ISTQB FOUNDATION 4.0 | Tutorial 1 | Introduction to Exam | ISTQB Foundation Tutorials | TM SQUARE

Summary

This video introduces the ISTQB Foundation Level syllabus 4.0, revised in May 2023, and expected to replace version 3.1 by May 2024. It covers the ISTQB's role in certifying QA professionals, various certifications offered, the exam pattern, prerequisites, costs, and the importance of checking with local member boards for the latest syllabus version.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video introduces a new playlist on ISTQB Foundation Level syllabus 4.0, which was revised in May 2023 and will be gradually rolled out worldwide.
• 🌐 ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) is an international body that certifies QA professionals in software testing, independent of specific tools or languages.
• 📈 ISTQB offers a variety of certifications, including agile, role-specific, and specialist certifications, with more expected to be added over time.
• 🏢 Examinations for ISTQB certifications are conducted by country-specific member boards, ensuring that certifications are recognized globally.
• 💲 The cost for the Foundation level certification is approximately $100 USD, which may vary slightly based on currency conversion rates.
• 🔄 The validity of ISTQB certifications is for a lifetime, meaning there is no need to retake the exam if the syllabus changes.
• 📝 The CTFL (Certified Tester Foundation Level) exam is an objective test with 40 multiple-choice questions, each carrying one mark, and a passing score of 26 out of 40.
• ⏳ The exam duration is 60 minutes, with an additional 25% of time (15 minutes) for candidates in non-English primary language countries.
• 📍 Exams can be taken online or at designated test centers, with scheduling flexibility depending on the country and the number of test takers.
• 🚀 There are no prerequisites for the CTFL exam, allowing anyone with knowledge of the syllabus to take the exam.
• 📈 The syllabus is divided into six chapters, each with a different number of questions, and covers topics from fundamentals to test tools, with an emphasis on understanding and applying knowledge.

Q & A

What is the latest version of the ISTQB Foundation level syllabus mentioned in the video?

The latest version mentioned in the video is 4.0, which was revised in May 2023.

When is the expected sunset date for the ISTQB Foundation level syllabus version 3.1?

The expected sunset date for version 3.1 of the ISTQB Foundation level syllabus is May 2024.

What does ISTQB stand for and what is its purpose?

ISTQB stands for International Software Testing Qualifications Board. Its purpose is to certify QA professionals worldwide, providing recognition for their knowledge and skills in software testing.

How many certifications does ISTQB currently offer according to the video?

The exact number is not specified, but it is mentioned that ISTQB offers a variety of certifications including agile certifications, role-specific certifications, and specialist certifications.

What is the significance of the CDFL certification mentioned in the script?

CFLD, or Certified Tester Foundation Level, is the entry-level certification offered by ISTQB, where everyone must start, and it is the first certification discussed in the tutorial series.

What is the process for scheduling an ISTQB examination in a specific country?

To schedule an ISTQB examination, one must approach the country-specific member board of that country, as they organize and conduct the examinations on behalf of ISTQB.

What is the approximate cost for the ISTQB Foundation level certification examination?

The cost is approximately $100 USD, but it may vary slightly depending on the country and the exchange rates.

Is there a validity period for the ISTQB certifications?

No, the validity of the ISTQB certifications is for a lifetime, meaning there is no need to rewrite the examination.

What is the format of the ISTQB Foundation level examination?

The examination is objective type with 40 multiple-choice questions, each carrying one mark, and a time limit of 60 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes for non-English speaking countries.

What is the passing criterion for the ISTQB Foundation level examination?

The passing criterion is scoring 26 marks or more out of 40, which is equivalent to 65%.

What does the K level in the ISTQB Foundation syllabus signify?

