Chapter 5 – Test Management
Test Estimation – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
The calculated approximation of a result related to testing (e.g. effort, completion date, cost, or number of test cases).
In simple words
Predicting how much time, money, and effort testing will take.
Exam tip
Combine techniques (expert, analogy, WBS, three-point) — never rely on one.
Related terms
- Three-Point EstimationEstimate best-case, worst-case and most-likely, then combine: E = (O + 4M + P) / 6.
- Wideband DelphiExperts estimate anonymously in rounds, discuss the outliers, and repeat until they converge.
- Planning PokerA game where everyone flips an estimate card at the same time to avoid anchoring.
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