ISTQB ISTQB-CT-TAE Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

ISTQB ISTQB-CT-TAE Online Questions & Answers

• Question 141:

  Manual testers are spending most of their time on regression testing, leaving too little time for new feature testing. You want to show the business value of automation in this context.

  Which metric is MOST appropriate?

  A. Percentage of source code covered by automated tests
  B. Equivalent Manual Test Effort for the automated tests
  C. Number of automation libraries used
  D. Number of screenshots captured during failed tests
  B. Equivalent Manual Test Effort for the automated tests

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  Explanation

  Option B is correct because Equivalent Manual Test Effort shows how much manual effort is saved by automation, which directly addresses the stated problem.

  Option A is incorrect because code coverage does not directly show time saved for testers.

  Option C is incorrect because library count does not indicate business value.

  Option D is incorrect because failure screenshots may aid diagnosis but do not quantify the value of freed testing effort.

• Question 142:

  The Test Automation Manager has asked you to provide a solution for collecting metrics from the TAS that measures code coverage every time the automated regression test pack is run. The metrics must be trend based to ensure that the scope of the regression test pack continues to reflect enhancements made to the SUT -coverage must not drop and should ideally increase. The solution must be as automated as possible to avoid unnecessary manual overheads and errors.

  Which of the following approaches would BEST meet these requirements?

  A. Test automation cannot measure code coverage for the SUT, only the code for the automation tools and scripts. The automated test cases would need to be run manually with a code coverage and reporting tool running in the background.
  B. The automated testware would record overall code coverage for each run and add the figure to a new row in a pre-formatted Excel spreadsheet. You would then present the spreadsheet to stakeholders so they could look for changes in coverage.
  C. The automated testware would record overall code coverage for each run, export the data to a pre-formatted Excel spreadsheet that automatically updates a trend analysis bar chart for you to distribute to stakeholders.
  D. The automated testware would record the pass/fail rate of each regression test case, export the data to a pre-formatted Excel spreadsheet that automatically updates a trend analysis success rate bar chart and emails it to stakeholders.
  C. The automated testware would record overall code coverage for each run, export the data to a pre-formatted Excel spreadsheet that automatically updates a trend analysis bar chart for you to distribute to stakeholders.

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  Explanation

  The best approach for collecting metrics that measure code coverage is to automate the process as much as possible. Option C suggests an automated solution where the testware records the code coverage for each run and exports the data to an Excel spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is pre-formatted to update a trend analysis bar chart automatically. This method not only minimizes manual overheads and errors but also provides stakeholders with an easy-to-understand visual representation of the coverage trends over time. It ensures that the scope of the regression test pack is continuously reflecting the enhancements made to the SUT, with coverage metrics that should not drop and ideally increase, aligning with the requirements for trend-based metrics.

  References:

  The ISTQB Test Automation Engineer syllabus and industry best practices recommend the use of automated solutions for tracking and analyzing test metrics. This includes the automation of metric collection and the use of trend analysis to monitor the effectiveness of the test suite over time.

• Question 143:

  The GUI of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application has been delivered through internet Explorer with proprietary Active X and Java controls. This implementation enables rich client capabilities, but specific commercial automation tools are necessary to automate test cases at GUI of functional test cases. This is to demonstrate whether a small set of the commercial are able to properly recognize actions taken by a tester when interacting with GUI of the

  CRM application.

  Which of the following scripting techniques would be MOST suitable in this scenario?

  A. Data-driven scripting
  B. Keyword-driven scripting
  C. Linear scripting
  D. Structure scripting
  B. Keyword-driven scripting

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  Explanation

  In the context of a CRM application with a GUI delivered through Internet Explorer using proprietary Active X and Java controls, keyword-driven scripting is the most suitable technique. This approach separates the test automation code from the test data, allowing for the creation of high-level keywords that represent user actions on the GUI. It is particularly effective in environments where specific commercial automation tools are necessary, as it enables non-technical testers to write automated test cases using a set of predefined keywords. This method enhances the maintainability and reusability of test scripts, making it easier to adapt to changes in the GUI controls or the underlying application.

  References:

  The ISTQB Test Automation Engineer syllabus and materials provide guidance on selecting appropriate scripting techniques based on the characteristics of the application under test and the test automation tools available. It discusses the advantages of keyword-driven scripting in scenarios where rich client capabilities are implemented and specific automation tools are required.

• Question 144:

  What represents good practice when automating a manual regression test suite?

  A. Test data shared between tests should, where feasible, be stored and accessed from a single source to avoid duplication or introduction of error.
  B. All existing manual tests should be decomposed into several smaller automated tests to reduce functional overlap.
  C. Remove inter-dependencies between tests to reduce automation failures and costly error analysis.
  D. Once a manual test has been automated, execute it immediately to Identify whether it operates correctly.
  A. Test data shared between tests should, where feasible, be stored and accessed from a single source to avoid duplication or introduction of error.

