CTFL-AT Sample Questions Answers

 According to the ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, an agile task board is a visual tool that displays the status of the work items in an agile sprint. The task board typically shows the user stories, tasks, and their progress from “to do” to “done”. The task board helps the agile team to monitor and coordinate their work, and to communicate with stakeholders. Therefore, the examples that represent activities that would likely be managed on an agile task board for the third sprint are those that are related to the user stories, tasks, and their progress in the current sprint. Option A is the correct answer, as it contains two examples of such activities: running an acceptance test for a user story, and automating regression tests. These are both tasks that are part of the testing process in the current sprint, and their status can be tracked on the task board. Option B is not a correct answer, as it contains two examples of activities that are not related to the current sprint: designing the features planned for the next sprint, and participating in training in preparation for the fourth sprint. These are both activities that are part of the planning or learning process for the future sprints, and they are not managed on the task board. Option C is also not a correct answer, as it contains two examples of activities that are not related to the current sprint: participating in training in preparation for the fourth sprint, and producing a daily progress report for the agile team members. These are both activities that are part of the learning or reporting process, and they are not managed on the task board. Option D is also not a correct answer, as it contains two examples of activities that are not related to the current sprint: designing the features planned for the next sprint, and producing a daily progress report for the agile team members. These are both activities that are part of the planning or reporting process, and they are not managed on the taskboard. References: ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 2.1.1, page 14; ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 2.1.2, page 15; ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 2.2.1, page 16; ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 2.2.2, page 17.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.5Testers and Independence, it explains:

"An independent test team may be used in parallel to Agile teams to support non-sprint activities such as performance testing, test tool development, or testing in regulated environments."

However, assigningfunctional testing to independent teamswhile Agile teams handlenon-functionalwork is theoppositeof common practice. Agile teams typically focus onfunctional testing, while specializednon-functionalor compliance testing may be handled externally.

Therefore,Option Ais least likely to be true.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 4.3Test Automation and Continuous Integration, it states:

"Short iterations and continuous integration require well-designed automated test suites, and teams should adopt good practices for test design and implementation from the start."

OptionBis correct because it highlights theneed for proactive test design practicesto handle frequent changes — a key Agile challenge.

Option Amixes concepts:version controlrelates to code, not directly to regression management.

Option Cis incorrect — regressionrisk increaseswhen code is modified.

Option Dis misleading — tests may becomeobsoleteor needrefactoring, sono test is permanently untouchable.

Test automation is essential for agile projects, as it enables fast and frequent feedback on the quality of the product. Without test automation, it would be very difficult to ensure high quality in an agile project, as manual testing would be too slow and costly to keep up with the pace of development12. Automated acceptance tests are one of the key types of test automation on agile projects, as they verify that the user stories are implemented correctly and that the product meets the customer’s expectations. Automated acceptance tests are run regularly as part of the continuous integration full system build, and the results provide feedback on the overall product quality12. Therefore, statements 2 and 5 are correct with regards to test automation on agile projects. References: 1: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus, Section 3.3.1, Test Automation1; 2: ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources, Section 3.3.1, Test Automation2

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

From theCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 5.1, it states:

"The team uses the retrospective to review how they worked during the iteration, including planning accuracy and team collaboration, and to identify actionable improvements."

Thus,Option Dis correct — retrospectives help reflect on iterationplanning accuracy, team dynamics, andefficiencyto improve future iterations.

Option Ais incorrect — retrospectives aim to focus on what the teamcan improve, not just on external hindrances.

Option Bis false — Agile retrospectivesrequire follow-up, often in the form ofaction itemstracked in the next iteration.

Option Cis incorrect —Product Ownerand possibly others may contribute, depending on team context.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

From theCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.2Release and Iteration Planning, testers actively contribute during release planning:

"During release planning, testers collaborate with the team to understand the scope of the release and help identify any high-level test considerations. They also participate in quality risk analysis and help in estimating test effort."

Furthermore, it is noted:

"Testers are involved in defining and refining user stories and acceptance criteria, and contribute to quality risk assessments."

Therefore,Option Cis accurate as it reflects the tester's involvement inprioritizing user storiesand conductingquality risk analysisduring release planning.

Option Ais incorrect because defining and redefining the product backlog is primarily the role of theProduct Owner, and the test approach isiteration-specific, not fixed for the full release.

Option Bis inaccurate — breaking down stories into tasks is generally part ofiteration (Sprint) planning, not release planning.

Option Dis incorrect —release plans can changein Agile to accommodate changing business needs.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 5.1 and 5.3:

"Testers, like all team members, participate in retrospectives and are encouraged to suggest improvements to team processes and product quality."

