Top 10 Questions You Must Prepare to Get Selected as an SDET or QA
Securing a role as a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) or Quality Assurance (QA) professional requires technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of testing principles. To help you shine in your next interview, here are the top 10 questions you should prepare for, complete with detailed answers and examples.
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1. What is the difference between QA, QC, and Testing?
This question tests your understanding of key concepts in software quality.
Answer:
- Quality Assurance (QA): Focuses on preventing defects by improving processes. Example: Setting up guidelines for code reviews.
- Quality Control (QC): Involves identifying defects in the final product through testing. Example: Inspecting the final application for UI bugs.
- Testing: The actual execution of tests to validate functionality. Example: Running test cases for login functionality.
Example Scenario:
QA sets the process guidelines, QC checks if the app meets these guidelines, and testers execute the tests to ensure functionality.
2. What are the key differences between manual and automation testing?
Answer:
- Manual Testing:
- Conducted by humans without tools.
- Suitable for exploratory, usability, and ad-hoc testing.
- Time-consuming and prone to human error.
- Automation Testing:
- Uses tools/scripts to execute tests.
- Ideal for regression and performance testing.
- Faster, reusable, and cost-effective in the long run.
Example Tools: Selenium, TestNG for automation; JIRA for manual test management.
3. What is a test automation framework, and why is it important?
Answer:
A test automation framework is a structured set of guidelines for creating and executing test scripts efficiently.
Benefits:
- Reduces code duplication.
- Improves test script maintainability.
- Enhances collaboration and reusability.
Example Frameworks:
- Data-Driven: Uses data from external files for test execution.
- Keyword-Driven: Relies on keywords for actions (e.g., "click," "input").
- Hybrid: Combines multiple frameworks.
Example Question:
Q: How would you design a framework for a web application?
A:
- Use Selenium WebDriver for browser interaction.
- Integrate TestNG for execution and reporting.
- Store test data in Excel or JSON for flexibility.
4. How do you handle flaky test cases in automation?
This question gauges your problem-solving skills.
Answer:
Flaky tests are unstable and provide inconsistent results. Steps to handle them:
- Investigate the root cause (e.g., synchronization issues).
- Use explicit waits to handle timing issues:
- Optimize test scripts to eliminate environmental dependencies.
Pro Tip: Always log and monitor flaky tests to track improvements.
5. How would you test an API?
This is a critical question for SDET roles involving backend testing.
Answer:
API testing ensures the reliability of communication between systems. Steps include:
- Understand the API documentation (e.g., endpoints, methods, payloads).
- Verify status codes (e.g., 200 for success, 404 for not found).
- Validate the response structure using tools like Postman.
Example Request:
- Endpoint:
POST /api/login - Payload:
- Expected Response:
Pro Tip: Use tools like Postman or Rest Assured for API automation.
6. What is the difference between functional and non-functional testing?
Answer:
- Functional Testing:
- Validates the app against business requirements.
- Example: Testing login functionality with valid/invalid credentials.
- Non-Functional Testing:
- Validates performance, usability, and reliability.
- Example: Load testing to check how the system performs under high traffic.
Pro Tip: Provide examples of tools you’ve used, like LoadRunner for non-functional testing.
7. What are the principles of test design?
Answer:
Effective test design ensures comprehensive coverage and identifies defects early.
- Equivalence Partitioning: Divide input data into valid and invalid groups.
- Example: For a range of 1-100, test with 0, 50, and 101.
- Boundary Value Analysis: Focus on edge cases.
- Example: Test with 1, 100, and 101 for a range of 1-100.
- Error Guessing: Based on experience, anticipate common errors.
- Example: Test special characters in input fields.
8. How do you ensure test coverage?
This demonstrates your ability to plan and prioritize testing.
Answer:
- Use traceability matrices to map test cases to requirements.
- Implement coverage tools like JaCoCo for code coverage in automation.
- Include positive, negative, and edge cases.
Pro Tip: Explain how you collaborate with developers to ensure no functionality is missed.
9. What is CI/CD, and how is it related to testing?
An essential concept for modern testing roles.
Answer:
- Continuous Integration (CI): Automates code integration and testing in the early stages.
- Continuous Deployment (CD): Automates deploying code to production after successful tests.
Tools: Jenkins, CircleCI.
Example Workflow:
- Developer pushes code to GitHub.
- Jenkins triggers build and runs automation tests.
- If tests pass, code is deployed.
Pro Tip: Emphasize your experience integrating automation scripts in CI/CD pipelines.
10. How do you stay updated on new testing trends?
Answer:
- Follow industry leaders on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter.
- Regularly read blogs, forums (e.g., Ministry of Testing), and attend webinars.
- Experiment with emerging tools like Cypress and AI-driven testing tools.
Pro Tip: Mention a recent trend or tool you’ve explored, such as using AI for predictive test case generation.
Conclusion
Preparing for an SDET or QA interview requires a blend of technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and effective communication. By mastering these top 10 questions, you’ll not only impress your interviewers but also demonstrate your potential to contribute to their testing team.
Ready to ace your next SDET/QA interview? Let us know which question you found most helpful!
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