How to Write An Effective Test Plan?

This article will help you understand the benefits of writing effective test plans and how to create them.

 

Testing is the basis for strong and robust application. An effective testing process is dependent on the accuracy of test plans. A test plan is a document specifying the scope and activities of the testing process. 

 

A test plan is created after knowing the product features and functionalities. A Test manager should gain in-depth knowledge of the project in order to create test plans. A detailed test plan helps testers to execute test effectively. The entire team is dependent on the test plans to work on test strategies and test cases assigned to different testers. A test plan tool can streamline the entire test case management to improve the team’s productivity and software quality assurance. 

 

The plan includes various testing attributes like introduction, to be tested features, excluded features, pass and fail criteria, approach towards testing, deliverables, testing environment, roles and responsibilities, schedules, risk in the testing process. 

 

A test plan has fields contained in a template, the format and content of the test plan include information displayed under various heads to save time and make it easy to understand. 

 

Test plan ID: A unique identifier which is used to find and identify the test case. 

 

Introduction: It briefs about the test plan, it specifies the objectives of a test plan and defines any challenges or constraints. 

 

References: It contains the related document where you have the link used to refer and gather information regarding the test plan. It is a requirement document, a project plan. 

 

Test items: It has the list of versions created for the software product to keep track of them. 

 

Functionality to be tested: It has a list of features to be tested in reference to requirements gathered from the client. It is done to ensure all expectations are met before releasing the application software. 

 

Not for testing: There could be several features which won’t be tested. Describing them is important to save tester’s time and effort. The description also includes reasons for not testing.

 

Approach: It states the overall testing approach based on the test implementation strategy. It could be proactive or reactive. 

 

Testing levels: The testing level differs as per various test plans. The correct test plans help in defining the test levels and priority for test plan at the time of execution. 

Pass or Fail Criteria: It specifies the criteria for the test plan to be a pass or fail. It specifies the standard result of value to check and validate the result. 

Suspension Criteria: A set of activities or a process to redo before resuming testing. 

Deliverables: It includes a list of things to deliver while planning test management

• Test plans 
• Test Cases 
• Test Scripts 
• Defects 
• Test reports 

Test Environment: It defines a right testing environment and its requirements, the software hardware and the network requirements. Any testing tools required for successful test runs. 

Time Estimate: It has a summary of test timelines where you have a detailed estimation of the time. 

Schedule: It defines the schedule that includes test milestones, link to the detailed timelines. 

Staffing Needs: It specifies the need for staff and the required skills to start testing. Testers need to be trained on a particular skill to fulfill testing requirements. 

Responsibilities: It defines who does what, it is important to reduce any ambiguity or flow or work.

Risk: to identify the risk and specify the mitigation plan for each risk. 

Dependencies: The list of everything that your test plan is dependent on. 

Approval: The names of QA analyst or manager who must approve the plan when created. 

 

Now you know what is a test plan and what all fields are included to cover information as required by the entire testing team. You can use a software test plan tool to increase testing speed and quality. 

Must read: Digital Product Engineering Guide