SoOption Ais correct. Testersactively engagein retrospectives andsuggest improvementsbased on their testing experience.

Option BandCrefer toScrum Master responsibilities.

Option Dis the responsibility of theProduct Owner.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.4Testing and Iterations, it states:

"In Agile projects, testing activities are conducted in parallel with development activities within an iteration, unlike traditional models where testing is done after development."

Therefore,Option Dis correct — Agile promotesparallel testing, while traditional projects (e.g., V-model) followsequential phases.

Option Ais incorrect — Agile projectsdo perform system testing, but it's integrated within iterations.

Option Bis misleading — while Agile emphasizeslower-level test automation, traditional projects also use automation at various levels.

Option Cis partially correct but oversimplifies the process —risks are reassessed iteratively, not just once during release planning.

 Agile software development is a term that encompasses a group of software development methodologies that are based on iterative incremental development, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing cross-functional teams. Agile methods promote adaptive planning, evolutionary development and delivery, a time-boxed iterative approach, and encourage rapid and flexible response to change. Some examples of agile methods are Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), Kanban, and Lean Software Development. References:

: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus, Version 2014, Section 1.1.1

: ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources, Agile Testing Foundations, Chapter 1, Section 1.1.1

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

From theCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.3The Role of Feedback, it explains:

"Agile development promotes early and continuous feedback, which leads to the development of a product that better meets customer needs and expectations."

Also:

"Frequent feedback loops support the team in identifying and resolving issues earlier, improving both the product quality and customer satisfaction."

Therefore,Option Dis the most accurate reflection of thetrue benefit of early and frequent feedbackin Agile environments.

Option Aincorrectly implies Agile feedback redistributes defect clustering, which is not a recognized principle.

Option Bmakes an unverifiable claim about defect volume at the unit level. Agile encourages unit testing, but this comparison is not substantiated in the syllabus.

Option Cis incorrect because feedback providesbothstability and quality indicators early on.

According to the ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, a retrospective is a meeting held at the end of each iteration or release, where the agile team reflects on what went well and what can be improved in their processes, practices, and interactions. The purpose of a retrospective is to identify and implement actions for continuous improvement, and to foster a culture of learning and collaboration. Therefore, the items that would be the most effective to generate discussions on process improvement are those that are related to the team’s performance, challenges, feedback, and suggestions. Option D is the least effective item to generate discussions on process improvement, as it is a personal attack on one of the team members, and it does not offer any constructive feedback or solution. This kind of item can create a negative and hostile atmosphere in the retrospective, and damage the trust and respect among the team members. Option A is an effective item to generate discussions on process improvement, as it identifies a problem with the build process that affects the team’s efficiency and quality, and it can lead to finding ways to optimize the build process or to mitigate the delays. Option B is also an effective item to generate discussions on process improvement, as it reveals a discrepancy between the team’s estimation and actual effort, and it can lead to analyzing the root causes of the deviation and to improving the estimation techniques or the team’s capacity. Option C is also an effective item to generate discussions on process improvement, as it highlights a weakness in the automation tests that hinders the team’s ability to debug and fix the failures, and it can lead to enhancing the automation tests with better logging mechanisms or to reviewing the automation strategy. References: ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 2.1.1, page 14; ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 2.1.2, page 15; ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 2.2.1, page 16; ISTQB Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester syllabus, section 2.2.2, page 17.

Exploratory testing is a testing approach that emphasizes learning, creativity, and adaptability. It involves simultaneous test design and test execution, where the tester uses heuristics, intuition, and experience to explore the system under test and discover new information12. Exploratory testing can be performed in an Agile project to complement other testing activities, such as test-driven development, behavior-driven development, and acceptance test-driven development12.

The correct approach to adopt for exploratory testing in an Agile project is D, as it follows the best practices for exploratory testing1234:

Ask experienced testers to prepare test charters for time boxed sessions lasting no more than 2 hours: A test charter is a brief document that describes the scope, objective, and strategy of an exploratory testing session. A test charter helps to guide the tester’s exploration and to document the results. A time box is a fixed period of time allocated for an exploratory testing session. A time box helps to focus the tester’s attention and to limit the scope of exploration. A time box should not be too long, as it may reduce the tester’s concentration and creativity. A recommended duration for a time box is between 45 minutes and 2 hours.

Tests should be designed and executed within each session using heuristics, creativity and intuition: Exploratory testing is an iterative and interactive process, where the tester designs and executes tests based on the observations and feedback from the system under test. The tester uses heuristics, which are rules of thumb or shortcuts that help to simplify the testing problem and to generate test ideas. The tester also uses creativity and intuition, which are mental abilities that help to generate novel and useful solutions and to make judgments based on incomplete or uncertain information.

