3 of 37

Test Plan:

A document describing the scope, approach, resources and schedule of intended test activities. It identifies amongst others test items, the features to be tested, the testing tasks, who will do each task, degree of tester independence, the test environment, the test design techniques and entry and exit criteria to be used, and the rationale for their choice, and any risks requiring contingency planning. It is a record of the test planning process.

4 of 37

Steps for preparing a test plan

Analyze the product (learn product thoroughly)
Develop test strategy -define scope of testing ,risk and issues
Define objective of test
Define test criteria
Planning the resources
Plan test environment
Schedule and cost
Test deliverables

5 of 37

Test deliverables includes
Scope
Methodology
Requirements
Criteria for pass-fail
schedule

6 of 37

TEST PLAN TYPES

Master Test Plan: A single high-level test plan for a project/product that unifies all other test plans.
Testing Level Specific Test Plans :Plans for each level of testing.

Unit Test Plan
Integration Test Plan
System Test Plan
Acceptance Test Plan

Testing Type Specific Test Plans: Plans for major types of testing like Performance Test Plan and Security Test Plan.

7 of 37

TEST PLAN GUIDELINES

Make the plan concise. Avoid redundancy and superfluousness. If you think you do not need a section that has been mentioned in the template above, go ahead and delete that section in your test plan.
Be specific. For example, when you specify an operating system as a property of a test environment, mention the OS Edition/Version as well, not just the OS Name.
Make use of lists and tables wherever possible. Avoid lengthy paragraphs.
Have the test plan reviewed a number of times prior to base lining it or sending it for approval. The quality of your test plan speaks volumes about the quality of the testing you or your team is going to perform.
Update the plan as and when necessary. An out-dated and unused document stinks and is worse than not having the document in the first place.

8 of 37

TEST PLAN TEMPLATE

The format and content of a software test plan vary depending on the processes, standards, and test management tools being implemented. Nevertheless, the following format, which is based on IEEE standard for software test documentation, provides a summary of what a test plan can/should contain.
Test Plan Identifier:
Provide a unique identifier for the document. (Adhere to the Configuration Management System if you have one.)
Introduction:

Provide an overview of the test plan.

Specify the goals/objectives.

Specify any constraints.

References:

List the related documents, with links to them if available, including the following:

Project Plan
Configuration Management Plan

9 of 37

Test Items:

List the test items (software/products) and their versions.

Features to be Tested:

List the features of the software/product to be tested.
Provide references to the Requirements and/or Design specifications of the features to be tested

Features Not to Be Tested:
List the features of the software/product which will not be tested.
Specify the reasons these features won’t be tested.
Approach:
Mention the overall approach to testing.
Specify the testing levels [if it’s a Master Test Plan], the testing types, and the testing methods [Manual/Automated; White Box/Black Box/Gray Box]

10 of 37

Item Pass/Fail Criteria:
Specify the criteria that will be used to determine whether each test item (software/product) has passed or failed testing.
Suspension Criteria and Resumption Requirements:
Specify criteria to be used to suspend the testing activity.
Specify testing activities which must be redone when testing is resumed.
Test Deliverables:

List test deliverables, and links to them if available, including the following:

Test Plan (this document itself)
Test Cases
Test Scripts
Defect/Enhancement Logs
Test Reports

11 of 37

Test Environment:
Specify the properties of test environment: hardware, software, network etc.
List any testing or related tools.
Estimate:

Provide a summary of test estimates (cost or effort) and/or provide a link to the detailed estimation.

Schedule:

Provide a summary of the schedule, specifying key test milestones, and/or provide a link to the detailed schedule.

Staffing and Training Needs:
Specify staffing needs by role and required skills.
Identify training that is necessary to provide those skills, if not already acquired.

12 of 37

Responsibilities:

List the responsibilities of each team/role/individual.

Risks:
List the risks that have been identified.
Specify the mitigation plan and the contingency plan for each risk.
Assumptions and Dependencies:
List the assumptions that have been made during the preparation of this plan.
List the dependencies.
Approvals:
Specify the names and roles of all persons who must approve the plan.
Provide space for signatures and dates. (If the document is to be printed.)

13 of 37

Risk Management During Test Planning

The risk management process occurs twice, during:

Test planning
Test case design(end) or sometimes in the test execution phase

14 of 37

Risk identification

As it is said, the first step to solving a problem is identifying it. This stage involves making a list of everything that might potentially come up and disrupt the normal flow of events.

Risk Analysis in software testing: All the risks are quantified and prioritized in this step. Every risk’s probability (the chance of occurrence) and impact (amount of loss that it would cause when this risk materializes) are determined systematically.

