ISTQB CT-TAE – Certified Tester Test Automation Engineer — Question 43

You have a TAS that has been running for several years testing a mortgage calculation system. It was originally planned to complete execution within two hours once a week, but after more and more tests have been added, it now takes eight hours to run to completion. Due to other system requirements, you have been told that the execution must be restricted to two hours on any one night.

On further analysis, you have determined that one set of tests takes four hours to complete. These tests are quite complex and deal with the interest rate and payment calculations that consider many parameters.

What is the most practical approach to make the test automation execution fit within the two hour window?

Answer options

• A. Decompose the set of tests into smaller and more maintainable units. Execute these in sets that will take less than two hours. Spread the test execution over multiple nights as needed.
• B. Design new tests to replace the existing, complex tests. Ensure that the new test set will execute within the two-hour window.
• C. Examine the test set and remove all test cases that have not identified a defect in the last year. If the reduced test set will not fit in the two-hour window, continue removing test cases starting with the oldest identified defect and moving forward until the test set fits.
• D. Move the execution to the weekend evenings to avoid impacting regular weekday processing.

Correct answer: A

Explanation

Option A is correct because it allows for breaking down complex tests into smaller segments that can be executed within the time limit, providing flexibility in scheduling. Option B may not address the complexity of existing tests effectively and could require significant effort to ensure new tests are comprehensive. Option C risks removing valuable test cases that might still be relevant, and Option D does not solve the issue of the two-hour execution constraint during weekdays.