Test Plan Template¶

Version: 1.0
Purpose: This template guides you in creating a comprehensive test plan that defines the testing strategy, scope, resources, schedule, and approach for your project.
When to Use: During the Test Planning phase (Phase 1), before test case development begins.

Usage Guidance¶

Who Should Use This Template?¶

• Test Managers planning testing activities
• Test Leads defining test strategy
• Project Managers needing test oversight documentation
• Quality Assurance teams establishing test scope

How to Use This Template¶

1. Start Early: Begin test planning as soon as requirements are available
2. Collaborate: Involve stakeholders, developers, and business analysts
3. Customize: Adapt sections based on project methodology (Agile/Waterfall)
4. Iterate: Update the plan as the project evolves
5. Get Approval: Obtain sign-off from key stakeholders before proceeding

Tips for Effective Test Planning¶

• Be realistic about estimates and resources
• Clearly define what is in and out of scope
• Document all assumptions and risks
• Align test objectives with business goals
• Plan for contingencies and unexpected issues

1. Document Control¶

Field Explanation: This section tracks document metadata and approval workflow.

Revision History¶

2. Introduction¶

Purpose of this section: Provides context and overview of the test plan.

2.1 Purpose¶

What to include: Explain the main purpose and objectives of this test plan document.

Example: "This test plan defines the testing approach for the XYZ E-commerce Platform Release 2.0, outlining the strategy, resources, and schedule for validating all functional and non-functional requirements."

[Describe the purpose of this test plan and what it aims to achieve]

2.2 Scope¶

What to include: Clearly define boundaries of what will and won't be tested. Be specific about features, modules, platforms, and environments.

[Define what is in scope and out of scope for testing]

In Scope: - [Feature/Module 1] - [Feature/Module 2] - [Feature/Module 3]

Out of Scope: - [Excluded Feature 1] - [Excluded Feature 2]

2.3 Intended Audience¶

What to include: List all roles and individuals who will use or reference this document.

Example audiences: Test team, developers, project managers, business analysts, product owners, stakeholders, QA management

[Identify who will use this document: test team, developers, management, etc.]

2.4 References¶

What to include: Links or references to related documents that provide additional context or requirements.

• Requirements Document: [Link/Reference]
• Design Document: [Link/Reference]
• Project Plan: [Link/Reference]
• Architecture Document: [Link/Reference]
• User Stories/Backlog: [Link/Reference]

3. Test Objectives¶

Purpose of this section: Define clear, measurable goals that testing aims to achieve.

What to include: Specific objectives that can be measured and validated. Focus on quality goals, defect detection targets, coverage goals, and validation requirements.

Example objectives: - Verify that all high-priority user stories meet acceptance criteria - Ensure the application performs under expected load (500 concurrent users) - Validate all critical business workflows function correctly - Identify and document defects before production release

[List the main objectives of testing] 1. Verify that [Objective 1] 2. Ensure that [Objective 2] 3. Validate that [Objective 3]

4. Test Strategy¶

Purpose of this section: Define the overall approach and methodology for testing.

4.1 Test Levels¶

What to include: Describe testing at each level, who is responsible, and the approach.

• Unit Testing: [Individual components tested in isolation. Responsibility: Developers. Approach: Automated using unit test frameworks]
• Integration Testing: [Testing interfaces between components. Responsibility: Test team with developers. Approach: API testing and service integration validation]
• System Testing: [End-to-end testing of complete system. Responsibility: Test team. Approach: Functional and non-functional testing]
• Acceptance Testing: [Business validation of requirements. Responsibility: Business users with test support. Approach: User acceptance scenarios]

4.2 Test Types¶

What to include: Specify which types of testing will be performed and the approach for each.

Functional Testing¶

What to include: Describe how you'll verify features meet functional requirements.

Example: "Manual and automated testing of all user-facing features against documented requirements. Focus on positive scenarios, negative scenarios, and edge cases."

