ISTQB Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the ISTQB exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
ISTQB exam key facts
- The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 exam has 40 questions worth 40 points in total. Source
- The ISTQB CTFL v4.0 exam lasts 60 minutes, and candidates taking it in a language that is not their native language get 25% extra time, for 75 minutes in total. Source
- To pass the ISTQB CTFL v4.0 exam, candidates need at least 26 of the 40 points, which is 65%. Source
- ISTQB Foundation, Specialist and Advanced Level certificates are valid for life, while ISTQB Expert Level certificates are valid for 7 years. Source
📋 ISTQB Exam Format at a Glance
📚 ISTQB Topics to Study (34)
✍️ Sample ISTQB Questions & Answers
1. In agile development, what testing activity typically occurs during a sprint review?
Sprint reviews involve demonstrating working software to stakeholders, which often includes acceptance testing to validate delivered functionality.
2. In control flow testing, what is a 'predicate' node?
A predicate node is a decision point in the control flow graph where execution can follow different paths based on a Boolean condition.
3. According to ISTQB, which of the following is an example of a 'project risk' (as opposed to a product risk)?
Project risks threaten the test project's success, such as personnel turnover, while product risks relate to the software quality.
4. In the context of ISTQB, which factor most significantly determines whether a test tool will deliver expected benefits?
Tool success depends primarily on organizational adoption and correct usage; even the best tool delivers no value if improperly used or ignored.
5. Which of the following activities is LEAST likely to benefit from test automation?
Exploratory testing relies on human intuition, creativity, and real-time decision-making, which cannot be effectively replicated by automated tools.
6. When may the software development process begin to include testing?
Testing should ideally begin as early as possible in the software development lifecycle, a principle known as 'Shift Left.' Once software specifications are accepted and finalized, test planning and test case design can commence, even before any code is written. This early engagement helps identify ambiguities, inconsistencies, or missing requirements, which are significantly cheaper to fix at this stage than later in the development process.
🎯 Free ISTQB Practice Tests
📖 ISTQB Guides & Articles
- Exam ISTQB: Complete Guide to the International Software Testing Qualifications Board Certification
- ISTQB Exam: Complete Guide to Certification, Format, and Preparation
- ISTQB Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)
- International Software Testing Qualifications Board
- ISTQB Practice Test Preparation Guide 2026
- ISTQB Practice Test
- CTFL (ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level) Test Guide
- CTFL (Tester Foundation Level Certified) Test Guide
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for ISTQB
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length ISTQB mock exam — 40 questions in 60 minutes with a 65% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed ISTQB question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable ISTQB cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- ISTQB flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free ISTQB practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy