confirmation tests are suitable candidates for automation because they are often repetitive and need to be run multiple times to confirm that the defect has indeed been fixed and does not reappear in subsequent releases. Automating these tests can save time and resources, and when incorporated into a regression test suite, they can provide continuous feedback on the status of the application under test.

References:
The ISTQB Test Automation Engineer syllabus and study materials emphasize the importance of automating confirmation tests as part of a comprehensive test strategy. This includes integrating automated confirmation tests into the regression suite to ensure that previously fixed defects do not reoccur, thus maintaining the integrity of the software over time.

Question 7 Single choice

What is the primary reason for automating a confirmation test?

A
To verify that a new fix works correctly
B
To test that a fix made in a prior release is still working
C
To confirm that a fix doesn't break anything else
D
To decrease the time it takes to test a new fix

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Correct answer: A

Question 8 Single choice

Which of the following statement about the implementation of automated regression testing is FALSE?

A
When automating regression tests, the structure of automated tests must always be the same as the corresponding manual tests
B
When automating regression tests, the corresponding manual tests should have already been executed to verify they operate correctly
C
When automating regression tests, the initialization steps set the test preconditions should be automated wherever possible
D
When automating regression tests, consideration should be given to how much time would be saved by automation

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Correct answer: A

Explanation

The statement that the structure of automated tests must always be the same as the corresponding manual tests is false. Automated regression testing does not require the structure of the automated tests to mirror the manual tests. Instead, the focus should be on the objectives of the tests and ensuring they are met effectively through automation. The structure of automated tests can be different from manual tests as long as they are efficient and maintainable. Automated tests can be designed to be more modular, reusable, and maintainable compared to their manual counterparts.
References:
The ISTQB Test Automation Engineer documents and training resources provide comprehensive guidelines on the design, development, and maintenance of test automation solutions. They emphasize the importance of automating dynamic functional tests and the relationship of those tests to test management, configuration management, defect management, and other aspects of the software development lifecycle.

Question 9 Single choice

Which of the following will help ensure the success of a test automation project?

A
The software is complex and difficult to test manually.
B
The test systems have variable configurations and frequent data updates.
C
The SUT is designed in such a way as to support automated testing.
D
The Test Automation Framework (TAf)- uses the latest technology.

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Correct answer: C

Question 10 Single choice

To maximize reuse across future automation solutions, where should design for reuse primarily occur?

A
At the individual script level only
B
At the framework naming-convention level only
C
At the TAS level only
D
At the TAA level

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Correct answer: D

Explanation

Option D is correct because reuse is best enabled when architectural principles and reusable structures are defined early at the TAA level.
Option A is incorrect because reuse limited to individual scripts is too narrow.
Option B is incorrect because naming conventions help consistency but are not sufficient to provide architectural reuse.
Option C is incorrect because the TAS benefits from reuse, but the main design decisions that enable it should originate in the TAA.