Understanding UAT Test Scripts: Definition and Templates

Have you ever wondered how software seamlessly aligns with its users’ expectations before hitting the market? Or have you heard of user acceptance testing, and wondered what it does? 

User acceptance testing is critical to ensure that software or system meets end-users’ expectations, and the core of this process lies in UAT test scripts, which are detailed sets of instructions designed to validate a software’s functionality. 

In this article, we will break down UAT test scripts – why they matter, how to keep them sharp and throw in some handy templates. Ready to make sure your software not only shines but does so without a glitch? Let’s dive in and demystify UAT test scripts!

What are UAT Test Scripts?

User acceptance testing (UAT) test scripts serve as a detailed set of instructions and test cases designed to validate a software’s functionality from an end-user’s perspective or viewpoint. These scripts systematically outline the steps that users should follow to test various aspects of the software, ensuring that it meets their requirements and expectations.

A UAT test script is a product of the user acceptance testing phase in the software development lifecycle. UAT Test Scripts play a pivotal role in the final stages of software development, helping identify and rectify any discrepancies between the intended design and the actual user experience.

User acceptance testing is often misunderstood as usability testing, however, there is a difference between UAT and usability testing. While UAt validates the overall functionality of the software, usability testing focuses on user-friendliness and the efficiency of the software’s interface.

Who creates UAT Test Scripts?

Usually, a group of quality assurance specialists, business analysts, and end users collaborate to create UAT Test Scripts. The involvement of end-users is crucial, as their firsthand insights into operational needs and expectations ensure that the testing process accurately reflects real-world usage scenarios. Quality assurance experts contribute their testing expertise, while business analysts provide a bridge between technical specifications and end-user requirements, ensuring comprehensive test coverage.

How to create UAT Test Scripts

Creating effective User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Test Scripts is a crucial step in ensuring the thorough validation of a software system from the end-users’ perspective. Here’s an extensive guide on how to create UAT Test Scripts:

1. Define Objectives and Understand Business requirements

The objectives of the user acceptance testing phase need to be clearly articulated. The specific features, functionalities, and scenarios that need validation to align with the end-user’s expectations should be identified. Also, the business requirements need to be properly understood. This knowledge forms a foundation for creating test scenarios that align with the needs of the end users.

2. Stakeholders Involvement

Collaborate with stakeholders, including end-users, business analysts, and quality assurance professionals. Gather insights into user expectations, business requirements, and any specific scenarios that need testing.

3. Identify Test scenarios

Break down the software functionalities into distinct test scenarios. Critical routes, typical user workflows, and probable edge cases that users might run into when using the system should all be included. If the software has multiple user roles such as admin, and regular user, ensure to create test scenarios that cover the functionality specific to each role.

You also need to incorporate negative test cases to validate that the system or software handles unexpected inputs or actions. This includes scenarios where users might provide incorrect information or deviate from the expected workflow.

4. Acceptance Criteria Documentation

Give a clear explanation of the acceptance standards for every test case. Establish the requirements that must be fulfilled for the test to be considered successful, providing a precise standard for verification.

5. Write Detailed steps

Create detailed instructions that walk users through the testing procedure for each test scenario. Give clear instructions on the inputs, expected results, and any particular circumstances or data needed for the test to run successfully.

6. Ensure Completeness

Verify that the UAT Test Scripts collectively cover all relevant functionalities. Aim for a comprehensive set of test cases that address both common and uncommon usage scenarios, minimizing the risk of overlooking critical aspects.

7. Prioritize Test Cases

Sort test cases according to their frequency of use and business criticality. Prioritize more severe situations first, then the low severity ones, making sure that the most crucial features are thoroughly validated and tested.

8. Review and Refine

Review the UAT Test Scripts in-depth with all relevant stakeholders, including end users. Incorporate suggestions to improve the scripts and make sure they are accurate, clear, and in line with user expectations.

9. Document Dependencies

All dependencies, prerequisites, and data requirements needed for a successful test execution should be clearly documented. By providing this documentation, testers may be sure they have all the information they need to perform the tests efficiently.

10. Leverage UAT Templates

Use standardized templates to maintain consistency across different UAT Test Scripts. Script creation can be streamlined by using templates that include sections for a description of the scenario, test phases, acceptance criteria, and any other notes.

11. Implement Version Control

Implement version control to track changes in the UAT Test Scripts.  By ensuring that the team is working with the most recent versions, testing will be less confusing and consistent.

12. Consider Automation

Explore and assess various automation tools suitable for UAT such as Testsigma, UserTesting, Maze, and UserReport. When writing UAT test scripts, it’s critical to evaluate the situations in which automation can be useful. Automation has various benefits and is especially useful for repetitive or time-consuming test cases.

Organizations can develop strong UAT Test Scripts that not only verify the software’s operation but also facilitate a more seamless and fruitful user acceptance testing phase by adhering to these complete procedures. 

UAT test scripts that are effective are essential to ensuring that the software effortlessly satisfies the demands and expectations of end users. You can also research on the UAT checklist to understand the essential elements to consider when conducting UAT.

Maintaining and Updating UAT Test Scripts for Future Releases and Enhancements

Maintaining and updating User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Test Scripts for future releases and enhancements is crucial to ensuring ongoing software quality. Here are  steps and strategies you can implement to effectively manage this process:

1. Establish a Version Control System

Establish a version control system to monitor modifications made to UAT test scripts. By doing this, the team can be certain that they are using the most recent scripts and can track changes to individual releases.

2. Document Changes and Enhancements

All software modifications and improvements should be properly documented. This should cover any upgrades that might affect the UAT Test Scripts, as well as any new features or changes to current functionalities.

