ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Analyst (CTAL-TA) — Question 17

You are running a regression test suite using a keyword-driven test approach for automation. The test suite has been enhanced for the current release to include:
Three new test cases covering new business functionality.
Several new keywords, as project schedule constraints mean that more effective maintenance of the automated test cases is required.
However, the automated suite failed unexpectedly when executing one of the new test cases, which was also utilising a new keyword. As Test Analyst, what should be your first step?

Answer options

• A. Ask the technical test analyst to review the keyword script(s), as this is a new keyword and is the most likely cause of failure.
• B. Run the test case manually to see if the failure lies in the System Under Test (SUT). If the test fails manually, raise a defect report.
• C. Examine the sequence of tests that led up to the failure to determine if the problem occurred in a previous step.
• D. Remove the test case from the regression suite and covert it to a manual test, to reduce further impact on project schedules.

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is A because the failure occurred while using a new keyword, making it the most probable cause of the issue. Checking the keyword script(s) first allows for quicker identification and resolution of the problem. The other options involve more indirect approaches, such as manual testing or removing the test case, which do not address the immediate concern with the new keyword.