ISTQB

Loading

Tips for ISEB and ISTQB exams

CTAL (Advanced)
CTAL (Advanced)
Author
aliali27
Date
2016-06-05 23:35
Views
45228842

Just read a good link, so want to share it to everyone who want to get ISTQB certificate.
 If you want to know more about testing, please refer to my blog
http://myonlinecollection.wordpress.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Introduction
I would like to share with you my experience with the exam. The opinions presented in this article are my personal thoughts, feelings and ideas.

Let's not go into debate if certification is needed and if it has real benefits. For arguments pro certification you can check http://www.testingexperience.com/testingexperience01_08_Black.pdf  and for arguments against you can refer to http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/36. The choice is yours.

After Foundation Level, you need to choose certification path ISEB or ISTQB. I took ISTQB since having advanced level with 3 specializations makes sense from carrier development point of view and the path Foundation -> Advanced seems to be straight forward. The Expert level created recently with 4 specialities seems to be over the top. You can read more about the ISTQB certification path here: http://istqb.org/display/ISTQB/Certification?atl_token=93VdaeFKJJ

ISEB tries to split hair in four with Foundation->Intermediate->Practitioner->Advanced levels. I think, it's too much effort to get to advanced level. More about ISEB certification path can be found here: http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=nav.10920. And actually ISEB has announced recently that Practitioner Level certification will be possible only till 15 March 2010 and they switch to ISTQB certification only. There is one, quite nasty effect of such solution. Nowadays you can see mistakes in job offers like ISTQB Practitioner level required. Who is going to tell which Advanced certificate you have? ISEB or ISTQB? So in most of cases you will have to defend yourself that you have chosen longer certification path.

I have passed exam for ISEB Certified Tester Foundation Level and ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level - Test Manager exams, so I will write a bit about both levels.
Preparation for exam

First of all for every exam you need to prepare. Question about preparation is the most asked one. Some people say that you don't need any preparation, others say that you can not pass the exams without proper training.

What is my opinion?

From my experience I can tell you, that answer to that question is tricky. For the Foundation Level the syllabus provided by the organization should be enough as source of theoretical knowledge, but ... Reading book about testing in general, like Software Testing by Ron Patton is highly recommended. Professional experience as a tester can both help you and disturb you. Why? That depends on terminology and methods used on the projects you took or take part in. If on the project everything is set-up and named according to ISEB/ISTQB syllabus and vocabulary, exam should be easier for you, you can refer to "how do we do that on the project?". If not, you will be very confused and the referring to "how do we do that on the project?" will just fool you. Preparing for foundation level, you don't need to worry much about the Reading List at the end of syllabus.

Don't forget to read vocabulary and learn the terms that are in there. Look at these simple questions: what is Test Case and what is Test Procedure, what's the difference between them? Did you get it right? It' s very easy to give a wrong answer if you are confused by terminology.

If you are not sure about following the standard on the project, go for training. Then you should have clarity and your knowledge will be ordered.

There is big question about self-preparation. Are you really going to seat and learn in the evenings and weekends? If not - better go for training.

With preparation for Advanced Level, the case is even more complicated. The Syllabus is for sure not enough. It looks more like set of guidelines, description of scope. Experience from projects can help you, but whatever is your experience, most probably you are not familiar or you simply don't remember all test process improvement methods and all software development methodologies, frameworks. Going for training is definitely a good idea.

Full certificate is split nicely into three parts with a reason. It's a lot of material to learn and understand, especially for Technical Test Analyst module. It's better to prepare to and pass them one by one.

When you study, a good idea is to make notes in form of Mind Maps. I find this form very useful and easy especially for quick refreshing of my knowledge.

For Advanced Level Test Manager, there are few books that can be used for preparation

The yellow one - Software Testing Practice: Test Management: A Study Guide for the Certified Tester Exam ISTQB Advanced Level by Andreas Spillner, Tilo Linz, Thomas Rossner, and Mario Winter

The black one - Advanced Software Testing - Vol. 2: Guide to the ISTQB Advanced Certification as an Advanced Test Manager by Rex Black

The green one - Guide to Advanced Software Testing by Anne Mette Jonassen Hass

I can recommend you the green one. It worked for me really well.

