ASTQB Mobile Tester Certification

Now available!

Market Need Identified• Requests were received from our certification

holders• Growing need for mobile testers who know

about mobile testing– Mobile world is expanding– Traditional apps now have mobile presence

• Even if you’re not a mobile tester, you are probably a mobile user

Why an ASTQB Syllabus?

• The market has a need for a Mobile Tester Foundation Level syllabus and certification

• The ASTQB has developed this certification– Allows us to control the content– Allows us to control the quality of the exam– Allows us to work with many training providers as

they develop their materials– Builds on the knowledge from the Foundation

Level certification

ASTQB Certification

• Multiple types of certifications out in the world

• The new syllabus is added to our existing ISTQB and IQBBA offerings

• The ASTQB has a strong reputation for quality and experience with creating syllabi

• The new syllabus is ASTQB-developed and reviewed by an international community

Syllabus Development Process

• Working group selected (chair and workers)• Syllabus is developed• Internal reviews are conducted and comments

incorporated• External reviews are conducted and

comments incorporated• Syllabus is ready!

ASTQB Syllabus Experience• ISTQB Foundation – Authors• ISTQB ATA – Chair, authors• ISTQB ATTA – Authors• ISTQB ATM – Chair, authors• ISTQB Expert TM – Chair, authors• ISTQB Advanced Test Automation – Chair, authors• ISTQB Advanced Security – Chair, authors• IQBBA – Contributing editor

ISTQB Adoption

• ISTQB may choose to adopt this syllabus• Decision won’t be made until March 2016• Present offering will be worldwide• Syllabus already conforms to ISTQB standards

Business Objectives• MOB1 – Identify and mitigate the challenges that face a mobile application tester.• MOB2 – Plan, design and implement appropriate test cases for mobile

applications.• MOB3 – Work with other team members to identify and assess risks and to

implement a testing solution to help mitigate those risks.• MOB4 – Identify the applicable quality characteristics for a mobile application and

identify an appropriate testing approach to address those characteristics. • MOB5 – Participate in tool analysis and selection to select the most appropriate

tools for conducting mobile application testing.• MOB6 – Identify areas for non-functional testing and prepare appropriate tests for

those areas.• MOB7 – Understand the differences between the various mobile application types

and select appropriate tools, techniques and approaches to test those applications.

• MOB8 – Effectively employ simulators, emulators and the cloud for testing.• MOB9 – Participate in planning for the future, including proper tool selection and

building for maintainability.

Learning Objectives

– Level 1: Remember (K1)• The candidate will recognize, remember and recall a term or concept.

– Level 2: Understand (K2) • The candidate can select the reasons or explanations for statements related to the topic,

and can summarize, differentiate, classify and give examples for facts (e.g., compare terms), the testing concepts, test procedures (explaining the sequence of tasks).

– Level 3: Apply (K3)• The candidate can select the correct application of a concept or technique and apply it to a given

context. K3 is normally applicable to procedural knowledge. There is no creative act involved like evaluating a software application, or creating a model for a given software program. When we have a given model and cover in the syllabus the procedural steps to create test cases from a model, then it is K3.

– Level 4: Analyze (K4)• The candidate can separate information related to a procedure or technique into its constituent

parts for better understanding, and can distinguish between facts and inferences. Typical application is to analyze a document, software, project situation and propose appropriate actions to solve a problem or task.

Syllabus StructureChapter 1: Introduction to Mobile Testing – 75 mins

Chapter 2: Test Planning and Design – 60 mins

Chapter 3: Quality Characteristics for Mobile Testing – 290 mins

Chapter 4: Environment and Tools – 285 mins

Chapter 5: Future-Proofing – 135 mins

845 mins = 14 hours

Chapter 1 Introduction – 75 mins1.1 What is a Mobile Application

1.2 Expectations from Mobile Users

• Frequent Releases• Portability/Compatibility

1.3 Challenges for Testers

1.4 Necessary Skills

1.5 Equipment Requirements

1.6 Lifecycle Models

Chapter 1 LOs• MOB-1.2.1 (K2) Explain the expectations for a mobile

application user and how this affects test prioritization• MOB-1.3.1 (K2) Explain the challenges testers encounter in

mobile application testing and how the environments and skills must change to address those challenges

• MOB-1.3.2 (K2) Summarize the different types of mobile applications

• MOB-1.5.1 (K2) Explain how equivalence partitioning can be used to select devices for testing

• MOB-1.6.1 (K2) Describe how some software development lifecycle models are more appropriate for mobile applications

