ISTQB CTAL‑TM Sample Questions & Practice Exam for 2025

Get ready for the ISTQB CTAL‑TM certification with this expert-curated set of ISTQB CTAL‑TM Sample Questions, designed to reflect the official 2025 exam blueprint. These questions are perfect for professionals using an ISTQB CTAL‑TM practice exam, taking a practice test, or revising through full-length CTAL TM sample questions. Covering advanced-level topics like test management, planning, monitoring, defect tracking, and team leadership, this resource ensures targeted preparation for test managers. Whether you’re brushing up before the real exam or doing a final revision using ISTQB CTAL TM mock exams, this guide improves understanding, speed, and exam-day confidence.

ISTQB CTAL‑TM Sample Questions List :

1. Your company is transitioning from a manual test execution approach to a hybrid test strategy incorporating both manual and automated testing. As a test manager, you need to evaluate and select a new test automation framework that aligns with the organization’s requirements. Which of the following is NOT a best practice when selecting a test automation framework?

1. Select the framework with the most advanced features, regardless of the team's technical skills.

2. Verify compatibility with existing development and CI/CD tools.

3. Consider the learning curve and ease of adoption for testers and developers.

4. Ensure the framework supports maintainability and scalability of automated test scripts.

2. You are a test manager for a financial software company working on the implementation of a new online banking system. Your responsibility is to create a test plan that aligns with regulatory compliance requirements. Which of the following activities is the most essential in developing the test plan?

1. Selecting the most cost-effective test automation tool before development begins

2. Prioritizing non-functional testing over functional testing during early planning stages

3. Consulting legal experts to ensure compliance with all regulations

4. Defining test deliverables, test levels, and entry-exit criteria

3. As a newly appointed test manager, you join a project developing a complex system that integrates multiple third-party services, such as payment processors, shipping providers, and external analytics. Customers have been complaining about transaction errors, delays in processing orders, and incorrect shipping details. These issues seem to occur inconsistently, which complicates troubleshooting. You are asked to improve the testing process and ensure that these problems do not persist in future releases. Which TWO of the following actions should be part of an analytical-based test improvement strategy for this project? (Choose two)

1. Analyze the defect reports from the most recent releases to identify patterns in the types of issues reported and their severity, with a focus on integration failures.

2. Conduct a risk assessment for each third-party integration to prioritize testing efforts, ensuring the most critical systems are tested more thoroughly.

3. Focus on reducing test execution time through better test management without addressing the underlying root causes of the integration defects.

4. Perform exploratory testing on the user interface to uncover usability issues that might be leading to incorrect transactions.

5. Implement automated end-to-end tests to check all interfaces, ensuring that all integrations are functioning as expected before each release.

4. As a test manager, you need to ensure that your test team effectively tracks progress and identifies deviations from the planned schedule. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of test progress monitoring?

1. To determine the adequacy of test coverage for functional and non-functional requirements.

2. To compare actual test results with the expected results.

3. To track the current status of testing activities against the test plan and objectives.

4. To measure the efficiency and effectiveness of the defect management process.

5. A financial institution is implementing a new online banking platform. The Test Manager wants to apply a risk-based testing approach and ensure that the most critical areas are thoroughly tested while keeping stakeholders aligned on risk prioritization. Which stakeholder group should be consulted FIRST when identifying business risks and prioritizing test coverage?

1. Marketing team, customer service representatives, usability testers

2. Business owners, compliance officers, key clients

3. Development leads, security analysts, infrastructure architects

4. Scrum Masters, UX designers, automation testers

6. You are a test manager in a large-scale Agile transformation project for a multinational company. The project involves multiple teams across different locations, and you need to establish a comprehensive test plan that aligns with Agile methodologies. Which of the following activities is the most critical when creating a test plan for this Agile project?

1. Mandating 100% test automation before any manual testing is performed

2. Defining a test strategy that integrates with Agile development cycles

3. Assigning fixed test execution responsibilities to each tester in the test team

4. Ensuring test cases are written before development starts for all iterations

7. You are a test manager for a government healthcare system software project that follows a document-centric, sequential development model. The software must meet strict regulatory compliance and security standards. The requirements are well-defined and stable, making the project low in uncertainty and complexity but high in compliance and risk considerations. As the test manager, you must select the most suitable test metrics to analyze test results and provide decision-making insights for stakeholders. Which set of test metrics is most appropriate?

