interviewquestions for qa tester

8/20/2019 InterviewQuestions for QA Tester

1/52

InterviewQuestions for QA Tester (Software Tester)

These questions and answers aretotally based on the interview I attended during my 6 years of

workingexperience as a ! Tester" In some sections# I have started including theinterview questions

that were asked by companies to some of the candidates whovisited this website and wanted to

share"

If you are attending an interview#you have to know these questions and answers by heart must be

very fluent inanswering these questions" $ractice in front of the mirror# loud and clear(talk to

yourself)" %ost of the time# when we read the questions# we feel goodand feel comfortable# but the

reality is# at the time of the interview# eventhough we feel we have the knowledge# can&t express itwell" It may sound alittle rough# but this is my experience" 'hen we come out the door# we regret"

* !* T +STI,-S.

1.Can you tell me about yourself?

!nswer. In my ! career# I have beenworking on various system platforms and operating systems

like 'indows /0# 'indows1222# 'indows 3$ and +-I3" I have tested applications developed in

4ava# 5#7isual 8asic and so on" I have tested 'eb9based applications as well as clientserver

applications"

!s a ! person# I have written Test$lans# Test 5ases# attended walkthrough meetings with the

8usiness !nalysts#$ro:ect %anagers# 8usiness %anagers and ! ;eads" I have attended

requirementreview meetings and provided feedback to the 8usiness !nalysts" I have workedin

different databases like ,racle and


2/52

I have written defects as they arefound using 5learuest and Testes"

Whatis a Test #lan?

!nswer. ! Test $lan is a documentthat describes the scope# approach# resources# and schedule of

intended testingactivities" It identifies test items# the features to be tested# the testingtasks and who

will do each task (roles and responsibilities) and any risks andits solutions" See how the Test $lan

looks like"


3/52

Whatdoes it inlude?

!nswer. ! Test $lan includeseading# *evision istory# Table of 5ontents# Introduction# Scope#

!pproach#,verview# different types of testing that will be carried out# what softwareand hardware will

be required# issues# risks# assumptions and sign off section"

$."ave you written Test Cases?

!nswer. >es"

Whatis a Test Case? What does it inlude?

!nswer. ! Test 5ase is a documentthat describes step9by9step process how to test the application" !

Test 5aseincludes Test 5ase I


4/52

*equirement


5/52

tracking hisexpenses and income as well as enhance the selling process" This is how theconcept is

generated" The owner will specifically tell the software companywhat kind of software he would

need" In other words# he will specify hisrequirements"

(ii) 3e(uirements analysis A !fter the owner (user) knows hisrequirements# then it is given to a

software team (company) who will analyBethe requirement and prepare requirement document that

will explain everyfunctionality that are needed by the owner" The requirement document will bethe

main document for developers# testers and database administrators" In otherwords# this is the main

document that will be referred by everyone" !fter therequirement documents# other detailed

documents many be needed" =or example#the architectural design which is a blueprint for the design

with the necessaryspecifications for the hardware# software# people and data resources"

(iii) %evelopment. !fter the detailed requirement documents (somecompanies have design

documents instead of requirement documents)# thedevelopers start writing their code (program) for

their modules" ,n the otherhand# the testers in the ! (uality !ssurance)


6/52

7.What is 6usiness %esi+n %oument?

!nswer. It is the document thatdescribes the application functionalities of the user in detail" This

documenthas the further details of the 8usiness *equirement


7/52

1!.What is 6uild?

!nswer. 'hen each of the differentmodules of software is prepared# the 5onfiguration %anagement

Team (5%T) putsthem in a single folder and it is called the D8uild&" " (This is -,T a verycommon

question for the interview" This is :ust for your knowledge# if youdon&t know what a build is") See how

the build is prepared"

1$.What does the 6uild %eployment mean?

!nswer. 'hen the 8uild so preparedby the 5%T (5onfiguration %anagement Team)# it is deployed

(put) to differentTest nvironmentsE it is called the 8uild


8/52

1/.What does Test 0trate+y inlude?

!nswer. It includes introduction#Test ,b:ectives# Test $rocess# Test %ethodology# Test Scope#

*elease 5riteriafor Testing (exit criteria)# Test ;ab configuration# resource and schedule fortest

activities# acceptance criteria# test environment# test tools# testpriorities# test planning# executing a

test pass and types of test to beperformed"

15.What are different types of software testin+ and define them?

!nswer.


9/52

@F) 'hite box testing

@G) !lpha testing

@0) 8eta testing

(-ote. xcept the Shakeout testingand +nit testing (which are respectively done by the 5%T

(5onfiguration %anagementTeam) and 5oder?


