ISTQB Experience-Based Testing Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A tester uses knowledge of common SQL injection patterns to design tests for a login form. Which experience-based technique is being applied?
- Boundary value analysis
- Error guessing (Correct answer)
- Decision table testing
- State transition testing
Correct answer: Error guessing
Applying knowledge of known vulnerability patterns to predict and test for specific defect types is classic error guessing.
Question 2: What is the primary benefit of pairing an experienced tester with a domain expert during exploratory testing?
- It eliminates the need for any documentation
- It combines testing knowledge with domain insight to improve defect detection (Correct answer)
- It allows both testers to execute the same script simultaneously
- It ensures that all tests are automated
Correct answer: It combines testing knowledge with domain insight to improve defect detection
Pairing leverages complementary skills — testing technique knowledge and domain expertise — to find more and deeper defects.
Question 3: In ISTQB terminology, which statement about exploratory testing is CORRECT?
- It must always be performed without any preparation
- Test design, execution, and learning happen simultaneously during the session (Correct answer)
- It is only suitable for GUI-based applications
- It cannot be used alongside scripted testing
Correct answer: Test design, execution, and learning happen simultaneously during the session
Exploratory testing is defined by the simultaneous design, execution, and learning cycle within a session.
Question 4: A checklist used for testing a web form includes items like 'verify field accepts max characters' and 'verify required fields show error when empty.' This checklist is MOST likely derived from:
- Random defect reports
- Prior experience with similar forms and common UI defect patterns (Correct answer)
- Automated tool output only
- Code coverage analysis
Correct answer: Prior experience with similar forms and common UI defect patterns
Checklist items for common UI patterns typically come from accumulated experience testing similar components.
Question 5: Which of the following scenarios represents the BEST use of error guessing?
- Systematically testing every possible input combination
- A tester focusing on boundary conditions identified by an algorithm
- An experienced tester targeting areas where similar projects previously had defects (Correct answer)
- Running the same scripted test cases that passed last release
Correct answer: An experienced tester targeting areas where similar projects previously had defects
Error guessing is most effective when a tester uses experience from similar past projects to target likely defect areas.
Question 6: During an exploratory testing session, the tester discovers an unexpected behavior and spends extra time investigating it. What should the tester consider?
- Always stay strictly on charter to avoid time overruns
- Ignore unexpected behaviors not listed in the charter
- Use judgment to balance investigating the finding against staying within session goals (Correct answer)
- End the session immediately and report the finding
Correct answer: Use judgment to balance investigating the finding against staying within session goals
Experienced exploratory testers balance their curiosity about unexpected findings with the discipline of meeting session charter goals.
Question 7: Which metric is MOST useful for managing a set of exploratory testing sessions?
- Lines of code executed per session
- Number of sessions completed, defects found, and charter coverage (Correct answer)
- Percentage of automated tests run
- Number of testers participating
Correct answer: Number of sessions completed, defects found, and charter coverage
Session count, defects found, and charter coverage provide a meaningful picture of exploratory testing progress and effectiveness.
ISTQB Experience-Based Testing Techniques 3
A tester uses knowledge of common SQL injection patterns to design tests for a login form.
Which experience-based technique is being applied?