1. Metrics related to test progress, defect detection rate, code complexity, and test script execution time

2. Metrics related to test progress, test execution speed, defect density, and code coverage

3. Metrics related to product risks, defect trends, test progress, coverage, and compliance adherence

4. Metrics related to defect counts, test execution progress, coverage, and developer productivity

8. During regression testing, a Test Manager must perform various tasks to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the process. Which of the following is NOT a primary test management activity related to regression testing?

1. Identifying and reporting defects that emerge during regression testing

2. Developing new features to address regression test failures

3. Evaluating the effectiveness of automated regression test suites

4. Defining regression test selection criteria based on risk and impact analysis

9. You are assessing a newly hired test analyst's competence by assigning them the task of executing test cases for system testing. You also ask them to document defects and report findings in a structured manner. Which competence areas can be evaluated based on the colleague's performance in this task?

1. Evaluation of social competence based on defect reporting and methodological competence based on the use of exploratory testing techniques.

2. Evaluation of methodological competence based on the chosen test execution strategy and technical competence based on the defect root cause analysis.

3. Evaluation of technical competence based on defect reporting and methodological competence based on adherence to test execution processes.

4. Evaluation of professional competence based on defect categorization and social competence based on the ability to discuss findings with the development team.

10. You are the test manager for a financial application that enables users to manage their bank accounts, transfer money, and pay bills online. The project follows an Agile methodology with two-week sprints and a quarterly release cycle. Security and performance are key priorities, and the test infrastructure supports automated security and performance testing. Which of the following test objectives is S.M.A.R.T. according to the ISTQB syllabus?

1. Improve security testing to ensure compliance with global banking standards within the next six months.

2. Ensure that 95% of fund transfers complete within 5 seconds under peak load conditions within the next four sprints.

3. Validate the usability of the application by conducting surveys to understand user preferences for interface design within six months.

4. Increase test automation coverage by 60% in the next two weeks to reduce manual testing efforts.

11. Your company is evaluating a test automation tool to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of testing. The current annual manual testing effort is $100,000, and you have shortlisted the following tools: Tool A: Costs $8,000 upfront, $1,600 per year in maintenance. It reduces manual testing effort by 15%, test cycle time by 10%, and increases test coverage by 12%. Tool B: Costs $14,000 upfront, $2,800 per year in maintenance. It reduces manual testing effort by 30%, test cycle time by 20%, and increases test coverage by 22%. Tool C: Costs $22,000 upfront, $4,400 per year in maintenance. It reduces manual testing effort by 45%, test cycle time by 35%, and increases test coverage by 35%. If the decision is based purely on maximizing ROI while keeping long-term costs manageable, which tool should be selected?

1. Tool B, because it balances cost and benefits, leading to a favorable ROI

2. Tool C, because it has the highest reductions in effort and time, making it the best choice

3. Tool A, because it has the lowest cost and still offers measurable benefits

4. All tools provide equal value over time since testing costs will be reduced in all cases

12. Your company is focusing on enhancing software quality by reducing defect introduction rates in development. The testing team has been asked to analyze defect reports to identify improvement areas in the software development lifecycle. Which of the following defect report information will be MOST useful in achieving this goal?

1. The distribution of defects by root cause categories.

2. The number of defects found in production versus pre-release environments.

3. The time taken to resolve each defect after detection.

4. The number of defects per release and their corresponding severity levels.

13. You are a test manager responsible for setting up the test strategy for a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform. The platform includes functionalities such as user authentication, API integrations, multi-tenant data management, and compliance with regulatory standards like GDPR. To ensure a robust test strategy, which of the following key elements should you prioritize?

1. Test environment, test data, and test tools.

2. Test levels, risk assessment, and compliance testing.

3. Entry/exit criteria, test schedule, and regression testing scope.

4. Test techniques, automation framework, and team roles.

14. A software development team wants to reduce defect introduction during coding and improve defect prevention strategies by analyzing defect reports from past releases. Which of the following defect report attributes would be MOST useful for identifying and addressing the root causes of defects?

