UniversalExams.com Blog

I was speaking to a customer yesterday regarding the benefits of becoming ISTQB certified.  It was an excellent and thought-provoking conversation, so I decided to summarize the key points in this blog post. 

The bottom line is that having your ISTQB Foundation (or CTFL) certification alone is enough to help you stand out from the crowd.  Only about 110,000 people currently hold the ISTQB Foundation certification worldwide, which might sound like a lot but when you consider the number of software testers in the world today, on a percentage basis this number is tiny.

That said, if you REALLY want to differentiate yourself, consider going all the way and earning your full ISTQB Advanced level certification.  Whereas the ISTQB Foundation level focuses on theory, the Advanced level focuses on the practical application of this theory.  Before you can take the Advanced level exam, you must already have your ISTQB Foundation level certification, as well as at least 2 years of practical experience.

The Advanced level is split into 3 modules: test analyst, technical test analyst, and test manager.   Each module handles a different aspect of software testing.  For example, the test analyst module is concerned with reviews, black box techniques, process flows, and similar things.  Technical test analyst focuses on unit tests, testing tools, and white box tactics, among other things.  Finally, the test manager module focuses on the overall preparation, planning and management of various testing processes.     

There are 3 different Advanced level exams to pass – one for each module.   Each exam costs $200, and you will generally have the choice of either taking the exam at a physical location, or online.  You must take each one separately.  They are multiple-choice exams, the pass rate is 65%, and you’ll have 3 hours to finish each one.  You must prepare for each exam by studying and learning the information contained within the official 114-page ISTQB Advanced level syllabus.

So, there you have it.  If you have at least 2 years of practical software testing experience, you should strongly consider becoming ISTQB certified – at both the Foundation and Advanced levels.  Yes, it will take several weeks of study to prepare for each exam, not to mention the costs associated with the study materials as well as the exams themselves.  However, consider it an investment of time and money, one that will surely pay career dividends for years to come.

As you know, receiving any ISEB or ISTQB software testing certification requires that you prepare for, and pass, a certification exam.  One of the more frequently-asked questions we receive relates to the structure of these exams.  Even though we are not involved in the administration of the exams, we definitely understand the nuts and bolts of each one!

Each exam differs slightly in format, and must be taken in the appropriate sequence.  The first exam is the ISEB / ISTQB Foundation Level. 

For students in the UK, the next exam after the ISEB Foundation Level would be the ISEB Intermediate Level, followed by 1 or both of the ISEB Practitioner exams (Test Analysis or Test Manager). 

For students outside the UK, the next exam would be the ISTQB Advanced Level, which itself consists of 3 distinct modules (Test Analyst, Technical Test Analyst, and Test Manager).  Please read the blog post below for more information on the delineation of the ISEB and ISTQB certification paths. 

The Foundation Level exam (both ISEB and ISTQB) is “closed book,” and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions.  Students have 1 hour in which to complete the exam, and the pass mark is 26 out of 40 correct. 

The ISEB Intermediate Level exam is a little different.  Whereas the ISEB Foundation exam is concerned with the basics of the knowledge, the ISEB Intermediate exam is concerned with the practical application of that knowledge.  As such, it consists of scenario-based questions.  This exam also has a 1-hour time limit, and the pass mark is 60%.

The final ISEB certification exam is the ISEB Practitioner Level.  This level consists of 2 separate certifications, and as such encompasses 2 separate exams.  Both exams require you to answer 4 of 6 essay-type questions in a 2-hour timeframe, with a 60% pass rate.

Finally, the ISTQB Advanced Level exam covers 65 multiple-choice questions.  Students must complete the exam within 3 hours, and the pass rate is 65%.

So there you have it.  I hope you found this exam overview to be helpful and informative.  Please remember that no matter which exam you wish to take, it is critical to study and actually learn the required information.  To do otherwise would result in a failing grade, and a waste of time and money.  Good luck!

A common question we receive here at UniversalExams.com relates to how long it takes to prepare for your ISEB or CTFL / ISTQB software testing certification exam using our self-study training courses.  This is a bit of a difficult question, because everyone has different study habits and time constraints, and each type of certification varies in the level of knowledge required to pass the exam (for example, the ISEB Intermediate exam covers more than the ISEB Foundation exam).

Therefore, it is not possible to provide a direct and quantifiable answer to this question, but it is possible to provide some contextual information which in turn will allow you to make this determination on your own. 

