Chapter 2 – Testing Throughout the SDLC
Sequential Development Model – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
A software development lifecycle in which activities are performed one after another with little or no overlap.
In simple words
Classic phase-gate development — one stage finishes before the next starts. Waterfall and V-model are examples.
Exam tip
Sequential models make late defects expensive; that’s why shift-left testing matters.
Related terms
- Waterfall ModelRequirements → design → build → test → release, in a straight line with limited backtracking.
- V-ModelEach dev phase (requirements, design, code) has a matching test level (acceptance, system, component) drawn as a V.
- Shift-Left TestingStart testing — reviews, unit tests, static analysis — as early as possible, not at the end.
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