Overview
The Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Automation Engineering (CTAL-TAE) qualification is aimed at anyone involved in software testing and test automation. This includes people in roles such as testers, test analysts, test automation engineers, test consultants, test architects, test managers, and software developers. This qualification is also appropriate for anyone who wants a basic understanding of test automation, such as project managers, quality managers, software development managers, business analysts, IT directors and management consultants.
Prerequisites
The ISTQB® Foundation Level certificate must be obtained before taking the ISTQB® Test Automation Engineering certification course and exam.
Audience
The Test Automation Engineering syllabus is targeted to the test engineer looking to implement or improve on test automation. It defines methods and practices that can support a sustainable solution.
Other guidelines and reference models relating to test automation solutions are software engineering standards for the selected software development lifecycles, programming technologies, and formatting standards. The syllabus does not teach software engineering. However, a test automation engineer is expected to have skills, experience, and expertise in software engineering.
Furthermore, a test automation engineer needs to be aware of industry programming and documentation standards and best practices to make use of them while developing a test automation solution. These practices can increase maintainability, reliability, and security of the test automation solution. Such standards are typically based on quality characteristics.
To gain this certification, candidates must hold the Certified Tester Foundation Level v4.0 or previous versions of the Foundation Level certificate and have sufficient practical experience.
Delegates will learn how to
A candidate who have passed the exam should be able to accomplish the following Business Objectives:
- Describe the purpose of test automation
- Understand test automation through the software development lifecycle
- Understand the Configuration of an Infrastructure to Enable Test Automation
- Learn the evaluation process for selecting the right tools and strategies
- Understand design concepts for building modular and scalable test automation solutions
- Select an approach, including a pilot, to plan test automation deployment within the software development lifecycle
- Design and develop (new or modified) test automation solutions that meet technical needs
- Consider scope and approach of test automation and maintenance of testware
- Understand how automated tests integrate within CI/CD pipelines
- Understand how to collect, analyze, and report on test automation data in order to inform stakeholders
- Verify the test automation infrastructure
- Define continuous improvement opportunities for test automation
Outline
There are eight chapters with examinable content:
Chapter 1: Introduction and Objectives for Test Automation
- The tester learns about the benefits of test automation and its limitations
- Test automation within different software development lifecycle models is covered
- The tester learns how a system under test (SUT) architecture impacts the suitability of test tools
Chapter 2: Preparing for Test Automation
- Design for SUT testability through observability, controllability, and a clearly defined architecture, are covered.
- A tester learns about test automation across different environments
- Factors required to assess an appropriate test automation solution are covered
- A tester will learn about the technical considerations needed to develop recommendations on test automation
Chapter 3: Test Automation Architecture
- Test automation architecture and its components leading to a test automation solution is covered.
- A tester will learn about layers and their application in a test automation framework
- Multiple approaches to using test automation tools will be covered
- A tester will learn how design principles and design patterns can be applied to test automation
Chapter 4: Implementing Test Automation
- How to effectively plan and deploy a test automation pilot project will be covered
- A tester will learn about deployment risks and mitigate strategies
- Factors that improve maintainability of test automation code will be covered
Chapter 5: Implementation and Deployment Strategies for Test Automation
- A tester will learn about CI/CD pipelines and automated test execution across test levels
- Configuration management for components of test automation will be covered
- A tester will learn about dependencies applied to API and contract testing
Chapter 6: Test automation Reporting and Metrics
- A tester will learn about where data can be collected from an SUT and test automation for analysis and reporting
- Data analysis from SUT reports and test automation to uncover causes of failures will be covered
- Use of test reports and dashboards to inform stakeholders will be covered
Chapter 7: Verifying the Test Automation Solution
- The tester will learn how to examine and verify the correct operation of test automation components and environment
- Ensuring that test scripts and test suites execute correctly will be covered
- A tester will understand when to perform root cause analysis
- Techniques to analyze test automation code for quality will be covered
Chapter 8: Continuous Improvement
- Additional areas of data analysis for test case improvement will be covered
- A tester will learn ways to make improvements and upgrades to a test automation solution and its components
- Identifying ways to consolidate and streamline test automation will be covered
- A tester will learn how test automation tools can assist with test support and setup needs.
Exam Structure
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No. of Questions: 40 multiple-choice questions
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Total Points: 66
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To pass the exam: Minimum of 65% or more
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Exam Length (mins): 90 (+25% Non-Native Language)
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