Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) Practice Test

Which type of testing is typically performed by a team independent of developers?

1. Unit testing

2. Integration testing

3. Performance testing

4. Independent testing

The correct answer is: Independent testing

The type of testing that is typically performed by a team independent of developers is independent testing. This approach is characterized by being conducted by a separate group whose primary role is to evaluate the software without any bias or influence from the development team. Independent testers have the advantage of viewing the software from an outsider’s perspective, which can help uncover issues that the developers might overlook due to their familiarity with the codebase. This type of testing also allows for a more objective assessment of the software’s quality and functionality. By being detached from the development process, independent testers can focus on user experiences and requirements rather than any specific design or implementation choices that could cloud their judgment. Other forms of testing, such as unit testing, integration testing, and performance testing, are often carried out by developers or within development teams. Unit testing aims to validate the functionality of the smallest parts of the application (individual units), while integration testing checks how different system components work together. Performance testing assesses how the system behaves under various conditions, but these tests are typically influenced by the developers due to their deep understanding of system architecture and the need to configure the environment. Hence, while valuable, these other testing types do not fit the criteria of being performed independently of the development team.