[Describe functional testing approach]

Non-Functional Testing¶

What to include: Identify non-functional requirements to be tested (performance, security, usability, etc.).

• Performance Testing: [Load testing with 500 concurrent users, response time < 2 seconds for critical operations]
• Security Testing: [Vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, authentication/authorization validation]
• Usability Testing: [User feedback sessions, accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1), navigation flow validation]
• Compatibility Testing: [Testing across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge; iOS and Android mobile browsers]

Other Test Types¶

• Regression Testing: [Approach]
• Smoke Testing: [Approach]
• Exploratory Testing: [Approach]

4.3 Testing Approach¶

What to include: Explain the balance between manual and automated testing, and the rationale.

Considerations: - Automate repetitive, stable tests (regression suites, smoke tests) - Use manual testing for exploratory, usability, and new feature validation - Consider ROI and maintenance costs for automation

[Manual vs. Automated testing strategy]

Manual Testing: When to use: Exploratory testing, usability testing, ad-hoc testing, one-time tests, tests requiring human judgment

[When and why manual testing will be used]

Automated Testing: When to use: Regression testing, smoke tests, API testing, performance testing, frequently executed tests

[When and why automated testing will be used]

4.4 Entry Criteria¶

What to include: Conditions that must be met before testing can begin. Be specific and measurable.

Purpose: Ensures testing starts only when the environment and application are ready, avoiding wasted effort.

Testing will begin when: - [ ] Requirements are baselined and approved - [ ] Test environment is ready and validated - [ ] Test data is prepared and loaded - [ ] Test cases are reviewed and approved - [ ] Application is deployed to test environment - [ ] Smoke test passes successfully - [ ] [Add other criteria specific to your project]

4.5 Exit Criteria¶

What to include: Conditions that must be met to consider testing complete. Be specific about pass rates, defect status, and coverage.

Purpose: Defines when testing is "done" and the product is ready for release.

Testing will be considered complete when: - [ ] All planned test cases are executed - [ ] [95]% of test cases pass (adjust percentage based on project) - [ ] All critical and high priority defects are resolved and verified - [ ] Test coverage meets minimum threshold of [90]% - [ ] No open high-severity defects blocking release - [ ] Regression testing completed successfully - [ ] Performance benchmarks met - [ ] Security scan completed with no critical vulnerabilities - [ ] Stakeholder approval obtained - [ ] [Add other criteria specific to your project]

4.6 Suspension and Resumption Criteria¶

Purpose: Define conditions for pausing and resuming testing to avoid wasting effort during problematic periods.

Suspension Criteria: What to include: Conditions that would halt testing temporarily.

Examples: - Critical environment failures affecting test execution - Blocker defects preventing further testing - Build instability with multiple critical defects - Critical resource unavailability

[Criteria that would pause testing]

Resumption Criteria: What to include: Conditions required before testing can restart.

Examples: - Environment issues resolved and validated - Blocker defects fixed and new build deployed - Critical resources available - Smoke test passes on new build

[Criteria required to resume testing]

5. Test Scope¶

Purpose: Define specifically what will and won't be tested.

5.1 Features to be Tested¶

What to include: List all features, modules, or functionalities that will be validated during testing. Include priority and approach for each.

Tip: Align with requirements document. For Agile projects, list user stories or epics.

5.2 Features Not to be Tested¶

What to include: Explicitly list features excluded from testing scope with clear justification.

Common reasons: Already tested in previous release, third-party functionality, out of scope for this phase, legacy functionality not changing

6. Test Environment¶

Purpose: Document the infrastructure, tools, and configurations required for testing.

6.1 Hardware Requirements¶

What to include: Specify all hardware needed for test execution.

• Server: [e.g., 4-core CPU, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD]
• Workstations: [e.g., Standard development laptops with 8GB RAM minimum]
• Mobile Devices: [e.g., iPhone 12+, Samsung Galaxy S21+, tablets]
• Network Equipment: [e.g., Load balancers, routers]

6.2 Software Requirements¶

What to include: List all software components, versions, and configurations.

