CT-PT : BUNDLE PACK LEARNING TOOLS INCLUDED

No. of Questions: 40
Passing Score: 26
Total Points: 40
Exam Length (mins): 90 (+25% Non-Native Language)

Audience
The Performance Testing certification is aimed at anyone involved in software testing who wishes to broaden their knowledge of performance testing or anyone who wishes to start a specialist career in performance testing. The qualification is also aimed at anyone involved in performance engineering who wishes to gain a better understanding of performance testing.

To gain this certification, candidates must hold the Certified Tester Foundation Level certificate.

Content
ISTQB® Certified Tester – Performance Testing (CT-PT)

Basic Concepts Principles of Performance
Testing Types of Performance Testing
Testing Types in Performance Testing
The Concept of Load Generation
Common Performance Efficiency Failure Modes and
Their Causes Performance Measurement
Fundamentals Typical Metrics Collected in
Performance Testing Aggregating Results from
Performance Testing Key Sources of Performance
Metrics Typical Results of a Performance Test
Performance Testing in the Software Lifecycle

Principal Performance
Categories of Performance Risk for Different Architectures
Performance Risks Across the Software
Development lifecycle
performance Testing
Performance Testing Tasks

Planning
Analysis, Design and Implementation

Execution
Analyzing Results and
Reporting
Tools
Tool Support
Tool Suitability
Exam Structure

Business Outcomes
Foundation Level Performance Testing candidates who have passed the Foundation Level “Performance Testing” syllabus exam should be able to accomplish the following Business Objectives:

Understand the basic concepts of performance efficiency and performance testing;
Define performance risks, goals, and requirements to meet stakeholder needs and expectations;
Understand performance metrics and how to collect them;
Develop a performance test plan for achieving stated goals and requirements;
Conceptually design, implement, and execute basic performance tests;
Analyze the results of a performance test and state implications to various stakeholders;
Explain the process, rationale, results, and implications of performance testing to various stakeholders;
Understand categories and uses for performance tools and criteria for their selection;
Determine how performance testing activities align with the software lifecycle.

More Information
Training is available from Accredited Training Providers (classroom, virtual, and e-learning). We highly recommend attending accredited training as it ensures that an ISTQB® Member Board has assessed the materials for relevance and consistency against the syllabus.

Self-study, using the syllabus and recommended reading material, is also an option when preparing for the exam.

Holders of this certification may choose to proceed to other Core, Agile, or Specialist stream certifications.

ISTQB® Certified Tester - Performance Testing (CT-PT)
Performance efficiency (or simply “performance”) is an essential part of providing a “good experience” for users when they use applications on a variety of fixed and mobile platforms. Performance testing plays a critical role in establishing acceptable quality levels for the end user and is often closely integrated with other disciplines such as usability engineering and performance engineering. Additionally, evaluation of functional suitability, usability and other quality characteristics under conditions of load, such as during execution of a performance test, may reveal load-specific issues which impact those characteristics.

The ISTQB® Certified Tester - Performance Testing syllabus considers the following principal aspects of performance testing:
Technical aspects
Method-based aspects
Organizational aspects

How do I obtain this certification?
To be certified you must pass the ISTQB® Certified Tester - Performance Testing exam.

You can prepare for the exam by attending an accredited training course for ISTQB® Certified Tester - Performance Testing; participants will have relevant content and topics clearly explained and taught to them.

The syllabus includes topics relevant to anyone involved in performance testing:
Understand the basic concepts of performance efficiency and performance testing
Define performance risks, goals, and requirements to meet stakeholder needs and expectations
Understand performance metrics and how to collect them
Develop a performance test plan for achieving stated goals and requirements
Conceptually design, implement, and execute basic performance tests
Analyze the results of a performance test and state implications to various stakeholders
Explain the process, rationale, results, and implications of performance testing to various stakeholders
Understand categories and uses for performance tools and criteria for their selection
Determine how performance testing activities align with the software lifecycle

The exam is available as remote proctored exam and in Pearson Vue test centers for anyone wishing to self-study.

What are the entry requirements?
In order to take the ISTQB® Certified Tester - Performance Testing exam, you will need the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level.

How does this certification benefit me?
With the ISTQB® Certified Tester - Performance Testing certification:
You will have an independent, internationally recognised certification as proof of expertise in the field of software testing with a specialisation in performance testing
You will be able to conceptually design, implement, and execute basic performance tests
You will be able to define performance risks; monitor and capture performance statistics

Who is this certification for?
This ISTQB® qualification is aimed at anyone involved in software testing who wishes to broaden their knowledge of performance testing or anyone who wishes to start a specialist career in performance testing. It is also aimed at anyone involved in performance engineering who wishes to gain a better understanding of performance testing.