The K level in the ISTQB Foundation syllabus signifies the knowledge level required for a topic, ranging from K1 (remember) to K4 (analyze), with different depths of understanding and application expected.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to ISTQB Foundation Level Syllabus 4.0

This paragraph introduces the new ISTQB Foundation Level syllabus 4.0, revised in May 2023, and expected to replace the 3.1 version by May 2024. It explains the role of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) in certifying QA professionals worldwide. The paragraph also outlines the various certifications offered by ISTQB, including agile certifications and role-specific certifications like Test Analyst and Test Manager. It emphasizes that these certifications are not tied to specific tools or languages but focus on professional knowledge and software testing practices. The speaker mentions that some countries have already started using syllabus 4.0, while others are still on 3.1, and encourages viewers to check with their local ISTQB member boards for the current status.

05:01

🌐 Global Recognition and Examination Details for ISTQB Certifications

This paragraph discusses the global recognition of ISTQB certifications and the process of taking the exams through country-specific member boards. It clarifies that certifications bear both the ISTQB and the respective country's logo, ensuring worldwide validity. The paragraph also covers the cost of the Foundation level certification, which averages around $100 USD, and notes that costs may vary slightly due to currency exchange rates. It mentions the lifetime validity of the certifications and the lack of prerequisites for the ISTQB Foundation exam, making it accessible to anyone with knowledge of the syllabus. Additionally, it provides details about the exam format, which is objective with 40 questions to be completed in 60 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes for non-English speaking countries.

10:03

📝 Exam Structure and Syllabus Overview for CTFL

The paragraph delves into the specifics of the Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) exam, including the passing criteria of 26 out of 40 marks, the exam duration, and the availability of both online and offline testing options. It also addresses the exam schedule, which varies by country, and the importance of checking with local member boards for the current syllabus version being offered. The speaker provides an overview of the syllabus, which consists of six chapters covering fundamentals of testing, testing throughout the development life cycle, static testing for defect prevention, test analysis and design techniques, test management, and an introduction to test tools. The paragraph highlights the importance of each chapter and the absence of optional chapters, as questions may span multiple chapters.

15:05

📚 Understanding K-Level Syllabus Requirements for ISTQB Foundation

This final paragraph explains the K-level system used in the ISTQB Foundation syllabus to denote the depth of knowledge required for each topic. K1 topics require simple memorization, K2 topics necessitate understanding the concepts behind the information, and K3 topics demand the application of test techniques to derive test cases. The paragraph clarifies that there are no K4 level questions in the Foundation exam, which would involve analyzing real-time scenarios, and are reserved for advanced levels. The speaker assures that the syllabus and the video tutorials will adhere strictly to these K-level guidelines to ensure comprehensive coverage of the exam material.

Keywords

💡ISTQB

ISTQB stands for International Software Testing Qualifications Board. It is an international body that certifies professionals in the field of software testing. In the video, ISTQB is introduced as the organization responsible for the certification program being discussed, emphasizing its global recognition and the broad applicability of its certifications across various domains and industries.

💡Foundation Level Syllabus

The Foundation Level Syllabus refers to the introductory curriculum for the ISTQB certification. It covers basic concepts, terminologies, and practices related to software testing. In the video, the presenter mentions that the syllabus has been revised in May 2023 and will be gradually rolled out worldwide, indicating the importance of staying updated with the latest content.

💡Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL)

CTFL is an acronym for Certified Tester Foundation Level, which is the entry-level certification offered by ISTQB. It is designed for individuals who are new to software testing or looking to validate their foundational knowledge in the field. The video script highlights that this certification is where everyone starts and is a prerequisite for more advanced certifications.

💡Exam Pattern

The exam pattern refers to the structure and format of the ISTQB certification exams. The video mentions that the CTFL exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with four options, where only one option is correct. This information is crucial for understanding how candidates are assessed and what to expect during the exam.

💡Country Member Board

A Country Member Board is a national body recognized by ISTQB to organize and conduct examinations within a specific country. The video script explains that candidates must approach their respective country member boards to schedule their exams, highlighting the importance of these boards in facilitating the certification process on a local level.

💡Exam Cost

The exam cost refers to the fee charged for taking the ISTQB certification exam. The video mentions that the cost is approximately $100 USD, but it may vary slightly based on the country and currency conversion rates. This information is important for candidates to budget for their certification journey.

