STLC interview questions — Hard
134 hard-level STLC questions from our Manual Testing bank, each with the correct answer and an explanation of why it is correct.
This topic slice is available to practise but is not yet part of our indexed set.
What this covers
STLC appears throughout Manual Testing interviews. At hard level, interviewers are typically checking depth under pressure — edge cases, failure modes, performance characteristics, and the trade-offs you accepted. Work through these, then explain your answer out loud; the second part is what interviews actually test.
7 example questions
1. In a CI/CD pipeline review, consider this: In which STLC phase are test cases actually run against the build?
- A. Test Planning.
- B. Test Design.
- C. Test Execution.correct
- D. Requirement Analysis.
Why: Test cases are run during the Test Execution phase and results are logged.
2. On a release readiness call: Which STLC phase produces the Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM)?
- A. Defect Retesting.
- B. Requirement Analysis.correct
- C. Test Execution.
- D. Test Closure.
Why: The RTM is created during Requirement Analysis to map requirements to test cases.
3. During a code review, a reviewer asks: What is the first phase of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?
- A. Test Closure.
- B. Test Execution.
- C. Requirement Analysis.correct
- D. Environment Setup.
Why: STLC begins with Requirement Analysis where testers study testable requirements.
4. Regarding STLC, which of the following is a false statement?
- A. STLC phases are Requirement Analysis, Test Planning, Test Case Development, Environment Setup, Test Execution, and Test Closure.
- B. Test planning produces the application's production code.correct
- C. Environment setup can proceed in parallel with test case development.
- D. Test Closure includes reports, metrics, lessons learned, and archiving testware.
Why: The selected statement is false. The other options are accurate statements about STLC.
5. Which of the following statements about STLC is FALSE?
- A. Test Closure includes reports, metrics, lessons learned, and archiving testware.
- B. STLC begins with Test Execution as its first phase.correct
- C. STLC phases are Requirement Analysis, Test Planning, Test Case Development, Environment Setup, Test Execution, and Test Closure.
- D. The Requirement Traceability Matrix maps requirements to the test cases covering them.
Why: The selected statement is false. The other options are accurate statements about STLC.
6. Which statement about STLC is NOT correct?
- A. STLC begins with Test Execution as its first phase.correct
- B. STLC phases are Requirement Analysis, Test Planning, Test Case Development, Environment Setup, Test Execution, and Test Closure.
- C. Test Planning produces the test plan covering scope, approach, resources, and schedule.
- D. The Requirement Traceability Matrix maps requirements to the test cases covering them.
Why: The selected statement is false. The other options are accurate statements about STLC.
7. Identify the INCORRECT statement about STLC:
- A. Exit criteria must be satisfied before a phase can start.correct
- B. Test estimation techniques include work breakdown, three-point estimation, and function points.
- C. Entry criteria define conditions that must be met before a phase begins.
- D. Test Planning produces the test plan covering scope, approach, resources, and schedule.
Why: The selected statement is false. The other options are accurate statements about STLC.