The first and most critical factor is your own availability of time.  In other words, those who have much free time should be able to prepare in a fewer amount of days compared to people with very little time availability.  So, if you have 6 kids at home, or work 2 jobs, or have other time-sapping circumstances, you will be hard-pressed to complete your studies within the same timeframe as someone without similar time constraints.   

The second factor is your own study habits.  If you are a highly motivated self-starter with an excellent work ethic, you’ll finish your studies much faster than someone without these traits.  The ISEB and CTFL / ISTQB certification information is not difficult to understand, but there is a fair amount of it to learn.  If you are the type that struggles to get started, you may find that the process of exam preparation will take several months.

The final factor is the certification level itself.  As mentioned above, these software testing certifications are additive, which means that each level is more comprehensive than the previous level.  Thus, either ISEB Practitioner exam is more comprehensive than the ISEB Intermediate level exam, which in turn is more comprehensive than the ISEB Foundation level exam.  The same holds true for ISTQB, where the ISTQB Advanced level exam covers more material than the ISTQB Foundation level exam.

With all of that being said, we can now offer some very general study timelines.  For the ISEB Foundation or CTFL / ISTQB Foundation exam, if you have good study habits and some free time available, you should be ready in 3-4 weeks.  If you do not have good study habits or you have very little free time, a rough estimate would be 4-6 weeks.

For the ISEB Intermediate exam, those with ample free time and good study habits can expect to be ready in 4-6 weeks.  Those with poor study habits and miscellaneous time constraints can expect to spend 6-8 weeks.

Finally, for either of the ISEB Practitioner exams or the ISQTB Advanced exam, students with good study habits and ample free time should be ready in 6-8 weeks, and those without these attributes are looking at anywhere from 8-12 weeks.

Again, these are extremely rough guidelines, so please consider the time estimates to offer perspective instead of precision.  The bottom line is that YOU are the only person who can answer this question specifically.

Good luck!

Today’s blog post focuses on the most basic of questions: why should you earn your ISEB or ISTQB certification?  My previous posts dealt primarily with the “how,” but now it is time to go all the way back to square-one and discuss the “why.”

As you probably know, the first software testing certification level is the ISEB Foundation / ISTQB Foundation (this is the one and only level that offers dual certification in both the ISEB and ISTQB).  After the Foundation level you could go on to earn your ISEB Intermediate, ISEB Practitioner, or ISTQB Advanced certifications.  However, while many people choose to go on and earn their advanced-level certifications, just earning your ISTQB / ISEB Foundation level accreditation offers tremendous benefits.

The first and most obvious benefit is that it will help advance your career.  The ISEB / ISTQB Foundation level certification is universally accepted, and demonstrates a high degree of knowledge, professional competency, and ambition.  Thus, employment candidates holding this certification are viewed in a more favorable light than their non-certified counterparts, which provides them with a distinct advantage throughout the hiring process. 

The second benefit is that your software testing skills will be honed in a way that improves efficiency and accuracy.  By following software testing “best practices,” you should be able to accomplish related tasks with greater speed and precision, which means that you will be able to get more accomplished in a shorter period of time. 

This is akin to the age-old debate of working hard versus working smart.  By leveraging the skills acquired during the certification process, you will get your job done faster so you won’t feel like you must kill yourself day in and day out to accomplish your “to do” list.  The quality of your work life will be better and you’ll be better equipped to avoid job-burnout.

Last but not least, the third main benefit is an increased sense of self-worth and achievement.  Of course this benefit may not appeal to everyone, but for those with a strong internal desire for constant self-improvement, earning your ISEB Foundation certification is a fantastic personal achievement. 

Of course, all of these benefits increase in magnitude to the extent you are willing and able to earn subsequent ISEB or ISTQB certifications.  For ISEB, the next level is the ISEB Intermediate followed by the two ISEB Practitioner accreditations.  For ISTQB, the next level after the ISTQB Foundation exam encompasses the 3 modules of the ISTQB Advanced level certification.  But again, even if you earn only your Foundation level certification, you will still enjoy excellent career, efficiency, and personal satisfaction benefits over your non-certified colleagues.

One of the more frequently-asked questions we receive here at UniversalExams.com relates to the relationship between the ISEB Foundation and ISTQB Foundation software testing certifications.  The answer is that they both enable the same certification, so in essence passing just one of these certification exams provides dual certification in both. 