10/52

Whatis 3e+ression testin+? 'hen a new functionality is added to the software# weneed to make

sure that the added new functionality does not break the otherparts of the application" ,r when

defects (bugs) are fixed# we need to makesure that the bug fix has not broken the other parts of the

application" Totest this# we perform a repetitive test# which is called regression test"

Whatis 0ystem testin+?'hen testers complete testing (The testers test the application in the

testenvironments# meaning they test with the test data only# -,T with the realdata)# the application

(software) has to be tested in the real environment"'hat it means is# since the testers test it in the

test environment with thetest data# we have to make sure that the application works well in the

realenvironment with the real data" In test environment# some of the things cannotbe simulated or

tested" !l though the test environment is very similar to theproduction (real) environment# we need to

make sure that we get a smoothdelivery in the real system as well (!s servers are different and

database isdifferent# things may not work as expected when the application is moved fromtest

environment to production environment)

Whatis oad testin+? Itis a test to check the user&s response time for number of users using any

onescenario (single business process) of the same application at the same time"

Whatis #erformane testin+? It is a test to check the user&s response time fornumber of users

using multiple scenarios (multiple business process) of thesame application at the same time"

(


11/52

behavior of the program iscompletely ignored" Testing occurs based upon the external specifications"

!lsoknown as behavioral testing# since only the external behavior of the program isevaluated and

analyBed")

Whatis White bo< testin+?It is a test where a tester looks into the code and performs the testing"

Whatis Alpha testin+? Inthis type of testing# the users are invited at the development center

wherethey use the application and the developers note every particular input oraction carried out by

the user" !ny type of abnormal behavior of the system isnoted and rectified by the developers"

Whatis 6eta testin+?In this type of testing# the software is distributed as a beta version to theusers

and users test the application at their sites" !s the users explore thesoftware# in case if any

exception?defect occurs that is reported to thedevelopers"

17.What is the differene between oad Testin+ and #erformane Testin+?

!nswer. 8asically ;oad# Stress and$erformance Testing are the same" owever# ;oad testing is the

test to checkthe users& response time of number of users of any one scenario of theapplication

whereas $erformance Testing is the test to check the userresponse time for multiple scenario of the

same application"

28.What was the proess of QA testin+ in your ompany where you wored for thelast time?

'=r As far as the QA proess is involved) what was the testin+proess in your ompany?,

!nswer. The ! testing process thatwas followed in my last company where I worked was as

follows.

=irst of all the 8usiness*equirement


12/52

testing were performed" ,nce the defects were found# the testers wouldlog the defect using the tools

available (like Testes" There was a situationwhere in one page of an application in my previous pro:ect# when

the userclicked J5ontactK link# it would pop up a different window (new separatewindow)" 8ut it was

-,T the way it was described in the requirement document"In the requirement document# when the

user clicks J5ontactK link# then itshould navigate to another page (-ot a separate new window" Then

was it aproblemM =unctionality wise# it was -,T a problem# however# on all the otherpages# when

the user clicked J5ontactK link# the system would navigate to nextpage (not a separate window)" So#

it was -,T 5,-SIST-T with the otherfunctionalities on the other pages" Therefore# it was a

consistency issue" Ireported this as a bug" 8ut the $ro:ect %anager asked me to write it as a5hange

5ontrol (because it requires more budget to fix this issue) so that hecan address this issue at a later

time" So I wrote this as a 5hange 5ontrol"(owever# it is -,T a :ob of a tester to write change

control" It&s thebusiness analyst&s :ob)


13/52

2!.What is 6aend Testin+?

!nswer. It is a test to checkwhether the data displayed in the N+I front9end matches with the

particulardata in the backend"

2$."ave you done any 6aend Testin+ and>or if you did) how did you do it in yourlast

projet?

!nswer. >es" I have done backendtesting" 'hen I was working in my last pro:ect# this was my

scenario of backendtesting.

I was working on *eports" It was thescenario of testing one application used in the bank# where a

customer comes toa bank&s front desk# the bank teller is requested to open a 5hecking !ccount"The

associate then asks for the personal information about the customer# which#are the primary data#

such as. =irst -ame# ;ast -ame#


14/52

!nswer. I write S; query based onthe requirement document" In the requirement document#

various conditions aregiven for the query" 8ased on those conditions# I write S; query"

Therefore#anything different from the requirement document is definitely a defect"

2&.;rom you resume) I see that you have been worin+ in one plae for a very shortperiod of

time. This raises me (uestions why. Can you eou start reading thedocuments# which lasts normally one week or more"

2/.What do you do on the job every day? What is the first thin+ you +o when you +oto wor

on a day? 'What is your routine job?,

!nswer. No to work# have a cup ofcoffee (coffee is free in any work place)# then check emails" I will

check inmy calendar whether there is any meeting for the day" If there is anythingurgent work that

needs to take care of# then I will start with that :ob",therwise# I will start what is left from yesterday

on a priority basis"


15/52

(This question was asked to one ofmy friends while he was attending interview in one of the

companies" 'hen theyasked him this question# his answer was# he said# JI start testingK" This washis

wrong answer" The answer varies in which phase of testing the applicationis" If the application is in

very beginning state9meaning that the coding has:ust begun# then the tester&s :ob will be to analyBe

and read the requirementdocuments# write test plans and write test cases" $robably attend

walkthroughmeeting and so on" owever# the daily routine :ob would be# as mentioned above#check

emails# read documents# attend meeting and so on" It&s not that as soonas you enter the office# you

start testing)

Whatdo you do if you have any (uestions to as? Who do you as?

