Your certification guide · Advanced Level
Strengthen your testing practice in Agile teams. Learn to shape test strategies, collaborate across disciplines, improve testing processes, move testing earlier, and apply exploratory and assisted testing alongside automation.
Questions carry different point values; the passing score is measured in points, not correct answers. Candidates taking the exam in a non-native language may receive 25% additional time. Confirm eligibility and the exact duration with your exam provider.
Experienced testers, test analysts, test leads, developers, and others contributing to quality in Agile software development.
The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 certificate or an earlier version is a prerequisite. The syllabus builds on testing experience in Agile environments; check booking requirements with your exam provider.
The syllabus at a glance
A concise guide to the certification content in syllabus v2.0.
Explores testing challenges in Agile development, including selecting test types, end-to-end testing, and balancing formal and holistic testing. Covers regression approaches that maintain confidence as products evolve.
Key topicsTest types · End-to-end testing · Holistic testing · Regression strategies
Explains the whole team approach and the balance between generalist and specialist skills. Covers involving business representatives, supporting developers, and using fresh perspectives from tissue testers.
Key topicsWhole team approach · Team skills · Business participation · Tissue testers
Covers test planning and project test strategy within Agile development. Explains monitoring, control, reporting, and using metrics and feedback to improve the testing process.
Key topicsAgile planning · Test strategy · Reporting · Process improvement
Explains improving the test basis through early testing and requirements collaboration. Covers testware as requirements, storyboarding, testboarding, example mapping, biases, and slicing user stories.
Key topicsExample mapping · User story slicing · Requirements quality · Biases
Develops exploratory testing using heuristics, mnemonics, test tours, and charters. Covers mob, pair, and vibe testing, and recognizing test smells that signal weaknesses in testing practice.
Key topicsExploratory testing · Test charters · Assisted testing · Test smells
Explains the contribution of automation to Agile development and the role of tools in supporting testing activities. Covers practical considerations when integrating automation and tool support into team workflows.
Key topicsAgile automation · Tool support · Team workflows
Training times are syllabus allocations for accredited courses, not exam section durations or personal study recommendations. Total: 13 hours.
Study from the source
Check the certification page for exam information, study the syllabus, and use official sample questions and answers to practise.
Official sample answers ↗ · All official downloads ↗
Independent study guide based on the ISTQB CTAL-AT syllabus v2.0. Syllabus source and copyright: International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB®) and its authors. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by ISTQB. Links checked on 7 October 2026.
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