Test Design Techniques – Black‑box, white‑box, boundary value analysis, equivalence partitioning.
Test Environments – Hardware, software, network configurations required.
Resources – Personnel, tools, and training needed.
Schedule and Milestones – When each testing level will be performed.
Risk Assessment – Identification of high‑risk areas and mitigation measures.
Entry and Exit Criteria – Conditions that must be met before testing starts and before it can be considered complete.
Metrics and Reporting – Defect density, test coverage, pass/fail rates.
Why a Test Plan is Needed
The test plan translates the high‑level strategy into a concrete, actionable document for the testing team. It provides detailed instructions on how testing will be carried out, ensuring that:
All required test cases are created and executed.
Test data, environments, and tools are prepared in advance.
Progress can be monitored against defined milestones.
Stakeholders have visibility of testing activities and outcomes.
Typical Contents of a Test Plan
Section
Details
1. Introduction
Purpose, scope, and objectives of the testing effort.
2. Test Items
List of software components, modules, and interfaces to be tested.
3. Test Approach
Specific techniques (e.g., boundary value analysis), test levels, and types to be used.
4. Test Environment
Hardware, OS, network, and any required simulators or stubs.
5. Test Schedule
Timeline with start/end dates for each testing phase.
6. Test Resources
Personnel roles, responsibilities, and required tools.
7. Test Cases
Reference to detailed test case documents; may include a summary table.
8. Test Data
Specification of data sets, including valid, invalid, and edge‑case values.
9. Entry/Exit Criteria
Conditions for starting and completing each test level.
10. Risk & Mitigation
Identified testing risks and contingency plans.
11. Metrics & Reporting
Defect tracking, coverage metrics, and reporting frequency.
12. Approval
Sign‑off from project manager, test lead, and client (if applicable).
Relationship Between Strategy and Plan
The test strategy defines what and why – the overall direction and goals. The test plan defines how, when, and by whom – the detailed execution steps. A well‑aligned strategy and plan ensure that testing is both comprehensive and efficient.
Example of Test Case Structure (for reference)
Each test case typically includes the following fields:
Test Case ID
Title
Pre‑conditions
Test Steps
Expected Result
Actual Result
Status (Pass/Fail)
Comments
Suggested diagram: Flowchart showing the interaction between Test Strategy, Test Plan, Test Cases, Execution, and Reporting.
Key Take‑aways
A test strategy provides the overarching vision; a test plan provides the detailed roadmap.
Both documents should be reviewed and updated as the project evolves.
Clear entry and exit criteria prevent premature testing or endless cycles.
Metrics gathered from the test plan help assess quality and guide future improvements.