!t the beginning# we all panic# whatkind of questions to askM 'hat if they ask questions that I don&t

knowM Is it,Q to ask questionsM 'hat do I do if I don&t know how to do the :ob I amassigned toM and

so on"

!s mentioned earlier# on the firstday# your %anager will give you the system (computer) (They

normally callsystem# not computer)# will tell you what the +ser I< and $assword is# whereare the !

documents on the shared drive (or -etwork drive) are and so on" Theywill definitely ask you to read

a lot of documents at the beginning (!nd youmust read# read and read those documents !S %+5

!S $,SSI8;" !t the beginning#allocate about 1 hours extra at home for reading these documents"

This habitwill put you on the top of your :ob)" These documents are normally designspecification

document (


16/52

question to the ;ead (or %anager)"


17/52

tools" I was involved in some of the testing usingthese tools# but would need some brush up in order

to work independently"K I amsaying this because these tools are difficult to tackle in the interview

andhave to know in depth" In order to pass the interview on functional automationtools# it may not be

easy unless you really know the stuff" 8ut# since there isnot much to learn in 5learuest and

Test


18/52

(ven if you had one# it&s a goodidea to say J-oK" This could be a red flag# which might stop you from

gettingthe :ob)

!2.What do you lie about a 9ana+er? And what dont you lie?

!nswer. The best thing I like abouta %anager is that the %anager should be able to coordinate with

the other teamsso that we can get the updated documents# for example# updated

requirementsdocuments right away" ! %anager who can efficiently in distributes the work tothe team#

without being biased and easily accessible and protective to his teamfor the right cause" !s far as

Jwhat I don&t likeK is concerned# I don&t like amanager who keeps coming to desk @2 times a day to

check my work even if it is:ust a regular work" ,nce the responsibility is given# the team membershouldbe trusted and let his work done"

!!.Where do you see yourself in another & years?

!nswer. I see myself a ! ;ead inanother 0 years"

(>ou can also say J! %anagerK# butsince the ! %anager is taking your interview most of the time#

they some timesfeel challenged" Therefore# it might be a good idea to limit you to ! ;ead)

!$.Why are you in QA?

!nswer. I am in ! because I likethis :ob"

!&.Why do you lie this job?

!nswer. I like this :ob# because itis process oriented" %eaning that I get an opportunity to work from

analyBingthe requirement documents to writing test plans# test cases# testing theapplication# logging


19/52

defects# retesting# preparing reports and finally testingin production as well" Therefore# I am involved

from the very beginning to theend of the software development life cycle (S


20/52

requirement document etc"=or instance# let us say that instead of J5ontinueK button on a page# there

isa typo J5ontinueeK" -ow# we will make a screen shot of this page (To makescreen shot# press

J$rint ScreenK button on the keyboard# and open a 'orddocument# and 5lick dit on the 'ord

document and J$astK it" >ou will see thescreen now) -ow# a tester needs to write defects in easy and

clear language tomake all the developers to understand easily"

F" o+ the %efet. -ow# the next step is# we need to log it"


21/52

!lthough the combination key(!lt=G) was not mentioned in the test case# I :ust wanted to try how

theapplication reacts when !lt=G is pressed" Then I pressed !lt=G" The resultwas a disaster9the

application crashed (broke)" The application disappearedfrom the computer monitor" Since it was the

last day of testing for us# itbrought chaos in our %anagers# ;eads and the whole teams" =inally# the

developersdisabled !lt=G as a temporary solution and the application went intoproduction"

$8."ow do you mae sure that it is (uality software?

!nswer. There is a certain processhow the quality of software is guaranteed (ensured)" If is defined

by the Dexitcriteria&" ('hat it means is# a ! %anager writes a document called TestStrategy" This

Test Strategy defines the Dexit criteria&") xit 5riteria givesthe measurement# for example# in order toconfirm the quality# how manycritical defects# high defects# medium defect and low defect are

acceptableMThese are all defined in the exit criteria" (-ormally in practice# for aquality software#

there should no critical defects (2 critical)# no high defect(2 high)# no medium defect (2 medium) and

may be @ low defect)

$1.As a QA Tester) an you tell me the situation when you felt the most proud ofit?

!nswer. 'hen I find the defect thatnormally others don&t find# then I feel very proud" =or example#

there weresituations where I found bugs that crashed the whole system at the end oftesting phase" I

tried the scenarios where the scenarios were -,T mentioned inthe test cases" =or example# we can

close the windows by clicking 3 on thepage# with J5loseK button and so on" 8ut there is another way

that you can closethe window# by pressing !lt=G on the keyboard" -ot many testers test

thisscenario" I have done this in my last two pro:ects" 8oth the time# theapplication crashed which

became a big issue" I felt proud"

$2.What made you to hoose testin+ areer?