💡Validity of Certification

The validity of a certification refers to the duration for which the certification remains valid. The video script clarifies that ISTQB certifications, including the CTFL, are valid for a lifetime, meaning there is no need to retake the exam once certified.

💡Prerequisite

A prerequisite is a condition or requirement that must be met before one can proceed with a particular task or activity. The video script states that there are no prerequisites for the ISTQB Foundation exam, indicating that anyone with knowledge of the syllabus can take the exam, regardless of their educational background or work experience.

💡Test Techniques

Test techniques are methods used in software testing to design test cases and ensure thorough testing. The video script discusses various test techniques, such as black box and white box testing, which are part of the Foundation Level Syllabus. These techniques help minimize the number of test cases needed while maintaining comprehensive test coverage.

💡K Levels

K Levels in the ISTQB Foundation Syllabus refer to the knowledge levels required for different topics. The video script explains that K1 means 'remember', K2 means 'understand', K3 means 'apply', and K4 means 'analyze'. These levels guide candidates on the depth of understanding needed for each topic, with K4 not applicable at the Foundation level.

💡Syllabus Chapters

The syllabus chapters are the main sections of the ISTQB Foundation Level Syllabus. The video script outlines six chapters, each covering different aspects of software testing, such as fundamentals, testing throughout the development life cycle, defect prevention, test analysis and design, test management, and test tools. These chapters provide a comprehensive overview of the knowledge areas tested in the certification exam.

Highlights

Introduction to the new ISTQB Foundation Level syllabus 4.0, revised in May 2023.

The transition from ISTQB 3.1 to 4.0, with 3.1 expected to sunset by May 2024.

ISTQB as an international body for software testing certification.

The variety of certifications offered by ISTQB, including agile, role-specific, and specialist certifications.

The global recognition of ISTQB certifications and the role of country-specific member boards.

The cost of the Foundation Level certification, averaging around $100 USD.

The lifetime validity of ISTQB certifications.

No prerequisites for the ISTQB Foundation Level examination.

The exam format for the Foundation Level, consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions.

Additional time allowance for non-English speaking candidates.

The frequency of CTFL examinations, with daily tests in many countries.

Options for online and offline examination venues.

The passing criteria for the exam, requiring 65% or more.

The cost implications for reattempting the exam.

The importance of checking with local member boards for the availability of the 4.0 syllabus.

The six chapters of the syllabus, covering fundamentals, testing practices, defect prevention, test analysis and design, test management, and test tools.

The significance of K-levels in the syllabus, indicating the depth of knowledge required for each topic.

The structure of the tutorial series, with each topic being covered in individual videos.

Transcripts

Hello friends and greetings for the day

welcome back to our Channel TM Square

today we are getting started with the

brand new playlist on istqb Foundation

level syllabus 4.0 which is a revision

made in May 2023 and should be rolling

out gradually to the rest of the world

somehow the at this point of time when

I'm creating the playlist and making

this video some of the countries have

recently rolled out 4.0 but most of the

countries are still working on 3 .1

whereas 3.1 is expected to Sunset by May

2024 that means from May

2024 all the examinations will only be

on 4.0 so today to get started of course

we are looking forward to have a very

first tutorial on introduction where we

will let you know more about the

examination the exam pattern and many

other things what are you supposed to

know before you can get started with the

content and the

syllabus

[Music]