It is particularly suitable for:
Software testers including test analysts and technical test analysts
Performance testers
Performance engineers

What other certifications can you recommend?
Other ISTQB® certifications that may be of interest:

ISTQB® Specialist Certifications:
ISTQB® Certified Tester - Acceptance Testing (CT-AcT)
ISTQB® Certified Tester - AI Testing (CT-AI)
ISTQB® Certified Tester - Automotive Software Tester (CT-AuT)
ISTQB® Certified Tester - Game Testing (CT-GaMe)
ISTQB® Certified Tester - Gambling Industry Tester (CT-GT)
ISTQB® Certified Tester - Mobile Application Testing (CT-MAT)
ISTQB® Certified Tester - Model-Based Testing (CT-MBT)
ISTQB® Certified Tester - Security Tester (CT-SEC)
ISTQB® Certified Tester - Test Automation Engineer (CT-TAE)
ISTQB® Certified Tester - Usability Testing (CT-UT)

ISTQB® Agile Certifications:
ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level – Agile Tester (CTFL-AT)
ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level - Agile Technical Tester (CTAL-ATT)
ISTQB Agile Test Leadership at Scale

**ISTQB® Advanced Level: **
ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level - Test Analyst (CTAL-TA)
ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level - Test Manager (CTAL-TM)
ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level - Technical Test Analyst (CTAL-TTA)

ISTQB® Expert Level
ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level - Assessing the Test Process (CTEL-ITP-ATP)
ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level - Implementing Test Process Improvements (CTEL-ITP-ITPI)
ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level Test Management Strategic Test Management (CTEL-TM-SM)
ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level Test Management Operational Test Management (CTEL-TM-OTM)
ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level Test Management Managing the Test Team (CTEL-TM-MTT)

If you are seeking to extend your knowledge of test automation, we recommend:

A4Q Certified Selenium 4 Tester Foundation
A4Q Foundation Level Tester for Appium

If you need to be able to gather requirements then you could consider IREB Requirements Engineering - Foundation Level.

Sample Question And Answers
 

QUESTION 1
Which of the following is a general principle of performance testing?

A. Tests must be executable within the project timeframe.
B. Test results must be comparable to tester expectations.
C. Test results must vary when the tests are run repeatedly on an unchanged system.
D. Tests must align with the ideal outcome of stakeholders.

Answer: A

Explanation:
Performance testing is time-sensitive and must be designed to fit within the constraints of the
project timeline. If performance tests take too long to execute, they may not be feasible within a
given sprint or development cycle. The results should be reproducible, meaning the same test on an
unchanged system should yield the same results (making option C incorrect). While stakeholder
expectations are important, performance tests should be objective and based on defined
benchmarks rather than subjective expectations (making option D incorrect).
Reference: ISTQB CT-PT Syllabus, Section 2.1: Principles of Performance Testing.

QUESTION 2
Which of the following is considered a characteristic of stress testing?

A. Considers the systems ability to recover from a sudden increase of loads within the systems limits.
B. It focuses on the systems ability to handle transactions over a specific timeframe.
C. It determines the maximum number of transactions a system can handle.
D. It evaluates the systems ability to handle loads beyond its design limits.

Answer: D

Explanation:
Stress testing is designed to evaluate how a system behaves under extreme conditions, often
exceeding its design limitations. The goal is to identify bottlenecks, memory leaks, and failures that occur beyond normal operating conditions.
Option A is incorrect because it refers to resilience testing, which focuses on recovery rather than stress beyond limits.
Option B is incorrect as it describes load testing, which measures performance under expected loads.
Option C is incorrect since determining the maximum transactions is a feature of capacity testing, not stress testing.
Reference: ISTQB CT-PT Syllabus, Section 2.2.5: Stress Testing.

QUESTION 3
Which type of performance test measures the systems ability to handle increasing levels of load?

A. Load testing
B. Elevation testing
C. Spike testing
D. Endurance testing

Answer: A

Explanation:
Load testing assesses a systems ability to handle gradually increasing levels of load and ensures that
it meets performance expectations under normal and peak conditions.
Option B (Elevation testing) is incorrect because this term does not exist in ISTQB performance testing terminology.
Option C (Spike testing) focuses on sudden increases in load rather than gradual scaling.
Option D (Endurance testing) examines how a system performs over an extended period, rather than gradual load increases.
Reference: ISTQB CT-PT Syllabus, Section 2.2.1: Load Testing.

QUESTION 4
Which of the following is a static performance test?

A. Usability test of the user interface
B. Evaluation of the test execution skills of the testers
C. Review of the network architecture
D. Formal signature approval by the end users

Answer: C

Explanation:
A static performance test is a non-execution-based review that analyzes system architecture,
network configurations, and other elements that affect system performance before execution.
Option A (Usability test) is not a static performance test but rather a functional or UX evaluation.
Option B (Evaluation of testers' skills) is unrelated to performance testing.
Option D (Formal signature approval) is an administrative task and not a static test.
Reference: ISTQB CT-PT Syllabus, Section 2.3: Static Performance Testing.

QUESTION 5
What challenge must be considered when using crowds to emulate load generation?

A. The load generation will be difficult to reproduce.
B. The load generation method is less sensitive to changes in the III.
C. This type of load generation is more suitable for mainframe applications.
D. This technique is more precise than other methods of load generation.

Answer: A

Explanation:
Crowd-based load generation involves using distributed users (e.g., cloud-based testers or real users).
The main challenge is that the load generation can be difficult to reproduce consistently due
to variations in network conditions, device types, and user behavior.
Option B is incorrect because load generation methods should adapt to system changes.
Option C is incorrect since mainframe applications typically do not rely on crowd-based testing.
Option D is incorrect because crowd-sourced load testing is generally less precise than scripted load testing.
Reference: ISTQB CT-PT Syllabus, Section 3.1.2: Load Generation Approaches.