ISTQB Foundation certification and Details.
ISTQB or ASTQB (as it is known in USA) Foundation Certification is an entry level test for Software test engineers. It requires the test taker to be well versed with the activities, process and procedures undertaken by an engineer to verify and validate software before releasing it to the users. Therefore by its basic nature, ISTQB is expected to be Medium level complexity exam. For some reason, i have fancied it for close to a decade, but never took it. About 3 weeks back, i decided to let the cat out of the bag. I got enrolled for the exam and selected a date, time and exam center. I was pretty confident that after spending close to 14 yrs in Software testing and earning some of the more complex certifications like PMP and ITIL this would be a walk in the park. I was in to learn that its going to be otherwise!!
Starting the preparation - I started by picking up some reading material from library and few online lectures. I thought a preparation schedule of about 8-10 hours should be good for me to clear the exam. I spread my learning schedule over 8-10 days with 1 hour each day. As I started reading, i realized the gaps that existed in my knowledge. Again, not that i didn't knew those concepts but after being in field for many years, i realized that either we were not using the concepts or we have our own definitions of them. Theory doesn't have any options, it requires you to know the definition. Challenge # 1 - To unlearn "practical use" and learn the real "definition" and "usage" of the terms.
As I continued reading and noting down the points that would be helpful, the list kept growing and kept getting more complex. 3rd day into the preparation, i realized that my reading and comprehension are not structured. After passing PMP, i had realized that this was one of the most important aspect of preparation towards any exam. I looked for a course over "Udemy" and found one by "Maged Koshty". My preparation was reset..loss of 2 days!!. With the course being set, i started it again!!
Challenge # 2: - Every course and every tutorial will have its own structure, that might not be fit for your brain. Therefore, brain mapping for topics and their co-relation is needed!! Make a chart!!
Next 4 days went by and i was comprehending well. Aura was building, i was learning back the concepts that i had used during initial days of my career. After completion of round 1 of the course, i had an urge to attempt the test. I looked over google and found some question banks. Took 1 and started attempting.. Boom!! scored 27/40!! with 26/40 being the passing marks this was a close shave!! As i looked in disbelief, nervousness started to set in. How could i do this bad in the test thats supposedly for basic knowledge of QA? What are the gaps in my knowledge that got me to this position and more such questions continue to rattle my brain... my first sleepless night!!
Challenge # 3 - Exam is a different animal, you need to have knowledge but to pass and score, you need application, focus, calmness and mostly important energy during the attempt! Remember to kick start your brain before the exam!! a gum did the trick for me!!Orbit white is the best product i have used ;)
While i completed my course, took some notes, Identified and bridged the gaps in my knowledge, i also looked for more practice tests. I came across http://istqb.patshala.com/. This is the most comprehensive, consolidated and structured test bank on ISTQB. There are several full tests and topic-wise tests on this website. This helped me by simulating the test environment over and over and over!.
Finally...Biggest challenges for the exam day - Top 3: -
1. Reading the question and understanding it
2. Reading the options and eliminating the ones that are not correct (rather than selecting the one that is correct)
3. Ensure enough practice before you attempt the exam. Your mind needs to be trained in "exam like" situation.
At last when i attempted the exam i was able to score 87% all by self study and practice in 2 weeks time. Hence after a spa of 10 yrs!! ISTQB Foundation.. check!!
Some reading material help: -
1. Udemy - Course Name - ISTQB Foundation Certification - Maged Koshty
2. Practice tests at http://istqb.patshala.com/
3. Question bank (dumps) - http://istqbexamcertification.com/istqb-dumps-download-mock-tests-and-sample-question-papers/
Happy learning and all the best for your exams!!
ISTQB or ASTQB (as it is known in USA) Foundation Certification is an entry level test for Software test engineers. It requires the test taker to be well versed with the activities, process and procedures undertaken by an engineer to verify and validate software before releasing it to the users. Therefore by its basic nature, ISTQB is expected to be Medium level complexity exam. For some reason, i have fancied it for close to a decade, but never took it. About 3 weeks back, i decided to let the cat out of the bag. I got enrolled for the exam and selected a date, time and exam center. I was pretty confident that after spending close to 14 yrs in Software testing and earning some of the more complex certifications like PMP and ITIL this would be a walk in the park. I was in to learn that its going to be otherwise!!
Starting the preparation - I started by picking up some reading material from library and few online lectures. I thought a preparation schedule of about 8-10 hours should be good for me to clear the exam. I spread my learning schedule over 8-10 days with 1 hour each day. As I started reading, i realized the gaps that existed in my knowledge. Again, not that i didn't knew those concepts but after being in field for many years, i realized that either we were not using the concepts or we have our own definitions of them. Theory doesn't have any options, it requires you to know the definition. Challenge # 1 - To unlearn "practical use" and learn the real "definition" and "usage" of the terms.
As I continued reading and noting down the points that would be helpful, the list kept growing and kept getting more complex. 3rd day into the preparation, i realized that my reading and comprehension are not structured. After passing PMP, i had realized that this was one of the most important aspect of preparation towards any exam. I looked for a course over "Udemy" and found one by "Maged Koshty". My preparation was reset..loss of 2 days!!. With the course being set, i started it again!!
Challenge # 2: - Every course and every tutorial will have its own structure, that might not be fit for your brain. Therefore, brain mapping for topics and their co-relation is needed!! Make a chart!!
Next 4 days went by and i was comprehending well. Aura was building, i was learning back the concepts that i had used during initial days of my career. After completion of round 1 of the course, i had an urge to attempt the test. I looked over google and found some question banks. Took 1 and started attempting.. Boom!! scored 27/40!! with 26/40 being the passing marks this was a close shave!! As i looked in disbelief, nervousness started to set in. How could i do this bad in the test thats supposedly for basic knowledge of QA? What are the gaps in my knowledge that got me to this position and more such questions continue to rattle my brain... my first sleepless night!!
Challenge # 3 - Exam is a different animal, you need to have knowledge but to pass and score, you need application, focus, calmness and mostly important energy during the attempt! Remember to kick start your brain before the exam!! a gum did the trick for me!!Orbit white is the best product i have used ;)
While i completed my course, took some notes, Identified and bridged the gaps in my knowledge, i also looked for more practice tests. I came across http://istqb.patshala.com/. This is the most comprehensive, consolidated and structured test bank on ISTQB. There are several full tests and topic-wise tests on this website. This helped me by simulating the test environment over and over and over!.
Finally...Biggest challenges for the exam day - Top 3: -
1. Reading the question and understanding it
2. Reading the options and eliminating the ones that are not correct (rather than selecting the one that is correct)
3. Ensure enough practice before you attempt the exam. Your mind needs to be trained in "exam like" situation.
At last when i attempted the exam i was able to score 87% all by self study and practice in 2 weeks time. Hence after a spa of 10 yrs!! ISTQB Foundation.. check!!
Some reading material help: -
1. Udemy - Course Name - ISTQB Foundation Certification - Maged Koshty
2. Practice tests at http://istqb.patshala.com/
3. Question bank (dumps) - http://istqbexamcertification.com/istqb-dumps-download-mock-tests-and-sample-question-papers/
Happy learning and all the best for your exams!!
