Course Overview

ISEB Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing

The ISEB Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing training course is based on the ISEB syllabus and extends the knowledge gained in the ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing. This course prepares candidates for the multiple-choice examination for the qualification. The course has five main parts: Testing Fundamentals; Reviews; Testing and Risk; Test Management; and Test Analysis.

The course is presented by TSG, the Assurance and Testing Specialists.

This course is a three-day tutor led programme using a mixture of slide presentation, lecture and practical exercises using scenario-based multiple choice questions. The examination is scheduled on the fourth day. A revision session using scenario-based multiple choice questions is provided on the fourth day.

Participant profile

The intermediate level qualification is aimed at all testing practitioners who hold the ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing. A testing practitioner is anyone involved in software testing. This includes testers, test analysts, test engineers, test consultants, test managers, user acceptance testers, and software developers.

The Intermediate Certificate constitutes a qualification on its own but it also provides a next step in career development for testing professionals.

Holders of the Intermediate Certificate are ideally placed to continue their career development along either the ISEB or the ISTQB qualification routes, both of which are illustrated below.

Candidates for the examination must hold the ISEB/ISTQB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing. In addition, it is strongly recommended by the syllabus board that candidates also have at least 18 months experience in Software Testing and take an accredited course, such as this one.

Course objectives

The objectives of this course are to:

• prepare candidates for the examination for the ISEB Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing based on the ISEB syllabus
• extend understanding of software testing – its application and management – its key disciplines – and to enhance awareness of issues and constraints around testing

The objectives of the qualification are in the ISEB syllabus and include:

• To provide a sound basis for candidates intending to register for either the Practitioner in Test Management Examination or the Practitioner in Test Analysis Examination. The Intermediate Certificate is a pre-requisite for entry to either of these examinations
• To ensure that candidates for either of the Practitioner Certificate examinations have a broad understanding of the other specialist area.
• To cover specific topic areas that both specialisations should understand

ISEB qualifications

The course prepares participants to sit the examination leading to the Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing offered by ISEB, the vocational qualification arm of BCS The Chartered Institute for IT.
This Certificate is a pre-requisite for participants sitting either the ISEB Practitioner in Test Management or Test Analysis examination.

A pre-requisite for participants attending this course is that they should hold the ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing.

Course Content

1. Testing fundamentals
   • Review of the Foundation Certificate syllabus
   • Application domains
   • Testing in the lifecycle
   • The fundamental test process
2. Reviews
   • The principles of reviews
   • Types of review
   • Using different review types
   • Performing a formal review
3. Testing and risk
   • Introduction to risk and risk-based testing
   • Risk management
   • Product risk identification and analysis
4. Test management
   • Test policy
   • Test strategy
   • Test plans
   • Entry and exit criteria
   • Estimating techniques
   • Test monitoring
   • Incident management process
5. Test analysis
   • Fundamentals of test analysis
   • Test environment requirements
   • Selection of techniques
   • Coverage measures