Example exercises set at a software testing interview
Software testers are important members of a development team, checking products for defects and shortcomings before release. If you are about to interview for a testing role, preparing for the meeting is the key thing. In this article we go through examples of the problems you may meet at an interview.
Questions on testing methodology
One of the first areas an interview checks is your understanding of testing methodology. A few examples of the questions that may come up:
- Describe the testing process from writing the requirements through to releasing the product.
- What is the difference between white-box and black-box testing?
- Which kinds of regression testing do you know?
Exercises testing analytical skills
Analytical skills also matter to software testers. Examples of questions that check them:
- How would you test an ATM? Describe your approach.
- Suppose there is a website with five different buttons. How would you test its functionality?
- Imagine you have found a defect in a product. How will you document it?
Exercises testing practical skills
Practical exercises usually check how well you work with particular tools or technologies. For instance:
- Write a test case for the "add to basket" function on a website.
- Use Postman to test an API. Build a test collection covering several types of request.
Exercises testing communication
Testers work constantly with developers, managers and other members of a team, so communication matters too. A few examples:
- Describe a situation in which you had to explain a complex technical problem to a non-technical person. How did you do it?
- Your developer colleagues believe the defect you found is not a problem. How will you handle that?
- Tell us about a time you had to change your priorities urgently. How did you manage it?
Exercises testing resilience
Software testing can be stressful, particularly when deadlines press or you have met an elusive defect. A few questions that help assess how you handle stress:
- Describe a situation in which you worked under pressure. How did you handle it?
- How do you react to negative feedback? Can you give an example?
- What do you do to reduce stress while working?
Answers and solutions
Let's go through some of the questions and problems above and discuss possible answers.
Questions on testing methodology
Describe the testing process from writing the requirements through to releasing the product.
First the requirements for the product are analysed. Test cases are then written from them. After that testing begins, covering functional and non-functional testing alike. When the testing is complete, a test report is produced covering the defects found and fixed. Then comes the final round of testing before release.
What is the difference between white-box and black-box testing?
Black-box testing works from the product's requirements and functions without touching the internal structure or the code. White-box testing, by contrast, works from an analysis of the code's internal structure.
Which kinds of regression testing do you know?
There are several kinds: complete, partial and selective. Complete regression testing means rerunning every test case; partial covers only those related to the functions that changed; selective covers a random subset of the test cases.
Exercises testing analytical skills
How would you test an ATM? Describe your approach.
First I would list every function of the machine — dispensing cash, accepting cash, checking a balance, printing a receipt and so on. Then I would write test cases for each of them, checking them individually and together. It also matters to cover the boundary conditions: the machine running out of cash, an incorrect PIN, or the machine being unable to reach the bank.
Exercises testing practical skills
Write a test case for the "add to basket" function on a website.
The test case might consist of the following steps:
Open the site and go to a product page.
Confirm the "Add to basket" button is available.
Press "Add to basket" and confirm the item is added.
Open the basket and confirm the item appears with the correct name, price and quantity.
Use Postman to test an API. Build a test collection covering several types of request.
A Postman collection might include:
A GET request to retrieve information about a product.
A POST request to add a new product.
A PUT request to update information about a product.
A DELETE request to remove a product.
For each request, add tests checking the response status code, the correctness of the data and so on.
Exercises testing communication
Describe a situation in which you had to explain a complex technical problem to a non-technical person. How did you do it?
It helps to use analogies and examples from everyday life to explain complex technical ideas. You might compare how a computer works to how an office works, where different departments — the components — interact to carry out a shared task.
Your developer colleagues believe the defect you found is not a problem. How will you handle that?
Here it matters to make your case, explaining why you consider the defect important. Provide evidence: the steps to reproduce it, screenshots or video. If the disagreement continues, the question can be raised with the project manager or other interested parties.
Exercises testing resilience
Describe a situation in which you worked under pressure. How did you handle it?
Show that you can manage your time and priorities effectively and use strategies for reducing stress. You might describe a time you worked on a demanding task with a firm deadline and how you used timeboxing or relaxation techniques to complete it.
How do you react to negative feedback? Can you give an example?
Say that you treat criticism as a chance to learn and grow. If colleagues pointed out errors in your test plan, for instance, you were grateful for the feedback, fixed the errors and bore them in mind on later projects.
What do you do to reduce stress while working?
Describe your own strategies: regular breaks, physical activity, meditation, talking to colleagues, reading. What matters is showing that you can look after your own health and wellbeing even under pressure.
