1.5 Essential Skills and Good Practices in Testing (Quizzes I - IV)

Quizzes I - IV of ISTQB Exam Section 1.5

Which of the following statements is true regarding the importance of communication skills for testers?'

c) Testers should communicate information about defects and failures in a constructive manner, as they may be perceived as the bearers of bad news

Which activities below best represent responsibilities that are consistent with agile development’s Whole Team approach?

c) Testers are expected to work with customer representatives to create acceptance tests

During a project following Agile methods, you find a discrepancy between the developer’s interpretation of an acceptance criteria and the product owner’s interpretation, which you bring up during a user story refinement session. Which of the following is a benefit of test independence exemplified by this situation?

d) Challenging stakeholder assumptions

Regression test suites often fail during performance testing. This started to happen after switching to the new performance testing tool.

Which of the following skills will MOST LIKELY help the tester in dealing with the situation that has arisen?

b) Technical knowledge

Which of the following is an advantage of the whole team approach?

c) To support close collaboration, Agile teams are generally co-located

Why is independent testing important?

b) Independent testers are likely to recognize different kinds of failures and defects compared to developers who wrote the code

Which of the following statements is false regarding the importance of communication skills for testers?

c) Testers should always maintain a skeptical mindset towards the software product, actively criticizing its quality, as this enhances collaboration and encourages team members to perform better

Which of the following is an advantage of having the whole team responsible for quality?

c) Role barriers are eliminated and team members contribute to project success based on their unique skills and perspectives

Which of the following BEST explains a benefit of independent testing?

b) By engaging with the development team to clarify unclear and incomplete requirements, the independent testing team can effectively pinpoint any contradictions between the requirements and the implementation

The tester, who was assigned to test the user story about filtering real estate properties, previously worked as a real estate sales agent before changing their specialty. Which of the following skills will MOST LIKELY help the tester to test the user story effectively?

c) Domain knowledge

Out of the following which activities are not consistent with Agile's "Whole Team Approach"?

d) The Whole Team Approach improves dynamics, enhances communication, and collaboration between the development team and independent testing team

Which of the following BEST explains a drawback of independent testing?

c) Developers may lose a sense of personal responsibility for quality

A typical generic skill required for the role of a tester is the ability to:

b) Knowledge in test automation to save time by reducing repetitive manual work

Which of the following BEST explains the benefit of independent testing?

d) The varied backgrounds, technical viewpoints, and biases of independent testers make them likely to recognize different failures and defects compared to developers

Which of the following is an advantage of the whole team approach?

b) It improves team dynamics, enhances communication and collaboration within the team

What is the primary advantage of independent testing?

c) It identifies defects that might be missed by the person who wrote the code

Which approach should testers take when communicating defects to avoid being perceived as criticizing the product or its author?

d) Focusing communication on the defect itself, not the individual

What is one of the main reasons for having independent testing?

c) To challenge assumptions made by stakeholders

What is a key advantage of the whole-team approach?

d) It fosters a shared understanding of quality among team members

Why is independence in testing considered beneficial?

b) Because it can lead to the discovery of unique defects

How does attention to detail contribute to the effectiveness of a tester's work?

c) It enables testers to identify defects and anomalies in the software

What role can independent testers play in the verification and challenge of assumptions made by stakeholders?

b) They can verify, challenge, or disprove stakeholder assumptions

Which of the following best describes the concept of a Whole Team Approach to software testing?

b) Testers are involved from the beginning of the project and collaborate with all team members

A developer conducts unit testing on their own code, while a tester from a different team within the organization performs integration testing. What combination of independence levels is exhibited in this scenario?

i. No independence

ii. Some independence

iii. High independence

iv. Very high independence

b) i, iii

You are collaborating with developers on a new e-commerce platform. There is disagreement about the necessity of a specific test case you designed. Which skill would be most effective in reaching a consensus and ensuring comprehensive testing?

b) Good communication skills and active listening

A tester challenges a design decision made by a product manager, arguing that it could lead to security vulnerabilities. This scenario exemplifies which of the benefits of Independence the MOST:

d) Independent tester can verify, challenge, or disprove assumptions made by stakeholders during specification and implementation of the system

In the context of the Whole Team Approach, which of the following activities would NOT be encouraged?

c) Developers are required to know how to perform system testing and testers should be able to write unit tests by TDD

What drawback is independence in testing?

c) Isolation from the development team causing communication issues

A software tester has a strong background working in the healthcare industry prior to their testing career. This is an example of which of the generic skills required for testing,

d) Domain knowledge

What is meant by the term "independence of testing" in software development?

c) It signifies the separation of testing activities from development to avoid bias

Which of the following activities best exemplifies how a Whole Team Approach is present in the interactions between testers and business representatives?

b) Testers work with business representatives to create acceptance tests that align with user needs

Why should testers communicate information about defects and failures in a constructive way?

b) Communicating test results may be perceived as criticism of the software code product and its author

Out of the following which activities are not consistent with Agile’s “Whole Team Approach”?

d) Product owner and developers define the final acceptance criteria for the user story

Which of the following BEST explains a drawback of independent testing?

c) Independent testers may be blamed for delays in release

The tester was assigned to test a user story in which there is no description and acceptance criteria. All previous user stories had both description and acceptance criteria.