Chapter 2 – Test Planning and Design2.1 Identify Functions and Attributes

2.2 Identify and Assess Risks

2.3 Determine Coverage Goals

2.4 Determine Test Approach

2.5 Identify Test Conditions and Set Scope

2.6 Regression Testing

Chapter 2 LOs

• MOB-2.1.1 (K2) Explain why use cases are a good source of testing requirements for mobile applications

• MOB-2.2.1 (K2) Describe different approaches to risk analysis

• MOB-2.3.1 (K2) Explain how coverage goals will influence the level and type of testing to be conducted

• MOB-2.5.1 (K2) Describe how test analysts should take the device and application into consideration when creating test conditions

Chapter 3 – Quality Characteristics

Functional Testing

3.2.1 Introduction

3.2.2 Correctness

3.2.3 Security

3.2.4 Interoperability

3.2.5 Test Design

Chapter 3 - continued

Non-Functional Testing

3.3.1 Performance Testing

3.3.2 Usability Testing

3.3.3 Portability Testing

3.3.4 Reliability Testing

Chapter 3 – Functional LOs• MOB-3.2.1(K3) For a given mobile testing project apply the

appropriate test design techniques• MOB-3.2.2 (K1) Recall the purpose of testing for the

correctness of an application• MOB-3.2.3 (K2) Explain the important considerations for

planning security testing for a mobile application• MOB-3.2.4 (K2) Summarize the concepts of perspectives

and personas for use in mobile application testing• MOB-3.2.5(K2) Summarize how device differences may affect

testing• MOB-3.2.6 (K2) Explain the use of Teststorming for deriving

test conditions

Chapter 3 – Non-Functional LOs• MOB-3.3.1 (K3) Create a test approach that would

achieve stated performance testing goals• MOB-3.3.2 (K1) Recall aspects of the application that

should be tested during performance testing• MOB-3.3.3 (K2) Explain why real devices are needed

when simulators are used for testing• MOB-3.3.4 (K3) For a given mobile testing project, select

the appropriate criteria to be verified with usability testing

• MOB-3.3.5 (K2) Explain the challenges for portability and reliability testing mobile applications

Chapter 4 – Environments and Tools

• Application to Mobile• Generic Tools• Commercial or Open Source Tools

Tools

• Environment Considerations• Protocols

Environments and Protocols

Chapter 4 – Environments and Tools

• Browser-based Applications• Native Device Applications• Hybrid Applications

Specific Application-Based Environment Considerations

• Real Devices• Simulators• Emulators• Cloud

Real Devices, Simulators, Emulators and the Cloud

Chapter 4 – Environments and Tools

Performance Test Tools and Support

• Tool Support• Skills Needed

Test Automation

Chapter 5 – Future-ProofingExpect Rapid Growth

• Architect the Testing• Enable Efficient Maintenance• Select Tools for Flexibility• Select Partners Carefully

Build for Change

• Lifecycle Models• Alternative Testing

Plan for the Future

Anticipating the Future

New Terms• Hybrid application - A mobile application that requires communication with the web

server but also utilizes plug-ins to access device functionality• Mobile application testing - Testing that is conducted on mobile applications• Mobile web application - A mobile application that is designed for use by a variety of

devices with the majority of the code residing on the web server • Native mobile application - A mobile application that is designed for a specific device

family and is coded to access specific functionality of the device normally via tools that have been specifically designed for the device.

• Mobile application - A general term for a software application that is used via a mobile device such as a smart phone

• Minimal essential test strategy - A lightweight approach to risk analysis sometimes used when testing mobile applications

• Geolocation - The identification of the real-world geographical location of a device • Teststorming - A technique used to derive test cases using techniques such as

brainstorming or mindmaps emulator in glossary • Native device - The actual physical device that is running a mobile application

How Does This Work?

• Training is not required, but will be offered• Self-study from the syllabus and publications is

possible• E-learning and courses will likely be available

soon

Exam

40 questions

Multiple choice

1 hour

After an onsite course

From a Kryterion testing center

At a public location – such as a STAR conference

Where to take the exam?

Next Steps

• Already an interest in an Advanced Level syllabus

• Foundation is for those starting out (willingly or unwillingly!)

• Advanced will have more on environments, tools, and techniques specific to mobile

• Timeframe not known yet• Considering adding a practical component

ASTQB Site

• We will be adding more content, including:– Download link for Syllabus– Download link for sample exam– Feedback link– Exam registration link

– For now, your key link is: www.astqb.org