22/52

!nswer. I am a very detailedoriented person and I like process9oriented :ob" The way ! process

works is:ust the kind of work I like" =or example# analyBing requirement documents#attending walk9

through meetings# writing test plans# writing test cases# executingthe test cases (or running the test

cases) testing the application# loggingdefects# retesting them and so on" I think I really like the

process and that&swhy I chose this career"

$!.When should testin+ start in a projet? Why?

!nswer. 'e should start testing assoon as the following things are ready.

9Test


23/52

$&.What is a @bu+?

!nswer. ! bug is a bug is an error#flaw# mistake# failure# or fault in a computer code (program) that

prevents itfrom behaving as intended (e"g"# producing an incorrect result)" (>ou can alsoadd this.

'hen the expected results (accordingly to the requirement documents)don&t match with the actual

results (while testing)# then it is considered abug)

$-."ow would you ensure that you have overed 188B testin+?

!nswer. The testing coverage isdefined by exit criteria (There is exit criteria and entry criteria in the

TestStrategy)" =or example# if the exit criteria says JThe software will beacceptable to the client only

if there are no critical defects# no highdefects# no medium defects and only two low defectsK# then all

the critical#high# medium should be Bero" ,nly 1 low defects are acceptable" Thus# @22Lcoverage is

measured by the exit criteria" !lso# @22L test cases must beexecuted in order to cover @22L of

testing"

$/.What problems did you fae in the past? "ow did you solve it?

(>ou will be ,Q if you :ust give oneof the problems below# not all of them)

!nswer. I had many problems whiletesting applications in the past"

!s far as I remember one of them(then describe one of them from below)# this was the scenario.

(i) It was a web:based appliation. I was working on a module calledJTransaction SummaryK"

There was JSubmitK button on that page" !fter enteringdata in the all the fields# for example# =irst

-ame# ;ast -ame# Social Security-umber#


24/52

exactly what was wrong with it" =inally# onesmart guy checked into the database and found out that

one of the files in thedatabase was closed" The status of all the files should be in the open

status",nce the status of the closed file was put in the JopenK status# theapplication worked fine"

(ii) =ne of the problems was in the o+in window 'pa+e, " 'hen the userenters and ;ogin -ame

and $assword# then $assword should be encrypted" ,ne ofthe Test 5ases was that I needed to

open database and see whether the passwordis encrypted or not" I found out it was not encrypted" I

reported it as a bug(defect) and it was fixed in the next release (build)"

(iii) %efets I have found in a projet was a defet to lose a window 'popup, " =or example# in

the last pro:ect# on a page# there was a button calledJ%ore InformationK" ,nce the user clicked that

button# the system would open anew window (pop up)"'e could close the new window in F ways.

98y clicking 3 at the top rightcorner of the page

98y clicking J5loseK button on thepage

98y pressing combination keys(!lt=G) on the key board

!lthough the combination key(!lt=G) was not mentioned in the test case# I :ust wanted to try how

theapplication reacts when !lt=G is pressed" Then I pressed !lt=G" The resultwas a disaster9the

application crashed (broke)" The application disappearedfrom the computer monitor" Since it was the

last day of testing for us# itbrought chaos in our %anagers# ;eads and the whole teams" =inally#

thedevelopers disabled !lt=G as a temporary solution and the application wentinto production"

(iv) Another problem was that a user would searh for branh loationinformation of a ban "

The user logs in by using +ser -ame and $assword"!fter the log in# on the JSearch ;ocationK page#

the user enters and Bip codeof the location he wants to find# then clicks =ind button" !fter that

thesystem (application) gives a number of branch locations" The user now clicksJ*equest

InformationK for one of the branches" !s soon as the user clicksJ*equest InformationK button# the

application breaks (displays J$age cannot befoundK error)" I logged this defect as a critical defect"

'hen the developersand database administrator looked into it# then they found out that in one ofthe

tables# the data was not recorded" In all the tables (+ser$rofile table#5lientI< table and SessionI<

table)# the data should be populated with theinformation entered by the user" =or some reason# in


25/52

one of the tables# it wasblank (null)" ,nce they wrote a small code to populate data (enter data) to

thetable# the application started working"

(v) In my previous projet) when the ustomer wants to upload a doument #for example# a

copy of a monthly statement (in 'ord format)# on the website#the system should automatically

change the 'ord document into "pdf format" ,ncethe document was uploaded# I saw that the fields

in the "pdf document wereinterchanged (misplaced)" =or example# the =irst -ame displayed in the

;ast-ame section"


26/52

information in a new window in $ou should beable to show them that you can cope with any king of boss"

Therefore# :ust takean idea below how the answer should be")

!nswer. I can hardly think of any%anager that was really bad" 8ut when I compare# then I remember

of a Test ;eadwho was :ust made a lead from the developers team" She used to feel that shehas

been very proud of her position and used to boss around" Some times# sheused to call home andcheck where I was and what I was doing" ,r have Icompleted my :ob before leaving and so on" I

think# whatever she did# was inthe benefit of the company and myself in the long run which would

give me moreconfidence in future"

$7.What do you lie about QA?

