What is Test Completion and Test Completion Activity?

Testing software is essential, and one of the key things we need to think about is test completion. That means ensuring we’ve run all the tests we need and analyzed the results. But test completion isn’t just about ticking off a list of tests and logging any issues we find. It involves many activities to ensure the software is well-tested and meets high-quality standards. 

In this blog post, we’ll look at what test completion means and everything we need to do to ensure we’re doing it right.

Before we begin, here’s something to humor you: 

“What do you call a software tester who’s always late?

 A Regression tester.”

What is Test Completion?

Test completion is the last step in the software testing life cycle, where we finalize all testing activities and document the results. Our main goal is to ensure the software product is ready for production release. 

The activities involved in test completion can vary depending on the project but typically include the following: 

• Verifying that all test cases have been executed 
• Analyzing the test results and identifying any defects
• Prioritizing and fixing defects 
• Generating a test completion report 
• Communicating the test results to stakeholders 

The test completion report is a document that summarizes the results of the testing activities. 

What is the purpose of Test Completion?

A clear sense of purpose is essential to success in any endeavor. When it comes to testing a software product, we must ensure we’ve done everything possible to ensure it’s ready for release. That’s where test completion criteria come in – the specific conditions we need to meet before stopping testing. 

Things like 

• how many test cases we’ve run, 
• how much of the code we’ve covered, 
• how many bugs we’ve found and fixed, and 
• how risky the product is in determining when we’re done testing. 

It’s essential to have these measures defined in the test plan and agreed upon by everyone involved so that we’re all on the same page and can work efficiently.

What are the Test Completion Work Products?

The work products of the test completion phase are the following:

• Test summary report: This report summarizes the testing efforts carried out during the testing process. It provides information on the amount of testing that was done, the defects that were found, and the risks that were identified. The test summary report is an essential input for stakeholders who need to make decisions about the software, such as whether to release it to production.
• Defer requests or product backlog objects: If defects cannot be fixed in the current release, they are added to the product backlog as change requests. In some cases, the requirements may not specify defects or functionalities. These are also added to the product backlog as change requests.
• Action items for progress: The test completion phase is also an opportunity to identify lessons learned and recommend modification. These action items should be documented and implemented in future projects.
• Completed testware: All relevant test work products and documents, such as test cases, test results, and test plans, are completed and archived in this phase. This ensures that the test results are preserved and can be used for future reference.

When do Test Completion Activities Occur?

A few times during a project, we celebrate our progress and completion. These moments are called project milestones, and they’re a chance for us to cheer each other on and take a breather before diving into the next phase.

Below are some instances when test completion activities occur:

• When a software system is all ready to go live 
• When we finish up a testing project (or decide to take a break) 
• When we complete a round of an Agile project 
• When we finish up a whole level of testing 
• When we’ve assembled a maintenance release. Woohoo!

Major Activities of Test Completion

Completing a test is a fun and exciting process that involves several essential activities! 

First, we ensure all the reported defects have been addressed and closed. If there are any open defects, we create change requests or product backlog items to ensure they are handled. We also close out any incident reports and document our acceptance of the system. 

Next, we create a test summary report that gives a broad overview of all the testing we completed and the results we found. We share this report with our stakeholders so they can see all our hard work! Before we wrap things up, we finalize and archive all our test materials to be used again. We also transfer any relevant information to maintenance teams or other stakeholders who may find it useful. 

Finally, we take the time to analyze what we learned during the testing process so we can improve and grow in the future. We want to ensure we’re constantly enhancing and improving what we do!

Here are some examples for the significant test activities completion:

• Checking whether all defect reports are closed.
• Entering change requests or product backlog items for any defects that remain open.
• Closing incident reports.
• Documenting the system’s acceptance.
• Finalizing and archiving the test environment, the test data, the test infrastructure, and other testware for later reuse.
• Handing over the testware to the maintenance teams, other project teams, or other stakeholders who could benefit from its use.
• Checking which planned deliverables have been delivered.
• Analyzing lessons learned from the completed test activities to determine changes needed for future iterations, releases, and projects.
• Using the information gathered to improve test process maturity.

What is the Test Completion Criterion?

To determine when a software product is ready for release, Test Completion Criteria (TCC) must be met. These conditions should be clearly defined in the test plan and agreed upon by all stakeholders. This ensures a consistent and efficient testing process. 

