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Scrum Testing Checklist

Purpose: Quick-reference checklist for testing activities throughout a Scrum sprint.
When to Use: Reference at sprint planning, daily standups, and sprint reviews to ensure testing activities stay on track.

Sprint Planning

Test Planning Activities

  • Review user stories and acceptance criteria with the team
  • Identify testable acceptance criteria for each story
  • Estimate testing effort for sprint backlog items
  • Identify testing dependencies and risks
  • Confirm test environment availability for the sprint
  • Plan test automation tasks if applicable
  • Define Definition of Done (DoD) including testing criteria
  • Allocate testing tasks across sprint timeline

Test Preparation

  • Review previous sprint's test results and lessons learned
  • Identify regression test scope for sprint
  • Prepare test data requirements
  • Set up sprint test tracking board/dashboard
  • Coordinate with developers on unit testing approach

During the Sprint

Daily Testing Activities

  • Execute test cases for completed user stories
  • Participate in daily standup (report progress, blockers)
  • Log defects discovered during testing
  • Retest fixed defects
  • Update test case execution status
  • Communicate testing status to the team
  • Review code commits for testability

Continuous Testing

  • Perform exploratory testing on new features
  • Execute smoke tests on daily builds
  • Run automated regression suite
  • Validate acceptance criteria with Product Owner
  • Test integration points between features
  • Document new defects with reproducible steps

Collaboration

  • Attend backlog refinement sessions
  • Provide testing input during implementation
  • Pair with developers for complex features
  • Review and test story increments as completed
  • Clarify acceptance criteria ambiguities immediately

Sprint Review

Demonstration Preparation

  • Verify all acceptance criteria are met
  • Confirm demonstration environment is stable
  • Prepare test results summary
  • Document known issues and workarounds
  • Test user stories in demo environment

Review Activities

  • Demonstrate tested features to stakeholders
  • Present test execution metrics
  • Discuss defects and quality concerns
  • Gather feedback on demonstrated features
  • Update product backlog based on feedback

Sprint Retrospective

Testing Process Review

  • Review testing effectiveness for the sprint
  • Identify testing bottlenecks or delays
  • Discuss defect trends and root causes
  • Evaluate test automation coverage
  • Assess collaboration between testers and developers
  • Identify process improvements for next sprint

Metrics to Review

  • Test cases executed vs. planned
  • Defect detection rate
  • Defect fix rate
  • Test automation coverage
  • Testing cycle time
  • Escaped defects to production

Action Items

  • Document lessons learned
  • Identify process improvement actions
  • Update test strategy if needed
  • Plan for test automation enhancements
  • Schedule knowledge sharing sessions

Continuous Activities

Throughout Sprint

  • Maintain test case repository
  • Update traceability matrix
  • Refine automated test scripts
  • Monitor test environment health
  • Track and triage defects
  • Communicate risks to team immediately

Documentation

  • Keep test execution status current
  • Document test results and evidence
  • Update sprint test report
  • Maintain defect log
  • Record testing decisions and rationale