1. The category and classification of each defect, such as coding errors or design flaws.

2. The time taken to fix defects after detection.

3. The total number of defects found in each test cycle.

4. The severity levels of the defects found during testing.

15. You are working as a test manager for a fintech startup that has recently adopted continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) practices for its online payment platform. However, the company has observed an increase in escaped defects in production and is concerned about test maturity. To address this, you recommend a test improvement initiative based on TMMi. Which of the following approaches would be most suitable for introducing TMMi in this CI/CD-driven environment?

1. Select process areas from TMMi that align with automation, continuous testing, and risk-based testing, integrating them gradually within the CI/CD pipeline.

2. Suggest abandoning TMMi and switching entirely to DevOps testing practices, as TMMi does not support modern delivery models.

3. Mandate full adherence to all TMMi levels before any further CI/CD deployments can proceed.

4. Use only TMMi Level 5 process areas, as they emphasize defect prevention, which is critical in a CI/CD environment.

16. As a test manager in a large organization, you have been tasked with selecting an automated test execution tool to improve efficiency in regression testing. The existing tool has compatibility issues with your current development stack and lacks key integrations with CI/CD pipelines. Which of the following is NOT a best practice when selecting a new test automation tool?

1. Choose a tool based on the vendor’s market reputation without conducting a hands-on trial.

2. Define key requirements for the tool, ensuring it aligns with the team's needs and future scalability.

3. Assess the licensing and support model to align with organizational budget constraints.

4. Conduct a pilot project to validate the tool’s effectiveness in a real testing environment.

17. You are managing the testing activities for an e-commerce platform that supports real-time transactions, dynamic pricing, and personalized recommendations. The platform is expected to handle high traffic volumes during peak shopping seasons, making performance, security, and scalability critical concerns. Additionally, the company follows an agile development process, with bi-weekly sprints and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. The testing team consists of both manual and automation testers, and the company has a well-defined set of functional and non-functional requirements. Given the constraints and objectives of the project, which test approach would be most appropriate?

1. Experience-based testing to leverage testers' intuition and perform exploratory testing for better defect discovery.

2. Scripted-based testing to ensure complete coverage of functional requirements through pre-defined test cases.

3. Model-based testing to generate test cases dynamically from requirement models and automate functional verification.

4. Risk-based testing to focus on critical functionalities, performance, and security vulnerabilities.

18. You are a Test Manager in a large pharmaceutical company that develops medical software used in diagnostic imaging. The regulatory body overseeing your industry has strict documentation and compliance requirements, including detailed test traceability and validation records. Your company is currently using a spreadsheet-based approach to test case management, but this has led to audit issues due to missing records and inefficient tracking. You have been asked to evaluate a new test management tool to address these challenges. What should be your key concern when selecting the new test management tool?

1. Does the tool integrate with Agile project management software like Jira?

2. Does the tool provide an intuitive user interface for the test team?

3. Can the tool be used to create test automation scripts?

4. Can the tool generate compliance reports required by regulatory bodies?

19. A Test Manager is working on a project that involves multiple stakeholder groups. The Test Manager needs to ensure that strategic-level discussions are held with high-influence stakeholders while operational discussions are conducted with those responsible for day-to-day testing activities. Which of the following groups of stakeholders is the BEST choice for the Test Manager to engage in strategic-level discussions?

1. Senior business analysts, project sponsors, IT governance representatives

2. Database administrators, security testers, configuration managers

3. Test execution team leads, test environment specialists, defect coordinators

4. Performance testers, automation engineers, junior developers

20. You are the test manager of a project that follows an Agile development methodology. Testing is conducted in short iterations, and requirements frequently evolve based on user feedback. Your team needs to estimate testing effort for the next sprint, where user stories are not fully detailed at the start. You want an estimation method that encourages collaboration and leverages the team’s collective knowledge. Which estimation technique would be the most suitable for this scenario?

1. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

2. Estimation based on historical data

3. Use-case point estimation

4. Planning Poker

21. Your organization is transitioning from a traditional defect tracking system to a new defect management tool that better supports Agile development. Which of the following is a valid consideration when selecting a new defect tracking tool?

1. The tool should allow manual testers to log defects, but developers should not have access to it.

2. The new tool must have the exact same user interface as the previous defect tracking system to avoid retraining costs.