For the two Analyst modules we have a similar set:

The Software Test Engineer's Handbook: A Study Guide for the ISTQB Test Analyst and Technical Analyst Advanced Level Certificates by Graham Bath, et al.

Advanced Software Testing - Vol. 1: Guide to the ISTQB Advanced Certification as an Advanced Test Analyst by Rex Black
General tips and tricks for exam
1. The best and most successful trick is: do the study or go for training or do both.

2. For both ISEB and ISTQB you can find example exam questions in the internet. It is wise to take these exams and get used to the form of questions.

3. Studies show that when you have answered a question and you change the answer because you are not sure - usually you change it to wrong one.

4. Having the exam on the last day of training is not very good idea. You can be brain-fried and it will be difficult for you to focus and understand questions. But don't postpone the exam for longer that 2 weeks - then most probably part of the knowledge acquired on the training will be vanished and in practice you can start studying all over again.

5. Questions are quite long, often describing specific situation on the project, so useful thing is to highlight/underline the question itself and highlight the most important context of the situation i.e. safety critical/non-safety critical. Always search for keywords. Why is it so important? Because in the text there are introduced so called distractors. And as you can guess, the role of distractor is to bring your focus and attention to the least important information.
6. There are no negative points for incorrect answers. If you really don't know the answer, feel free to guess. In worst case you will get 0 points.

7. You don't have to answer questions in order. First go through the examination sheet and answer to questions, you are sure about. For questions where you have doubts mark the most likely answer on the side of page or just move to the next one. Mark that page with some sign like question mark to find it easily later. Why to use such a technique? Because if you are short on time you can just guess answers to the rest of questions having questions you were sure about answered.

8. Roman Type questions - it is a variation of multiple-choice question. You have presented several statements in an ordered list marked with letters or Roman numerals (thus the name). Your task is to chose the right combination of true statements. Let's see an example:

Which of the following answers reflect when Regression testing should normally be performed?

1) B & D are true, A, C & E are false
2) A & B are true, C, D & E are false
3) B,C & D are true, A & E are false
4) B is true, A, C, D & E are false

How to deal with that type of question? At the first glance they look like you have choice of 4 answers, what seems to be difficult. But

you can lower number of options by selecting 100% right and 100% wrong options. In the example above A, C are bold statements and are 100% false, therefore options 2 and 3 can be excluded.

A. Every week
B. After the software has changed
C. On the same day each year
D. When the environment has changed
E. Before the code has been written

1) B & D are true, A, C & E are false
2) A & B are true, C, D & E are false
3) B, C & D are true, A & E are false
4) B is true, A, C, D & E are false

We have 2 options now. B is in both, so it's clear that Regression Testing should be done after the software has changed. What about environment? Environment can also influence results of testing because it's changing the Test Conditions, therefore B and D are true, so the correct answer is option 1.
Foundation Level
1. On foundation exam you need to pay attention to previous questions. Sometimes answer to current question is in the stem of the previous one.
2. Quite a lot of questions contains parts of even whole sentences from Syllabus.
Advanced Level
1. At least in exams provided by GASQ questions are marked with level of difficulty and have weights K1 - 1 pts, K2 - 2 pts, K3 - 2pts. So if you have choice where to spend more time, go for K2 and K3 questions.
Conclusion

And that would be it. Pick you certification path. If you are just starting, better go for ISTQB path, which has future and takes less effort. The choice of taking training or not is yours. I hope you find this article helpful and have something to base your decisions on.

Good luck on exam!
Resources

http://www.academictips.org/acad/multiplechoiceexamstips.html
http://www.eviltester.com/index.php/2008/02/06/my-notes-on-how-to-study-...

