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BCS CTFL4 Exam
ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0 (Page 2 )

Updated On: 1-Feb-2026
Page 2 of 31
PDF with 148 Questions

The tests at the bottom layer of the test pyramid:

  1. run faster than the tests at the top layer of the pyramid
  2. cover larger pieces of functionalities than the tests at the top layer of the pyramid
  3. are defined as 'Ul Tests' or 'End-To-End tests' in the different models of the pyramid
  4. are unscripted tests produced by experience-based test techniques

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The tests at the bottom layer of the test pyramid run faster than the tests at the top layer of the pyramid because they are more focused, isolated, and atomic. They usually test individual units or components of the software system, such as classes, methods, or functions. They are also easier to maintain and execute, as they have fewer dependencies and interactions with other parts of the system. The tests at the top layer of the test pyramid, on the other hand, are slower because they cover larger pieces of functionalities, such as user interfaces, workflows, or end-to-end scenarios. They also have more dependencies and interactions with other systems, such as databases, networks, or external services. They are more complex and costly to maintain and execute, as they require more setup and teardown procedures, test data, and test environments.


Reference:

ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 sources and documents:
ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus v4.0, Chapter 3.2.1, Test Pyramid1 ISTQB® Glossary of Testing Terms v4.0, Test Pyramid2



A requirement specifies that if the total amount of sales (TAS) made during the year by a corporate seller is 300,000 or more, the bonus that must be paid to the seller is 100% of a certain amount agreed upon at the beginning of the year. The software contains a fault as it implements this requirement with the decision "IF (TAS = 300,000)" instead of "IF (TAS >= 300.000)". The application of the 3-value boundary value analysis to this problem consists of the following three test cases (TAS is an integer variable):
TC1 = 299,999 TC2=300,000 TC=300,001
Which of the following statements is TRUE?

  1. TC1 would highlight the fault
  2. TC2 would highlight the fault
  3. TC3 would highlight the fault
  4. None of the three test cases would highlight the fault.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The requirement specifies that a bonus should be paid if the total amount of sales (TAS) made during the year is 300,000 or more. The software incorrectly implements this requirement with "IF (TAS = 300,000)" instead of "IF (TAS >= 300,000)". Using boundary value analysis (BVA), which is a common technique in software testing, the three test cases provided (TC1 = 299,999, TC2 = 300,000, and TC3 = 300,001) cover the critical boundary values around the condition.
TC1 tests just below the boundary (299,999),
TC2 tests exactly at the boundary (300,000),
TC3 tests just above the boundary (300,001).

Since the software incorrectly checks for TAS equal to 300,000, only TC2 will fail because the condition is exactly met and highlights the incorrect implementation of the decision logic.


Reference:

ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Chapter 4.2.2, Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) .



The following decision table is used to assist a doctor in determining the drug therapy to prescribe for a patient (aged 6 to 65 years) diagnosed with acute sinusitis. The table consists of three Boolean conditions and six actions



Based only on the given information, which of the following statements is TRUE?

  1. Column 7 represents an impossible situation and thus can be deleted
  2. Columns 1 and 3 can be merged into a single column
  3. Columns 2, 4, 6 and 8 can be merged into a single column
  4. Columns 5 and 7 can be merged into a single column

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Decision tables are used to model complex decision logic by considering different combinations of conditions and actions. Based on the given decision table for prescribing drug therapy:
Column 1 and Column 3 both result in the same actions (prescribing Amoxicillin). These columns can be merged because the actions taken do not depend on whether the patient is taking anticoagulant therapy (both are 'T' for this condition). Thus, combining these columns simplifies the decision table without losing any information.


Reference:

ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Chapter 4.2.3, Decision Table Testing .



Consider the following user story about an e-commerce website's registration feature that only allows registered users to make purchases ; As a new user, I want to register to the website, so that I can start shopping online"
The following are some of the acceptance criteria defined for the user story [a] The registration form consists of the following fields: username, email address, first name, last name, date of birth, password and repeat password.
[b] To submit the registration request, the new user must fill in all the fields of the registration form with valid values and must agree to the terms and conditions. [c] To be valid, the email address must not be provided by free online mail services that allow to create disposable email addresses. A dedicated error message must be presented to inform the new user when an invalid address is entered.
[d] To be valid, the first name and last name must contain only alphabetic characters and must be between 2 and 80 characters long A dedicated error message must be presented to inform the new user when an invalid first name and/or the last name is entered [e] After submitting the registration request, the new user must receive an e-mail containing the confirmation link to the e-mail address specified in the registration form Based only on the given information, which of the following ATDD tests is MOST LIKELY to be written first?

  1. The new user enters valid values in the fields of the registration form, except for the email address, where he/she enters an e-mail address provided by a free online mail service that allow to create disposable email addresses. Then he/she is informed by the website about this issue.
  2. The new user enters valid values in the fields of the registration form, except for the first name, where he/she enters a first name with 10 characters that contains a number. Then he/she is informed by the website about this issue.
  3. The user accesses the website with a username and password, and successfully places a purchase order for five items, paying by Mastercard credit card
  4. The new user enters valid values in all the fields of the registration form, confirms to accept all the terms and conditions, submits the registration request and then receives an e-mail containing the confirmation link to the e-mail address specified in the registration form

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD) tests focus on verifying whether the system meets the specified acceptance criteria. The most critical path to test first would be the scenario where everything is done correctly (happy path), ensuring the basic functionality works as expected.
The new user provides all valid data.
This ensures the registration form works and the user receives a confirmation email. This test covers the basic functionality and will help verify that the primary use case is handled correctly before testing invalid or edge cases.


Reference:

ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Chapter 4.5.3, Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD) .



Which of the following statements about the test pyramid is TRUE?

  1. Each layer of the test pyramid groups tests related to a single non-functional quality charactenstic.
  2. The higher the layer of the test pyramid, the more production code a single automated test within the layer tends to cover
  3. The higher the layer of the test pyramid, the more maintainable a single automated test within the layer tends to be
  4. The higher the layer of the test pyramid, the more isolated a single automated test within the layer tends to be.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The test pyramid concept suggests that there should be more low-level tests (unit tests) and fewer high-level tests (end-to-end tests).
As we move higher up the pyramid (e.g., from unit tests to integration tests to end-to-end tests), each test covers more production code.
Higher-level tests (like end-to-end) validate larger parts of the application, including multiple units and their interactions.
This aligns with the principle that higher-level tests provide broader coverage but are fewer in number and more expensive to run and maintain.


Reference:

ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Chapter 5.1.6, Test Pyramid .



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