3. The new tool must integrate seamlessly with the Agile development environment and CI/CD pipeline.

4. The defect tracking tool should be chosen based solely on the lowest licensing cost.

22. A company is developing an IoT-based remote patient monitoring system that collects real-time health data (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure) from wearable devices and transmits it to cloud-based healthcare platforms. The system must comply with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations and requires high reliability, security, and interoperability. The project follows an agile development lifecycle, with biweekly sprints and continuous integration. The test team includes five testers with expertise in automation, security, and usability testing. Which test approach would be most appropriate for this project?

1. Testing will be conducted using a manual exploratory approach, ensuring that all possible risks are identified dynamically. Automated testing is avoided as IoT devices are unpredictable. Instead, usability testing with real patients will be prioritized.

2. The test team will adopt a scripted testing approach, where all tests are predefined before execution. Test cases will be designed based on requirement documents. No exploratory testing or usability testing will be performed.

3. The testing strategy will focus on risk-based testing, prioritizing security, performance, and compliance risks. Unit testing is automated by developers, while system testing includes exploratory security testing, real-world usability testing with healthcare professionals, and load testing to simulate multiple device connections.

4. Testing will be divided into three levels: unit testing (conducted by developers using test-driven development), integration testing (performed with API-based test automation), and system testing (conducted using exploratory and usability testing). Security and performance testing will be performed before each release.

23. You are reviewing defect reports submitted by your test team. One of the reports is missing an important attribute that is required for proper defect triage and prioritization. Which of the following attributes is the least essential for managing defects in most environments?

1. Defect severity classification

2. The developer assigned to fix the defect

3. The functional requirement ID related to the defect

4. Defect reproducibility steps

24. A test manager is reviewing defect reports to ensure that all necessary information is provided. Some defect tracking fields are mandatory, while others may be optional depending on organizational policies. Which of the following is LEAST likely to be a mandatory field in a defect report?

1. The expected result versus the actual result of the test execution

2. The status of the defect (e.g., Open, In Progress, Resolved)

3. Screenshots or log files supporting the defect

4. The defect type (e.g., functional bug, UI issue, performance defect)

25. You are managing a software testing project with the following characteristics: Budget: €200,000 Deadline: 9 months Cost per defect type: Prevention cost: €200 Appraisal cost: €600 Internal failure cost: €400 External failure cost: €4,500 The project has the following conditions: The software must comply with strict regulatory requirements. The development team is working with an unfamiliar framework. The project schedule is at risk due to scope creep. Performance issues are a major concern for the customer. Based on this scenario, which of the following conclusions is incorrect?

1. Increasing defect prevention activities raises prevention costs but significantly lowers external failure costs, leading to overall cost savings.

2. Reducing testing efforts to meet the deadline may lead to increased external failure costs that exceed the original budget.

3. Increasing appraisal activities leads to higher appraisal costs but reduces external failure costs, resulting in overall cost savings.

4. Delaying defect detection until system testing increases internal failure costs, but it reduces appraisal costs.

26. You are the test manager in an Agile project with multiple teams spread across different locations. Your team is responsible for system-level testing in a time-boxed iteration. The development teams use continuous integration, automated unit tests, and test-driven development (TDD) practices. Your test estimation needs to account for risk-based testing, session-based exploratory testing, and compliance-driven testing activities. Which TWO of the following best describe the approaches you should use for test effort estimation in this context? (Choose two)

1. Assume that test effort will increase due to a need for detailed, fully scripted test cases for all scenarios.

2. Use a time-boxed exploratory testing approach, ensuring flexibility to address newly identified risks.

3. Dedicate effort for extensive regression test suite creation and assume that exploratory testing is unnecessary.

4. Include coordination effort with development teams to optimize test data reusability and environment stability.

5. Estimate effort based on historical defect density in similar projects and consider defect clustering effects.

27. Your company is transitioning from a traditional manual testing approach to an Agile methodology and needs to adopt a new test automation tool. Which of the following is a valid consideration when selecting the test automation tool?