High – medium – low, values are assigned to both the probability and impact of each risk. The risks with “high” probability and “High” impact are taken care of first and then the order follows.

15 of 37

Risk Mitigation

The final step in this Risk Based Testing (RBT) process is to find solutions to plan how to handle each one of these situations. These plans can differ from company to company, project to project and even person to person.

16 of 37

Deciding test approach

Like any project, the testing also should be driven by a plan. The test plan acts as the anchor
for the execution, tracking and reporting of the entire testing project. Activities of test plan:

1. Scope Management: Deciding what features to be tested and not to be tested.

2. Deciding Test approach /strategy: Which type of testing shall be done like configuration, integration, localization etc.

3. Setting up criteria for testing: There must be clear entry and exit criteria for different phases of testing. The test strategies for the various features and combinations determined how these features and combinations would be tested.

4. Identifying responsibilities, staffing and training needs

5. Identifying resource requirements

6. Identifying test deliverables

7. Testing tasks: size and effort estimation

17 of 37

Setting up criteria for testing

There must be clear entry and exit criteria, pass or fail criteria , suspend criteria, Resume criteria for different phases of testing. The test strategies for the various features and combinations determined how these features and combinations would be tested.
Pass or fail :- Specify the criteria that will be used to determine whether each test item has passed or failed testing.
Suspend Criteria :- Specify the criteria to be used to suspend test activity.
Resume Criteria :- Specify the criteria which must be redone when testing is resumed.

18 of 37

Identifying Responsibilities

A testing project requires different people to play different roles. There are roles of test engineers, test leads and test managers. There is also role definition on the dimensions of the modules being tested or the type of testing. These different roles should complement each other.
The different role definition should -
Ensure there is clear accountability for a given task, so that each person knows what he or she has to do,
Clearly list the responsibilities for various functions to various people, so that everyone knows how his or her work fits into the entire project.
Complement each other, ensuring no one steps on an others‟ toes
Supplement each other, so that no task is left unassigned. Role definition should not only address technical roles, but also list the management and reporting responsibilities. This includes frequency, format and recipients of status reports and other project-tracking mechanism.

19 of 37

Various hardware and software required / recommended by project manager

1. At the most basic level, project management products will help your organization to manage projects from start to finish, and allow employees at different levels to have an input into the process.

2. Project management software has been around for a number of years now and as a result, it does far more than just manage the projects themselves.

3. Project applications can also carry out scheduling, cost control and budget management, resource allocation, collaboration, communication, quality management and documentation or administration.

4. The aim with these is to handle all aspects and complexities of larger projects and help keep costs down.

20 of 37

Test Deliverables and Milestones

Test Deliverables are the artifacts which are given to the stakeholders of software project during the software development lifecycle. There are different test deliverables at every phase of the software development lifecycle. Some test deliverables are provided before testing phase, some are provided during the testing phase and some after the testing cycles is over.
The different types of Test deliverables are:

Test cases Documents
Test Plan
Testing Strategy
Test Scripts
Test Data
Test Traceability Matrix
Test Results/reports
Test summary report
Install/config guides
Defect Reports
Release notes

21 of 37

The test plan describes the overall method to be used to verify that the software meets the product specification and the customer's needs. It includes the quality objectives, resource needs, schedules, assignments, methods, and so forth.
Test cases list the specific items that will be tested and describe the detailed steps that will be followed to verify the software.
Bug reports describe the problems found as the test cases are followed. These could be done on paper but are often tracked in a database.
Test tools and automation are listed and described which are used to test the software. If the team is using automated methods to test software, the tools used, either purchased or written in-house, must be documented.
Metrics, statistics, and summaries convey the progress being made as the test work progresses. They take the form of graphs, charts, and written reports.
Milestones: milestones are the dates of completion given for various tasks to be performed in testing. These are thoroughly tracked by the test manager and are kept in the documents such as Gantt charts, etc.

22 of 37

Test Management

It concerned with both test resource and test environment management. It is the role of test management to ensure that new or modified service products meet business requirements for which they have been developed or enhanced.

23 of 37

Test Infrastructure

The top, or project level, test plan, the process of creating it is more important than the resulting document. The next three levels, the test design specification, the test case specification, and the test procedure specification are described in detail in the following sections.

As you can see in Figure, moving further away from the top-level test plan puts less emphasis on the process of creation and more on the resulting written document. The reason is that these plans become useful on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis by the testers performing the testing. At the lowest level they become step-by-step instructions for executing a test, making it key that they‘re clear, concise, and organized how they got that way isn‘t nearly as important.

