Design & Methodology Flashcards

Which technique is BEST suited for testing systems where outputs depend on a sequence of prior inputs or events?

Answer: State transition testing

State transition testing models systems where behavior depends on current state and historical inputs, making it ideal for workflows and session-based systems.

What does 'test basis' refer to in test design?

Answer: The documentation from which test conditions are derived

The test basis is any document or artifact—such as requirements, designs, or user stories—used as the source for identifying what to test.

A tester is designing tests for a shipping cost calculator: orders under $50 pay $5.99, $50–$99.99 pay $2.99, and $100+ ship free. How many equivalence partitions exist?

Answer: 3

There are three valid partitions corresponding to the three pricing tiers, plus potentially invalid partitions for negative values.

Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a test strategy document?

Answer: To describe the overall testing approach, levels, and techniques for a project or organization

A test strategy defines high-level testing principles, scope, techniques, tools, and responsibilities, serving as a guiding framework for the project.

When using pairwise (all-pairs) testing, what is the primary benefit over exhaustive combinatorial testing?

Answer: It significantly reduces the number of test cases while still covering all two-way combinations

Pairwise testing reduces test cases dramatically by ensuring every pair of parameter values appears together at least once, catching most defects with far fewer tests.

What is the key difference between verification and validation in the context of test design?

Answer: Verification checks the product against specifications; validation checks it against user needs

Verification asks 'Are we building the product right?' (vs. specs), while validation asks 'Are we building the right product?' (vs. user needs).

In agile testing methodology, what is the role of 'definition of done' (DoD) in test design?

Answer: It establishes the quality criteria a user story must meet before it is considered complete

The Definition of Done sets explicit, agreed-upon quality standards including test coverage, code review, and acceptance criteria that must be satisfied before a story ships.