TCC can be determined based on factors such as 

1. the number of executed test cases, 
2. code coverage percentage, 
3. fixed defects, and 
4. software product risk level. 

TCC must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This ensures clarity and objective evaluation.

Test Completion Criteria – Examples:

For example, TCC might include 

• executing all test cases, 
• achieving 80% code coverage, 
• fixing all critical defects, or 
• reducing software product risk to an acceptable level. 

TCC should be reviewed and updated throughout testing to remain relevant and achievable.

Test Completion Criteria for Test Levels

Here are the completion criteria for different levels: 

• Unit testing:
  1. All unit test cases have been executed and passed.
  2. The code coverage has met the defined requirements.
  3. All critical defects have been found and fixed.
• Integration testing:
  1. All integration test cases have been executed and passed.
  2. The interfaces between components are working as expected.
  3. All critical defects have been found and fixed.
• System testing:
  1. All system test cases have been executed and passed.
  2. The system meets all of the requirements.
  3. All critical defects have been found and fixed.
• User acceptance testing:
  1. All user acceptance test cases have been executed and passed.
  2. The system meets the needs of the users.
  3. All critical defects have been found and fixed.
• Acceptance testing:
  1. The customer has accepted the system.
  2. The system is ready to be released to production.

These are just some examples of test completion criteria for different test levels. The specific criteria will vary depending on the particular project and the risks associated with the software product.

It is important to note that test completion criteria should be defined in the test plan and agreed upon by all stakeholders. This helps to confirm everyone is on the same page and that the testing process is completed consistently and efficiently.

Test Completion Criteria – Significance:

Here are some of the benefits of having clear TCC:

• It helps to ensure that the testing process is complete and thorough.
• It helps to avoid scope creep, where the testing process continues indefinitely.
• It helps to manage the risks associated with software testing.
• It helps ensure the software product is released on time and within budget.

What is the test completion report in software testing?

The test completion report in software testing is a thorough document summarizing the testing process and providing an overview of the test results. It is a formal record of the testing activities conducted during a specific testing phase or project.

The test completion report aims to communicate the testing effort’s status, effectiveness, and quality to project managers, developers, and clients. It includes detailed information about the tests executed, their outcomes, any issues encountered, and recommendations for further actions.

Various automation testing tools available in the market, such as Testsigma, can significantly expedite this process. Utilizing such tools can result in a 5X increase in efficiency, thereby enhancing the overall productivity of your work.

Automate and execute your tests to completion with Testsigma

Test Completion Report Format:

Generally, a complete report has the following format.

• Test Name: Specify the name of the test that was conducted.
• Test Objective: Clearly state the objective or purpose of the test.
• Test Date: Mention the date when the test was conducted.
• Test Environment: Describe the environment in which the test was performed, including hardware, software, and network configurations.
• Test Scope: Define the scope of the test, indicating what functionalities or areas were covered during testing.
• Test Duration: Specify how long it took to complete the testing process.
• Test Team: List all team members involved in conducting the test, including their roles and responsibilities.
• Test Cases Executed: Provide a summary of all test cases executed during testing, including successful and failed ones.
• Defects Identified: Enumerate all defects or issues discovered during testing, along with their severity levels and descriptions.
• Defect Resolution Status: Indicate whether each identified defect has been resolved or is still pending resolution.
• Test Results Summary: These components are essential for tracking the progress and outcomes of the testing process, ensuring that all issues are addressed and resolved effectively.

This image shows the Test Completion Report and how to export it in Testsigma.

Significance of Test Completion Report:

The Test Completion Report is very important as it summarizes the testing process and its results. It proves the testing activities, such as the executed test cases, identified defects, and their solutions. This report helps stakeholders evaluate the quality and dependability of the software being tested, aiding them in making informed decisions about its release or further enhancements. Furthermore, it guides future testing cycles, allowing teams to learn from past experiences and strengthen their testing approaches for better outcomes.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, Test completion is when all the tests are done and the results are noted down. So, if you ever hear someone talking about Test completion, now you know precisely what they’re talking about! 

Have fun with your testing!

Frequently Asked Questions

What risks do you see in test completion?

One risk in test completion is overlooking critical defects or issues that could impact the product’s functionality. Another risk is the potential for inadequate test coverage, leading to gaps in testing and potential vulnerabilities being missed.