CTFL-AT Certified Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester Questions and Answers

Exploratory testing is a testing approach that emphasizes learning, creativity, and adaptability. It involves simultaneous test design and test execution, where the tester uses heuristics, intuition, and experience to explore the system under test and discover new information12. Exploratory testing can be performed in an Agile project to complement other testing activities, such as test-driven development, behavior-driven development, and acceptance test-driven development12.

The correct approach to adopt for exploratory testing in an Agile project is D, as it follows the best practices for exploratory testing1234:

Ask experienced testers to prepare test charters for time boxed sessions lasting no more than 2 hours: A test charter is a brief document that describes the scope, objective, and strategy of an exploratory testing session. A test charter helps to guide the tester’s exploration and to document the results. A time box is a fixed period of time allocated for an exploratory testing session. A time box helps to focus the tester’s attention and to limit the scope of exploration. A time box should not be too long, as it may reduce the tester’s concentration and creativity. A recommended duration for a time box is between 45 minutes and 2 hours.

Tests should be designed and executed within each session using heuristics, creativity and intuition: Exploratory testing is an iterative and interactive process, where the tester designs and executes tests based on the observations and feedback from the system under test. The tester uses heuristics, which are rules of thumb or shortcuts that help to simplify the testing problem and to generate test ideas. The tester also uses creativity and intuition, which are mental abilities that help to generate novel and useful solutions and to make judgments based on incomplete or uncertain information.

The incorrect approaches to adopt for exploratory testing in an Agile project are A, B, and C, as they violate the principles and practices of exploratory testing1234:

A: Allocate independent testers to design exploratory tests using test charters in time boxed sessions. Plan to run all sessions in parallel with each session lasting more than 5 hours: This approach is incorrect because it does not involve simultaneous test design and test execution, which is the essence of exploratory testing. It also uses too long time boxes, which may reduce the tester’s concentration and creativity. It also does not leverage the collaboration and communication within the Agile team, as it isolates the testers from the developers and other stakeholders.

B: Ask experienced testers to try and find new defects by using the system without the constraint of documentation and tools: This approach is incorrect because it does not use test charters, which are essential for guiding and documenting the exploratory testing sessions. It also does not use heuristics, creativity, and intuition, which are important for generating test ideas and making decisions. It also implies that exploratory testing is an unstructured and random activity, which is a common misconception. Exploratory testing is a disciplined and systematic approach that requires planning, analysis, and evaluation.

C: Use testers who have not been involved in the sprint to write new test cases from the user stories. These test cases are then executed in a time boxed session for the sprint: This approach is incorrect because it does not involve simultaneous test design and test execution, which is the essence of exploratory testing. It also uses testers who have not been involved in the sprint, which may reduce their understanding of the system under test and the customer needs. It also does not use test charters, which are essential for guiding and documenting the exploratory testing sessions. It also does not use heuristics, creativity, and intuition, which are important for generating test ideas and making decisions.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.1:

"Acceptance criteria should be testable, meaning they should define expected behavior or measurable outcomes that can be verified."

Option Ais testable because it includesspecific, measurable conditions: response time, user load, and percentage of pages.

Option Bis vague aboutwhich vulnerabilitiesandhow errors are defined.

Option Cusessubjective language("clear and intuitive").

Option Dis vague about what "reasonable accuracy" means.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 3.1Testing Techniques and Agile, it states:

"Decision table testing is useful when the outcome depends on combinations of inputs or rules."

In this case,different reimbursement percentagesare determined based ontypes of visits and subtypes, makingOption A (Decision Table Testing)the ideal technique.

Option Bfocuses onsingle input ranges, less suitable here.

Option Csuits end-to-end scenarios but not logic-driven calculations.

Option Dapplies tostate-based systems, which this is not.

 The Agile processes promote early and frequent feedback from the customers, users, testers, developers, and other stakeholders involved in the project. This feedback helps to ensure that the product meets the expectations and needs of the customers and users, and that the development process is continuously improved and adapted to the changing requirements and environment. However, increasing the frequency of feedback and communication does not eliminate all communication problems, as there may still be issues such as misunderstandings, misinterpretations, conflicts, or cultural differences that need to be resolved. Therefore, the statement D is not true, as it implies that communication problems are completely avoided by the Agile processes. References: ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus1, Section 1.2.1, page 9; ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester Extension Sample Exam Questions2, Question 4, page 5.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.5Testers and Independence, it explains:

"An independent test team may be used in parallel to Agile teams to support non-sprint activities such as performance testing, test tool development, or testing in regulated environments."

However, assigningfunctional testing to independent teamswhile Agile teams handlenon-functionalwork is theoppositeof common practice. Agile teams typically focus onfunctional testing, while specializednon-functionalor compliance testing may be handled externally.

