CSQA Certification Exam

I finally gave my certification exam. I had studied for it for two months. Read it 6 times. Even though I read it so many times, I was still not confident about sitting for the exam. In order to take the CSQA exam, you really do have to know the CBOK thoroughly. A lot of people have asked me what are the major differences in CSQA and CSTE?

Simple answer:
CSTE: Associated to testing, For Testers
CSQA: Associated to processes, improving processes in quality, For Quality Assurance Analysts

There is a difference between QA and QC. These terms are interchangeably used, but shouldn’t. QC has to do with testing. Testers usually use tools, automated scripts to test their data or application. QA is one step above QC, so this is more into a Lead or Management role, but not always though. Most companies can’t afford to have both so they use the same workforce (people) to do both QA and QC. But essentially, QA is a higher level position. In this role, the QA Analyst, thinks of improving the testing process. They do this by using metrics and objective data to reach a consensus. So really, CSTE is for people who want to just stick with testing, and nothing else. It’s a good foundation for the CSQA exam. But CSQA is for people who know testing but want to advance more and take a bigger role in the processes that are involved with testing. Of course, there is more associated to these things but the above explanation is just a simple one. I have taken a look at both the CSTE and the CSQA. I would say that I found it similar but with CSTE testing methodologies are explained more in depth.

SO I decided to go for CSQA as that is where my interest lied. I took the exam two days ago, it consisted of 4 sections: 1st section: 50 multiple choice 2nd section: 10 essay questions 3rd section: 50 multiple choice 4rth section: 10 essay questions Don’t be alarmed at the essay questions. Examiners know that you have only 5-7 mins to write the answers. Write everything in a point format, a systematic approach should be used. You don’t need to really write an "essay". A brief definition,a brief explanation,and an example should be just enough. Always remember to READ the questions as it has two parts to it (most of the time), so be careful of writing the first part and missing the second part out.