ISEB stands for “The Information Systems Examinations Board,” and it is a division of the British Computer Society (BCS).  The ISEB was formed in 1990 as an offshoot of the Systems Analysis Examinations Board (which itself was formed in 1967).  The ISTQB stands for “International Software Testing Qualifications Board,” and it was formed in late 2002. 

Both certifications are equivalent at the Foundation level.  The only real difference is that ISEB is UK-specific whereas ISTQB is international.  Other than these geographically-driven label differences, the content is basically the same.  For this reason, both testing boards made the decision to align the certifications at the Foundation level.  Thus, passing one of the two Foundation-level exams provides dual certification in both. 

Once a student passes his or her Foundation level exam, a decision must be made regarding which “certification path” to pursue.  For someone based in the UK, the logical decision is to go down the ISEB accreditation route.  Thus for UK software testers, the next certification level is ISEB Intermediate, followed by either the ISEB Practitioner in Test Analysis or the ISEB Practitioner in Test Management certifications. 

Anyone outside of the UK would be best served going down the ISTQB path, as this certification has an international appeal.  In fact, the ISTQB certification is formally recognised in 45 countries. 

There is only one additional ISTQB certification, and that is the ISTQB Advanced certification.  The ISTQB Advanced level is equivalent to either of the ISEB Practitioner certifications.  There is no Intermediate level regarding ISTQB certifications.

The ISTQB Advanced level exam is broken down into 3 modules: Technical Test Analyst, Test Analyst and Test Management.  Each module has its own exam, and certificates are awarded in each.  Students passing all 3 modules are awarded the coveted ‘Advanced Level Testing Professional’ certification. 

To sum up, both the ISEB Foundation and ISTQB Foundation level exams are based on the same syllabus, and passing just one of these Foundation-level exams provides dual certification in both.  This alignment ends after the Foundation level, which forces the student to choose the correct certification path.  UK candidates should continue down the ISEB certification path and earn their ISEB Intermediate certification, whereas non-UK candidates should pursue the ISTQB Advanced level certification. 

I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion around the alignment of both Foundation-level certifications.  For additional information, please visit our website at www.universalexams.com.

If you are curious about the sequence of the ISEB certification process, you have come to the right place.  The BCS requires that certifications be obtained in a specific order, starting with the Foundation level, then moving to the Intermediate level, and finally the Practitioner level (which itself consists of 2 distinct modules).

The ISEB Foundation level is a prerequisite to all other levels and as such must be first in line.  This level of software testing certification lays out the basic groundwork around processes, standards, and tactics.  Think of it as “software testing 101.”

This level is unique compared to all other ISEB levels because earning your ISEB Foundation certification provides “dual certification” with the ISTQB.  You see, in the past, both certifications were managed separately and followed similar but different syllabi.

However, this did not make much sense because both are nearly identical; the only difference was that people in the UK called it ‘ISEB Foundation’ where as people in all other countries called it “ISTQB Foundation.”  Thankfully, the respective governing boards came to their senses and decided to merge the 2 syllabi into a single syllabus that provides certification in both.

After the Foundation level is the ISEB Intermediate level, which hammers home the practical utilization of the largely theoretical Foundation level information.  The Intermediate exam consists of scenario questions for this very reason.

After the ISEB Intermediate level, candidates can take one or both of the ISEB Practitioner level exams.  The ‘Test Management’ certification deals with software testing management, whereas the ‘Test Analysis’ accreditation focuses on the technical side.  If you are looking for career advancement in the software testing industry, you ought to earn both certifications. 

There you have it – Foundation first, Intermediate second and Practitioner third.  To prepare for each exam, check out our comprehensive self-study training packages.  They provide everything you need to know and are 100% guaranteed to help you pass your exam.  Good luck!

Well, we have done it again.  We’ve really been on a roll lately…3 months, 3 new products!  They say good things come in threes and I must say that I wholeheartedly agree!

First it was the launch of the ISEB Practitioner in Test Management self-study training package…

Then a month later, we took all 4 ISEB training courses (ISEB Foundation, ISEB Intermediate, ISEB Practitioner in Test Analysis and now the ISEB Practitioner in Test Management) and combined them into the very cost-effective ISEB Master Bundle…

Now, it is déjà vu again!  This week we launched the ISTQB Advanced Level package!  And if you want both the ISTQB Foundation and the ISTQB Advanced courses, we’ve added a bundle for that as well.