!nswer. The best thing I like about! is# I like the :ob which is more process oriented" =or example#

we have towork right from reading the requirement documents# providing feedback to the8usiness

!nalysts as necessary# writing test plans# test cases# execute thetest cases# interaction with different

developers# attend walk9through meetingand so on" I am a very detailed oriented person" 'hen I

test applications# Itry to get into the depth of functionality so that I don&t miss out anything"=inally# I

love logging defects"

&8.What are all the basi elements in a defet report?

!nswer. The basic elements in adefect report are.


27/52

&1.What is the differene between verifiation and validation?

7erification. 7erification is aprocess to ensure that the software that is made# matches the original

design"In other words# it checks whether the software is made according to thecriteria and

specification described in the requirement document" It is tocheck whether you built the product right

as per design" It is a low levelchecking" (It is done in walk9through meetings generally)" It checked

whetherit is made accordingly to the design""

7alidation. 7alidation is a processto check whether the product design fits the client&s need" It checks

whetheryou built the right thing" It checks whether it is designed properly"

&2."ow do you now it is suffiient testin+?

!nswer. very company has entry andexit criteria" 'hen we test applications# we refer to exit

criteria" 'hen weare about to finish testing# then the ! Team (! %anager) refers to the exitcriteria

(exit criteria tells the level of defect that you can be comfortablewith before it goes to production" =or

example# there should be U*, criticaldefect# U*, high level defect# U*, medium defect# @ ;ow

level defect# all thetest cases must be @22L executed etc)" ,nce the exit criteria meet

therequirements# then the software is considered to be sufficiently tested"

very company has entry and exitcriteria" 'hen we test applications# we refer to exit criteria" 'hen

we areabout to finish testing# then the ! Team (! %anager) refers to the exitcriteria (exit criteria

tells the level of defect that you can be comfortablewith before it goes to production" =or example#

there should be U*, criticaldefect# U*, high level defect# U*, medium defect# @ ;ow level

defect# all thetest cases must be @22L executed etc)" ,nce the exit criteria meet the

requirements#then the software is considered to be sufficiently tested"

&!."ow to derive test senarios and use ases? What are the ontents and format?

!nswer. Test scenarios are derivedfrom requirement documents" 'e follow each and every

functionality (calledbusiness rules) mentioned in the requirement document" ,ne functionality


28/52

canhave multiple business rules" =or example# let us say in there is onerequirement called J;oginK"

This J;oginK may have various scenarios" =orexample# one scenario is# enter the right +ser I< and

wrong password" Thesystem should display an error message" !nother scenario would be to

enterwrong +ser I< and right $assword" The system should display an error message"The third

scenario could be to enter the right +ser -ame and right $assword"The system should allow the

user to get into the system" This is how the testcases are derived from the requirement documents

or from the +se 5ases"

(=or contents for formats of testscenario# please refer to question G in qaquestions"com)

&$.What are the types of test ases that you write?

!nswer. 'e write test cases forsmoke testing# integration testing# functional testing# regression

testing#load testing# stress testing# system testing and so on"

&&."ow to write Inte+ration test ases?

!nswer. I have never writtenseparate Test 5ases Integration Testing" Since Integration Testing is a

test tocheck whether the all the modules are integrated together or not (meaning thatwhen the

developers compile all their module and make a build# all modulesshould be working when they are

combined together and those modules whencombined# should work as expected)" If they are not

integrated (combined) in anice way# then the application breaks" 8asically# when we do the

functionaltesting# the integration testing is automatically done" This is my experience"

&-."ow to write 3e+ression test ases? What are the riteria?

!nswer. *egression test cases arealso based on the requirement documents" They are written more

into detail andwith every release (build)# the testers need to do regression testing" Thecriteria for

regression testing areE there should be no ma:or defects while wedo our smoke test and functional

testing"


29/52

&/.Is there a format for a test ase? %o you follow any methodolo+y for numberin+test

ases?

!nswer. >es" It depends upon thecompany how the company has followed the numbering of test

cases" owever#normally# it is :ust a simple numbering in most of the time (see question G

ofqaquestions"com)" 8ut some companies may also relate this numbering to therequirement number"

=or example# if the requirement for ;ogin is J*9;,N922@K#then we can number the test cases like

*9;,N922@922@ and so on"

&5.What is Test "arness?

!nswer. (


30/52

V Test summary *eport A It is areport that has list of the total test cases# list of executed test

cases#remaining test case to be executed# executed date# pass?fail

V


31/52

!nswer. If the developer does notaccept the defect# then he will re:ect it" ,nce it is re:ected# then it

comesback to the tester" -ow# the tester will ask for clarification with thedeveloper why the defect is

re:ected" Since everything is based on therequirement documents# both tester and developer will

have to look at therequirement document# validate it and then reopen it if necessary or close"

-!.What are the different tests that an be done for Client 0erver Appliation andWeb:based

Appliation? ive details.

!nswer. =or both client server andweb based applications# the testing is the same except one thing.

'e test webbased applications in different browsers# for example# Internet xplorer (willtest in

different versions like I 0"2# I 6"2# I H"2)# =irefox# Safari (for%ac) and so on where as for clientserver# we don&t need to test in thebrowsers"

-$.What is an inspetion?

