STLC interview questions — Medium
251 medium-level STLC questions from our Manual Testing bank, each with the correct answer and an explanation of why it is correct.
What this covers
STLC appears throughout Manual Testing interviews. At medium level, interviewers are typically checking that you have used it in practice: what you configured, what broke, and how you knew it worked. Work through these, then explain your answer out loud; the second part is what interviews actually test.
20 example questions
1. "Closure document summarizing results and quality" — in STLC, this describes which of the following?
- A. Test plan.
- B. Test summary report.correct
- C. Test data.
- D. Test scenario.
Why: test summary report: Closure document summarizing results and quality.
2. "Steps, data, and expected results validating a condition" — in STLC, this describes which of the following?
- A. Smoke test entry gate.
- B. Test data.
- C. Test case.correct
- D. Test scenario.
Why: test case: Steps, data, and expected results validating a condition.
3. "Quick verification a build is stable enough for testing" — in STLC, this describes which of the following?
- A. Test data.
- B. Test case.
- C. Test plan.
- D. Smoke test entry gate.correct
Why: smoke test entry gate: Quick verification a build is stable enough for testing.
4. "Document defining scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing" — in STLC, this describes which of the following?
- A. Smoke test entry gate.
- B. Test plan.correct
- C. Test data.
- D. Test summary report.
Why: test plan: Document defining scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing.
5. In a CI/CD pipeline review, consider this: What is the first phase of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?
- A. Test Closure.
- B. Environment Setup.
- C. Test Execution.
- D. Requirement Analysis.correct
Why: STLC begins with Requirement Analysis where testers study testable requirements.
6. On a release readiness call: Which STLC phase produces the Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM)?
- A. Defect Retesting.
- B. Test Execution.
- C. Test Closure.
- D. Requirement Analysis.correct
Why: The RTM is created during Requirement Analysis to map requirements to test cases.
7. In a test-strategy meeting, the question comes up: In which STLC phase are test cases actually run against the build?
- A. Test Planning.
- B. Requirement Analysis.
- C. Test Design.
- D. Test Execution.correct
Why: Test cases are run during the Test Execution phase and results are logged.
8. "High-level description of functionality to be tested" — in STLC, this describes which of the following?
- A. Test plan.
- B. Smoke test entry gate.
- C. Test scenario.correct
- D. Test case.
Why: test scenario: High-level description of functionality to be tested.
9. Which of the following statements about STLC is TRUE?
- A. Entry criteria define conditions that must be met before a phase begins.correct
- B. STLC begins with Test Execution as its first phase.
- C. Test Closure happens before any tests are executed.
- D. STLC phases can never overlap under any circumstances.
Why: Example: build deployed and smoke passed before execution starts.
10. Which statement correctly describes STLC?
- A. Test planning produces the application's production code.
- B. The RTM maps employees to their salaries.
- C. STLC phases can never overlap under any circumstances.
- D. Entry criteria define conditions that must be met before a phase begins.correct
Why: Example: build deployed and smoke passed before execution starts.
11. "Input values prepared for executing test cases" — in STLC, this describes which of the following?
- A. Test case.
- B. Test scenario.
- C. Test data.correct
- D. Test summary report.
Why: test data: Input values prepared for executing test cases.
12. Identify the accurate statement about STLC:
- A. Test planning produces the application's production code.
- B. Test Closure happens before any tests are executed.
- C. Exit criteria define conditions to conclude a phase.correct
- D. Exit criteria must be satisfied before a phase can start.
Why: Example: all planned tests executed and critical defects closed.
13. In STLC, which of the following is described as: "High-level description of functionality to be tested"?
- A. Smoke test entry gate.
- B. Test data.
- C. Test plan.
- D. Test scenario.correct
Why: test scenario: High-level description of functionality to be tested.
14. In STLC, which of the following is described as: "Closure document summarizing results and quality"?
- A. Test summary report.correct
- B. Test scenario.
- C. Smoke test entry gate.
- D. Test plan.
Why: test summary report: Closure document summarizing results and quality.
15. Which STLC concept matches this description: "Closure document summarizing results and quality"?
- A. Test case.
- B. Test plan.
- C. Test summary report.correct
- D. Smoke test entry gate.
Why: test summary report: Closure document summarizing results and quality.
16. In STLC, which of the following is described as: "Steps, data, and expected results validating a condition"?
- A. Test summary report.
- B. Test data.
- C. Test plan.
- D. Test case.correct
Why: test case: Steps, data, and expected results validating a condition.
17. Which STLC concept matches this description: "Document defining scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing"?
- A. Test case.
- B. Test data.
- C. Test plan.correct
- D. Smoke test entry gate.
Why: test plan: Document defining scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing.
18. In STLC, which of the following is described as: "Quick verification a build is stable enough for testing"?
- A. Test plan.
- B. Smoke test entry gate.correct
- C. Test data.
- D. Test summary report.
Why: smoke test entry gate: Quick verification a build is stable enough for testing.
19. In the context of STLC, which of the following is a correct statement?
- A. STLC begins with Test Execution as its first phase.
- B. Test planning produces the application's production code.
- C. STLC phases can never overlap under any circumstances.
- D. Entry criteria define conditions that must be met before a phase begins.correct
Why: Example: build deployed and smoke passed before execution starts.
20. Which STLC concept matches this description: "High-level description of functionality to be tested"?
- A. Test scenario.correct
- B. Test summary report.
- C. Test data.
- D. Test plan.
Why: test scenario: High-level description of functionality to be tested.