This standard is what many testing teams have adopted as their test planning documentation intentional or not—because it represents a logical and common-sense method for test planning.

The important thing to realize about this standard is that unless tester is bound to follow it to the letter because of the type of software he is testing or by your corporate or industry policy, tester should use it as a guideline and not a standard.

24 of 37

Test Design

The overall project test plan is written at a very high level. It breaks out the software into specific features and testable items and assigns them to individual testers, but it doesn‘t specify exactly how those features will be tested. There may be a general mention of using automation or black- box or white-box testing, but the test plan doesn‘t get into the details of exactly where and how they will be used. This next level of detail that defines the testing approach for individual software features is the test design specification.

25 of 37

Test Cases

Dissecting a specification, code, and software to derive the minimal amount of test cases that would effectively test the software. The test case specification ―documents the actual values used for input along with the anticipated outputs. A test case also identifies any constraints on the test

procedure resulting from use of that specific test case.‖ Essentially, the details of a test case should explain exactly what values or conditions will be sent to the software and what result is expected.

It can be referenced by one or more test design specs and may reference more than one test procedure. The ANSI/IEEE 829 standard also lists some other important information that should be included:

• Identifiers.

• Test item.

• Input specification.

• Output specification.

• Environmental needs.

• Special procedural requirements.

• Intercase dependencies.

26 of 37

Test Procedures

After tester documents the test designs and test cases, what remains are the procedures that need to be followed to execute the test cases. The test procedure specification ―identifies all the steps required to operate the system and exercise the specified test cases in order to implement the associated test design. The test procedure or test script spec defines the step-by-step details of exactly how to perform the test cases. Here‘s the information that needs to be defined:

27 of 37

• Identifier. A unique identifier that ties the test procedure to the associated test cases and test design.

• Purpose. The purpose of the procedure and reference to the test cases that it will exe-cute.

• Special requirements. Other procedures, special testing skills, or special equipment needed to run the procedure.

• Procedure steps. Detailed description of how the tests are to be run:

• Log. Tells how and by what method the results and observations will be recorded.

• Setup. Explains how to prepare for the test.

• Start. Explains the steps used to start the test.

• Procedure. Describes the steps used to run the tests.

• Measure. Describes how the results are to be determined for example, with a stopwatch or visual determination.

• Shut down. Explains the steps for suspending the test for unexpected reasons.

• Restart. Tells the tester how to pick up the test at a certain point if there‘s a failure or after shutting down.

• Stop. Describes the steps for an orderly halt to the test.

• Wrap up. Explains how to restore the environment to its pre-test condition.

• Contingencies. Explains what to do if things don‘t go as planned.

28 of 37

Test Process in Software Testing�

Testing is a process rather than a single activity. Testing must be planned and it requires discipline to act upon it. The quality and effectiveness of software testing are primarily determined by the quality of the test processes used.�The activities of testing can be divided into the following basic steps:
Planning and Control
Analysis and Design
Implementation and Execution
Evaluating exit criteria and Reporting
Test Closure activities

29 of 37

1) Planning and Control

Test Planning : Test planning involves producing a document that describes an overall approach and test objectives. It involves reviewing the test basis, identifying the test conditions based on analysis of test items, writing test cases and Designing the test environment. Completion or exit criteria must be specified so that we know when testing (at any stage) is complete.

Purpose

To determine the scope and risks and identify the objectives of testing.

To determine the required test resources like people, test environments etc.

To schedule test analysis and design tasks, test implementation, execution and evaluation.

Control�This is the activity of comparing actual progress against the plan, and reporting the status, including deviations from the plan. It involves taking actions necessary to meet the mission and objectives of the project.

30 of 37

2) Analysis and Design

Test analysis and Test Design has the following major tasks:

To review the test basis. The test basis is the information on which test cases are based, such as requirements, design specifications, product risk analysis, architecture and interfaces
To identify test conditions
To design the tests
To design the test environment set-up and identify the required infrastructure and tools

3) Implementation and Execution

Test execution involves actually running the specified test on a computer system either manually or by using an automated test tool. It is a Fundamental Test Process in which actual work is done.

Test implementation has the following major task:

To develop and prioritize test cases by using techniques and create test data for those tests.
To create test suites from the test cases for efficient test execution. Test suite is a collection of test cases that are used to test a software program
To re-execute the tests that previously failed in order to confirm a fix.
To log the outcome of the test execution. A test log is the status of the test case (pass/fail).
To Compare actual results with expected result.