!nswer. !n inspection is a formalmeeting# more formaliBed than a walkthrough and typically consists

of F9@2people including a moderator# reader (the author of whatever is being reviewed)and a

recorder (to make notes in the document)" The sub:ect of the inspectionis typically a document# such

as a requirements document or a test plan" Thepurpose of an inspection is to find problems and see

what is missing# not tofix anything" The result of the meeting should be documented in a

writtenreport" !ttendees should prepare for this type of meeting by reading throughthe document#

before the meeting startsE most problems are found during thispreparation" $reparation for

inspections is difficult# but is one of the mostcost9effective methods of ensuring quality# since bug

prevention is more costeffective than bug detection"

-&.ive me five ommon problems that our durin+ software development.

!nswer. $oorly written requirements#unrealistic schedules# inadequate testing# adding new features

afterdevelopment is underway and poor communication" *equirements are poorly writtenwhen


32/52

requirements are unclear# incomplete# too general# or not testableEtherefore there will be problems"

The schedule is unrealistic if too much workis crammed in too little time"

Software testing is inadequate ifnone knows whether or not the software is any good until customers

complain orthe system crashes" It&s extremely common that new features are added

afterdevelopment is underway"

%iscommunication either means thedevelopers don&t know what is needed# or customers have

unrealisticexpectations and therefore problems are guaranteed

--.What is the role of doumentation in QA?

!nswer.


33/52

!nswer. This can be difficult todetermine" %any modern software applications are so complex and

run in such aninterdependent environment# that complete testing can never be done"

5ommonfactors in deciding when to stop areR


34/52

V 'hich parts of the code are mostcomplex and thus most sub:ect to errorsM

V 'hich parts of the applicationwere developed in rush or panic modeM

V 'hich aspects of similar?relatedprevious pro:ects caused problemsM

V 'hich aspects of similar?relatedprevious pro:ects had large maintenance expensesM

V 'hich parts of the requirementsand design are unclear or poorly thought outM

V 'hat do the developers think arethe highest9risk aspects of the applicationM

V 'hat kinds of problems would causethe worst publicityM

V 'hat kinds of problems would causethe most customer service complaintsM

V 'hat kinds of tests could easilycover multiple functionalitiesM

V 'hich tests will have the besthigh9risk9coverage to time9required ratioM

/8.What an be done if re(uirements are han+in+ ontinuously?

!nswer. 'ork with management earlyon to understand how requirements might change# so that

alternate test plansand strategies can be worked out in advance" It is helpful if the application&sinitial

design allows for some adaptability# so that later changes do notrequire redoing the application from

scratch" !dditionally# try toR V nsurethe code is well commented and well documentedE this makes

changes easier

for the developers"

V +se rapid prototyping wheneverpossibleE this will help customers feel sure of their

requirements and minimiBe changes"

V In the pro:ect&s initial schedule#allow for some extra time to commensurate with


35/52

probable changes"

V %ove new requirements to a D$hase1Z version of an application and use the original

requirements for the D$hase @Zversion"

V -egotiate to allow only easilyimplemented new requirements into the pro:ectE move

more difficult# new requirementsinto future versions of the application"

V nsure customers and managementunderstand scheduling impacts# inherent risks and

costs of significant requirementschanges" Then let management or the customers

decide if the changes are warrantedEafter all# that&s their :ob"

V 8alance the effort put intosetting up automated testing with the expected effort

required to redo them to deal withchanges"

V


36/52

/1.What if the appliation has funtionality that wasnt in the re(uirements?

!nswer. It may take serious effortto determine if an application has significant unexpected or

hiddenfunctionality# which it would indicate deeper problems in the softwaredevelopment process" If

the functionality isn&t necessary to the purpose of theapplication# it should be removed# as it may

have unknown impacts ordependencies that were not taken into account by the designer or the

customer"

If not removed# design informationwill be needed to determine added testing needs or regression

testing needs"%anagement should be made aware of any significant added risks as a result ofthe

unexpected functionality" If the functionality only affects areas# such asminor improvements in the

user interface# it may not be a significant risk"

/2."ow an software QA proesses be implemented without stiflin+ produtivity?

!nswer. Implement ! processesslowly over time" +se consensus to reach agreement on

processes and ad:ust andexperiment as an organiBation grows and matures" $roductivity will be

improvedinstead of stifled" $roblem prevention will lessen the need for problemdetection" $anics and

burnout will decrease and there will be improved focusand less wasted effort" !t the same time#

attempts should be made to keep processessimple and efficient# minimiBe paperwork# promote

computer9based processes andautomated tracking and reporting# minimiBe time required in

meetings andpromote training as part of the ! process" owever# no one# especiallytalented

technical types# like bureaucracy and in the short run things may slowdown a bit" ! typical scenario

would be that more days of planning anddevelopment will be needed# but less time will be required

for late9night bugfixing and calming of irate customers"

/!.What is parallel>audit testin+?