Which of the following skills will MOST LIKELY help the tester in dealing with the situation that has arisen?

a) Good communication skills

Which out of the following activities represent tasks and responsibilities that are consistent with the whole team approach in Agile projects?

c) Every team member of the Agile team takes responsibility for testing tasks

Which of the following BEST explains a drawback of independent testing?

d) Independent testers could be perceived as causing delays in the release process

A typical generic skill required for testing:

c) Ability to use tools to improve performance and security testing

Out of the following which is NOT a benefit of the “Whole Team Approach”?

d) Specialized testers not required

Which of the following BEST explains a benefit of independent testing?

d) Independent testers are likely to recognize different kinds of defects compared to developers because of their diverse backgrounds and biases

The tester was assigned to test the user story about changing the length of the password field. Previously, you could enter from 0 to 50 characters, but now the password must be from 6 to 50 characters long.

Which of the following skills will MOST LIKELY help the tester to test the user story effectively?

a) Testing knowledge

Out of the following which is NOT a benefit of the "Whole Team Approach"?

d) Specialized testers not required

Which of the following is an advantage of independent testing?

b) An independent tester has the ability to verify, challenge, or disprove assumptions made by stakeholders during the specification and implementation of the system

An application works correctly most of the time but occasionally crashes without any apparent reason. These crashes might be triggered by very specific and rare combinations of user inputs and system states that do not occur regularly, making it difficult to reproduce and diagnose the problem.

Which of the following skills is MOST important for a software tester to have in order to effectively identify the defect in a software application?

c) Thoroughness, carefulness, curiosity, attention to detail, being methodical

Which of the following is NOT a level of independence in testing?

d) Tests by a person who identified the defect

Which of the following is an advantage of the whole team approach?

b) Leveraging diverse skills within a team enhances communication, collaboration, and dynamics, fostering synergy for project success

Why is independence important in testing?

b) It helps in avoiding author bias in defining effective tests

How can testers mitigate the perception of testing as a destructive activity?

a) By emphasizing the positive aspects of testing, such as its contribution to product quality and project success

What is the key advantage of having an independent testing team?

c) It can identify different types of defects due to different perspectives

How do testers contribute to the whole team approach in their interactions with developers?

d) Testers work with developers to decide on test automation approaches

What is the primary benefit of independence in testing?

b) Increased defect detection due to testers’ different perspectives and less susceptibility to confirmation bias

You've designed a complex test suite covering various edge cases and potential error conditions. Executing it requires patience and a systematic approach. This scenario primarily highlights the importance of which tester skill?

d) Thoroughness and being methodical

Which of the following scenarios represents the 'Some independence' testing level?

b) A peer from the same team as the author testing the work product

How does the Whole Team Approach impact the role of a traditional tester in an Agile team?

d) Testers guide and collaborate with the entire team on testing best practices, contributing their expertise across all activities

An external testing consultancy is hired to evaluate the performance of a software application developed by a company. What level of independence does this scenario exemplify?

d) Very high independence

The Whole Team Approach emphasizes collaboration and shared responsibility. Which of the following scenarios best reflects this principle?

b) Testers work with developers to define the test strategy and collaborate with business representatives on acceptance criteria

What challenge might independent testers face in terms of collaboration with the development team?

b) Lack of communication leading to misunderstandings

Which role does testing knowledge play in enhancing the effectiveness of testing the MOST?

c) It facilitates the identification and application of appropriate test techniques and test metrics

What is a potential drawback of independent testing?

a) Independent testers may be isolated from the development team

What is the primary benefit of strong collaboration between testers and business representatives within a Whole Team Approach?

b) It ensures that testing aligns with business goals and user expectations

What consequence might arise if independent testers are perceived as a bottleneck?

c) [Independent testers would be] Blamed for delays in release

Why is domain knowledge considered crucial for a tester's effectiveness in communicating with end users and business representatives?

a) It helps testers to understand and anticipate user needs and to communicate findings in the context of business impacts

Which of the following skills is the MOST important for a tester?

a) Communicate information about defects and failures in a constructive way

Which out of the following activities represent tasks and responsibilities that are consistent with the whole team approach in Agile projects?

c) Every team member of the Agile team takes responsibility for testing tasks

Which of the following BEST explains a drawback of independent testing?

c) The independent test team may be in a different time zone than the development team, which can lead to communication problems

After reviewing the defect report, the Product Owner realizes that they lack technical knowledge to comprehend the report and cannot assess its priority. Consequently, they reach out to the tester, seeking clarification and requesting more detailed information about the nature of the defect, its potential consequences, and any relevant contextual details.