-----------------------------------
Source: http://kaczor.info/pl/node/73

Total Reply 2

  • 2014-10-06 12:44

    thanks for sharing useful information


  • 2020-12-11 12:09

    Reallly useful


Total 1,272
Number Title Author Date Votes Views
Notice
ISTQB_CTAL-TM_Syllabus v3.0
admin | 2025.06.16 | Votes 0 | Views 24961130
admin 2025.06.16 0 24961130
Notice
CTFL (Certified Tester Foundation Level) Syllabus 4.0
admin | 2024.09.15 | Votes 0 | Views 36366420
admin 2024.09.15 0 36366420
Notice
ISTQB Foundation - Certified Tester (2018) : Official Sample Exam Set 2 with Answer (4)
Testersbest | 2019.06.21 | Votes 0 | Views 45189385
Testersbest 2019.06.21 0 45189385
Notice
ISTQB Foundation - Certified Tester (2018) : Official Sample Exam Set 1 with Answer (3)
Testersbest | 2019.06.21 | Votes 0 | Views 45643306
Testersbest 2019.06.21 0 45643306
Notice
ISTQB Foundation Certified Tester (2018) : New Exam Rule (1)
Testersbest | 2019.06.21 | Votes 0 | Views 46199705
Testersbest 2019.06.21 0 46199705
Notice
ISTQB Foundation - Certified Tester Syllabus (2018)
VTB | 2018.11.14 | Votes 0 | Views 46492417
VTB 2018.11.14 0 46492417
Notice
ISTQB Advanced Level Syllabus (2016) Security Tester
VTB | 2018.10.26 | Votes 0 | Views 45860349
VTB 2018.10.26 0 45860349
Notice
ISTQB Advanced Level Syllabus (2012) Technical Test Analyst
VTB | 2016.05.06 | Votes 0 | Views 45179999
VTB 2016.05.06 0 45179999
Notice
ISTQB Advanced Level Syllabus (2012) Test Manager
VTB | 2016.05.06 | Votes 0 | Views 45166193
VTB 2016.05.06 0 45166193
Notice
ISTQB Advanced Level Syllabus (2012) Test Analyst
VTB | 2016.05.06 | Votes 0 | Views 45693250
VTB 2016.05.06 0 45693250
Notice
ISTQB Glossary of Testing Terms Version:2.2
VTB | 2016.05.06 | Votes 0 | Views 45705326
VTB 2016.05.06 0 45705326
Notice
ISTQB Expert Level (CTEL) Syllabus -Test Management (3)
VTB | 2015.09.13 | Votes 0 | Views 45214173
VTB 2015.09.13 0 45214173
Notice
ISTQB Expert Level (CTEL) Syllabus - Improving the Testing Process (1)
VTB | 2015.09.13 | Votes 0 | Views 46121644
VTB 2015.09.13 0 46121644
Notice
ISTQB Foundation Level (CTFL) Syllabus 2011 (12)
VTB | 2014.10.11 | Votes 0 | Views 45390307
VTB 2014.10.11 0 45390307
1258
ISTQB CTAL TAE Syllabus v2.0
admin | 2025.06.16 | Votes 1 | Views 24208067
admin 2025.06.16 1 24208067
1257
ISTQB Question and Answers (Advanced Level)
Steveskok | 2021.02.07 | Votes 0 | Views 46078515
Steveskok 2021.02.07 0 46078515
1256
ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus Version 2018 V3.1
(TestExpert) | 2020.02.03 | Votes 0 | Views 45551548
(TestExpert) 2020.02.03 0 45551548
1255
ISTQB Advanced - Technical Test Analyst Sample Exam
ItSeTsQtB | 2019.08.08 | Votes 1 | Views 45445925
ItSeTsQtB 2019.08.08 1 45445925
1254
ISTQB Certification and Training Value
^Software^ | 2019.07.22 | Votes 0 | Views 46588132
^Software^ 2019.07.22 0 46588132
1253
ISTQB Foundation - Agile Tester (Sample Exam)
