ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst (3.1 Syllabus)

The ISTQB Certified Technical Test Analyst Advanced Level is principally aimed at test practitioners who have achieved an advanced point in their careers in software testing and are expecting to be actively involved in the technical aspects of software testing, including test automation, non-functional testing, white-box testing, and who want to increase their knowledge and skills beyond the levels covered by the Foundation and Intermediate qualifications. This includes people in roles such as testers, test analysts, test engineers, test consultants, test managers, user acceptance testers and software developers. This Advanced Level qualification is also appropriate for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of software testing, such as project managers, quality managers, software development managers, business analysts and management consultants.

After successfully completing the course and passing the exam, delegates should be able to demonstrate the following business-based outcomes:

• Recognize and classify the typical risks associated with the performance, security, reliability, portability and maintainability of software systems.
• Create test plans which detail the planning, design and execution of tests for mitigating performance, security, reliability, portability and maintainability risks.
• Select and apply appropriate structural design techniques to ensure that tests provide an adequate level of confidence, based on code coverage and design coverage.
• Effectively participate in technical reviews with developers and software architects applying knowledge of typical mistakes made in code and architecture.
• Recognize risks in code and software architecture and create test plan elements to mitigate those risks through dynamic analysis.
• Propose improvements to the security, maintainability and testability of code by applying static analysis.
• Outline the costs and benefits to be expected from introducing particular types of test automation.
• Select appropriate tools to automate technical testing tasks.
• Understand the technical issues and concepts in applying test automation.

In addition, after successfully completing the course and passing the exam, delegates should be able to use and put into practice the following learning objective:

• Summarize the generic risk factors that the Technical Test Analyst typically needs to consider.
• Summarize the activities of the Technical Test Analyst within a risk-based approach for testing activities.
• Write test cases from a given specification item by applying the Statement testing test technique to achieve a defined level of coverage.
• Write test cases from a given specification item by applying the Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) test technique to achieve coverage.
• Write test cases from a given specification item by applying the Multiple Condition testing test technique to achieve a defined level of coverage.
• Write test cases from a given specification item by applying McCabe’s Simplified Baseline Method.
• Understand the applicability of API testing and the kinds of defects it finds.
• Select an appropriate white-box test technique according to a given project situation.
• Use control flow analysis to detect if code has any control flow anomalies.
• Explain how data flow analysis is used to detect if code has any data flow anomalies.
• Propose ways to improve the maintainability of code by applying static analysis.
• Explain the use of call graphs for establishing integration testing strategies.
• Apply dynamic analysis to achieve a specified goal.
• For a particular project and system under test, analyze the non-functional requirements and write the respective sections of the test plan.
• Given a particular product risk, define the particular non-functional test type(s) which are most appropriate.
• Understand and explain the stages in an application’s lifecycle where non-functional tests should be applied.
• For a given scenario, define the types of defects you would expect to find by using non-functional testing types.
• Explain the reasons for including security testing in a test strategy and/or test approach.
• Explain the principal aspects to be considered in planning and specifying security tests.
• Explain the reasons for including reliability testing in a test strategy and/or test approach.
• Explain the principal aspects to be considered in planning and specifying reliability tests.
• Explain the reasons for including performance testing in a test strategy and/or test approach.
• Explain the principal aspects to be considered in planning and specifying performance efficiency tests.
• Explain the reasons for including maintainability testing in a testing strategy and/or test approach.
• Explain the reasons for including portability tests in a testing strategy and/or test approach.
• Explain the reasons for compatibility testing in a testing strategy and/or test approach.
• Explain why review preparation is important for the Technical Test Analyst.
• Analyze an architectural design and identify problems according to a checklist provided in the syllabus.
• Analyze a section of code or pseudo-code and identify problems according to a checklist provided in the syllabus.
• Summarize the activities that the Technical Test Analyst performs when setting up a test automation project.
• Summarize the differences between data-driven and keyword-driven automation.
• Summarize common technical issues that cause automation projects to fail to achieve the planned return on investment.
• Construct keywords based on a given business process.
• Summarize the purpose of tools for fault seeding and fault injection.
• Summarize the main characteristics and implementation issues for performance testing tools.
• Explain the general purpose of tools used for web-based testing.
• Explain how tools support the practice of model-based testing.
• Outline the purpose of tools used to support component testing and the build process.
• Outline the purpose of tools used to support mobile application testing.

There are six chapters with examinable content. The top-level heading of each chapter specifies the minimum time for instruction and exercises for the chapter. 

This accredited training course is organised across the six chapters as follows: 

• Chapter 1: The Test Analyst's Tasks in the Test Process (150 minutes) 

• Chapter 2: The Test Analyst's Tasks in Risk-Based Testing (60 minutes) 

• Chapter 3: Test Techniques (630 minutes) 

• Chapter 4: Testing Software Quality Characteristics (180 minutes) 

• Chapter 5: Reviews (120 minutes) 

• Chapter 6: Test Tools and Automation (90 minutes)

The entry requirements for the Certified Tester Advanced Level Technical Test Analyst qualification are that the candidate must hold the ISTQB Foundation certificate and it is also suggested that candidates have a minimum of 2 years testing experience.

Note that it is recommended that you attend an accredited training course run by an accredited training provider, as the overall exam pass rates are notably higher for candidates attending such courses.

To receive Advanced Level certification in the module “Technical Test Analyst”, candidates must hold a valid Certified Tester Foundation Level certificate:

40 multiple choice questions, which contain a list of possible answers

Duration of 90 minutes (or 113 minutes for candidates taking examinations that are not in their native language)

A candidate must score at least 65% to pass (26/40)

The Advanced Level establishes a platform from which further skills and knowledge may be acquired at the Expert Level. Holders of the Advanced Technical Test Analyst qualification will be eligible to continue with other Advanced exams as well as progressing to Expert level qualifications, such as Test Automation and Security Testing. More details to follow when available.

Holders of the Certified Tester Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester qualification may also wish to consider the other Advanced Level qualifications, including:

- ISTQB Technical Test Analyst

- ISTQB Agile Technical Tester

- ISTQB Automation Engineer

- ISTQB Test Manager

- ISTQB Security Tester