ISTQB Throughout the Lifecycle 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which testing principle states that testing can show the presence of defects but cannot prove their absence?
- Exhaustive testing is impossible
- Testing shows presence of defects, not absence (Correct answer)
- Early testing saves time and money
- Defects cluster together
Correct answer: Testing shows presence of defects, not absence
Testing can reveal defects but cannot guarantee a defect-free product, as it is impossible to test every possible input and scenario.
Question 2: In a V-model, what development phase corresponds to system testing?
- Detailed design
- High-level design
- System requirements (Correct answer)
- Business requirements
Correct answer: System requirements
System testing corresponds to the system requirements phase in the V-model, verifying the system meets its specified requirements.
Question 3: What is the primary goal of regression testing in iterative development?
- Find new defects introduced by recent changes
- Test all features from scratch each iteration
- Verify that previously working functions still work after changes (Correct answer)
- Measure code coverage metrics
Correct answer: Verify that previously working functions still work after changes
Regression testing ensures that changes, fixes, or new features have not broken previously working functionality.
Question 4: Which SDLC model is best suited for projects where requirements are well-understood and unlikely to change?
- Agile
- Spiral
- Sequential (Waterfall) (Correct answer)
- Kanban
Correct answer: Sequential (Waterfall)
The sequential (waterfall) model works best when requirements are stable and well-defined upfront, allowing each phase to complete before the next begins.
Question 5: In agile development, what testing activity typically occurs during a sprint review?
- Unit testing by developers
- Acceptance testing with stakeholders (Correct answer)
- Performance load testing
- Security penetration testing
Correct answer: Acceptance testing with stakeholders
Sprint reviews involve demonstrating working software to stakeholders, which often includes acceptance testing to validate delivered functionality.
Question 6: What does 'shift-left testing' mean in the context of the software development lifecycle?
- Moving testing activities earlier in the development process (Correct answer)
- Shifting test responsibilities from testers to developers
- Moving testing to the left side of the V-model
- Reducing the number of test cycles
Correct answer: Moving testing activities earlier in the development process
Shift-left testing means incorporating testing activities earlier in the SDLC to catch defects sooner and reduce the cost of fixing them.
Question 7: Which type of review is the most formal, requiring entry/exit criteria, defined roles, and a recorded outcome?
- Walkthrough
- Informal review
- Technical review
- Inspection (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Inspection
Inspections are the most formal review type, following a documented process with defined roles (moderator, author, reviewers), checklists, and formal defect logging.
