Chapter 1 – Fundamentals of Testing
Test Design – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
The activity of deriving and specifying test cases from test conditions.
In simple words
Turning ‘what to test’ into concrete, executable ‘how to test’ — with inputs, actions and expected outcomes.
Exam tip
Test design uses test techniques (BVA, EP, decision tables, etc.) to derive test cases from conditions.
Related terms
- Test AnalysisReading requirements, user stories or code and figuring out ‘what should we test?’.
- Test CaseA single, executable check with a clear setup, action, and expected outcome — the atomic unit of testing.
- Boundary Value AnalysisBugs cluster at the edges of allowed ranges. So if a field accepts 1–100, you test 0, 1, 100, and 101 instead of only picking a value from the middle.
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