!nswer. $arallel?audit testing istesting where the user reconciles the output of the new system to the

output ofthe current system to verify the new system performs the operations correctly";et us say# for

example# the currently software is in the mainframe systemwhich calculates the interest rate" The


37/52

company wants to change this mainframesystem to web9based application" 'hile testing the new

web based application#we need to verify that the web9based application calculates the same

interestrate" This is parallel testing"

/$.What is system testin+?

!nswer. System testing is black boxtesting# performed by the Test Team# and at the start of the

system testing thecomplete system is configured in a controlled environment" The purpose ofsystem

testing is to validate an application&s accuracy and completeness inperforming the functions as

designed" System testing simulates real lifescenarios that occur in a Jsimulated real lifeK test

environment and test allfunctions of the system that are required in real life" System testingisdeemed complete when actual results and expected results are either in line ordifferences are

explainable or acceptable# based on client input"

+pon completion of integrationtesting# system testing is started" 8efore system testing# all unit

andintegration test results are reviewed by Software ! to ensure all problemshave been resolved"

=or a higher level of testing it is important to understandunresolved problems that originate at unit

and integration test levels" >ou 5!-learn system testing# with little or no outside help" Net 5!- get

freeinformation" 5lick on a link[

/&.What is end:to:end testin+?

!nswer. Similar to system testing#the \macro\ end of the test scale is testing a complete application

in asituation that mimics real world use# such as interacting with a database#using network

communication# or interacting with other hardware# application#or system"

/-.What is seurity>penetration testin+?


38/52

!nswer. Security?penetration testingis testing how well the system is protected against unauthoriBed

internal orexternal access# or willful damage" This type of testing usually requiressophisticated

testing techniques"

//.What is reovery>error testin+?

!nswer. *ecovery?error testing istesting how well a system recovers from crashes# hardware

failures# or othercatastrophic problems"

/5.What is ompatibility testin+?

!nswer. 5ompatibility testing istesting how well software performs in a particular hardware#

software#operating system# or network environment"

/7.What is omparison testin+?

!nswer. 5omparison testing istesting that compares software weaknesses and strengths to those

ofcompetitors& products"

58.What is aeptane testin+?

!nswer. !cceptance testing is blackbox testing that gives the client?customer?pro:ect manager the

opportunity toverify the system functionality and usability prior to the system beingreleased to

production" The acceptance test is the responsibility of theclient?customer or pro:ect manager#

however# it is conducted with the fullsupport of the pro:ect team" The test team also works with

theclient?customer?pro:ect manager to develop the acceptance criteria"


39/52

51.What is a Test>QA Team ead?

!nswer. The Test?! Team ;eadcoordinates the testing activity# communicates testing status to

management andmanages the test team"

52.What is software testin+ methodolo+y?

!nswer. ,ne software testingmethodology is the use a three step process ofR

@" 5reating a test strategyE

1" 5reating a test plan?designE and

F" xecuting tests" This methodologycan be used and molded to your organiBation&s needs" *ob


40/52

V ! description of the requiredhardware and software components# including test tools" This

information comesfrom the test environment# including test tool data"

V ! description of roles andresponsibilities of the resources required for the test and

scheduleconstraints" This information comes from man9hours and schedules"

V Testing methodology" This is basedon known standards"

V =unctional and technicalrequirements of the application" This information comes from

requirements#change request# technical and functional design documents"

V *equirements that the system cannot provide# e"g" system limitations" ,utputs for this process.

V !n approved and signed off teststrategy document# test plan# including test cases"

V Testing issues requiringresolution" +sually this requires additional negotiation at the

pro:ectmanagement level"

5&."ow do you reate a test plan>desi+n?

!nswer. Test scenarios and?or casesare prepared by reviewing functional requirements of the

release and preparinglogical groups of functions that can be further broken into test procedures"Test

procedures define test conditions# data to be used for testing andexpected results# including

database updates# file outputs# report results"Nenerally speakingR

Test cases and scenarios aredesigned to represent both typical and unusual situations that may

occur in theapplication"

Test engineers define unit testrequirements and unit test cases" Test engineers also execute unit test

cases"

It is the test team that# withassistance of developers and clients# develops test cases and scenarios

forintegration and system testing"


41/52

Test scenarios are executed throughthe use of test procedures or scripts"

Test procedures or scripts define aseries of steps necessary to perform one or more test scenarios"

Test procedures or scripts includethe specific data that will be used for testing the process or

transaction"

Test procedures or scripts may covermultiple test scenarios"

Test scripts are mapped back to therequirements and traceability matrices are used to ensure each

test is withinscope"

Test data is captured and baselined# prior to testing" This data serves as the foundation for unit and

systemtesting and used to exercise system functionality in a controlled environment"

Some output data is also base9linedfor future comparison" 8ase9lined data is used to support future

applicationmaintenance via regression testing"

! pretest meeting is held to assessthe readiness of the application and the environment and data to

be tested" !test readiness document is created to indicate the status of the entrancecriteria of the

release"

Inputs for this process.