IT-Tester | 2019.07.08 | Votes 0 | Views 44800837
IT-Tester 2019.07.08 0 44800837
1252
ISTQB Advanced - Technical Test Analyst (Sample Exam)
IT-Tester | 2019.07.08 | Votes 0 | Views 45665369
IT-Tester 2019.07.08 0 45665369
1251
ISTQB Advanced - Test Analyst (Sample Exam) (1)
IT-Tester | 2019.07.08 | Votes 0 | Views 45950487
IT-Tester 2019.07.08 0 45950487
1250
Premium Question Paper 4 (3)
iknev | 2019.02.22 | Votes 0 | Views 47032696
iknev 2019.02.22 0 47032696
1249
Premium Question Paper 3 (6)
iknev | 2019.02.22 | Votes 0 | Views 44954502
iknev 2019.02.22 0 44954502
1248
Premium Question Paper 1 (2)
iknev | 2019.02.22 | Votes 0 | Views 45856155
iknev 2019.02.22 0 45856155
1247
ISTQB Question Bank_ Test Manager Sample Question Set 1
iknev | 2019.02.22 | Votes 1 | Views 45759147
iknev 2019.02.22 1 45759147
1246
ISTQB Certified Tester List (FULL)
VTB | 2018.10.31 | Votes 0 | Views 46099368
VTB 2018.10.31 0 46099368
1245
ISTQB Agile Exam (Auckland, NZ)
VTB | 2018.10.28 | Votes 0 | Views 46860530
VTB 2018.10.28 0 46860530
1244
ISTQB Foundation Exam (Auckland, NZ)
VTB | 2018.10.28 | Votes 0 | Views 46225823
VTB 2018.10.28 0 46225823
1243
ISTQB Foundation Course (Auckland, NZ)
VTB | 2018.10.28 | Votes 0 | Views 45234650
VTB 2018.10.28 0 45234650
1242
ISTQB Foundation Agile Course (Auckland, NZ)
VTB | 2018.10.28 | Votes 0 | Views 45062158
VTB 2018.10.28 0 45062158
1241
ISTQB Course + Internship (Auckland, NZ)
VTB | 2018.10.28 | Votes 0 | Views 45972280
VTB 2018.10.28 0 45972280
1240
ISTQB Expert - Improving the Test Process [Sample Exam & Answer] - ISTQB Official
VTB | 2018.10.26 | Votes 0 | Views 46056189
VTB 2018.10.26 0 46056189
1239
ISTQB Expert - Test Manager [Sample Exam & Answer] - ISTQB Official (1)
VTB | 2018.10.26 | Votes 0 | Views 45288383
VTB 2018.10.26 0 45288383
1238
ISTQB Advanced - Technical Test Analyst [Sample Exam & Answer] - ISTQB Official
VTB | 2018.10.26 | Votes 0 | Views 46187179
VTB 2018.10.26 0 46187179
1237
ISTQB Advanced - Test Analyst [Sample Exam & Answer] - ISTQB Official
VTB | 2018.10.26 | Votes 0 | Views 46037519
VTB 2018.10.26 0 46037519
1236
ISTQB Advanced - Test Manager [Sample Exam & Answer] - ISTQB Official (1)
VTB | 2018.10.26 | Votes 0 | Views 45822371
VTB 2018.10.26 0 45822371
1235
ISTQB Foundation - Model Based Tester [Sample Exam & Answers] - ISTQB Official
VTB | 2018.10.26 | Votes 0 | Views 46590092
VTB 2018.10.26 0 46590092
1234
ISTQB Foundation - Agile Tester [Sample Exam & Answer] - ISTQB Official
VTB | 2018.10.26 | Votes 0 | Views 45351094
VTB 2018.10.26 0 45351094
1233
ISTQB Foundation - Certified Tester [Sample Exam & Answer] - ISTQB Official (1)
VTB | 2018.10.26 | Votes 0 | Views 45398796
VTB 2018.10.26 0 45398796
1232
ISTQB Exam Tips and Tricks
VTB | 2018.10.16 | Votes 0 | Views 46190227
VTB 2018.10.16 0 46190227
1231
ISTQB Foundation Level Quiz 20 Questions (1)
aiitistqb | 2018.10.16 | Votes 0 | Views 47118530
