Preparing for and Achieving ISTQB Certification: Personal Insights

Preparing for and Achieving ISTQB Certification: Personal Insights

Fresh Tack on Olha Kutniv's Experience with the ISTQB Certification

Time to dive into Olha Kutniv's enlightening anecdote as she traversed the ISTQB certification journey! After being a software tester for two years, Olha wanted to consolidate her wisdom with a certified seal of approval. So, she ambitiously decided to pass the ISTQB Foundation Level certification and clinched her credentials in December 2020.

What's the ISTQB Foundation Level certification?

Gentlefolk, you ask! Fear not, for I'll unravel the mystery before you. The International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) offers diverse levels of software quality assurance certifications. The sought-after ISTQB Certified Tester comes in three flavors— Foundation, Advanced, and Expert levels.

The ISTQB Foundation Level, the entry point of this noble quest, serves as a foundational stepping stone in software testing. This certification tests your understanding of theoretical fundamentals and practical knowledge, making you a certified software testing wildcat ready to conquer various testing challenges. The exam is an ol' fashioned multiple-choice game, spanning 40 questions, tossing in a few easy peasy (K1), medium-difficulty (K2), and brain-tingling (K3) questions. And, if all the stars align perfectly, you may just find yourself the proud owner of the coveted ISTQB certification, which is valid for the rest of your days!

How to Train for the ISTQB Foundation Exam

When Olha set her sights on the ISTQB certification, she went about it with a voracious appetite and sheer determination. A little over a month of intense, dedicated study, with around 2.5 to 3 hours daily (Monday through Friday, no weekends off!), helped her scale that mountainous challenge. A bit of homework: She had already attended a theoretical course on Udemy before the grand preparation.

So, grab a cuppa and snuggle up, as I delve into the enlightening resources that Olha drew upon in her conquest.

1. The Syllabus

Hold your horses, mate! Unless you're hip-deep in software testing, you'll likely be lost without a guiding lemon. The syllabus serves as that beacon of wisdom, illuminating the path through every nook and cranny of the ISTQB Foundation Level exam.

The Treasure Map of Testing

• General Objectives
• Glossary
• Learning Objectives
• Key Concepts
• References (e.g., literature, standards)

And, delightful trivia! The syllabus isn't your minutes-long, spoon-fed school-lecture. It paints an expansive picture, elaborating on various testing concepts, techniques, and lifecycle integration for a myriad of projects, even the Agile ones.

2. Glossary

If you ever felt like a fish out of water, swimming around in unfamiliar terms, do not fear! The Glossary is here to steer you right! You'll find a whopping 589 terms alphabetically sorted, with definitions, synonyms, references, and versions. There's even a mobile app or web version, so you can bring the Glossary along on your journey!

Mind the Highlighted Terms, and You're Golden!In the Syllabus, watch out for those highlighted terms before each chapter. They're the key to passing like a mermaid gliding through the ocean of questions.

3. Foundations of Software Testing: ISTQB Certification by Rex Black and Colleagues

Practicality is the name of the game, and Foundations of Software Testing swings that bat with élan! Covering topics like test design techniques, this book takes the theoretical concepts discussed in the Syllabus and spins them into testable gold. The book is far from one-dimensional, going in-depth on each topic, turning your Testing-Toddler into a Testing-Tycoon!

4. Udemy Course

If you need to kick-start your engine, the Udemy course is just the jolt you need! Spanning around 5 hours of audio lectures, it sets a solid foundation for understanding key concepts. It's like building a pyramid; you gotta lay a strong foundation before you move on to the mighty towers!

5. Company Corporate Course or Other ISTQB-Accredited Course

Studying might be a solitary journey, but there's strength in numbers, too! Joining fellow software testers and discussing all things certification can make the process less daunting. It's like having a whole troop of QA superheroes by your side, ready to lend a hand when you need it! And hats off to Maryna Shulga, Olha's ISTQB guardian angel!

6. Sample Exam Questions with Answers

Practice makes perfect, so don't forget to exercise those brains with sample exam questions! Pacing yourself is crucial; take a peek at each sample exam at least 2 to 3 days before the certification. For a treasure trove of questions and answers, head here.

Also, consider ISTQB Foundation Sample Exam Questions by Chhavi Raj Dosaj for additional practice.

Tips for Succeeding in the ISTQB Exam

1. Cram, but Memorize: Cramming and memorization are your buddies here. Memorize instead of passively, repetitively reading information. The best way is to take bite-sized pieces of the knowledge you've gathered and reproduce them.
2. Learn then Test Yourself: Rereading won't do the trick here; it's all about learning and self-testing. Reading the theory from ISTQB-accredited sources, like the Syllabus, then memorizing that information and testing yourself after each chapter is the way to go. Memorizing directly from unreliable online sources poses the risk of learning obsolete or incorrect information.
3. Test Yourself After Each Sections: Test yourself after each chapter, grade yourself, and work hard on the harder-to-grasp topics.
4. Full Version Practice Tests: When you've completed all chapters, try a full-length, timed practice test. Make sure to practice strictly within the exam's time limit to prepare yourself for the big day.
5. Day Before the Exam Preparations: A day before the exam, read Foundations of Software Testing, section 7.2 Taking the Exam, and get a good night's sleep.

Bonus Tips for Acing the ISTQB Exam:

1. Test the System: A day before the exam, log in and get acquainted with the system's interface, navigation, fonts, scrolling, clock, flag colors for different labels. This will reduce stress during the exam, allowing you to focus solely on the questions.
2. Be Quick, but Smart: Don't waste too much time deliberating over each question. Remember each question is worth the same number of points, regardless of difficulty level. Use the orange flags if unsure, then come back to those questions later.
3. Read the Question Carefully: Carelessness can cost you dearly. Always read the question carefully to ensure you fully understand what is required.
4. Use Scratch Paper: If you're unsure about an answer, try the exclusion method. Write down the options you're sure about, decide logically on the remaining ones, jot down the question number for future reference, and write down related answers on a scratch pad. This saves time, ensuring you don't waste time scrolling through the system. A scratch pad is also useful as a safety measure in case of internet issues.

Takeaways

Olha Kutniv, our brave tester, embarked on the ISTQB Foundation Level certification journey to solidify years of testing experience. With the coveted certification under her belt, she's positioned herself even better to tackle software testing challenges. Stepping into the realm of Agile methodologies, she honed her professional vocabulary, enhanced her understanding of software testing fundamentals, and gained a healthy boost of confidence.

Agile methodologies, baby! To date, Olha Kutniv serves as a Software QA Engineer at our company. But enough talk! Go forth, brave testers armed with this valuable knowledge, and scale the mountains of testing like true conquerors!

In the realm of software development, Olha Kutniv sought to validate her experience by pursuing the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Foundation Level certification. As she delved into the educational aspect of achieving this certification, she found that technology and learning were fundamental tools in her quest. Through self-study, attending theoretical courses, reading books, and taking practice exams, she honed her understanding of various testing concepts and techniques for diverse projects, including Agile methodologies. She emphasized the importance of resources such as the ISTQB Syllabus, Glossary, Foundations of Software Testing by Rex Black and Colleagues, Udemy course, albeit complemented with other sources, and proper mock testing. Her advice to other aspiring testers was to approach the learning process with a hardworking attitude, memorizing information, testing themselves after each chapter, and using various resources like online practice tests to prepare for the certification exam.

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