CTFL-Foundation ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

When a developer makes a mistake that introduces a fault in the code, and this fault is not detected during testing, it becomes a latent defect. The definite consequence is that if this defect is executed under specific conditions, it may cause the system to fail. The actual failure occurs only when the defect is triggered during the system's operation. This emphasizes the importance of thorough testing to catch such defects before the software is released​​.

Functional and structural testing can be applied at all test levels. Functional testing focuses on verifying that the software behaves as expected based on the requirements, while structural testing examines the internal structure and workings of the software. These testing approaches are complementary and can be used together at various stages of testing, including component, integration, system, and acceptance testing. Applying both types of tests ensures a comprehensive evaluation of the software's functionality and internal structure​​.

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The highest level of testing independence is achieved when the testing process is performed by individuals or teams who are completely independent of the development team and the organization. Option B, which involves outsourcing test design and execution to a different company, ensures that there is no bias or influence from the development team or company politics, thereby achieving the highest level of testing independence​​.

Measurement of code coverage is important because it helps ensure that all code is exercised by tests. This does not guarantee that there are no coding errors or that all requirements are covered, but it helps identify untested parts of the code, allowing for better test coverage and more robust testing processes​​.

A keyword-driven testing approach is effective because it separates the test logic (actions) from the test data. This makes the scripts more reusable and easier to maintain. By organizing tests this way, any changes in the data or the actions can be made independently without affecting the other, enhancing the efficiency and manageability of automated tests​​.

Static analysis tools are designed to analyze code without executing it. They are particularly good at finding defects related to code structure, such as variables that are not used or improperly declared. These tools can parse the code and identify issues that may not be easily detected through dynamic testing methods. Other issues like omission of a major requirement (A), inadequate decision coverage (B), and component memory leakage (C) are typically found through dynamic testing or higher-level verification techniques​​ .

Decision coverage is a testing metric used to ensure that all possible paths (decisions) in the code have been executed at least once. It is not used to verify the correctness of module calls, which ismore related to integration testing or control flow testing. Options A, B, and D describe valid uses of decision coverage, ensuring that decisions are exercised in programs, business processes, and measuring the extent of coverage by a test suite​​ .

Providing support for the test team using the tool is crucial for successful deployment. This includes training the test team on how to effectively use the tool, offering ongoing support to address any issues, and integrating the tool into existing processes. By ensuring that the team is well-equipped and confident in using the tool, the organization can maximize the benefits of the tool and improve overall testing efficiency​​.

Maintenance testing is typically triggered by changes to the operational system, such as data migration, system modification, or system retirement. These triggers require testing to ensure that the changes do not negatively impact the existing functionality. However, the introduction of a test management tool does not directly affect the operational system and is not considered a trigger for maintenance testing​​.

The testability of requirements is evaluated during the Test Analysis and Design stage of the fundamental test process. In this stage, the test team reviews the requirements to ensure they are clear, complete, and testable. The focus is on understanding the test basis and defining the test conditions, test cases, and test data necessary to verify the requirements​​.

The pesticide paradox in testing refers to the phenomenon where continuously using the same set of tests on the software eventually becomes less effective at finding new defects. Just as insects can develop resistance to pesticides over time, software defects become less detectable by tests that are not updated. Therefore, to maintain the effectiveness of testing, it is essential to regularly review and revise the test cases to introduce new tests and update existing ones​​.

A dynamic analysis tool would have been the most effective at detecting a defect where a code component fails to release memory after use. These tools analyze the behavior of the software while it is running, allowing them to identify issues like memory leaks, which occur when memory is not properly freed. Dynamic analysis tools can monitor the allocation and deallocation of memory in real-time, helping to pinpoint the exact location and cause of the memory leak before the software is deployed​​ .

According to the decision table:

For TC1, since Paul is not a full member but is a Loyalty Card holder and requests 18 holes with a buggy/cart, the applicable action is £18 Green Fees plus £5 for buggy/cart, totaling £23.

For TC2, since Cheryl is not a full member, does not have a Loyalty Card, and requests 9 holes with a buggy/cart, the applicable action is £16 Green Fees with no buggy allowed​​.

Statement coverage measures the percentage of executable statements in the code that have been executed. However, it does not check for missing statements since these are not present in the code to be executed in the first place. Statement coverage can identify unused branches, dead code, and unused statements within the code. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.3.2​​.

Checking test logs against the exit criteria specified in test planning is not a major task of test implementation and execution. This activity is more related to evaluating exit criteria and reporting. Major tasks of test implementation and execution include developing and prioritizing test cases, creating test data, writing test procedures, optionally preparing test harnesses, and writing automated test scripts, logging the outcome of test execution, and verifying that the test environment has been set up correctly​​.

One of the most likely benefits of using static techniques is productivity improvements in the development process. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 states that static techniques, such as reviews and static analysis, help in identifying defects early, which reduces the time and effort required for rework, thus improving overall productivity in the development process​​.

One of the primary objectives of software testing is to uncover software errors. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 emphasizes that testing aims to find defects, verify that the software works as expected, and ensure that it meets the specified requirements. Other objectives include preventing defects, evaluating the quality of the software, and providing information to stakeholders​​.

This option has someone nearer to the written code in each statement. All other options are not in this order.

Tester independence refers to the degree to which the tester is separate from the development team to avoid bias and increase the objectivity of the tests. The highest level of independence is achieved when tests are designed by someone from an entirely different company, followed by someone from a different department within the same company, and then by another member of the development team. The lowest level of independence is when tests are designed by the author of the code being tested.

A disadvantage of independent testing is that developers might lose a sense of responsibility for the quality of their work. When developers rely too much on independent testers to find defects, they may become less diligent in their own testing and quality assurance efforts. The ISTQB CTFL Syllabus points out that while independent testing can provide an unbiased perspective and identify defects that might be missed by developers, it can also lead to potential downsides such as diminished developer accountability​​.