aiitistqb 2018.10.16 0 47118530
1230
ISTQB Free Sample Exam and Answers
aiitistqb | 2018.10.16 | Votes 0 | Views 46273825
aiitistqb 2018.10.16 0 46273825
1229
ISTQB Foundation - Agile Extension Online Courses is live!!
VTB | 2018.10.16 | Votes 0 | Views 45555618
VTB 2018.10.16 0 45555618
1228
ISTQB Foundation Online Courses are Live!!
VTB | 2018.10.12 | Votes 0 | Views 46867118
VTB 2018.10.12 0 46867118
1227
ISTQB Foundation (Practice Exam)
VTB | 2018.10.12 | Votes 0 | Views 45845212
VTB 2018.10.12 0 45845212
1226
CTAL TM Questions (23)
ulissesmafra | 2018.10.09 | Votes 1 | Views 46046640
ulissesmafra 2018.10.09 1 46046640
1225
Syllabus 2012 (2)
ulissesmafra | 2018.10.09 | Votes 0 | Views 46408891
ulissesmafra 2018.10.09 0 46408891
1224
ISEB & ISTQB EXAM TIPS (3)
Sky Driver | 2018.09.24 | Votes 0 | Views 45447063
Sky Driver 2018.09.24 0 45447063
1223
Tips for clearing ISTQB Foundation Level Exam (1)
Sky Driver | 2018.09.24 | Votes 0 | Views 46294245
Sky Driver 2018.09.24 0 46294245
1222
Tips for passing the ISTQB Foundation Level exam – Do’s and Don’t’s
Sky Driver | 2018.09.24 | Votes 0 | Views 45853971
Sky Driver 2018.09.24 0 45853971
1221
Why do people fail the ISTQB Foundation Certificate? (1)
Sky Driver | 2018.09.24 | Votes 0 | Views 45831371
Sky Driver 2018.09.24 0 45831371
1220
ISTQB Foundation Mock Exam 2 (3)
peter_hey | 2018.09.19 | Votes 3 | Views 45918163
peter_hey 2018.09.19 3 45918163
1219
ISTQB Foundation Mock Exam 1 (3)
peter_hey | 2018.09.19 | Votes 0 | Views 45039602
peter_hey 2018.09.19 0 45039602
1218
What is ISTQB? (1)
master15 | 2018.09.19 | Votes 0 | Views 46281057
master15 2018.09.19 0 46281057
1217
Syllabus (2)
richp | 2018.09.18 | Votes 0 | Views 46058178
richp 2018.09.18 0 46058178
1216
Learning Objectives for ISTQB Advanced Level Technical Test Analyst Exam (1)
master15 | 2018.09.16 | Votes 0 | Views 45358503
master15 2018.09.16 0 45358503
1215
Software Testing Tools used by ISTQB certified Experts like Test Analysts and Technical Test Analysts (2)
master15 | 2018.09.16 | Votes 0 | Views 46224467
master15 2018.09.16 0 46224467
1214
What are the Advantages of ISTQB Certifications? (1)
master15 | 2018.09.13 | Votes 0 | Views 46380362
master15 2018.09.13 0 46380362
1213
How many Levels of Certification are provided by ISTQB? (1)
master15 | 2018.09.13 | Votes 0 | Views 45854587
master15 2018.09.13 0 45854587
1212
Syllabus CTAL-TTA - [BR] (1)
tcorteletti | 2018.09.09 | Votes 0 | Views 45396681
tcorteletti 2018.09.09 0 45396681
1211
Syllabus CTFL - [BR] (1)
tcorteletti | 2018.09.09 | Votes 0 | Views 45362636
tcorteletti 2018.09.09 0 45362636
1210
ISTQB Certification – Foundation Level syllabus
Sky Driver | 2018.09.05 | Votes 0 | Views 45644136
Sky Driver 2018.09.05 0 45644136
1209
Documents to be submitted at the time of registration of ISTQB Advanced Level (2)
Sky Driver | 2018.09.05 | Votes 0 | Views 45658627
Sky Driver 2018.09.05 0 45658627