The incorrect approaches to adopt for exploratory testing in an Agile project are A, B, and C, as they violate the principles and practices of exploratory testing1234:

A: Allocate independent testers to design exploratory tests using test charters in time boxed sessions. Plan to run all sessions in parallel with each session lasting more than 5 hours: This approach is incorrect because it does not involve simultaneous test design and test execution, which is the essence of exploratory testing. It also uses too long time boxes, which may reduce the tester’s concentration and creativity. It also does not leverage the collaboration and communication within the Agile team, as it isolates the testers from the developers and other stakeholders.

B: Ask experienced testers to try and find new defects by using the system without the constraint of documentation and tools: This approach is incorrect because it does not use test charters, which are essential for guiding and documenting the exploratory testing sessions. It also does not use heuristics, creativity, and intuition, which are important for generating test ideas and making decisions. It also implies that exploratory testing is an unstructured and random activity, which is a common misconception. Exploratory testing is a disciplined and systematic approach that requires planning, analysis, and evaluation.

C: Use testers who have not been involved in the sprint to write new test cases from the user stories. These test cases are then executed in a time boxed session for the sprint: This approach is incorrect because it does not involve simultaneous test design and test execution, which is the essence of exploratory testing. It also uses testers who have not been involved in the sprint, which may reduce their understanding of the system under test and the customer needs. It also does not use test charters, which are essential for guiding and documenting the exploratory testing sessions. It also does not use heuristics, creativity, and intuition, which are important for generating test ideas and making decisions.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 4.3Test Automation and Continuous Integration, it states:

"Automated tests help detect regression defects quickly and can be run frequently during development, thus reducing regression risk."

So,Option Dis correct —test automation supports regression testingwithin iterations, making it an essential Agile practice.

Option Ais false —automated unit tests are designed to be fastand are ideally run with every check-in.

Option Bis incorrect — more code changesincrease, not reduce, regression risk.

Option Cis incorrect —technical debt can still existwith automation if the automation is poorly designed or not maintained.

 Equivalence partitioning is a black-box test design technique that divides the input domain of a system into classes of data from which test cases can be derived. The idea is that if a system works correctly for a representative value from an equivalence class, it will work correctly for all values from that class, and vice versa. Equivalence partitioning reduces the number of test cases by eliminating redundant ones. For the given user story, equivalence partitioning is the most suitable technique because it can test the different outcomes of the annual car tax calculation based on the power of the vehicle, which is the main input for the system. By testing one value from each partition, the tester can verify the functionality of the system and detect any errors in the calculation logic. The other techniques are not as suitable because they do not focus on the input domain of the system, but rather on the conditions, transitions, or scenarios that are not directly related to the user story. References:

: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus, Version 2014, Section 2.2.2

: ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources, Agile Testing Foundations, Chapter 3, Section 3.2.2

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The Test Pyramid is a model for organizing tests in a way to make the process of testing faster, efficient and cost-effective. This model focusses on getting maximum functional testing getting covered by faster and less brittle tests like Unit and API tests1. The main benefit of the Test Pyramid is that it helps in evaluating the amount of test cases needed for each level of testing. The Test Pyramid suggests that the number of test cases should decrease as we move up the pyramid, from unit tests to integration tests to end-to-end tests. This is because unit tests are more granular, isolated, and easy to write and maintain, while end-to-end tests are more complex, dependent, and brittle. The Test Pyramid also helps in balancing the test coverage and the test execution time, as unit tests provide high coverage and low execution time, while end-to-end tests provide low coverage and high execution time. By following the Test Pyramid, teams can optimize their testing efforts and resources, and ensure that they have a sufficient and effective test suite for their software. References: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus, Section 2.2.1, page 16; ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources, Section 2.2.1, page 16; What is Test Pyramid : Getting started with Test Automation Pyramid, The Practical Test Pyramid - Martin Fowler, Testing Pyramid: What Is It and How To Use It | Solvd.

A whole-team approach is a way of working in agile projects where all team members share the responsibility for delivering high-quality software that meets the customer’s needs. This means that testers, developers, business analysts, and other roles collaborate closely throughout the project lifecycle, and use their different skills and perspectives to contribute to the quality of the product. A benefit of this approach is that it enables the team to leverage the various skill sets within the team to the benefit of the project, such as testing skills, coding skills, domain knowledge, user experience, etc. This can lead to faster feedback, better communication, higher productivity, and more innovation. References: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus1, Section 1.1.1, page 7; ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources, Section 1.1.1, page 7.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 3.1Exploratory Testing, it defines atest charteras:

"A mission statement defining what to test, how it can be tested, and what issues to look for. Effective charters support focused yet flexible exploration."