1. The tool should only be selected if it provides 100% automation for all test cases.

2. The tool should be developed by the same vendor as the company's development framework.

3. The tool should support seamless integration with continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.

4. The tool should only be selected if it has an in-built test case management system.

28. A test manager is analyzing defect reports in a defect tracking system. She notices inconsistencies in how defect states transition. The team wants to standardize the valid lifecycle of a defect to avoid confusion. Which of the following is a correct defect lifecycle that leads to a valid terminal state?

1. REPORTED → ASSIGNED → FIXED → DEFERRED → CLOSED

2. REPORTED → DEFERRED → VERIFIED → CLOSED

3. REPORTED → IN PROGRESS → FIXED → REOPENED → CLOSED

4. REPORTED → IN PROGRESS → RESOLVED → CLOSED

29. As a test manager, you are organizing a meeting with key stakeholders, including developers, business analysts, and end-users, to systematically identify potential risks associated with a new software release. The team discusses various risk factors, evaluates past failures, and records possible consequences. Which risk identification technique are you applying with this approach?

1. Expert interviews

2. Checklists

3. Risk workshop

4. Root cause analysis

30. As a test manager, you are responsible for improving knowledge-sharing practices within your test team. You want to implement a structured approach that encourages collaborative learning and mutual skill enhancement. Which of the following methods best supports peer learning within a test team?

1. Shadowing is the least effective peer-learning method because it does not allow new team members to actively engage in tasks.

2. Knowledge-sharing sessions where experienced team members guide newer members through discussions and real-world scenarios help facilitate peer learning.

3. Peer learning involves structured training sessions where an external instructor teaches testing concepts to team members.

4. Self-study is a mandatory component of peer learning, ensuring that each team member learns independently before discussing topics.

31. As a new test manager, you have been assigned to an ongoing project. The product is critical to the company's portfolio, but it has experienced frequent defect issues, especially in recent releases. The development team follows Agile practices with continuous integration and automated unit tests. The company wants to improve the testing process to address the persistent defects. Which TWO of the following actions will help you improve the testing process for better product quality based on an analytical approach? (Choose two)

1. Conduct a gap analysis between the current test coverage and the requirements to ensure that all areas are being tested adequately.

2. Introduce an automated defect reporting system that can analyze the root cause of each defect.

3. Perform a risk-based test estimation to prioritize areas that have the highest probability of defects.

4. Provide the team with new tools for automated test execution to speed up the process.

5. Review historical defect data to identify patterns and areas where defects most frequently occur.

32. During the test execution phase of your project, you notice that certain test activities are falling behind schedule. As a test manager, you decide to take corrective actions. What is the primary goal of test control in test management?

1. Test control guarantees that test results match expected results before execution is completed.

2. Test control is responsible for approving the final release decision of the software.

3. Test control ensures that the actual progress is aligned with the planned progress by taking corrective measures.

4. Test control ensures that test cases execute exactly as they were originally planned, without any modifications.

33. You are responsible for hiring a Test Manager for a company that develops medical diagnostic software used in hospitals. The software must comply with strict regulatory requirements and testing must follow ISO 13485 and IEC 62304 standards. The project follows a hybrid development model, where Agile teams develop components while system testing follows a waterfall approach. The previous Test Manager, who was responsible for test strategy, compliance verification, and risk-based testing, has left the company, and the position needs to be filled quickly. Which minimum combination of skills and qualifications is required for this position?

1. Experience with mobile app testing; API testing; usability testing; Agile framework experience

2. Experience with risk-based testing; knowledge of regulatory compliance; test documentation according to ISO 13485; communication skills

3. Agile test automation expertise; black-box test techniques; CI/CD experience; test documentation according to ISO 29119

4. Programming skills; white-box test techniques; Agile Scrum Master certification; experience with exploratory testing

34. As a Test Manager, you are reviewing the defect management process for your testing team. The goal is to ensure that defects follow a structured workflow from identification to resolution. Which of the following represents a valid and complete sequence of states that a defect can go through before reaching a terminal state?

1. NEW → IN PROGRESS → FIXED → VERIFIED → CLOSED

2. NEW → IN PROGRESS → FIXED → VERIFIED → REOPENED

3. NEW → IN PROGRESS → REJECTED → VERIFIED → CLOSED

4. NEW → IN PROGRESS → RETURNED → FIXED → VERIFIED

35. You are a test manager in a project for a large e-commerce company developing a new web application. The project must meet aggressive deadlines while ensuring a high level of reliability. You are preparing the test plan and must focus on risk-based testing. Which of the following is the most essential activity in risk-based test planning?

