QA (Manual) Assessment Test

A QA (Manual) Assessment Test for manual testing evaluates an individual’s proficiency in performing manual testing tasks and their understanding of fundamental QA concepts. This test typically covers a range of topics related to manual testing techniques, tools, and best practices.

Here are the key aspects usually covered in a QA (Manual) Assessment Test:

1. Basic QA Concepts:

• Definition of QA: Understanding of what Quality Assurance is and its importance in the software development lifecycle.
• Manual vs. Automated Testing: Knowledge of the differences between manual and automated testing, including when to use each approach.

2. Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC):

• Phases of SDLC: Familiarity with various phases of the SDLC, such as Requirements Gathering, Design, Development, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance.
• Testing in SDLC: Understanding where manual testing fits within the SDLC and its role in ensuring quality.

3. Types of Testing:

• Functional Testing: Knowledge of different functional testing types, including unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT).
• Non-Functional Testing: Understanding of non-functional testing types such as performance testing, usability testing, and security testing.
• Test Levels: Familiarity with different levels of testing, such as smoke testing, sanity testing, regression testing, and exploratory testing.

4. Test Case Design:

• Components of Test Cases: Understanding the components of a test case, including test case ID, test scenario, test steps, expected results, and actual results.
• Test Case Writing: Ability to write effective test cases, including positive and negative scenarios, and ensuring thorough coverage of requirements.

5. Defect Management:

• Defect Lifecycle: Knowledge of the defect lifecycle, including defect identification, logging, tracking, and resolution.
• Defect Reporting: Skills in reporting defects with clear and detailed information, including steps to reproduce, expected vs. actual results, and severity.

6. Test Execution:

• Test Execution: Ability to execute test cases manually, document results, and identify discrepancies between expected and actual outcomes.
• Test Execution Tools: Familiarity with tools used for managing and executing test cases (e.g., JIRA, TestRail).

7. Exploratory Testing:

• Exploratory Testing: Understanding of exploratory testing techniques and how to use them to uncover issues not covered by formal test cases.

8. Documentation:

• Test Plans: Knowledge of creating and understanding test plans, including objectives, scope, test strategy, resources, and schedule.
• Test Reports: Ability to document and communicate test results and findings effectively.

9. Basic SQL Knowledge:

• SQL Queries: Basic knowledge of SQL queries to validate data in databases (e.g., SELECT statements to retrieve data).

10. Soft Skills:

• Communication: Skills in clearly articulating test results, issues, and feedback to developers and other stakeholders.
• Attention to Detail: Ability to notice and document even small discrepancies and issues during testing.

11. Test Environment Setup:

• Environment Setup: Understanding of how to set up and manage test environments, including configuring hardware, software, and network settings as needed for testing.

12. Testing Tools:

• Tool Familiarity: Basic knowledge of common tools used in manual testing for test management and defect tracking (e.g., JIRA, Bugzilla, Quality Center).

13. Basic Programming Concepts:

• Logical Thinking: Understanding basic programming concepts to better grasp how applications work and identify potential issues.

14. Best Practices:

• Testing Best Practices: Knowledge of best practices for manual testing, including maintaining test data, ensuring test coverage, and documenting test cases clearly.

Overall, a QA (Manual) Assessment Test aims to ensure that candidates have a solid understanding of manual testing principles, the ability to create and execute test cases, and the skills to identify and report defects effectively. It assesses both technical skills and the ability to communicate findings clearly, ensuring candidates can contribute effectively to a QA team.