Level 2 · Systematic testing

Junior Techniques

Stop guessing. Apply structured methods to find bugs logic can't see. Each page has a worked NZ example, a "now you try" exercise, and a self-check so you know you've got it.

Black Box

Equivalence Partitioning

Group inputs that behave the same. Test one from each group instead of every value.

Junior
ISTQB CTFL 4.2.1
~8 min read + exercise
Black Box

Boundary Value Analysis

Most bugs hide at the edge. Test at, just below, and just above every limit.

Junior
ISTQB CTFL 4.2.2
~8 min read + exercise
Black Box

Decision Table Testing

Map every combination of conditions to expected outcomes. Never miss a rule again.

Junior
ISTQB CTFL 4.2.3
~10 min read + exercise
Black Box

State Transition Testing

Model states, test every valid path, and block every invalid move.

Junior
ISTQB CTFL 4.2.4
~10 min read + exercise
Black Box

Use Case Testing

Derive test cases from use case flows — happy path, alternates, and exceptions.

Junior
ISTQB CTFL 4.2.5
~8 min read + exercise
Black Box

Form Validation Testing

Required, format, length, type — a systematic attack on every field.

Junior
ISTQB CTFL 4.2
~8 min read + exercise
Black Box

Error Message Quality

Does the error tell the user what went wrong AND how to fix it?

Junior
ISTQB CTFL 1.4.2
~6 min read + exercise
Experience-Based

Error Guessing

Target the places that always break. Build your personal fault list.

Junior
ISTQB CTFL 4.4.1
~6 min read + exercise
Experience-Based

Exploratory Testing

Structured wandering with a charter. Simultaneous design and execution.

Junior
ISTQB CTFL 4.4.3
~8 min read + exercise

🚧 Suggested Study Path

We recommend this order so each technique builds on the last.

  1. Equivalence Partitioning — Learn to group inputs so you don't test everything.
  2. Boundary Value Analysis — Natural follow-up: find the bugs hiding at the edges of those groups.
  3. Decision Table Testing — When multiple conditions interact, map every combination.
  4. State Transition Testing — Model flows with states and guard against invalid jumps.
  5. Use Case Testing — Derive tests from real user scenarios and exception flows.
  6. Form Validation Testing — Apply EP and BVA systematically across every field.
  7. Error Message Quality — Check that failures actually help the user recover.
  8. Error Guessing — Build intuition: target the places that historically break.
  9. Exploratory Testing — Bring it all together in time-boxed, chartered sessions.
🏆

Put it into practice

Junior practice pages have real forms, real bugs, and scoring. Apply what you just learned.

Open Junior Practice →
📚

Want the full theory?

The Reference Library has comprehensive definitions, ISTQB mappings, research citations, and edge cases for every technique.

Open Reference Library →