BCS Professional Certificate - Software Tester

There are no pre-requisites for entry to the examination, although holding the ISTQB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing and accredited training is strongly recommended.

Target Audience

Anyone involved in any aspect of software testing or who is looking for a more practical approach to core software testing knowledge. It is not role-specific and takes into account the typical cross-skills required for a tester at any level working in a collaborative software development environment.

1. Testing Activities in Development Lifecycles (20%)

Candidates will be able to:

• 1.1. Classify the characteristics of software architecture that impact on software testing in the development lifecycle
• 1.2. Classify the main differences between lifecycle approaches from a testing perspective
• 1.3. Explain the core testing behaviours, skills and tools that are common to Developers, Testers and multi-skilled roles in development lifecycles
• 1.4. Explain how other processes interface with testing during development
• 1.5. Analyse a typical project scenario and choose appropriate testing activities for the situation

2. Testing and Risk (12.5%)

Candidates will be able to:

• 2.1. Explain how risks can interact with other risks
• 2.2. Apply Risk Analysis for a given scenario using qualitative and quantitative factors for impact and likelihood
• 2.3. Choose which test types and activities should be employed to address different types of risk within a given scenario

3. Test Management (17.5%)

Candidates will be able to:

• 3.1. Interpret high-level project test plans to produce high-level drafts of suitable subordinate test plans for test levels/types/iterations/releases
• 3.2. Explain possible alternative courses of action to take when test entry and exit criteria are not met
• 3.3. Analyse testing scenarios to select appropriate test entry and exit criteria to meet defined objectives
• 3.4. Analyse a simple defect management process and determine what improvements could be made to address known issues

4. Test Analysis and Design (20%)

Candidates will be able to:

• 4.1. Describe possible criteria for selecting test techniques
• 4.2. Explain the benefits and pitfalls of deploying test techniques
• 4.3. Analyse a practical testing scenario and select appropriate test techniques
• 4.4. Explain the relationship between typical test coverage measures and the information traceability requirements of the test process
• 4.5. Analyse a practical testing scenario and select appropriate test coverage measures

5. Software Product Quality Characteristics (22.5%)

Candidates will be able to:

• 5.1. Explain the importance of testing software product characteristics
• 5.2. Explain key product risks relating to security
• 5.3. Choose a high-level testing approach which addresses security risks
• 5.4. Explain key product risks relating to performance efficiency
• 5.5. Choose a high-level testing approach which addresses performance efficiency risks
• 5.6. Explain key product risks relating to usability, user experience and accessibility
• 5.7. Choose a high-level testing approach which addresses usability risks
• 5.8. Explain key product risks relating to installability, adaptability and replaceability

6. Test Automation Characteristics (7.5%)

Candidates will be able to:

• 6.1. Explain the role of Test Automation in the context of the software development lifecycle
• 6.2. Summarise the objectives for each test level with respect to Test Automation activities
• 6.3. Identify the characteristics required of tests to make them suitable for Test Automation

1. Testing Activities in Development Lifecycles

• Understand the characteristics of software architecture that impact on software testing in the development lifecycle
• Understand the core testing knowledge, skills and behaviours common to multi-skilled roles in the development lifecycle
• Analyse project scenarios to choose appropriate testing activities

2. Testing and Risk

• Apply risk analysis for a given testing scenario
• Analyse project scenarios to choose testing types and activities to address specific product and project risks

3. Test Management

• Analyse testing scenarios to select appropriate test entry and exit criteria to meet given testing objectives
• Analyse defect management processes to determine improvements that address given issues

4. Test Analysis and Design

• Understand the criteria, benefits and pitfalls for selecting and deploying test techniques
• Analyse a testing scenario to select appropriate test techniques
• Understand the relationship between typical test measures and the effectiveness of information traceability
• Analyse a testing scenario to select appropriate coverage measures

5. Software Product Quality Characteristics

• Understand key product risks relating to:
  • Security
  • Performance Efficiency
  • Usability
  • User Experience (UX)
  • Accessibility
  • Installability
  • Adaptability
  • Replaceability
• Apply a high-level testing approach which addresses risks in:
  • Security
  • Performance Efficiency
  • Usability

6. Test Automation Characteristics

• Understand the role of test automation and the objectives for each level in the development lifecycle with respect to test automation activities
• Understand the characteristics of tests to make them suitable for test automation

Exams

The BCS exam is now available online via remote proctoring. Delegate can take the exam at any location at the time of their choosing. More information will be provided during the course.

Structure of the BCS Professional Certificate – Software Tester Exam

• The examination consists of 40 multiple choice questions
• It will be a supervised, 'closed book' examination i.e. no notes or books will be allowed into the examination room
• Duration of 90 minutes (25% extra time if the examination is taken in a language that is not the candidate’s native/official language)
• The pass mark is 65% (26 out of 40).