31 of 37

4) Evaluating Exit criteria and Reporting

Evaluating exit criteria is a process defining when to stop testing. It depends on coverage of code, functionality or risk. Basically it also depends on business risk, cost and time and vary from project to project. Exit criteria come into picture, when:

Maximum test cases are executed with certain pass percentage
Bug rate falls below certain level
When we achieve the deadlines

Evaluating exit criteria has the following major tasks:

To assess if more test are needed or if the exit criteria specified should be changed
To write a test summary report for stakeholders

5) Test Closure activities:

Test closure activities are done when software is ready to be delivered. The testing can be closed for the other reasons also like:

When a project is cancelled
When some target is achieved
When a maintenance release or update is done

Test closure activities have the following major tasks:

To check which planned deliverables are actually delivered and to ensure that all incident reports have been resolved
To finalize and archive test ware such as scripts, test environments, etc. for later reuse
To handover the test ware to the maintenance organization. They will give support to the software
To evaluate how the testing went and learn lessons for future releases and projects

32 of 37

Test Case Specification

The test case specifications should be developed from the test plan and are the second phase of the test development life cycle. The test specification should explain "how" to implement the test cases described in the test plan. Test case specifications are useful as it

enlists the specification details of the items.

Test Specification Items are must for each test specification should contain the following items:

1. Case No.: The test case number should be a three digit identifier of the following form:c.s.t, where: c- is the chapter number, s- is the section number, and t- is the test case number.

2. Title: is the title of the test.

3. Programme: is the program name containing the test.

4. Author: is the person who wrote the test specification.

5. Date: is the date of the last revision to the test case.

6. Background: (Objectives, Assumptions, References, Success Criteria): Describes in

words how to conduct the test.

7. Expected Error(s): Describes any errors expected

8. Reference(s): Lists reference documentation used to design the specification.

9. Data: (Tx Data, Predicted Rx Data): Describes the data flows between the Implementation

under Test (IUT) and the test engine.

10. Script: (Pseudo Code for Coding Tests): Pseudo code (or real code) used to conduct the

test.

33 of 37

Test Summary Report

Test reporting is a means of achieving communication through the testing cycle. There are 3 types of test reporting.

1. Test incident report:

A test incident report is communication that happens through the testing cycle as and when defects are encountered .A test incident report is an entry made in the defect repository each defect has a unique id to identify incident .The high impact test incident are highlighted in the test summary report.

2. Test cycle report:

A test cycle entails planning and running certain test in cycle, each cycle using a different build of the product .As the product progresses through the various cycles it is expected to stabilize.

Test cycle report gives

A summary of the activities carried out during that cycle.
Defects that are uncovered during that cycle based on severity and impact
Progress from the previous cycle to the current cycle in terms of defect fixed
Outstanding defects that not yet to be fixed in cycle
Any variation observed in effort or schedule

34 of 37

3. Test summary report:

The final step in a test cycle is to recommend the suitability of a product for release. A report that summarizes the result of a test cycle is the test summary report.

There are two types of test summary report:

Phase wise test summary, which is produced at the end of every phase Final test summary report. A Summary report should present Test Summary report Identifier Description

Identify the test items being reported in this report with test id

1). Variances: Mention any deviation from test plans, test procedures, if any.

2). Summary of results: All the results are mentioned here with the resolved incidents and their solutions.

3). Comprehensive assessment and recommendation for release should include Fit for release assessment and recommendation of release

35 of 37

Test Reporting

Test reporting is a means of achieving communication through the testing cycle. There are 3 types of test reporting.

1. Test incident report:

36 of 37

2. Test cycle report:

A test cycle entails planning and running certain test in cycle , each cycle using a different build of the product .As the product progresses through the various cycles it is expected to stabilize.

Test cycle report gives

1. A summary of the activities carried out during that cycle.

2. Defects that are uncovered during that cycle based on severity and impact

3. Progress from the previous cycle to the current cycle in terms of defect fixed

4. Outstanding defects that not yet to be fixed in cycle

5. Any variation observed in effort or schedule

37 of 37

3 Test summary report:

The final step in a test cycle is to recommend the suitability of a product for release. A report that summarizes the result of a test cycle is the test summary report.

There are two types of test summary report:

1.Phase wise test summary ,which is produced at the end of every phase

2. Final test summary report .

A Summary report should present

1. Test Summary report Identifier

2 Description:- Identify the test items being reported in this report with test id

3 Variances:- Mention any deviation from test plans, test procedures, if any.

4 Summary of results:- All the results are mentioned here with the resolved incidents and their solutions.

5 Comprehensive assessment and recommendation for release should include

Fit for release assessment and recommendation of release