Exploratory Testing Risk-Based Exploratory Testing

Question 1

What is risk-based testing (RBT) in the context of exploratory testing?

Accepted Answer

Prioritizing testing effort toward areas with the highest likelihood and impact of failure

Answer

Risk-based testing allocates exploratory effort toward areas where defects are most likely to occur and have the greatest impact.

Question 2

Which two dimensions are typically used to assess risk in risk-based testing?

Accepted Answer

Likelihood of failure and impact of failure

Answer

Risk is assessed by combining the probability that something will fail with the severity of the impact if it does.

Question 3

How does a risk register inform exploratory test charter creation?

Accepted Answer

It identifies high-priority risk areas that should be translated into targeted charters

Answer

A risk register surfaces the areas and scenarios most likely to cause problems, which become the basis for targeted exploratory charters.

Question 4

What is the danger of focusing exclusively on happy-path testing in risk-based exploratory testing?

Accepted Answer

High-risk edge cases and error conditions may go untested

Answer

Happy-path testing misses error handling, boundary conditions, and unusual usage patterns where high-impact defects often hide.

Question 5

In risk-based exploratory testing, what should happen when new risks are identified during a session?

Accepted Answer

New charters should be created to address the newly identified risks

Answer

Newly discovered risks should trigger new charters, ensuring that exploration follows the evolving risk landscape.

Exploratory Testing Practice Test