to start with the tutorial of course the

very first thing we have is the

introduction to istqb as a part of Code

of Ethics in every single tutorial we do

introduce you about istqb but when it

especially comes to Foundation we need

to talk about it because many people who

are new to istqb would take up the cdfl

certification but once you are done with

foundation for Advanced levels you don't

need an introduction to istqb so istqb

as the name suggests it is international

software testing qualification board is

an international body which qualifies in

order to certify people especially the

QA professionals across the world in

order to address them help them get

recognized with the certifications in

fact this is one among those

certifications which are not related to

a particular tool or a particular

language indeed this is more about your

profession question and your knowledge

about the practices related to software

testing so one who is certified with

this particular certification under iqb

is known for their profession not just

for a language or a particular tool at

the same time when we are talking about

the certifications under istqb I have

several certifications currently on your

screen and that talks about what are the

number of certifications which istqb is

offering right now at this point of time

is QB is offering a lot of

certifications which you can see and

right from the left if I talk about they

do have some of the agile certifications

at the cord they do have more of the

role specific certification like test

analyst technical test analyst test

manager and so on and we do have

specialist size certifications which are

for the test Engineers who are working

on Specialized practices professions or

domain for example if I'm an automotive

tester then I do have Automotive

certifications for them similarly if

what if I'm a gambling industry tester

game tester or performance tester

security tester so no matter what kind

of testing you are into what kind of

domain what kind of industry you're

working with istqb has got you covered

but of course there are certain specific

and very unique domains which are not

yet included here where iqb keep looking

forward to add one or the other

certification related to the QA

Professionals in the current world today

so over a period of time lot of CER

ifications have been added and certainly

over a period of time we will have more

certifications being added So currently

we do host all the certifications which

are marked in red that means we host

tutorials on our channel so if you are

kind of aware someone who is looking

forward to that you can always go ahead

and recommend so today in this

particular tutorial and this particular

series of tutorials we'll be talking

about the very first certification which

is at the bottommost part that is cdfl

certified tester Foundation level that's

where everyone has to get started and

the connecting dots talk about the

options of moving ahead to the next

certifications coming back to the point

of course we do have things related to

uh this local body conducting

examination so one should know that it

is uh something as a practice that is

just not that you can go and take

examination anywhere you have to

approach your country specific member

board to organize and schedule your

examination so every single country has

you know where we have it scope of

course I cannot say that 208 countries

in the world will have uh you know a

board specific to istqb so istqb has

recognized country member board across

several countries which have the scope

of testing or scope of it that is

technology and uh that's where they have

recognized a country member board to

organize and conduct examinations on

behalf of istqb so for an example if

you're in India you need to approach

Indian testing board to organize and

schedule your examination and that

certifications are under the tree of

istqb so it does not mean that you're

not taking an istqb certification you

are taking an ITB certification no it's

just that the certifications right

behind me you can see very well that you

will have both the logos that is istqb

and the country in which you have taken

it so your certification is recognized

worldwide so similarly like you know we

do have certification bodies in every

country like Malaysian testing board

Singapore testing board Saudi Arabian

testing board UAE testing board Pakistan

testing board Sri Lankan testing board

Turkish testing board and so on right so

there are many bodies available across

the world which will help you to take

examination within your country instead

of jumping around talking about the next

important thing is the cost again cost

varies from country to country but on an

average most of the countries will keep

it as close as possible to1 us so it

will be just as close as possible to

that but it may not not be exactly the

same if you convert as per the Forex

rates it may be having a variation

related to the cost so Foundation level

certification is around $100 US for

anyone to take up the examination but

again if you are appearing from a

company you can get it reimbursed but if

you are taking on your own just be aware

the cost will be like that talking about

the validity of the certification the

validity remains for lifetime so you

don't have to rewrite the examination

indeed many people keep asking me

specifically now that my 3.1

certification which I'm already done is

it valid if 4.0 comes into Picture

answer is yes of course your

certification is just like a graduation

so you have graduated once for your

lifetime even if you your syllabus

changes it does not mean that you have

