Syllabus for Certified Software Tester

In this tutorial you will learn about Syllabus for Certified Software Tester, Skill Categories, Test Principles and Concepts, Tester’s Role in Software Development and Acquisition, Test Management, Build the Test Environment, Risk Analysis, Test Planning Process, Test Design, Performing Tests, Defect Tracking and Correction, Acceptance Testing, Status of Testing, Test Reporting.

The Certified Software Test Exam concentrates more on the following areas:

• Knowledge on the Test Environment.
• Ability to plan tests.
• Ability to execute tests, design test cases, use test tools, etc.
• Ability to develop testing status reports.

Skill Categories:

The basic categories to be concentrated while preparing for CST exam are summarized as follows:

Test Principles and Concepts:

Definition of Test Specifications, Testing Techniques, Testing Methods, Independent Testing, Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) Software, Testing Code Developed Under Outside Contract, Test Quality, Testing Life Cycle, Technical terms of testing.

Tester’s Role in Software Development and Acquisition:

The Development and Acquisition Process: Process Knowledge – Knowledge on Software Development, Operation, and Maintenance Process, Tools, Project Management, Test Documentation and Roles/Responsibilities.

Test Approaches: Structural Test Approaches, Functional Test Approaches.

"V" Testing Concept

Quality Attributes.

Test Management:

Test Management: Test Objectives, Test Competency, Test Performance, Test Technology, Staffing, Management of Staff.

Giving Information: Audience Evaluation, Effective Presentation, Written Correspondence, and Oral Delivery.

Receiving Information: Effective Listening, Interviewing, Analyzing.

Personal Effectiveness: Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Influence and Motivation, Judgment, Facilitation.

Continuing Professional Education: Identification of Training Needs, Behavior Change Techniques.

Leadership: Meeting Chairing, Facilitation, Team Building, Process Definition.

Recognition, Networking, Code of Ethics.

Build the Test Environment:

Test Standards: External Standard, Internal Standards.

Test Environment Components: Test Process Engineering, Tool Development and/or Acquisition, Acquisition or Development of a Test Bed/Test Lab/Test Environment.

Test Tools: Tool Competency, Tool Selection (from acquired tools).

Quality Assurance / Quality Control: Quality Assurance versus Quality Control, Process Analysis and Understanding.

Building the Test Environment Work Processes: Concepts of work processes, Building a Test Work Process, Test Quality Control, Analysis of the Test Process, Continuous Improvement.

Adapting the Test Environment to Different Technologies

Risk Analysis:

Risk Identification: Software Risks, Testing Risks, Premature Release Risk, Business Risks, Risk Methods.

Managing Risks: Risk Magnitude, Risk Reduction Methods, Contingency Planning.

Test Planning Process:

Pre-Planning Activities: Success Criteria/Acceptance Criteria, Test Objectives, Assumptions, Entrance Criteria/Exit Criteria.

Test Planning: Test Plan, Requirements/Traceability, Estimating, Scheduling, Staffing, Approach, Test Check Procedures (i.e., test quality control).

Post-Planning Activities: Change Management, Versioning (change control/change management/configuration management).

Test Design:

Design Preparation: Test Bed/Test Lab, Test Coverage.

Design Execution: Specifications, Cases, Scripts, Data.

Performing Tests:

Execute Tests
Compare Actual versus Expected Results
Test Log
Record Discrepancies

Defect Tracking and Correction:

Defect Tracking: Defect Recording, Defect Reporting, Defect Tracking.

Testing Defect Correction: Validation, Regression Testing, Verification.

Acceptance Testing:

Concepts of Acceptance Testing
Roles and Responsibilities
Acceptance Test Process

Status of Testing:

Test Completion Criteria: Code Coverage, Requirement Coverage.

Test Metrics: Metrics Unique to Test, Complexity Measurements, Size Measurements, Defect Measurements, Product Measures.

Management by Fact

Test Reporting:

Reporting Tools
Test Report Standards
Statistical Analysis