CTFL-AT Certified Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester Questions and Answers

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

From theCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.1User Stories and Acceptance Criteria, it states:

"Acceptance criteria are defined collaboratively and refined during the conversation to ensure mutual understanding. They may be added or updated as new insights emerge."

This supportsOption D, which reflects how acceptance criteria evolveduring conversations— a key component of the"Card, Conversation, Confirmation"model.

Option Ais incorrect — the user story istestable, especially with the acceptance criterion.

Option Bis false — the story provides clear user value (printed hard copy for daily records).

Option Cis misleading — the Given-When-Then formatsupportsdiscussions; it doesn’t replace them.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 3.2Test-Driven Development, it states:

"Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a practice where test cases are written before the code is developed. Typically, these tests are automated, and the code is written to make the tests pass."

This directly matchesOption A, making it the correct and complete answer.

Let’s review the other options:

Option Bdescribes atest strategy, not TDD.

Option Cis a definition ofAgile software development, not TDD.

Option Ddescribesexploratory testing, not TDD.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 3.4The Testing Quadrants, it states:

"The Agile testing quadrants are used to ensure that the team considers all important test types and levels during an Agile project. The quadrants categorize tests by their purpose (support development, critique the product) and by the type of feedback (business-facing vs technology-facing)."

Thus,Option Ccorrectly reflects theuse and purposeof the quadrants as aguidance tool, not a fixed sequence or hierarchy.

Option AandBare incorrect — the quadrants arenot mapped to strict levels or chronological order.

Option Dis false —risk is not the basis for quadrant numbering.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 2.2Quality Risk Analysis:

"The whole team contributes to quality risk analysis. While the Product Owner may identify business risks, the team collectively assesses risk levels based on impact and likelihood."

Thus,Option Ais correct —collaborative assessmentensures accurate risk-driven testing and planning.

Option Bis wrong —poor user stories should be addressed, not ignored.

Option Cis incorrect —risk level, not item count, determines depth of testing.

Option Dis false —effort estimation considers multiple factors, not just risk.

The test charter for the exploratory testing session is focused on buying a bus ticket, not a parking ticket. Therefore, any defect related to the payment for parking ticket is out of scope for the given test charter. The other defects are related to the functionality, usability, or reliability of buying a bus ticket, which are in scope for the test charter. References: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester Extension Syllabus, Version 2014, Section 2.3.2 Exploratory Testing1, Section 2.3.2.1 Test Charter2; ISTQB Glossary of Testing Terms, Version 3.2, 2017, Definition of Test Charter3

1: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester Extension Syllabus, Version 2014, Section 2.3.2 Exploratory Testing 2: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Agile Tester Extension Syllabus, Version 2014, Section 2.3.2.1 Test Charter 3: [ISTQB Glossary of Testing Terms, Version 3.2, 2017, Definition of Test Charter]

 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:

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

"In Agile projects, developers and testers work together to ensure the correct functionality is delivered during the iteration. Business representatives and testers may also validate the software during development to provide quick feedback."

This confirms thatOption Dis correct —collaborative testingby stakeholders and testers during development is a core Agile practice.

Option Ais incorrect — testing doesnot waitfor "done"; it occursconcurrentlywith development.

Option Bmisrepresents Agile — performance isn't based on metrics like defect counts.

Option Cis true in general, butdoes not directly answerthe integration of testing and development activities.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

From theCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 4.2Continuous Integration, it describes:

"A major benefit of continuous integration is the ability to detect integration problems, code defects, and broken builds early, allowing for faster resolution."

And:

"Continuous integration allows frequent builds and tests to be performed, helping to identify and isolate problems soon after they are introduced."

This directly confirms thatOption Ais the correct answer, highlighting thecore value of continuous integration:early detection and isolationof issues.

Option Bis incorrect — retrospectives remain essential in Agile regardless of CI.

Option Cis an Agile principle, but not adirect benefittied specifically to CI.

Option Doverstates the impact of CI — while CI may help communication, it does not eliminate communication problems by itself.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 5.4Progress Tracking, it explains:

"Burndown charts track completed story points, which are only counted when the entire user story is 'done'."

SinceT3 and T4 are not complete, and the user story is only complete whenall its tasks are done, thestory points are not yet burned. So,Option Cis correct.

Option Ais incorrect —partial completiondoes not burn partial story points.

Option Bmisrepresents the chart’s purpose —story pointsremain the unit.

A testable acceptance criterion is a condition that can be verified or measured objectively by the tester, customer, or stakeholder. It should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). A testable acceptance criterion should also be written from the user’s perspective, achievable within the sprint, and written before development begins1.

Among the four options, only option C meets these criteria. It is specific (the response time to confirm a customer submission), measurable (must not exceed 5 seconds), achievable (within the technical and business constraints), relevant (to the user’s needs and expectations), and time-bound (must be met in every sprint). It is also written from the user’s perspective, testable (by measuring the response time), and written before development (as part of the user story definition).