• Operating System: [e.g., Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Windows Server 2022]
• Database: [e.g., PostgreSQL 14.x, MongoDB 6.x]
• Browser/Clients: [e.g., Chrome 120+, Firefox 121+, Safari 17+, Edge 120+]
• Middleware: [e.g., Node.js 18.x, Nginx 1.24]
• Application Version: [e.g., Build #2024.01.15]

6.3 Network Configuration¶

What to include: Describe network setup, connectivity requirements, and security configurations.

Example: "Isolated VLAN for test environment, VPN access for remote testers, HTTPS with SSL certificates, firewall rules for API endpoints"

[Network requirements and configuration]

6.4 Test Tools¶

What to include: List all tools required for test management, execution, automation, and defect tracking.

• Test Management: [e.g., TestRail, Jira with Zephyr]
• Defect Tracking: [e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps]
• Test Automation: [e.g., Selenium with Python, Cypress, Playwright]
• Performance Testing: [e.g., JMeter, k6, Gatling]
• API Testing: [e.g., Postman, REST Assured]
• Code Coverage: [e.g., JaCoCo, Istanbul]

7. Test Deliverables¶

Purpose: Define all artifacts that will be produced during testing.

7.1 Before Testing¶

What to include: Documents and artifacts that must be ready before test execution begins.

• Test Plan (this document)
• Test Cases and Test Scripts
• Test Data Sets
• Traceability Matrix
• Test Environment Setup Documentation

7.2 During Testing¶

What to include: Artifacts generated during active test execution.

• Test Execution Reports (daily/weekly)
• Defect Reports
• Test Logs and Evidence
• Test Metrics Dashboard
• Status Updates and Progress Reports

7.3 After Testing¶

What to include: Final deliverables upon test completion.

• Test Summary Report
• Test Completion Report
• Test Metrics and Analytics
• Lessons Learned Document
• Sign-off Documentation

8. Resource Planning¶

Purpose: Identify and allocate human resources, tools, and infrastructure needed for testing.

8.1 Team Structure¶

What to include: Define roles, responsibilities, and team members. Include backup resources.

8.2 Training Needs¶

What to include: Identify skills gaps and training required for successful test execution.

Examples: - Tool training (e.g., new test management system) - Domain knowledge (e.g., financial regulations, healthcare compliance) - Technical skills (e.g., API testing, performance testing) - Methodology training (e.g., Agile testing practices)

[Identify any training required for the test team]

9. Schedule and Milestones¶

Purpose: Define the timeline for testing activities with key milestones.

What to include: Realistic dates based on effort estimates. Include buffers for unexpected issues.

Note: Update "Actual Date" and "Status" columns as milestones are achieved.

10. Risk Management¶

Purpose: Identify, assess, and plan mitigation strategies for testing risks.

10.1 Identified Risks¶

What to include: List all potential risks that could impact testing. Rate probability and impact honestly.

Risk Ratings: - Probability: High (>60%), Medium (30-60%), Low (<30%) - Impact: High (Major delay/quality impact), Medium (Moderate impact), Low (Minor impact)

10.2 Contingency Plans¶

What to include: Detailed backup plans for high-probability or high-impact risks.

Example: "If primary environment fails: Switch to backup environment within 2 hours, notify stakeholders, adjust timeline if needed"

[Describe backup plans for high-risk scenarios]

11. Dependencies¶

Purpose: Document all dependencies that could impact test execution.

11.1 Internal Dependencies¶

What to include: Dependencies on other teams, components, or activities within the organization.

Examples: - Development team completing features by [date] - Database team providing data migration scripts - DevOps team setting up CI/CD pipelines - Business analysts finalizing requirements

• [Dependency on other teams/components]

11.2 External Dependencies¶

What to include: Dependencies on third parties, vendors, or external factors.

