iseb candidate guidelines

8/8/2019 ISEB Candidate Guidelines

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INFORMATION SYSTEMS EXAMINATIONS BOARD

Foundation Certificate in Software Testing

Training Provider Regulations and Guidelines



Copyright © The British Computer Society 2009Version 1.6 March 2009

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Contents

Introduction to BCS and ISEB ................................................................................................... 3 Applying for Accreditation .......................................................................................................... 4 Objective of the Qualification ..................................................................................................... 4 Syllabus ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Candidate Entry to the Course .................................................................................................. 4 The Training Course .................................................................................................................. 4 Staffing Requirements ............................................................................................................... 5 Candidate Eligibility for the Examination ................................................................................... 5 Format of the Examination......................................................................................................... 5 Requesting an Examination ....................................................................................................... 5 General Arrangements for the Examination .............................................................................. 6

Candidate Registration for the Examination .............................................................................. 6 Examination Fees ...................................................................................................................... 7 Examination Dates..................................................................................................................... 7 Issuing of Exam Results ............................................................................................................ 7 Certificates................................................................................................................................. 7 Candidate Feedback.................................................................................................................. 7 Appeals...................................................................................................................................... 8 Candidate Complaints ............................................................................................................... 8 Training Provider Complaints .................................................................................................... 8 Copyright of the Exam Papers................................................................................................... 8 Sample Exam Papers ................................................................................................................ 8 Reasonable Adjustments........................................................................................................... 9 Candidate Conduct .................................................................................................................... 9 Examination Statistics................................................................................................................ 9 Contact Details .......................................................................................................................... 9




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Introduction to BCS and ISEB

It is hoped that this document will provide potential candidates for the Foundation Certificate in SoftwareTesting with all the basic information they need regarding eligibility and the format of the examinations.Further queries should be directed to the Training Provider or the Examinations Officer [email protected]

The Information Systems Examinations Board (ISEB) is division of the British Computer Society. ISEBwas created in 1990 from the Systems Analysis Examinations Board (which was set up in 1967). ISEBadministers examinations and issues certificates in a variety of subjects in the field of informationsystems engineering.

The supervision of each qualification is delegated to a subject panel and includes representatives fromthe BCS, Training Providers, users groups, examiners, and individuals appointed for relevant expertisein the testing arena.

For all certificates, the emphasis is on providing a professional qualification. To achieve this, ISEB

adopts a two-fold approach to quality: accreditation and examination.

Examinations enable candidates to demonstrate their individual competence. The precise form ofexamination varies from certificate to certificate, and may comprise a written examination, courseassessment and oral examinations.

Organisations wishing to offer courses leading to certificates have to be accredited by ISEB. There areno restrictions as to the nature of establishments which may apply for accreditation: education andtraining bodies, public and private, large or small are all eligible. Once accredited, Training Providers aremonitored in a variety of ways to ensure standards are maintained.

The ISEB portfolio offers a large number of IT qualifications in a variety of disciplines.




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Applying for Accreditation

In order to offer training leading to the Certificate, organisations must first be accredited by ISEB. Thereare no restrictions relating to the nature of the provider that may run an accredited training scheme.Education and training establishments, private or public, large or small, are eligible, as areestablishments providing their own in-house training. The venue must be suitable but need not be inpremises owned or managed by the Provider. All details of the requirement for accreditation can befound on the ISEB website: http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=nav.7808

Objective of the Qualification

The objectives of the qualifications in Software Testing are:

• To gain recognition for testing as an essential and professional software engineering

specialisation by industry.• To enable professionally qualified testers to be recognised by employers, customers and peers,

and raise the profile of testers.

• To promote consistent and good testing practice within all software engineering disciplines.

• To enable software suppliers to hire certified testers and thereby gain commercial advantageover their competitors by advertising their tester recruitment policy.

• To provide an opportunity for testers or those with an interest in testing to acquire an industryrecognised qualification in the subject.

Syllabus

The full syllabus can be downloaded from the website at: Foundation Certificate in Software TestingSyllabus

Candidate Entry to the Course

There are no formal requirements for entry to the course although the candidate should have a basicworking knowledge of IT and it is recommended that all candidates attend an approved training courserun by an accredited Training Provider.

The Training Course

The training may be offered in a variety of formats, but is most commonly available an 18 hour courserun over a minimum period of 3 days to include lectures, workshops, and other teaching formats. These

courses will be a maximum class size of 16.




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Staffing Requirements

ISEB expects that all course tutors should have a demonstrable knowledge of Software Testing skillsand be experienced in training. It is also mandatory for all Course Tutors to hold the ISEB FoundationCertificate in Software Testing qualification.

The minimum experience requirements for the Foundation Certificate are split in to two categories:

1) A minimum of three years training experience (or professional trainer) with at least ten courseshaving been run as well as a minimum of one years testing experience,

2) If the tutor has less than three years training experience or fewer than ten courses then they musthave a minimum of two full years testing experience.

ISEB recommends that there should be a minimum of six candidates on a course and mandates amaximum of thirty. For courses with thirty or more candidates, it is strongly recommended that a secondcourse be run. Alternatively, a second 1st level trainer must be present for the entire duration of thecourse.

Candidate Eligibility for the Examination

The candidate should have a basic working knowledge of IT and it is recommended that all candidatesattend an approved training course run by an accredited Training Provider.

Format of the Examination

The examination will last one hour and will consist of forty multiple-choice questions. The examinationwill be ‘closed book’, i.e. no notes or books will be allowed in to the examination room. The pass mark is26/40.

