Chapter 4 – Test Analysis & Design
N-Switch Coverage – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
The percentage of sequences of N+1 transitions that have been exercised by a test suite.
In simple words
How much of the state machine you've covered when you chain N+1 transitions together in one test.
Exam tip
0-switch = every single transition once; 1-switch = every pair of consecutive transitions.
Related terms
- State Transition TestingYou model the system as states (Logged Out, Logged In, Locked) and design tests that trigger valid and invalid transitions between them.
- State DiagramA picture of all the modes the system can be in and the arrows showing how it switches between them.
- State TableA table version of a state diagram — rows are states, columns are events, cells are the next state (or 'invalid').
Practice this term in the ISTQB Mock Test
40 CTFL v4.0 questions, 60-minute timer, instant scoring and chapter-wise breakdown.
Practice in Mock Test