What information should the tester provide to the Product Owner?

c) The tester must provide all necessary information to the product owner in such a way that he understands why the defect is logged and what effect the defect has on the system

Out of the following which activities are not consistent with Agile's "Whole Team Approach"?

d) Product owner and developers define the final user story acceptance criteria

Which of the following is an advantage of independent testing?

d) Independent testers sometimes question the assumptions behind requirements, designs, and implementations

Which of the following skills is the MOST important for a tester?

a) Domain knowledge is important for testers to understand and communicate effectively with business representatives

How is the whole team approach present in the interactions between testers and business representatives?

b) Testers help business representatives to create suitable acceptance tests

Which of the following BEST explains a benefit of independent testing?

b) An independent tester may be more effective and efficient because they are less familiar with the software than the person who wrote it

During the testing phase, testers observe a behavior in the software that appears inconsistent or unintended based on their understanding of the requirements. They report this behavior as a bug. When developers investigate the reported issue, they start to argue that the observed behavior is intentional and aligns with the specifications. Even if it is considered a bug, they contend that it is of low severity rather than high severity. What should the tester do in this situation?

c) Ask the developer to show the specification according to which the code is written

How is the whole team approach present in the interactions between testers and developers?

c) Testers work closely with developers on test automation approaches

Which is the MOST important advantage of independence in testing?

d) An independent tester may be more effective at finding defects missed by the person who wrote the software

Where the analytical skills in software testing are MOST LIKELY to be used to:

c) Break down complex software systems into smaller, testable parts

Which of the following is a disadvantage of independent testing?

a) It may lead to communication issues

The Whole Team Approach promotes a shift in mindset from siloed work to collaborative effort. Which of the following statements best reflects this shift?

c) Everyone on the team shares responsibility for the overall quality and success of the project

Who typically performs testing with zero independence?

a) The person who wrote the code

Which of the following BEST describes why being detail-oriented is a necessary skill for software testers?

b) It helps in understanding and documenting the step-by-step replication of bugs or defects

A developer who also writes test cases for their own code might:

b) Miss edge cases or defects due to confirmation bias

What is the main benefit of adopting a Whole Team Approach to testing in agile projects?

c) It integrates testing into the development process, making the entire team responsible for quality

A developer writes some unit tests for their own code to ensure basic functionality. This scenario represents:

d) No independence testing

How does critical thinking benefit a software tester the MOST?

c) It helps in identifying assumptions, evaluating arguments, and solving problems systematically

What is the primary benefit of independence in testing?

b) Increased likelihood of recognizing diverse failures and defects

How can testers leverage the Whole Team Approach to improve the quality of business requirements?

b) By working with business representatives to ensure requirements are clear, testable, and unambiguous

How might developers' sense of responsibility for quality be affected by independence in testing?

b) It often results in decreased accountability for quality

Which of the following situations would MOST likely benefit from strong technical knowledge on the part of the tester?

d) Selecting an automation framework best suited for the application under testing

Since a team of independent testers was hired from outside the organization, the level of unit coverage began to decrease. Which of the disadvantages of independent testing does this situation illustrate?

d) Developers may lose a sense of responsibility for quality

Which of the following best describes the role of testers in collaborating with business representatives within the Whole Team Approach?

d) Testers help business representatives define test strategy and create suitable acceptance tests

Why might independent testers recognize different kinds of failures and defects compared to developers?

a) Because they have different backgrounds, technical perspectives, and biases

Which of the following best demonstrates a tester's good communication skills and active listening during the testing process?

b) The tester effectively conveys complex test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

If a tester from outside the author’s team but within the organization is testing a work product, what level of independence does this represent?

c) High independence

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the role of business representatives in a Whole Team Approach?

c) Testers responsibility is to train business representatives on test automation approaches

Which of the following BEST explains a benefit of independent testing?

a) An independent tester brings a different set of assumptions to the specification and implementation of item[s] under testing, which often helps expose hidden defects and problems

Which of the following is one of the important skills of a tester?

a) Carefulness, curiosity, and attention to detail are crucial to be able to identify defects, especially the ones that are difficult to find

Which of the following BEST explains a drawback of independent testing?

b) Independent testers may feel they are not part of the development team

Which of the following skill is the most important skills of a tester?

d) Technical knowledge to enhance testing efficiency through the utilization of appropriate test tools

Which ordering of the list below gives decreasing levels of test independence?

I. Product is tested by the author's peers from the same team

II. Product is tested by testers from outside the author's team but within the organization

III. Product is tested by its author

IV. Product is tested by testers from outside the organization

a) IV, II, I, III

Which of the following is an advantage of having the whole team responsible for quality?

c) Role barriers are eliminated, and team members contribute to project success based on their unique skills and perspectives

Which of the following BEST explains a benefit of independent testing?

d) An independent testing team can provide an objective opinion without concern for reprisals that might result from pointing out problems in co-workers’ or the managers’ work