Requesting an Examination

ISEB will provide the examination ‘on request’ to accredited training organisations, provided that aminimum of 5 working days is given (14 working days for overseas venues). Training Providers can alsorequest an examination with less than the notice stated above, but this is subject to ISEB’s discretion. Alate examination booking request which is accepted by ISEB is subject to an additional fee. For a list ofthe current fees, please visit the ISEB website at www.iseb.org.uk

Training Providers are expected to hold the examination on the final day of the course at the site wherethe course was held (unless the accreditation approval says differently).

All examinations must now be booked using the on-line examination process and Training Providersunfamiliar with the process should read the document entitled ‘Booking ISEB Exams – Online’.




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The current process does not allow Training Providers to book extra time for candidates whose firstlanguage is not English, so please contact the Examinations Officer via email or phone to request theadditional 15 minutes.

It may be possible to arrange an examination to take place over a weekend but this will be subject to anadditional charge and ISEB being able to source a suitable invigilator. Please check with theExaminations Officer prior to booking.

ISEB also holds public examinations for the Foundation Certificate in Software Testing mainly forcandidates who need to re-sit the examination or for candidates who wish to register as a direct entry.These are held in February, March, May, June, September, October and November normally in London.Training Providers should not send their candidates to this site unless advance approval is given byISEB. Details of these examinations and how direct entry candidates can book are on the ISEB websitePublic Examination Dates.

ISEB will charge Training Providers for the number of candidates sitting the examination subject to aminimum charge for five candidates.

The Provider should recognise that they may be asked to provide assistance sourcing a suitable

invigilator if requesting an examination overseas with. Providers will also be expected to arrange andpay for the venue.

There is a charge for 2 ½ candidates if an on site Foundation exam is cancelled with less than twoweek’s notice. If less than one week is given, the Training Provider will be charged for 5 candidates.

General Arrangements for the Examination

ISEB arranges for invigilators to attend the examination centres to invigilate the exams. ISEB providessecure delivery of the examination papers and answer booklets to and from the examination venues.

The examination papers and answer booklets are confidential to, and remain the property of ISEB. Allexamination papers and answer booklets are to be retained within the examination room(s), andreturned to ISEB and all copies are to be accounted for by the invigilator.

The Foundation Certificate Examination is ‘closed book’; meaning that no external material may bereferred to by candidates during the examination.

Candidate Registration for the Examination

Training Providers must ensure that candidates complete the Candidate Registration Form and all theseforms should then be given to the ISEB Invigilator prior to the commencement of the examination. A fulllist of the candidates must also be available. Those wishing to take the central examination shouldregister direct with ISEB, from whom the entry form may be obtained. Those wishing to take thecomputer based examination should contact Prometric directly for registration details.




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Appeals

Should a candidate wish to an appeal about the examination itself or their result, they should first consultthe ISEB Appeals Procedure then:

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Provide a written request (including candidate number, full title of examination and date taken)giving reasons for the appeal to the ISEB Examination Manager not later than four weeks afterthe release of examination results.

• Enclose documentary evidence where appropriate (e.g. medical report).

• Enclose the correct fee. This will be refunded in the event that the appeal is upheld.

Candidate Complaints

If candidates are unsatisfied with the level of service offered by ISEB candidates can submit theircomplaint directly to ISEB for consideration. The ISEB complaints procedure can be found on the ISEBwebsite: Complaints Procedure. If the complaint is in relation to the Training Provider then the candidateshould be directed to the Training Provider’s Complaints Policy. If the candidate is not satisfied with theresponse, then the candidate has right of appeal to ISEB.

Training Provider Complaints

If a Training Provider has a complaint about the level of service offered by ISEB, they should contact

ISEB for redress.

Copyright of the Exam Papers

All papers remain the copyright of ISEB. Copying them is not permitted and all prints of the paper mustbe returned to ISEB after the examination has taken place.

Sample Exam Papers

ISEB has sample papers available on request for a fee for both candidates and Training Providers.Check the ISEB web pages for charges and availability. If not accessible on the web then please contactISEB directly.




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Reasonable Adjustments

ISEB endeavours to accommodate the needs of candidates with a particular examination requirement,according to individual circumstances, ensuring such candidates are not disadvantaged or advantaged inrelation to other candidates and that certificates accurately reflect candidate attainment. Candidatesshould complete the Reasonable Adjustments Form available on the website and submit the form nolater than two weeks prior to the examination date: Reasonable Adjustments Policy.

Candidate Conduct

If ISEB has sufficient evidence to demonstrate that a particular candidate’s behaviour is adverselyaffecting any candidates during an assignment / examination, ISEB reserve the right to disqualify themand withhold their result. The candidate may then reapply and re-sit the examination at ISEB’sdiscretion. A further examination fee will be applicable.

Examination Statistics

ISEB will issue examination statistics showing the overall pass rate (updated each financial year). Thisinformation will be placed on the ISEB website. Training Providers may make public the overall passrates for their own candidates, and may use these in conjunction with ISEB’s overall statistics. Under nocircumstances however, may they publish, or in any other way reveal examination statistics of otherTraining Providers.

Contact Details

Examination queries should be directed to the Foundation Certificate in Software Testing Exams Officerat [email protected]

Tel: +44 (0) 1793 417 586Fax: +44 (0) 1793 417 559

The postal address is:

ISEB (FCSWT)First Floor Block DNorth Star HouseNorth Star AvenueSwindon, WiltshireSN2 1FA

Detailed syllabus information, and information on accredited Training Providers, exam dates and passrates can be found on the ISEB web site www.iseb.org.uk. This also contains information about other

ISEB qualifications.

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