3. Collaborate with Stakeholders

Engage in regular collaboration with developers, business analysts, and end users, among other stakeholders. Obtain information on how changes affect user expectations and procedures, then make necessary updates to UAT test scripts.

4. Conduct Impact Analysis

Conduct an impact analysis to ascertain the potential effects of software modifications on current UAT Test Scripts. Sort the scripts that need to be changed and rank them according to how important the modifications are.

5. Update Acceptance Criteria

Update the UAT Test Scripts’ acceptance criteria to align with the revised requirements and expectations. Make sure the criteria are in line with the software’s current status and inform the team of any changes in a clear and concise manner.

6. Review and Revise

Even if there aren’t any immediate software updates, you should nevertheless regularly evaluate and edit your UAT test scripts. This addresses any possible gaps or enhances test coverage, guaranteeing that the scripts stay accurate and pertinent.

7. Consider Regression testing

Regression testing should be incorporated into the UAT procedure to ensure that current features hold up after updates. Regression test cases that confirm the stability of previously tested functionality should be added to UAT test scripts.

8. Align with Development Sprints

Sync with development sprints with UAT script upkeep. Keep up with the latest updates and features, and make sure your UAT test scripts are updated proactively to reflect the software’s continuous evolution.

9. Document lessons learned

Document lessons learned from each release to improve the maintenance process for future UAT Test Scripts. Incorporate feedback from testing experiences to enhance script quality and effectiveness.

Differences between a Test Case Script and a UAT Test Script

While both Test Case Scripts and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Test Scripts share the common goal of validating software functionality, they serve distinct purposes within the software testing process.  Throughout the software development life cycle, test case scripts are flexible tools that are used to check technical features such as functionality, security, and integration. Development and testing teams run these scripts, which prioritize coding standards compliance and technical accuracy. To ensure the general robustness of the product, test case scripts are extensive and cover a wide range of circumstances.

Conversely, UAT Test Scripts are created especially for the User Acceptance Testing stage, which takes place after the development cycle. To confirm that the software satisfies business needs and is user-friendly, they place a high priority on real-world scenarios and user processes. 

UAT Test Scripts focus on acceptance criteria that are in line with business objectives and user experience, use non-technical language, and involve stakeholders and end users in the testing process.

This difference reflects the varied focuses of quality assurance (QA) processes, which encompass technical validation, and User Acceptance Testing, which is user-centric and business-aligned.

UAT Test Scripts Templates

Below is a basic UAT Test Script template that can be customized to fit specific project needs:

a) Test Script Information: The elements of the test script information include:

• Test Script Title
• Test Script ID
• Author
• Date Created
• Last Modified 

b) Test Scenario Description: Briefly describe the purpose and context of the test scenario. Include relevant background information to provide context to the tester.

c) Test Case Details

• Test Case ID
• Test Case Name
• Priority
• Preconditions
• Dependencies

d) Test Steps Enumerate step-by-step instructions for executing the test scenario. Include specific actions, inputs, and expected outcomes for each step.

e) Acceptance Criteria: Clearly define the conditions that must be met for the test to be considered successful. Ensure that acceptance criteria align with business objectives and user expectations.

f) Test Data: Specify any specific test data required for the test scenario, including sample inputs and expected outputs.

g) Expected results: Clearly outline the expected outcomes at the end of the test scenario. This should align with the defined acceptance criteria.

h) Notes and comments

i) Test Status: Include a space to update the status of the test scenario (e.g., Pass/Fail/Not Executed). This helps in tracking the progress of testing.

Test Script Information

Test Script Title: Login Functionality         

Test Script ID: UAT-LS-001                  

Author: John Tester         

Date Created: 2023-01-15   

Last Modified:  2023-01-20

ID	Test Case Name	Priority	Preconditions	Steps	Acceptance criteria	Test Data	Expected Result	Notes	Test Status
TC-LS-001	Successful Login	High	User account exists	1. Navigate to the login page. 2. Enter valid credentials. 3. Click the log-in button. 4. Verify successful login and dashboard appearance.	The user should be able to log in successfully and see their dashboard.	Username: Tester1 Password: Tester@123	The user is logged in and the dashboard is displayed.

Here is a UAT template you can also make use of.

Can we automate UAT test scripts?

Software functionality can be verified with efficiency and dependability by automating User Acceptance Testing (UAT) scripts. Teams may ensure that important workflows are covered by designing automated scripts that mimic real user interactions using tools such as Testsigma, UserTesting, and Maze. 

In the end, automation contributes to a more efficient and successful UAT process by improving the efficiency, reusability, and correctness of UAT tests and by offering quick feedback, reliable execution, and thorough reports. 

Testsigma is an automation tool that makes it easier to create and run scripts. It provides an easy-to-use platform for organizing and automating UAT test scenarios.

Automate your end-to-end user tests, for web, mobile and desktop applications, 10x faster, with Testsigma

Conclusion

In conclusion, effective User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is essential for ensuring that software meets business requirements and aligns with end-users’ expectations.  Adopting a comprehensive approach to UAT improves efficiency, dependability, and stakeholder participation. This includes developing thorough UAT test scripts and utilizing automation tools such as Testsigma. 

By prioritizing thorough testing practices, organizations can confidently release software that not only meets technical standards but also delivers a superior user experience, ultimately contributing to the success and satisfaction of both businesses and end-users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should UAT be scripted?

Scripted User Acceptance Testing (UAT) offers advantages such as comprehensive coverage, consistency, and documentation of expected software behavior aligned with business requirements. While providing structure and reproducibility, it’s important to balance scripted UAT with flexibility and incorporate user collaboration to allow for exploration beyond predefined scenarios.