1. Determining which features have the highest business impact and likelihood of failure

2. Ensuring that all test team members are trained on exploratory testing techniques

3. Including all possible test cases to ensure 100% test coverage

4. Focusing testing only on performance and security due to their critical nature

36. You are a test manager for a software project using an agile development model. The project involves developing a cloud-based healthcare management system. The team is cross-functional, and the project has a high level of uncertainty due to frequently changing requirements. Additionally, the project must comply with strict regulatory and security requirements, such as HIPAA compliance. Which set of test-related metrics would be the most effective for analyzing test results and creating reports that help stakeholders make informed decisions?

1. Metrics related to product risks, defect density, test coverage, regulatory compliance coverage, and test automation coverage

2. Metrics related to test progress, defect classification, exploratory testing session coverage, and residual risks in untested areas

3. Metrics related to defect trends, test progress, defect rejection rate, code coverage, and cost per test case execution

4. Metrics related to defect detection rate, test case execution rate, defect severity distribution, and regression failure rate

37. Your company is considering transitioning from a commercial test automation tool to an open-source alternative due to cost constraints and a growing need for flexibility. The open-source tool has been successfully used in a different department of your organization. Which critical first step should be taken before fully adopting the open-source tool?

1. Assess the compatibility of the open-source tool with existing test environments and applications.

2. Convert all existing test scripts from the commercial tool to the open-source tool immediately.

3. Train the testing team on the new open-source tool before evaluating its feasibility.

4. Eliminate licensing costs by discontinuing the use of the commercial tool immediately.

38. As a test manager, you are responsible for prioritizing test activities based on risk assessment. The team is following a risk-based testing approach, and you need to ensure that high-risk areas receive more test coverage and attention. Which of the following activities is most critical in risk-based testing to ensure effective test execution?

1. Defining and prioritizing test cases based on the likelihood and impact of potential failures

2. Focusing primarily on performance testing, as it is the most business-critical aspect of the system

3. Executing test cases randomly to ensure a broad coverage across all features

4. Minimizing the number of test cases to reduce execution time, regardless of risk impact

39. During a risk-based testing initiative, a test manager encounters several challenges. Which of the following is the most significant risk to the success of a risk-based testing strategy?

1. A comprehensive risk matrix is created at the start of the project but is not revised after the first round of testing.

2. The risk-based testing strategy considers both technical and business risks.

3. Test execution is prioritized based on the risk level assigned to different functionalities.

4. Risk assessment meetings include representatives from QA, development, and business teams.

40. As a test manager, you are implementing a risk-based testing approach to optimize test efforts. Which of the following scenarios presents the biggest challenge when applying risk-based testing?

1. The risk analysis process involves both technical and business stakeholders.

2. Test cases are designed based on risk assessment, but the risk levels are not updated during test execution.

3. High-risk areas receive the most test coverage, while low-risk areas receive minimal testing.

4. The development team and business analysts contribute to risk identification in the early project phases.

41. A Test Manager is working on improving the defect tracking process. The team needs to ensure that defects follow a well-defined flow from discovery to resolution. Which of the following defect state sequences is incorrect?

1. NEW → ASSIGNED → IN PROGRESS → FIXED → VERIFIED → CLOSED

2. NEW → IN PROGRESS → DEFERRED → CLOSED

3. NEW → IN PROGRESS → DUPLICATE → CLOSED

4. NEW → ASSIGNED → IN PROGRESS → RESOLVED → REOPENED → FIXED → VERIFIED → CLOSED

42. You have just joined a project as a test manager for an established product that regularly receives new releases. The product has a reputation for poor quality, and customers frequently complain about defects. Your role is to find improvements to the testing process. The project’s development team is responsible for the enhancement and maintenance of the product. Which TWO of the following actions align with an analytical-based test improvement strategy that addresses the poor quality issues mentioned in the scenario? (Choose two)

1. Establish a defect tracking system that categorizes and records customer-reported defects separately from test-reported defects.