Examples: - Third-party API availability for integration testing - Vendor providing test licenses - External security audit completion - Client providing production-like test data

• [Third-party systems, vendors, etc.]

12. Defect Management¶

Purpose: Define the process for handling defects found during testing.

12.1 Defect Workflow¶

What to include: Describe the complete lifecycle of a defect from discovery to closure.

Standard Workflow: New → Assigned → In Progress → Fixed → Retest → Verified → Closed (or Reopened if fix fails)

[Describe defect lifecycle and workflow]

12.2 Severity Levels¶

What to include: Clear definitions for classifying defect severity. Use these consistently across the team.

• Critical: System crash, data loss, security breach, complete feature failure affecting all users Example: "Application crashes on login, preventing all user access"
• High: Major feature not working, significant impact on functionality, affects many users Example: "Payment processing fails for credit cards"
• Medium: Feature partially working, workaround available, moderate user impact Example: "Search returns incorrect results for special characters"
• Low: Minor issues, cosmetic problems, minimal user impact, suggestions Example: "Button alignment is slightly off"

12.3 Priority Levels¶

What to include: Define urgency of fixes. Priority may differ from severity based on business needs.

• High: Must be fixed immediately, blocking release, affecting critical functionality
• Medium: Should be fixed in current release/sprint, fix before go-live
• Low: Can be fixed in future releases, not blocking current release

Note: A low-severity defect can have high priority (e.g., cosmetic issue on login page seen by all users)

13. Communication Plan¶

Purpose: Define how testing progress and issues will be communicated to stakeholders.

13.1 Reporting Schedule¶

What to include: Frequency and type of status updates.

• Daily: [Standup meetings, brief status email with test execution summary, blocker issues]
• Weekly: [Detailed test execution report, metrics dashboard, defect status, risks and issues]
• Milestone: [Comprehensive reports at key milestones, go/no-go recommendations]
• Ad-hoc: [Critical defects, blockers, environment issues requiring immediate attention]

13.2 Stakeholder Communication¶

What to include: Define audiences, methods, and frequency of communication for each stakeholder group.

[How and when stakeholders will be updated]

14. Assumptions and Constraints¶

Purpose: Document factors that influence the test plan but are outside the team's control.

14.1 Assumptions¶

What to include: Conditions assumed to be true. If assumptions prove false, the plan may need revision.

Examples: - Requirements will be stable after baselined - Test environment will be available 95% of the time - Adequate skilled resources will be available - Third-party APIs will be accessible for testing

• [Assumption 1]
• [Assumption 2]
• [Assumption 3]

14.2 Constraints¶

What to include: Limitations that restrict testing activities or approaches.

Examples: - Fixed deadline: Must complete by [date] - Budget limitation: Cannot exceed $X for tools - Limited test environment: Only one environment available - Resource constraint: Maximum 3 testers available - Technology limitation: Cannot test on legacy browsers

• [Constraint 1]
• [Constraint 2]
• [Constraint 3]

15. Approvals¶

Purpose: Obtain formal sign-off from key stakeholders before proceeding with testing.

15.1 Sign-off¶

Instructions: This test plan must be reviewed and approved by the following roles before test execution begins. Signatures indicate agreement with the approach, scope, and resource allocation.

This test plan is approved by:

Note: Electronic approvals via email or test management system are acceptable. Reference approval emails in the comments column.

Related Documentation¶

Phase Documentation¶

• Phase 1: Test Planning - Complete guide to the test planning phase
• Phase 2: Test Case Development - Transition to test case development

Related Templates¶

• Risk Assessment Template - Identify and manage testing risks
• Test Case Template - Document test cases referenced in the plan

Methodology Guides¶

• Agile Testing - Adapt this template for Agile projects
• Scrum Testing - Sprint planning considerations
• Waterfall Testing - Phase-based planning approach

End of Test Plan