Option Bis the best because it specifies:

Thearea of the system under test

Theparameters involved

Theapproach(combinations)

Thegoal(discover unexpected effects)

Option Afocuses only onone parameter.

Option Cistoo vague.

Option Dis tooprescriptiveand limits exploration.

Acceptance test criteria are the conditions that a user story must satisfy to be accepted by the customer or the stakeholder. They are usually derived from the user story and its acceptance scenarios, and they should cover the functional and non-functional requirements of the user story. Acceptance test criteria should be clear, concise, testable, and agreed upon by the team and the customer or the stakeholder.

In this case, the user story describes the business rule for approving a loan request based on the customer’s income, repayment history, and loan amount. The user story also specifies the roles of the customer assistant and the bank manager in the process. Therefore, the acceptance test criteria should verify that the user story is implemented correctly and that the system behaves as expected for different scenarios and inputs.

The following test cases can be treated as acceptance test criteria for the above user story:

As a customer assistant I can log in to the system and check the history of the customer account for the last year. This test case verifies that the customer assistant can access the system and view the customer’s income information, which is one of the factors for approving the loan request.

As a customer assistant I can log in to the system and check the history of the customer debts and repayments. This test case verifies that the customer assistant can access the system and view the customer’s repayment history, which is another factor for approving the loan request.

As a bank manager I can log in to the system and receive the information of all requests waiting for approval. This test case verifies that the bank manager can access the system and see the list of loan requests that have been prepared by the customer assistant, and that the system provides the necessary information for each request.

As a bank manager I can log in to the system and decide whether to approve a loan for a customer. This test case verifies that the bank manager can access the system and perform the approval action for a loan request, and that the system applies the business rule correctly and updates the status of the request accordingly.

The following test cases cannot be treated as acceptance test criteria for the above user story:

As a customer assistant I can log in to the system and change my password. This test case is not related to the user story, as it does not verify any of the functional or non-functional requirements of the user story. It is a generic test case that applies to any user of the system, not specific to the customer assistant role or the loan approval process.

As a bank manager I can log in to the system within 10 seconds. This test case is not related to the user story, as it does not verify any of the functional or non-functional requirements of the user story. It is a performance test case that applies to any user of the system, not specific to the bank manager role or the loan approval process.

 Early and frequent feedback is one of the core values of Agile development. It helps the Agile team to deliver features with the highest business value first, to discover and resolve quality problems as soon as possible, to provide information on the team’s productivity and progress, and to ensure that the product meets the customer’s expectations and needs. However, early feedback does not necessarily decrease the amount of time needed for system testing, as system testing is still an important activity in Agile projects to verify the integration and functionality of the whole system. Early feedback may reduce the number of defects found in system testing, but it does not eliminate the need for system testing. References: ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester Extension Syllabus1, page 10; ISTQB Agile Tester Sample Exam2, question 11.

 Release planning is a process of defining the scope and timeline for an iterative or incremental product development project. It is used in agile or hybrid projects where a mid- to long-term planning of the product or system development or integration is required12. Release planning involves the following activities:

Identifying testable user stories with acceptance criteria. User stories are short descriptions of the features or functionalities that the customer or user wants from the product. Acceptance criteria are the conditions that must be met for the user story to be considered done and acceptable. Identifying testable user stories with acceptance criteria helps to define the scope and quality of the release13.

Prioritizing the user stories. User stories are prioritized based on the value they deliver to the customer or user, as well as the dependencies, risks, and costs associated with them. Prioritizing the user stories helps to determine the order and frequency of the releases13.

Performing high level estimation for the release. High level estimation is a technique to estimate the effort, time, and resources needed to complete the user stories in the release. High level estimation can be done using various methods, such as analogy, expert judgment, planning poker, etc. Performing high level estimation for the release helps to set realistic and achievable goals and deadlines13.

Therefore, activities 1, 3 and 6 are done in release planning. Activities 2, 4 and 5 are done in iteration planning, which is a more detailed and short-term planning of the work to be done in each iteration or sprint13. References: 1: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus, Section 2.2, Fundamental Agile Testing Principles, Practices and Processes1; 2: Agile Release Planning in Hybrid and Agile Projects4; 3: How to Create an Agile Release Plan5

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.2Release and Iteration Planning:

"During early phases like Sprint Zero, testers collaborate with the team to identify the product backlog, define high-level test strategies, and contribute to the overall planning and architecture discussions."

Therefore,Option Ais correct — testerscollaborate from the beginning, not as isolated contributors.

Option BandDsuggestindividual work, which isagainst Agile principles.

Option Cis incorrect — the backlog items committed for Sprint 1 are determined duringSprint Planning, not in Sprint Zero.