Option A is not testable because it is vague and subjective. What does it mean to support business processes? How can this be verified or measured? Option B is also not testable because it is subjective and ambiguous. What does it mean to be easy to use? How can this be verified or measured? Option D is not testable because it is not written from the user’s perspective. It is an internal quality criterion for the testing team, not an acceptance criterion for the product or feature.

 Business-oriented work products are those that describe what is needed (e.g., requirements specifications) and how to use it (e.g., user documentation). A user manual is an example of a business-oriented work product, as it provides instructions and guidance on how to use the product from the user’s perspective. A user manual may also contain information about the product’s features, benefits, and limitations. A user manual is typically written by technical writers, who may collaborate with developers, testers, and business analysts to ensure the accuracy and clarity of the content. A user manual may be delivered in various formats, such as printed, online, or interactive. References: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus1, Section 1.2.1, page 10; ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources2, Section 1.2.1, page 10.

 Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) is a software development approach that allows a developer to define accurate unit tests focused on business needs. BDD uses a common language that is understandable by both technical and non-technical stakeholders, such as Given-When-Then scenarios. BDD helps to align the development and testing activities with the customer expectations and business goals . 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

 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

: 3

 The Agile processes promote early and frequent feedback from the customers, users, testers, developers, and other stakeholders involved in the project. This feedback helps to ensure that the product meets the expectations and needs of the customers and users, and that the development process is continuously improved and adapted to the changing requirements and environment. However, increasing the frequency of feedback and communication does not eliminate all communication problems, as there may still be issues such as misunderstandings, misinterpretations, conflicts, or cultural differences that need to be resolved. Therefore, the statement D is not true, as it implies that communication problems are completely avoided by the Agile processes. References: ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus1, Section 1.2.1, page 9; ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester Extension Sample Exam Questions2, Question 4, page 5.

The 3C concept of user stories consists of three elements: card, conversation, and confirmation12. The card is a written description of the user story that captures the essence of the feature or functionality from the user’s perspective. The conversation is a dialogue between the product owner and the development team to clarify the details, assumptions, and expectations of the user story. The confirmation is a set of criteria or tests that verify that the user story is implemented correctly and meets the user’s needs12. Therefore, by applying the 3C concept, the correct statement is A, as the conversation should include the acceptance criteria discussion. This will help the team to understand the scope, priority, and value of the user story, as well as the conditions of satisfaction that the product owner expects12. The other statements are incorrect, as they violate the 3C concept. Statement B is wrong, as the card should contain the user story, not the requirements. The user story is a brief and informal way of expressing the user’s goal and benefit, while the requirements are more detailed and specific descriptions of how the software should work. The requirements can be added later as part of the conversation or confirmation12. Statement C is wrong, as the product owner has written a user story, but confirmation is still needed. The confirmation is a vital part of the 3C concept, as it ensures that the user story is testable, measurable, and verifiable. The confirmation also helps to avoid ambiguity, misunderstanding, or disagreement between the product owner and the development team12. Statement D is wrong, as the conversation is required and the team should not start developing without it. The conversation is an essential part of the 3C concept, as it allows the team to ask questions, share ideas, and collaborate with the product owner to refine the user story and reach a shared understanding. The conversation also helps to identify the dependencies, risks, and assumptions that may affect the implementation of the user story12. References: ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus1, Section 2.2.1, page 16-17; Effective User Stories - 3C’s and INVEST Guide2, Section The 3 C’s (Card, Conversation, Confirmation) of User Stories.

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.

 Scrum is an agile development approach that incorporates the following practices:

a project is divided into iterations called sprints, which are typically 2-4 weeks long

each sprint starts with a planning meeting, where the team selects a subset of user stories from the product backlog to work on

each sprint ends with a review meeting, where the team demonstrates the potentially releasable/shippable product increment to the stakeholders and collects feedback

each sprint also includes a retrospective meeting, where the team reflects on the process and identifies areas for improvement123 References: 1: ISTQB® Foundation Level Agile Tester Syllabus, Section 2.1, Agile Software Development1; 2: ASTQB Agile Tester Certification Resources, Section 2.1, Agile Software Development2; 3: What is Agile? | Atlassian3

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:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 3.2Test-Driven Development, and Section 3.4Testing Quadrants:

"TDD focuses on writing unit tests before code is implemented. These are technology-facing tests that support the team and are categorized under Q1."

Therefore,Option Dis correct.

Option Ainvolves performance/security testing.

Option B and Cinvolvebusiness-facing tests, not applicable to TDD.

 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.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

FromCTFL-AT Syllabus v4.0, Section 4.3Test Automation and Continuous Integration, and the ISTQB Glossary:

"Test automation involves using software to execute tests, compare actual outcomes to expected outcomes, and report the results automatically."

Thus,Option Acorrectly definestest execution automation.

Option Bdescribessession-based testing, not automation.

Option CdescribesTest-Driven Development (TDD).

Option Drefers totest execution, not specifically automation.