2. Conduct a root cause analysis to identify the key factors contributing to poor quality in the product.

3. Introduce performance testing to measure and analyze the product’s performance under load.

4. Use metrics from previous releases, such as the number of defects found in testing versus customer-reported defects, to calculate defect detection effectiveness.

5. Compare the practices used by your test team with industry standards to identify gaps in test design and implementation.

43. Your company is expanding its software development efforts and requires a test reporting and monitoring tool to improve test result tracking across multiple projects. You have been asked to lead the tool selection process and ensure its adoption by testing teams. Which of the following is NOT a best practice when selecting a new test reporting and monitoring tool?

1. Select a tool that aligns with the company’s preferred programming language and testing frameworks.

2. Conduct a proof of concept (PoC) before making a final purchase decision.

3. Ensure that the tool provides real-time reporting and customizable dashboards to meet diverse stakeholder needs.

4. Opt for a tool with complex reporting features, even if most team members do not understand how to use them.

44. You are the test manager for a government-regulated tax filing system. The project has been running for two months, and project management requests weekly progress updates. However, no formal test metrics have been defined yet. To ensure that project stakeholders receive meaningful reports, what is the best approach?

1. Focus only on defect counts, as stakeholders primarily care about system failures.

2. Immediately implement all industry-standard testing metrics, ensuring maximum coverage.

3. Report only on the number of test cases executed, as this gives a clear measure of progress.

4. Define the key stakeholders' information needs and create relevant test metrics based on them.

45. During a large-scale system test, the test manager is responsible for monitoring key test metrics to ensure effective decision-making. Which of the following statements best describes a key test monitoring activity?

1. Comparing the number of test cases executed against the planned schedule.

2. Ensuring that test objectives remain unchanged throughout the project.

3. Confirming that all defects are closed before final test execution.

4. Identifying and mitigating all software risks before test execution begins.

46. You are a test manager for a medical software company that develops patient monitoring systems. Your team works in a V-model development lifecycle where software and hardware development are tightly coupled. Each software release must be certified for regulatory compliance, and testing is heavily documented due to industry requirements. A recent strategic initiative from senior management mandates that all test teams should evaluate automating at least 60% of their test cases. You have been asked to assess the feasibility of adopting test automation for your team. Which factor should be your primary concern when evaluating the adoption of test automation in this context?

1. The ability of test automation to find new defects faster than manual testing.

2. The amount of time and resources required to train manual testers in automation scripting.

3. The regulatory impact and the extent to which automated test evidence is accepted by auditors.

4. The ease of integrating automated tests into the existing manual testing workflow.

47. You are managing a test team for a mobile banking application that is being developed using an Agile approach with three-week sprints. The application includes features such as biometric authentication, transaction history, real-time notifications, and investment portfolio management. Each feature has different levels of risk in terms of security, usability, and performance. Your test team consists of eight testers with varying levels of expertise in security testing, usability testing, and performance testing. How should you prioritize and allocate testing efforts based on risk levels?

1. Perform only manual testing across all features and avoid test automation, as automation does not contribute to risk mitigation in Agile environments.

2. Perform both static and dynamic testing for all features, but allocate more effort and use more rigorous test techniques for high-risk features. Assign testers with specialized skills to the most critical features. Conduct frequent reviews and exploratory testing for additional risk mitigation.

3. Conduct dynamic testing for all features but use exploratory testing only for the features with the highest risk levels. Assign testers randomly without considering their expertise. Use automation only for functional testing.

4. Use only static testing for high-risk features and skip dynamic testing to save time. Assign senior testers to all high-risk areas while junior testers focus only on documentation. Avoid exploratory testing due to time constraints.

48. You are presenting to a group of stakeholders about the importance of test metrics in software testing. One of the stakeholders asks you to clarify the primary purpose of test metrics in the software development lifecycle. Which of the following responses best explains the role of test metrics?

1. Test metrics provide objective data to assess test progress and determine if test objectives and exit criteria have been met.

2. Test metrics are only useful in Agile methodologies to guide exploratory testing sessions.

3. Test metrics are primarily used to predict future defects and automatically adjust test strategies in real-time.

4. Test metrics focus exclusively on tracking defect density and test execution speed to evaluate test team productivity.