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  Explanation

  When automating a manual regression test suite, it is considered good practice to store and access shared test data from a single source when possible. This approach helps to avoid duplication and the introduction of errors, which can occur when multiple sources of test data are used. Centralizing test data ensures consistency across tests and simplifies maintenance, as changes to the data need to be made in only one place. This practice aligns with principles of efficiency and reliability in test automation.

  References:

  The information is based on the ISTQB CT-TAE guidelines, which recommend centralizing shared test data to improve the efficiency and reliability of automated testing 1.

• Question 145:

  A test team must automate system-level functional tests through the CLI of the SUT. They want low maintenance effort, low cost for adding new tests, and strong independence from the specific tool.

  Which scripting technique is MOST suitable?

  A. Linear scripting
  B. Structured scripting
  C. Data-driven scripting
  D. Capture-replay scripting
  C. Data-driven scripting

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  Explanation

  Option C is correct because data-driven scripting separates test logic from data, making it easier to add new tests and maintain the solution with reduced dependence on a specific tool.

  Option A is incorrect because linear scripting is usually brittle and hard to maintain.

  Option B is incorrect because structured scripting improves organization but does not provide the same flexibility for expanding coverage through data variation.

  Option D is incorrect because capture-replay is more tool-dependent and usually less suitable for sustainable CLI-based automation.

• Question 146:

  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
  A. When automating regression tests, the structure of automated tests must always be the same as the corresponding manual tests

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  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 147:

  You have implemented a keyword-driven scripting framework, which uses a test execution tool to run the tests. This has been in use for the past year and all of the teams now use this framework as the standard approach for test execution.

  The teams all work on different aspects of the SUT and they have all experienced significant benefits in the use of this scripting framework. However, on closer examination, you have discovered that there are numerous instances where the teams have the same functionality to test but are using different keywords. One of your objectives for improvement is to create consistency among the teams.

  What is the BEST way to handle this situation?

  A. Move to a model-based approach to scripting where the models include the keywords.
  B. Do nothing, each team are working in isolation and they are all experiencing significant benefits in the way they are currently working.
  C. Provide each team with a set of guidelines and naming conventions for keywords.
  D. Create a central library of keywords and associated definitions for each team to use.
  D. Create a central library of keywords and associated definitions for each team to use.

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  Explanation

  Establishing a central library of keywords and associated definitions ensures consistency across different teams working on the same System Under Test (SUT). This approach not only promotes uniformity in keyword usage but also facilitates better communication, maintenance, and scalability of the test automation framework. By having a shared repository of keywords, teams can avoid duplication of effort and reduce the risk of discrepancies in test implementation. This centralization aligns with the ISTQB's principles of efficient test automation architecture and management.

  References:

  The ISTQB Test Automation Engineer (CT-TAe)- documents and training resources emphasize the importance of a consistent and maintainable test automation framework. The creation of a central library of keywords is a recommended practice to achieve this consistency, as it supports the definition, implementation, and execution layers of a generic test automation architecture.

• Question 148:

  You have just started a new test automation project. The gTAA was created by a consultant who has now left the company. You need to create a TAA that will work for a set of projects that are currently in development. These projects are all being supervised by the same project manager who has strict requirements for the type and amount of reporting that must be done. He has told you that he is looking to have detailed pass/fail metrics reported each time the test automation is run.

  Given these requirements, where do you need to implement the change to provide this level of reporting?

  A. Test Adaptation Layer of each TAS
  B. Test Execution Layer of the TAA
  C. Report Definition Layer of the gTAA
  D. Management Layer of each TAS
  B. Test Execution Layer of the TAA

• Question 149:

  Which of the following regression tests are the best candidates for test automation?

  A. Tests that are run only for major releases
  B. Tests that are run daily as part of the build verification
  C. Tests that are run infrequently, but are easy to automate
  D. Tests that are run only at year end by domain experts and require variable data setup
  B. Tests that are run daily as part of the build verification

• Question 150:

  You have been asked to implement test automation for a SUT that consists of a web application released into production one year ago. A V-model lifecycle is adopted for managing every planned release and testing is well-established and fully integrated into such development lifecycle and the associated milestones. The tests to be automated are regression tests developed via the GUI which are expected to be run at least four times a month, in correspondence of each planned release, for the whole operational life of the system (six years). Each screen of the GUI uses several third-party controls which are not compatible with existing available automation solutions. The environment for the automation will be stable, fully controllable and separated from other environments (development, staging, production).

  Based only on the given information, which of the following aspects would you expect to be most problematic for this automation effort?

  A. Maturity of the test process
  B. Complexity to automate
  C. Frequency of use
  D. Sustainability of the automated environment
  B. Complexity to automate