Twelve Top Questions about ISTQB Certification
(Continued from Part -1) Back to Part -1
Q. 9: How do I Prepare for the ISTQB Exams? Is there any exam guide available?
There is no study material supplied by ITB.
There are four main options to prepare for the ISTQB exams:
1) Self-guided Self-study: The process can begin with downloading the Foundation Level Syllabus 2011
and Advanced Level Syllabus and Glossary of Terms Ver. 2.2 & using these documents to guide your preparation.
The use of the syllabus and glossary is extremely essential no matter what mode of preparation you choose.
2) Use of Books: Pick up a few books, along with copies of the relevant standards, and study them. The use of syllabus and glossary is again essential here as well.
You can have one of the best book that is entirely focused on ISTQB Certification � i.e. Foundations of Software Testing – ISTQB Certification : By Dorothy Graham, Erik van Veenendaal, Isabel Evans & Rex Black
Three types of guides for preparing for different Exams on “ISTQB Certified Tester” covering varying levels of expertise are available from Rex Black Consulting Services.
a) ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Test Analyst Exam Preparation Guide.
Cost of the Guide 319 $
Order the Guide Book Online
b) ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Test Manager Exam Preparation Guide.
Cost of the Guide 319 $
c) ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Exam Preparation Guide.
Cost of the Guide 279 $
3) E-learning Material: Offered by websites like SoftwareTestingGenius
a) Quickstart to ISTQB Foundation Exam – Key Questions Answered
b) Download (35 Parts of Crash Course) Complete Study Material – ISTQB Foundation Level Exam
c) ISTQB Foundation Exam – K-Level wise Special Questions with Explanation (Set of 60 Questions)
d) Download the Largest Database of Unique Sample Question Papers
e) Many E-books & MS Powerpoint Presentations especially prepared by ISTQB Trainers. To get your absolutely free copy by mail, please write to
software.testing.genius@gmail.com
4) Instructor lead training courses: Offered by many ISTQB accredited Institutes available on the internet. These training providers are bound to maintain course material aligned to the syllabus prescribed by ISTQB
Matrix of syllabus for ISTQB Training: The syllabus is organized & guided by following Five “Learning Objectives”
1) Learning Objective �1: General Instructional objectives.
2) Learning Objective �2: List of information to teach like various descriptions & references � if any.
3) Learning Objective �3: Learning objectives for each knowledge area describing cognitive learning outcome & mindset the students must have.
4) Learning Objective �4: Definitions of major concepts to teach � i.e. coming from standards & accepted literature.
5) Learning Objective �5: List of terms the students must store in their mind & recollect as & when a situation calls for it.
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Q. 10: Whether certification exam is same everywhere?
1) Every country�s testing board follows the same format for exams conducted by them
2) Exams at different countries may contain different questions. However the questions are selected from an international pool of questions.
3) Even if the questions are different at different countries, their difficulty level is similar or comparable.
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Q. 11: How to register for the Foundation Level Exam (CTFL) with ITB?
1) Check the examination schedule for your city.
2) Fill the Online Enrolment Form
3) If you have any queries fill Online Enquiry Form
4) You would immediately receive a confirmation mail in your Personal ID along with further instructions
5) Make a payment of the specified amount to the “Indian Testing Board”
6) You will be informed of the timing and procedure of the examination.
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Q. 12: Whether ITB / ISTQB certification can be taken Online?
The exam is not available online, thus the aspirant need to take the exam at the designated examination Center.
Useful Tips & Tricks for success in ISTQB exam:
ISTQB foundation level certification (CTFL) exam is the simplest of all. Software testers can cross this bridge quite comfortably by using following tips to the best of their advantage.
Before the Exam:
1) Read the syllabus thoroughly.
2) Do your own self-assessment by solving as many sample papers as possible & that too, without jumping to their answers. Answers should be used as a final check only.
During the Exam:
1) Objective type questions are quite simple but confusing, since answers have great similarity. Chose the answer that appears more appropriate by the process of elimination.
2) It is best to read the question twice or thrice or even more to understand the actual gist of the question (Be careful do not spend too much time on just one question itself – simultaneously keep an eye on the clock all the time). The idea of repeated reading of the question is to grab the important key words deliberately inserted in the question to judge the ability & presence of mind of the aspirant.
3) Never try to hastily jump to the answer � reason being you may fail to notice some typical catch in the question due to your haste. Thus the best way is to check all options before making your selection.
ISTQB Certification Schemes at a Glance
| Feature | Foundation Level (Common for ISTQB & ISEB) | ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level: Test Manager | ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level: Test Analyst | ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level: Technical Test Analyst | |
| 1 | Pre -requisites | None | Foundation | Foundation | Foundation |
| 2 | Exam Duration | 1 Hr. | 3 Hrs. | 3 Hrs. | 3 Hrs. |
| 3 | Learning Levels | K1, K2, K3 | K1, K2, K3,K4 | K1, K2, K3,K4 | K1, K2, K3,K4 |
| 4 | Examining Body (s) | ISEB | ITB / Local Testing Board | ITB / Local Testing Board | ITB / Local Testing Board |
| 5 | Current syllabus issued on | 12th April 2007 (v2007) | Oct 2007 (v2007) | Oct 2007 (v2007) | Oct 2007 (v2007) |
| 6 | Exam format | Multiple Choice | Multiple Choice | Multiple Choice | Multiple Choice |
| 7 | Number of Questions | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 8 | Type of Questions | Independent Multiple Choice | Pick �N� Mix & Scenario Based | Pick �N� Mix & Scenario Based | Pick �N� Mix & Scenario Based |
| 9 | Min. %age to Pass | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% |
| 10 | Exam Compa – rability across different countries | Each ISTQB Testing Board and ISEB prepare their own exam papers | Each ISTQB Testing Board and ISEB prepare their own exam papers | Each ISTQB Testing Board and ISEB prepare their own exam papers | Each ISTQB Testing Board and ISEB prepare their own exam papers |
| 11 | What to do After this | ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level or ISEB Intermediate | None at the moment � Expert Level not Available yet | None at the moment � Expert Level not Available yet | None at the moment � Expert Level not Available yet |
| 12 | Availability on Public Schedule | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 13 | Exam Fee per person | Defined by ITB / Local Testing Board | Defined by ITB / Local Testing Board | Defined by ITB / Local Testing Board | Defined by ITB / Local Testing Board |
Back to Part -1 of Twelve Top Questions about ISTQB Certification
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