Foundation Level (4.0)
The International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB®) is the leading global certification scheme in the field of software testing. As of April 2023, ISTQB® has administered over 1.2 million examinations and issued more than 845,000 certifications in over 130 countries. The ISTQB® was founded in 2002 and operates as a non-for-profit organization. It consists of Member Boards from various countries or regions, each representing the testing community in their respective location. Working groups, composed of volunteers from different Member Boards and led by a Chair and a Vice Chair, collaborate to define and maintain the ISTQB® syllabi, related activities. The primary goal of the ISTQB® language and a set of best It offers a multi-level that allows individuals to demonstrate their skills in testing. The Level, Advanced Level, Expert Level and Specialist
The ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0 (CTFL 4.0) certification is the entry-level certification and demonstrates a basic understanding of software testing principles, techniques and terminology. The CTFL certification is recognized as a prerequisite to all other ISTQB® certifications where Foundation Level is required. The Advanced Level certifications delve deeper into specific areas of testing, such as Test Manager, Test Analyst and Technical Test Analyst. Expert Level certification focuses on advanced testing topics such as Assessing Test Processes and Strategic Test Management. The Specialist Level provides certification in specific types of testing and includes areas such as AI Testing, Test Automation Engineer and Performance Testing.
By obtaining ISTQB® certifications,
enhance their career prospects, gain industry recognition and demonstrate software testing. The ISTQB®’s certifications are recognised and respected in the software testing community around the world and them to be a valuable asset when hiring or promoting software testing professionals. On the 9 th of May 2023, an important update to the Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL 4.0), was widely publicized throughout the ISTQB® community, and it is expected to become the new global standard in the field. This will ultimately replace the previous version (CTFL 3.1) which was released in 2019, although CTFL 3.1 training and examinations will still be available until the 9 th of May 2024 (in English) and the 9 th of November 2024 (in other languages). The ISTQB®’s Vice President, Olivier Denoo, said; “The new syllabus is so much more than a simple update or a pooling of existing notions from the previous ISTQB® Foundation and Agile syllabuses, the new CTFL 4.0 syllabus is a total and deep redesign, integrating the most recent Agile concepts, together with the timeless basics from the art of software testing, but also some of the newest approaches preparing for the testing of tomorrow.” So, what is new in CTFL 4.0? At the highest level, the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 3.1 explains the terminology and concepts used worldwide in the testing domain. It is more focused on understanding the key principles and fundamentals of software testing. It also places greater emphasis on practical applications of testing techniques. The CTFL 4.0 syllabus retains that high level knowledge but also includes significant changes from its predecessor, the CTFL 3.1, with the addition of Agile testing and a more extensive focus on risk-based testing. Furthermore, CTFL 4.0 introduces techniques to better evaluate quality control efforts, define quality gates, and write and execute acceptance tests. Testing is no longer just a dedicated function, but a role with quality-related activities that any team member can undertake. The addition of Agile testing is considered to be important because research has shown that 79% of all organizations are using Agile principles in their testing. The updated CTFL 4.0 syllabus highlights the importance of close collaboration with other stakeholders, introduces techniques to better estimate the effort required to control quality, and defines quality gates such as DoR, DoD, and Acceptance Criteria. The syllabus exemplifies different techniques to write and execute acceptance tests, switching testing from a dedicated function to a role with a set of quality-related activities that can be undertaken by any member of the team. CTFL 4.0 should not be seen as a “merge” of CTFL 3.1 and the CTFL-Agile Tester certifications. It is a fully rewritten syllabus, based on certain concepts of both syllabi, but extended with new learning objectives. In detail, the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 4.0 is split into six chapters;
- Fundamentals of Testing
- Testing Throughout the SDLC
- Static Testing
- Test Analysis and Design
- Managing the Test Activities
- Testing Tools
Each of these chapters contains a number of topics as shown in the table below. The table also indicates new and updated material for CTFL 4.0: Chapter Topics What is new/updated from v3.1 Fundamentals of What is Testing? Why is Testing necessary? Testing Principles Test Activities, Testware and Test Roles Essential Skills and Good Practices in Testing Throughout Testing in the context of an SDLC the SDLC Test Levels and Test Types Maintenance Testing Static Testing Static Testing Basics Feedback and Reviews Process Test Analysis and Test Techniques Overview Black-box Test Techniques White-box Test Techniques Experience-based Techniques Collaboration-based Approaches Managing the Test Test Planning Risk Management Test Monitoring, Test Control and Test Configuration Management Defect Management Testing Tools Tool Support for Testing Benefits and Risks of Test Automation
What is new/updated from v3.1 Other Objectives Testing is an activity or role Changed Skillset Whole Team Approach Impact of different SDLCs Test First Approach Shift Left Approach Frequent Feedback Mechanism Avoid instead of detect Branch Testing Checklist-based Testing Writing User Stories Writing Acceptance Criteria Using ATDD Release Planning Iteration Planning Estimation Techniques Test Pyramid Testing Quadrants DevOps Tools Collaboration Tools The ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus 4.0 retains its study duration of 1135 minutes (equivalent to 18 hours and 55 minutes). The examination consists of 40 questions to be completed in 60 minutes. Each question is worth 1 point, and a minimum of 26 points (65%) is required to pass and receive certification. Successful holders of the Foundation Level certification have demonstrated that they should be able to achieve the following business outcomes (as defined in the
- Understand what testing is and why it is beneficial
- Understand the fundamental concepts of software
- Identify the test approach and activities to be
implemented depending on the context of testing
- Assess and improve the quality of documentation
- Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of testing
- Align the test process with the software development
- Understand test management principles
- Write and communicate clear and understandable
defect reports
- Understand the factors that influence the priorities and
efforts related to testing
- Work as part of a cross-functional team
- Know risks and benefits related to test automation
- Identify essential skills required for testing
- Understand the importance of risk on testing
- Effectively report on test progress and quality
In summary, the new ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0 (CTFL 4.0) certification is the cornerstone of essential testing knowledge that can be applied to real-world scenarios. The syllabus provides a comprehensive understanding of the terminology and concepts used in the testing domain worldwide, making it relevant for all software delivery approaches and practices, including Waterfall, Agile, DevOps, and Continuous Delivery. Simon Frankish UKiTB member, TMMi Local Chapter Lead, ISTQB® MWG member Simon has over 30 years’ experience in the software testing industry and is currently Experimentus’ Practice Lead for Process Improvement. He is an experienced, accredited TMMi Lead Assessor who has worked worldwide to help organizations improve their testing processes. More recently, sustainability in software testing has become a strong interest and Simon is working to help organizations to look at process improvement through a carbon lens.