!pproved Test Strategy


42/52

!pproved documents of testscenarios# test cases# test conditions and test data"

*eports of software design issues#given to software developers for correction"

5-."ow do you e


43/52

8lack box testing#

'hite box testing#

+nit testing#

Incremental testing#

Integration testing#

=unctional testing#

System testing#

nd9to9end testing#

Sanity testing#

*egression testing#

!cceptance testing#

;oad testing#

$erformance testing#

+sability testing#

Install?uninstall testing#

*ecovery testing#

Security testing#

5ompatibility testing#

xploratory testing# ad9hoc testing#


44/52

+ser acceptance testing#

5omparison testing#

!lpha testing#

8eta testing# and

%utation testing"

55."ow do you divide the appliation into different setions to reate sripts?

!nswer. =irst of all# the application is divided indifferent parts when a business analyst writes the

requirement document (or +se5ases or


45/52

78. Whatare you e


46/52

!nswer. (This is a trickyquestion" They want to know what reallyinterests you and you have to be

careful when you answer this question" >ou must admire the line of that company" =or example# if

you are being interviewed bya pharmaceutical company# then tell them that you are always

interested in themedical applications and the better part of your company is that it hasexciting

products that I am really curious to learn" That&s why I would feel really great if I amgiven the

opportunity to work in your company)

7$. %idyou +et any ompliments from your previous employers? What were those

situations?

!nswer. >es" I did" There were many occasions where I had compliments" =or example# I wastesting an applicationgoing a little bit off my test cases" !fter I finished executing my test cases#I

always think in a way what a real user would possibly click in various partsof the application" So I

was :ust clicking back and forth and at one specificscenario# the application simply broke and

displayed an error message" That scenario was not in the test cases" Themanager really

appreciated me and thanked for finding this kind of criticaldefect"

7&. Whatare your stren+ths?

!nswer. I am a very detailedoriented person" I have the sense of urgency" I can prioritiBe my :ob

accordingto the deadline" I am very much dedicated towards my :ob" I am honest" I havethe skills

and expertise in ! process" These are some of my strengths"

7-. Whatis your weaness?

!nswer. I think my weakness is thatwhenever I am given some responsibilities and there is a

deadline for it# Iwork day and night# H days a week" This is probably bad for my family life# butI can&t

sleep unless I am done with my assignments"


47/52

(-ote. >ou should think of yourweakness where because of your weakness (like the one above)# still

theemployer benefits" anything negative thing# like JI cannot work longhours# it is hard

for me pick up things# it is difficult for me to understandrequirement documents etc)

7/. Whatis your salary re(uirement?

OH2k (negotiable)# or (OF0 per hour)

75. #leaseprovide information 'an e


48/52

$wdPPP9] to see which directory Iam in

5d PPPA]change the directory

5d "" PPP]change the directoryone level up

%kdir PPP]make a directory

*mdir PPP]


49/52

Whatis 0Q and how is it used?

The following are the some of thethings that a tester has to know (but may not be asked in the

interview)'hat isa cookieM (>ou must know how to cleancookies)

! small text file of informationthat certain 'eb sites attach to a user&s hard drive while the user is

browsingthe 'eb site" ! 5ookie can contain information such as user Ies" ! tester has to know ,' T, 5;!- cookies (


50/52

5ookies are cleaned in the browserslike I (Internet xplorer)# =irefox# Safari (for %!5 and windows

both)#-etscape and so on"

owever# the mostly used (/2L)browser is I (Internet xplorer)

ere is how you clean cookies in I(Internet xplorer).

@" ,pen I (Internet xplorer)

1" ,n the menu# click ToolsA]Internet ,ptionsA]5lick ou will

see different buttons now# for example#


51/52

Whatis Web Arhiteture?

9! tester does not necessarily haveto know this unless you are a very Senior Tester testing networks

and doingsome kind of development" owever# if you want to know more about it#

pleasevisit. http.??www"ob:s"com?survey?'eb!rch"htm

%oesa Tester need 0Q?

!nswer. >es" =or a Tester# S; is needed" I had the same question in mind before I cameto the

actual implication9what is S; used forM !nd now# I know that when we do the backend testing (see

qaquestions"comfor details)# we need to write S; queries to retrieve the data from thedatabase and

compare this data to the one with reports or output" !nother scenario is# if something goes wrongin

the application# for example# if there is an error# then we might have towrite S; queries to retrievethe data from the database and check what wentwrong" ;et&s say# we need to check inthe rror ;og

table what went wrong" Tocheck this# we open the database# go to rror ;og table and find out

thathappened" In the rror ;og table# thereare many records# so which one is your error thenM To

find out which one is yours# we need towrite S; queries" xample# you logged in to the application

with +serI


52/52

G) 'hat did you use for metricsM

0) 'hat results do you get afterrunning the load testM

6) 'hat did you do by using T$M

H) 'hat are the environments you canuse T$M

) 'hat is the percentage of themanual and automated testing usuallyM

/) 'hom do you discuss more aboutthe problems?issues you getM

@2) !s ! analyst tell me about 1 ofyour collogues strengths and weaknessM

interviewquestions for qa tester

Documents