49. As a Test Manager in an Agile development team, you are facilitating a retrospective meeting at the end of a sprint. The goal is to identify areas for improvement and ensure better efficiency in future iterations. Which of the following activities would NOT typically be part of an Agile retrospective?

1. Identifying impediments that slowed testing and brainstorming ways to address them

2. Reviewing test cases and updating the test suite based on lessons learned from the sprint

3. Setting priorities and assigning ownership for improvement actions for the next sprint

4. Discussing team dynamics, collaboration, and how effectively the team worked together

50. You are a test manager in a large-scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation project for a multinational corporation. The project follows a hybrid development approach, where requirements are gathered upfront, but some iterative development is allowed for module enhancements. The project is highly complex due to multi-region deployment, integration with third-party systems, and strict financial compliance regulations. Which set of test-related metrics would best support decision-making and risk management for this project?

1. Metrics related to defect detection efficiency, test case reusability, code complexity analysis, defect age, and automation script failure rate

2. Metrics related to defect density, test completion rate, integration test pass rate, defect reopen rate, and stakeholder confidence index

3. Metrics related to product risk exposure, defect escape rate, requirements traceability coverage, test case execution progress, and defect resolution efficiency

4. Metrics related to defect trends, component-level defect rates, test cycle time, and number of defects found per developer

FAQs

1. What is ISTQB Advanced Level Test Manager certification?

It is a globally recognized certification that validates advanced skills in managing software testing teams, strategies, and processes.

2. Who should take the ISTQB Test Manager certification?

Experienced test professionals, team leads, and QA managers aiming to validate their leadership and strategic testing capabilities.

3. Is ISTQB Advanced Test Manager worth it for career growth?

Yes, it demonstrates your ability to manage complex testing projects, which enhances your credibility and career progression.

4. What are the prerequisites for ISTQB Advanced Level Test Manager?

You must hold the ISTQB Foundation Level certificate and have at least 3 years of software testing experience.

5. Can I take ISTQB Test Manager exam without Foundation Level certification?

No, the ISTQB Foundation Level certificate is mandatory before attempting the Advanced Level.

6. How difficult is the ISTQB Advanced Level Test Manager exam?

It’s moderately difficult, requiring a solid understanding of test management concepts and real-world application.

7. What is the format of the ISTQB Advanced Test Manager exam?

It’s a multiple-choice exam based on scenario-driven questions, focusing on practical application of test management.

8. How many questions are there in the ISTQB Test Manager exam?

The exam consists of approximately 65 multiple-choice questions.

9. What is the duration and passing score for ISTQB CTAL-TM exam?

The duration is 180 minutes, and the passing score is typically 65% (varies slightly by provider).

10. What topics are covered in the ISTQB Advanced Test Manager syllabus?

Topics include test planning, risk-based testing, defect management, team management, reviews, and process improvement.

11. How do I prepare for ISTQB Advanced Level Test Manager exam?

Use CertiMaan's updated practice tests and follow the official ISTQB syllabus and sample exams.

12. What are the best study resources for ISTQB Test Manager?

CertiMaan provides study materials, mock exams, and dumps. You should also refer to the official ISTQB website.

13. Where can I find ISTQB Advanced Test Manager practice exams or dumps?

You can find the most reliable practice exams and dumps on CertiMaan.com.

14. How much does ISTQB Advanced Level Test Manager certification cost?

It varies by country but generally ranges between $200 and $350.

15. Is the ISTQB Advanced Test Manager exam available online?

Yes, many ISTQB-recognized exam providers offer remote proctoring options.

16. How long is the ISTQB Advanced Test Manager certification valid?

It is valid for life and does not require renewal.

17. What roles can I get with ISTQB Test Manager certification?

Roles include Test Manager, QA Manager, Test Lead, or Senior QA Analyst.

18. Does ISTQB Advanced Test Manager certification increase salary?

Yes, certified professionals often earn 15–25% more than non-certified peers in similar roles.

19. Is the ISTQB Test Manager certification recognized internationally?

Yes, ISTQB certifications are globally accepted and respected in the software testing industry.

20. What is the difference between ISTQB Test Manager and Test Analyst?

Test Manager focuses on planning and leading test teams, while Test Analyst covers detailed test design and execution.