Therefore,Option Ais least likely to be true.

 Business-oriented work products are those that describe what is needed (e.g., requirements specifications) and how to use it (e.g., user documentation). A user manual is an example of a business-oriented work product, as it provides instructions and guidance on how to use the product from the user’s perspective. A user manual may also contain information about the product’s features, benefits, and limitations. A user manual is typically written by technical writers, who may collaborate with developers, testers, and business analysts to ensure the accuracy and clarity of the content. A user manual may be delivered in various formats, such as printed, online, or interactive. References: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus1, Section 1.2.1, page 10; ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources2, Section 1.2.1, page 10.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.1Acceptance Criteria and Testability, acceptance tests must be directly related to thenew functionalitydescribed in the user story.

Option Dis correct — itvalidates the new featureof paying via smartcard credit, specificallyhandling edge cases(e.g., zero credit).

Option Ais incorrect —payment should failwith insufficient credit.

Option Bintroducesrequirements not mentionedin the story.

Option Ctestscredit card logic, not the new smartcard functionality.

 Scrum is an agile development approach that incorporates the following practices:

a project is divided into iterations called sprints, which are typically 2-4 weeks long

each sprint starts with a planning meeting, where the team selects a subset of user stories from the product backlog to work on

each sprint ends with a review meeting, where the team demonstrates the potentially releasable/shippable product increment to the stakeholders and collects feedback

each sprint also includes a retrospective meeting, where the team reflects on the process and identifies areas for improvement123 References: 1: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus, Section 2.1, Agile Software Development1; 2: ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources, Section 2.1, Agile Software Development2; 3: What is Agile? | Atlassian3

Risk-based testing is a technique that prioritizes testing activities based on the level of risk associated with each feature or requirement. The level of risk is usually calculated by multiplying the probability and impact of each risk. The higher the risk level, the more testing effort should be allocated to mitigate the risk. In this case, the risk level for each option is as follows: A. Risk level = Low x Low = Low B. Risk level = Low x High = Medium C. Risk level = High x High = High D. Risk level = High x Low = Medium Therefore, the highest risk level is C, followed by B and D, and then A. The User Story for the Operator-Instructions module should be tested according to this risk order, starting with C, then B, then D, and finally A. Hence, the answer is B, as it is the second highest risk level and should be tested after C. References: ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester Extension Syllabus1, page 16; ISTQB Agile Tester Sample Exam2, question 18.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

From theCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.1User Stories and Acceptance Criteria, it states:

"Acceptance criteria are defined collaboratively and refined during the conversation to ensure mutual understanding. They may be added or updated as new insights emerge."

This supportsOption D, which reflects how acceptance criteria evolveduring conversations— a key component of the"Card, Conversation, Confirmation"model.

Option Ais incorrect — the user story istestable, especially with the acceptance criterion.

Option Bis false — the story provides clear user value (printed hard copy for daily records).

Option Cis misleading — the Given-When-Then formatsupportsdiscussions; it doesn’t replace them.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 3.2Test-Driven Development, and Section 3.4Testing Quadrants:

"TDD focuses on writing unit tests before code is implemented. These are technology-facing tests that support the team and are categorized under Q1."

Therefore,Option Dis correct.

Option Ainvolves performance/security testing.

Option B and Cinvolvebusiness-facing tests, not applicable to TDD.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

From theCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 1.3The Whole-Team Approach, the benefit of the whole-team approach is:

"All team members, including testers, work together in all project phases. This encourages collaboration and shared responsibility, which leads to the availability of working software and immediate feedback on changes."

Specifically, it is noted:

"One benefit of the whole-team approach is the continuous availability of working, executable software, which can be tested at any point in the iteration."

This makesOption Athe correct answer.

Let’s analyze the others:

Option Brelates toAcceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD), not the whole-team approach specifically.

Option Cis a benefit ofTDD, not of the whole-team approach.

Option Drefers tocontinuous integration, not directly tied to the whole-team concept.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.2Quality Risk Analysis:

"The whole team contributes to quality risk analysis. While the Product Owner may identify business risks, the team collectively assesses risk levels based on impact and likelihood."

Thus,Option Ais correct —collaborative assessmentensures accurate risk-driven testing and planning.

Option Bis wrong —poor user stories should be addressed, not ignored.

Option Cis incorrect —risk level, not item count, determines depth of testing.

Option Dis false —effort estimation considers multiple factors, not just risk.

