With a scenario of new project development methodologies and the increased speed to market, testing needs to pace up accordingly. To face the pace, to help balance the need for thoroughness and ‘best practice’ with the need for speed and pragmatism, there emerges ‘Test statements’, a technique pioneered by AppLabs.

Test statements are structured, they are self contained tests presented in the form of a sentence or paragraph, containing test objectives, test data and test schedule elements. The test statements are used to guide exploratory testing approach. It is one technique to be considered alongside others as part of a project test strategy.

Test statements comprise of three elements, Test Objective, Test Data and the Schedule. When pulled together, these elements provide a framework for exploratory testing.

Here are ten steps to guide the tester through the Planning, Build, Execution and Completion phases of the process:

In the Planning phase:

1. Identify test statement structureIn the Build phase:
2. Brainstorm key test requirements, for each test requirement identified
3. Generate the data element of the statement
4. Generate the schedule element for each test requirement identified
5. Peer review the document by other business Testers
6. Use the test statements to verify against other functional tests (optional)During the Execution phase:
7. Schedule tests (optional),
8. Run tests and Record the results.In Completion, the final phase of the process:
9. Report the results
10. Improve the tests (optional).

Test statements have their own specific benefits:

• They promote broad and deep test coverage
• Provide support to help achieve test coverage in a rapid manner.
• It gives testers ownership of this part of the test cycle
• Use of this technique hence could be a motivational tool
• The Test Coverage reporting technique provides easy reportablility and audit-ability facility,
• It has a structure that can be summarized, and a detail that can be provided in the form of simple metrics.
• And above all, usage of test statements promotes creativity.

Test statements encourage an exploratory approach, whilst providing structure and general direction. It is worth noting that this is one of many techniques that can and should be used. Test statements have a specific role at a specific time. They are an extra weapon in the armory rather than a replacement for scripted functional tests and are an effective black-box technique to reduce project risk.