to graduate again so it's it's a

certificate of profession it's not a

certificate of tool or language which

changes over period of time and the

previous one becomes invalid so the next

important thing we talking about

precisely about the ctfl examination and

their respective details so this

examination the very first thing we're

talking about is the prerequisite many

people quite often ask that is there a

prerequisite related to istqb foundation

and the answer what we have is nothing

so you don't really have to write uh any

kind of fulfillment examinations or

there's no specific prerequisite like a

number of years of experience or what

kind of graduation you should have done

let me tell you very clear clearly that

uh these certifications have been even

taken by our final year graduation

students so there are no prerequisits as

such so anybody who has the knowledge of

the syllabus can go ahead and write this

examination talking about the

examination type of course the

examination type remains objective so

it's just going to be McQ strictly

speaking as there are a lot of websites

a lot of portals which are misguiding

people so there will be 40 questions

each question will will carry four

options and any one can be right you may

find on Internet that there are five

options and they are asking you to

select two right answers that happens

but that's in the advanced level that is

test analyst and Technical test analyst

so it's not in Foundation Foundation

strictly will have four options and any

one can be right okay so you don't have

to be worried about such things which

certainly trick you around or take you

in a very different Direction talking

about the duration which will be

provided to you is 60 Minutes of time

that means 60 Minutes is 1 hour to write

40 answers but at the same time let me

highlight you uh if you're in a country

which has different language spoken than

English as their primary spoken language

you do get additional 25% of time that

is 15 minutes extra generally I don't

talk about this during my beginning of

the discussions because many people

start treating that as 75 minutes for

granted I always want to keep it as a

surprise so but many people commented

that uh hey you didn't tell us clearly

that it is 75 minutes but just keeping

it posted right away at the beginning so

that you know exactly that you have plus

15 subjected you are in a country where

your primary language is not English

talking about the schedule uh today most

of the countries across the world

conduct ctfl examinations every day

depending on the number of aspirants so

especially if you talk about the Asia

all the nations in Asia they do conduct

examination every single day all you

have to do is schedule your calendar and

uh make the payment of the fees and go

ahead and write the examination some

countries where the number of you know

busp are limited we just keep it to the

uh weekly once or weekly twice but again

you can just schedule it according to

your availability and the time you need

for Preparation talking about the next

is location and venue of course this

matters only if you're taking offline

examination of course every country is

offering you online and offline both the

options so make sure that you choose

your option you know according to you

that if you're comfortable with online

you can take it right from your home or

right from your office but if you're

taking it offline then you have to go to

the you know one of their listed test

centers and write the

examination also talking about the

passing criteria which you would have

already seen on the screen and that is

26 marks or more out of 40 so 40

questions each will carry one Mark and

total possible marks is 40 65% always

remains the uh passing criteria under

istqb so you need to get at least 26 or

more even 25 is considered as fail and

you will have to do a reattempt let me

tell you there are additional cost for

reattempts your $100 is only for one

attempt okay and you can write any

number of reattempts till you pass so

there are no limits on reattempts many

people did ask me this so I'm adding all

the feedbacks in the series of tutorial

so it's just that like it is going to be

one attemp attempt in one cost and

reattempts will cost you almost like 50%

of the first attempt but there are no

limits on the

reattempts any additional info of course

I told you already about uh the 4.0 that

there's a new release in 2023 which will

be slowly and gradually rolling out in

the rest of the world so you need to

check with your body that's very

important today that if you are in a

country taking the examination on istqb

Foundation please check with your

concerned me member board that whether

they are offering the examination on 4.0

now or not if not I do have a playlist

I'll put the link at the end of the chat

this video and even in the description

for 3.1 playlist okay so I do already

have 3.1 playlist you can refer that but

if your country is offering on 4.0

please go ahead and take on 4.0 itself's

quickly talk about the syllabus what we

have here with us uh the outline pretty

much Remains the Same and is going to

cover uh similar number of chapters what

we have had in the previous cabus but

again given that people might be coming

here for the first time we have six

chapters to talk about the chapter one

it'll talk about the fundamentals of

testing uh where we will be learning all

the basic concepts basic terminologies

and lot of things related to what is

testing so even you know someone who is

who's not having any knowledge about

testing can start right from here the