According to the ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, acceptance criteria are a set of conditions that a user story must satisfy to be accepted by the customer or stakeholder. Acceptance criteria should be testable, meaning that they can be verified by objective measurements or observations. Testable acceptance criteria should be clear, unambiguous, complete, and consistent. Therefore, option A is the best example for testable acceptance criteria, as it specifies a clear and measurable condition for the input value of the ID field. Option B is not a good example for testable acceptance criteria, as it is vague and does not define any specific condition or expectation for the interface to External System. Option C is not a good example for testable acceptance criteria, as it is incomplete and does not specify what the specific authorization level is or how it is determined. Option D is not a good example for testable acceptance criteria, as it is subjective and not measurable. What is clear and attractive for one user may not be for another. References: ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 1.1.1, page 7; ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 1.1.2, page 8; ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 3.1.1, page 23; ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 3.1.2, page 24.

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Risk-based testing fits well in Agile development processes, as risks are easy to identify when the work is divided into user stories. User stories are short descriptions of features or functionalities that are valuable to the customers or users. They help to define the scope and priority of the work in each iteration. By breaking down the work into user stories, the Agile team can identify the potential risks associated with each story, such as technical complexity, business criticality, or user feedback. The team can then prioritize the testing effort based on the risk level of each story, ensuring that the most important and risky features are tested first and thoroughly. Risk-based testing also helps to optimize the testing time and resources, as the team can focus on testing the most relevant aspects of the software, rather than testing everything equally. References: ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus, Section 2.3.2, page 181; ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester Sample Exam Questions, Question 2.3.2-1, page 92

Cross-functional teamwork is an important organizational and behavioral best practice for a tester in the SCRUM team that should have also been practiced when using the sequential model. Cross-functional teamwork means that all team members, regardless of their functional roles, collaborate and share their skills and knowledge to achieve a common goal. In the context of testing, this means that testing is not seen as a separate activity or phase, but as an integral part of the development process. All team members contribute to testing in various ways, such as:

Involving people with the test strategy, test planning and execution as well as test reporting. This can help ensure that the testing activities are aligned with the business objectives, the user needs, and the technical requirements. It can also help improve the test coverage, the test quality, and the test efficiency.

Sharing the responsibility for testing among the team members. This can help reduce the workload and the dependency on a single tester or a testing team. It can also help increase the feedback and the communication among the team members, and foster a culture of quality and learning.

Leveraging the diverse skills and perspectives of the team members. This can help enhance the test design and the test execution by applying different techniques, tools, and approaches. It can also help identify and address the risks, the issues, and the opportunities for improvement from various angles. References: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus1, Section 1.2.1, page 9; ISTQB® Glossary of Testing Terms2, version 4.0, page 16.

 Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) is a software development approach that allows a developer to define accurate unit tests focused on business needs. BDD uses a common language that is understandable by both technical and non-technical stakeholders, such as Given-When-Then scenarios. BDD helps to align the development and testing activities with the customer expectations and business goals . References:

: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus, Version 2014, Section 2.2.2

: ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources, Agile Testing Foundations, Chapter 3, Section 3.2.2

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 3.1Exploratory Testing, it defines atest charteras:

"A mission statement defining what to test, how it can be tested, and what issues to look for. Effective charters support focused yet flexible exploration."

Option Bis the best because it specifies:

Thearea of the system under test

Theparameters involved

Theapproach(combinations)

Thegoal(discover unexpected effects)

Option Afocuses only onone parameter.

Option Cistoo vague.

Option Dis tooprescriptiveand limits exploration.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 5.2Daily Stand-Ups, it states:

"The daily stand-up is a short meeting used to discuss progress, plans for the day, and any impediments that are blocking progress."

Therefore,Option Bis correct — highlightingimpediments/blockersis a key goal of thedaily stand-up.

Option Ais aretrospectiveactivity.

Option Cis done duringplanning or risk assessment, not the daily meeting.

Option Dis part ofiteration planning, not the stand-up.

 Exploratory testing is a type of testing that involves simultaneous learning, test design, and test execution. It is suitable for Quadrant 3 because it is business facing and product critique, meaning that it focuses on the user’s perspective and the quality attributes of the product. Exploratory testing can help discover new risks, requirements, and defects that may not be covered by other test levels and test types. It can also provide feedback on the usability, functionality, and reliability of the product. References: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus1, Section 2.3.2, page 17; ISTQB® Glossary of Testing Terms2, version 4.0, page 23.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 1.2Fundamentals of Agile Software Development, it states:

"Kanban is a lean approach that uses visualization (typically via a task board) to manage work in progress and improve workflow. Unlike Scrum, iterations in Kanban are optional."

Thus,Option C (Kanban)is correct. It emphasizesvisualizationand doesnot require fixed-length iterations.

Option A (Scrum)is iteration-based.

Option B (Continuous integration)is a practice, not a development approach.

Option D (Slack)is a communication tool, not a methodology.