Chapter 2 – Testing Throughout the SDLC
System Testing – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
A test level that focuses on verifying that the system as a whole meets specified requirements.
In simple words
End-to-end testing of the fully integrated product against its requirements, usually in a production-like environment.
Exam tip
System testing is typically owned by an independent test team and covers functional and non-functional behaviour.
Related terms
- Integration TestingAfter units work alone, you plug them together and check the seams — API calls, data hand-offs, contracts.
- Acceptance TestingThe ‘go / no-go’ testing that confirms the system meets business needs and is ready to be released to real users.
- Non-Functional TestingHow fast, how secure, how usable, how reliable — the ‘qualities’ around the feature, not the feature itself.
Practice this term in the ISTQB Mock Test
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