Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) Practice Test

Which approach to test case design relies on the tester's experience and intuition?

1. Boundary Analysis

2. Ad Hoc or Error Guessing

3. Static Analysis

4. Dynamic Testing

The correct answer is: Ad Hoc or Error Guessing

Ad Hoc or Error Guessing is an approach to test case design that heavily relies on the tester's experience, intuition, and creativity rather than following a structured process or a predefined set of rules. Testers using this method may leverage their past experiences with similar applications or components to identify potential areas of risk or error, allowing them to focus on aspects that might not be covered by formal testing techniques. This approach is particularly useful in situations where formal specifications may be incomplete or when rapid testing is needed without a significant investment in preparation. Testers apply their knowledge of common failure patterns and application behavior to devise test cases that can surface defects that might otherwise go unnoticed. In contrast, Boundary Analysis is a structured technique that focuses on testing the boundaries of input values, while Static Analysis involves examining code without executing it to find vulnerabilities or errors. Dynamic Testing includes actively executing the code to validate its behavior under various conditions but is more systematic than the Ad Hoc approach. Each of these methods has its own merits, but the essence of Ad Hoc or Error Guessing is its reliance on individual tester expertise and judgment.