The ISTQB Advanced package consists of a variety of unique learning tools guaranteed to facilitate the absorption and retention of the information.  The centerpiece of the package is the extremely thorough 210-page study guide that is completely based on the latest version of the ISTQB Advanced syllabus.  It also comes with 240 dual-sided flashcards as well 240 revision questions covering all 3 exam sections (Test Management, Test Analysis and Technical Test Analysis).  And, you get tons more as well.  Quite a nice bang for your buck.

All of our products are guaranteed to enable you to pass your exam.  You either pass, or you get your money back, it’s as simple as that.  We stand by our products which is why we have been around since the Paleozoic era of the Internet…2001!  So forget about mortgaging your house to afford an instructor-led course.  We deliver the same result for much, much less out of your pocket. 

Please checkout the new products and let me know if you have any feedback for improvement.  Our goal is to continuously improve the products we offer, and as such your feedback is critical. 

That’s it for this week’s post.   As always, don’t forget to visit our forum at http://www.universaldiscussion.com/ for helpful tips and advice regarding preparing for and taking your certification exam.

This is just a note to let you know that we have just launched our latest self-study training package for the ISEB Practitioner Certificate in Software Test Management Exam.  We now offer comprehensive training courses for all ISEB software testing certification levels: ISEB Foundation, ISEB Intermediate, ISEB Practitioner in Test Analysis, and ISEB Practitioner in Test Management. 

The ISEB Test Management certification is the next level of competency in software testing after the ISEB Foundation and ISEB Intermediate levels.  Earning this certification makes you more valuable and marketable, as it signifies a strong ability to analyze, synthesize and evaluate tasks related to software testing management.  These skills are critical to career advancement, especially in this age of global competition and economic uncertainty. 

Our training packages are always written by accredited and experienced ISEB course tutors, and this new product is no exception.  The course is completely based on the official ISEB exam syllabus, and includes unique learning tools proven to maximize the absorption of the material.  Of course, this new package also comes with our standard pass guarantee. 

The total package includes a comprehensive study guide, practice exams, 56 dual-sided flashcards, scenario question papers, exam tips, bonus material, 90 days full training support in the private area of the company’s IT certification forum, and more.  Additionally, the package is available in multiple delivery methods – immediate download, set of CDs, or everything provided in a bound, full color booklet (with the bonus material on a CD). 

Here at Universal Exams, we also offer product bundles that provide an excellent value for the money.  Product bundles include the ISEB Foundation + ISEB Intermediate training package, or the “ISEB Master Bundle” which consists of all 4 ISEB exam self study kits (ISEB Foundation, ISEB Intermediate, ISEB Test Management, and ISEB Test Analysis).

As you already undoubtedly know, UniversalExams.com is keenly focused on its mission to be a one-stop shop for ISEB exam preparation training materials.  Our self study training packages offer the same content and results as traditional instructor-led courses, but at a fraction of the price.  Our training products are comprehensive, cost-effective, and guaranteed to provide the information needed to pass any ISEB exam with confidence. 

So, good luck!!

You wanted it, so you got it! 

 Based on the feedback of our many satisfied customers, we just launched our most ambitous product to-date – the ISEB Master Bundle.  This bundle has the complete self-study training packages for all 4 ISEB software testing certification exams.  If you want to be the ultimate ISEB guru at your place of employment, you must purchase this comprehensive package!

 With this bundle, you will essentially receive a quantity discount for buying all 4 self-study packages at once – a 25% discount, to be exact.  It’s a great value if you are looking to earn your ISEB Foundation, ISEB Intermediate, ISEB Practitioner in Test Analysis, and ISEB Practitioner in Test Management software testing certifications. 

 As always, each course was written by our panel of certified experts, and our industry-leading pass-guarantee applies to all four.  There really is no longer any need to attend an expensive instructor-led course to prepare for your exams (unless of course you have money to burn).  Our packages provide the same quality and content, but are much more affordable. 

 The bundle includes all the study guides, 250 dual-sided flashcards, audio files, practice exams, scenario question papers, exam tips, bonus materials, revision sheets, training support, and more.  It’s everything you will need to pass your exams with confidence, and that is why we have no problem offering our pass guarantee.

 I’m often asked why each of our packages includes such a variety of teaching formats, and the reason is because it helps with the learning process.  Studies have actually shown that the utilization of multiple teaching mechanisms improves information retention.  So, that is what we aim to do in our quest to be a one-stop shop for ISEB and ISTQB certification exam preparation training materials.