What are the most common test design mistakes?

2 2. Overlapping test cases

Another common test design mistake is to have overlapping test cases, which means that some test cases test the same or similar functionality or conditions. Overlapping test cases can result in wasted time, resources, and effort, as well as redundant or inconsistent test results. To avoid overlapping test cases, test designers should use test design techniques such as orthogonal arrays, pairwise testing, and combinatorial testing to reduce the number of test cases while maintaining the coverage and diversity of the test data.

3 3. Ambiguous test cases

A third common test design mistake is to have ambiguous test cases, which means that some test cases are unclear, vague, or incomplete in terms of the test objective, precondition, input, expected output, or postcondition. Ambiguous test cases can cause confusion, misinterpretation, or errors among the testers, developers, and stakeholders, as well as inaccurate or invalid test results. To avoid ambiguous test cases, test designers should use test design techniques such as user stories, acceptance criteria, and Gherkin syntax to write test cases in a clear, concise, and consistent manner.

4 4. Unrealistic test cases

A fourth common test design mistake is to have unrealistic test cases, which means that some test cases are too complex, too simple, or too rare to reflect the real-world scenarios or user behavior. Unrealistic test cases can lead to false positives, false negatives, or irrelevant test results, as well as low user satisfaction and acceptance. To avoid unrealistic test cases, test designers should use test design techniques such as risk-based testing, exploratory testing, and usability testing to prioritize and design test cases based on the likelihood and impact of defects, the user feedback and expectations, and the usability and accessibility of the software system.

6 6. Untraceable test cases

A sixth common test design mistake is to have untraceable test cases, which means that some test cases are not linked or mapped to the requirements, the features, or the defects of the software system. Untraceable test cases can lead to gaps, overlaps, or inconsistencies in the test coverage, as well as difficulties in tracking, reporting, or analyzing the test results. To avoid untraceable test cases, test designers should use test design techniques such as traceability matrix, test management tools, and test automation frameworks to create and manage test cases that are traceable to the source and the outcome of the testing process.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?