chapter 2 will talk about how testing is

practiced throughout the testing

development life cycle how testing

activities are performed in

corresponding to those of the

development activity and how the effort

varies from the you know model to model

and also if you talk about Dynamic

testing we'll be covering our levels

here like what is unit testing

integration testing system Etc also when

we talk about chapter 3 here we'll be

talking about how we can prevent defects

by conducting static testing so we will

learn more about what is review process

what are the different types of review

and techniques and so on so a lot of

things will be discussed from the

prevention point point of view writing

chapter 3 chapter 4 is being called as

test analysis and design and here you

learn about the test techniques which

help you to minimize your effort in

terms of reducing the number of test

cases but not compromising on the

coverage so you have a lot of techniques

from blackbox white box and

experience-based to talk about which

we'll be covering in chapter four

talking about management uh of test

activities which is more of like test

management and here we will be talking

deep dip from the management perspective

uh of course introduction because you

are not a manager at ctfl so we will be

talking introduction to what is T

planning monitoring control analysis in

terms of uh the you know matrices how

exactly you know you can Define the

prioritization of the test cases which

is the order of execution the risk

management is going to be discussed a

little moderate and intermediate level

and then you do have introduction to

defect management so everything which

comes as a part of the process will

certainly be covered here last but not

the least you do have a test tool which

you will be looking at and understanding

with a quick introduction to what is a

test tool how tools help an organization

and process in order to minimize their

effort at the same time optimize their

outcomes and uh what kind of tools you

can select for different purposes all

that will be discussed in the chapter

six however all the uh six chapters have

different number of questions it is

considered that every single chapter is

very important and you just can't take

any chapter as an optional because

sometimes the questions are Blended

together considering multiple Chapters

at the same time well another important

thing to talk about is the K levels uh

it is just from the perspective of that

if you are looking at the official copy

of the syllabus you would find that

there are some of the topics or all the

topics are marked with something called

as a k level like you will find topics

with K1 k K2 K3 K4 so istqb Foundation

has written from a body perspective that

which topic needs what amount of effort

the K stands for knowledge now when I

say k level it means knowledge level the

knowledge level that means that how much

effort they want you to put in order to

answer a question in the examination so

say for example if a topic is marked

with K1 it means remember that means

that topic you just have to remember as

it is written and all you have to do is

just answer that as an examination

question that means they will not ask

you anything beyond they have written in

the cabus which my slide deck will also

follow strictly okay when I talk about

K2 it means understand that means it's

just not limited to what we have written

there might be a concept behind it which

you should learn and understand about it

because we may ask you something in

relation to that that means we'll not be

limited to definitions in order to ask

you a question but rather we'll just be

going a deep de type and ask you how it

happens who's responsible for it when

does it happen what are the limitations

of it and consequences so they may just

go a little one step ahead then remember

to ask your a question similarly when I

talk about K3 which means apply and here

this is BAS basically for the chapter

four where the Tex test techniques are

considered when I talk about the test

techniques equivalence partition

boundary value analysis they will ask

you to apply this during the examination

that means they'll give you a simple

question ask you to apply the technique

and derive the number of test cases so

it's just not limited to remember or

understand you must know how to apply

and get to the right number of test

cases K4 means analyze which means uh a

real time scenario will be provided to

you and you will have to you know go

through the passage and then come to the

conclusion that as per the passage what

is the right answer but the reason I

have marked it is as red because at

Foundation level we don't have any K4

level questions that means none of these

scenario level questions will be asked

to you but yes this is just for your

information that what does K4 mean so K4

will be there in the advanced level so

put together I think this is what we had

for you in the introduction session

where we wanted to let know that what

ctfl is all about and what does it cover

in order to get started so we'll be

having uh each topic being discussed as

one tutorial so that you have good

amount of learning every single day and

at the same time for ular topics can be

referred again and again so I will be

breaking it independently to each video

so stay tuned for that so that's all

from this particular video team should

you have anything else feel free to

comment below I'm always there to

address your queries and answer them

well till then keep learning keep

exploring keep understanding the context

thanks for watching the video team and

happy

[Music]

learning