CT-PT ISTQB Certified Tester - Performance Testing Practice Questions
Prepare for CT-PT with more than an answer.
- Exam fee
- $199 USD
- Level
- Specialist
- Valid for
- lifetime
Domains covered on the exam 5
- Basic Concepts8%
- Performance Measurement Fundamentals7%
- Performance Testing in the Software Lifecycle24%
- Performance Testing Tasks59%
- Tools11%
- 1
Using Little's Law (N = X * (R + Z)), calculate the required Number of Virtual Users (N) given:
- Target Throughput (X) = 10 transactions/sec
- Response Time (R) = 2 seconds
- Think Time (Z) = 3 seconds
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Correct answer: B
N = X * (R + Z) = 10 * (2 + 3) = 10 * 5 = 50 Virtual Users.
- 2
When recording a script for a web application, the tool captures a dynamic session ID (e.g., 'JSESSIONID=A1B2...'). If you play back this script without modification, it fails. What technique must be applied to fix this?
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Correct answer: D
Correlation is the process of capturing dynamic values from a server response (like a Session ID) and using that captured value in subsequent requests. Parameterization is for data input (like usernames), not dynamic server tokens.
- 3
Which of the following describes the primary purpose of 'Think Time' in a performance test script?
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Correct answer: C
Think time simulates the human pause between interactions (e.g., reading a page before clicking a link). Without it, the test generates unrealistically high throughput.
- 4
You are preparing for a load test execution. The 'Smoke Test' has passed. What is the NEXT critical step before launching the full load test?
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Correct answer: D
To ensure reproducibility and accuracy, the environment must be reset to a clean, known baseline state before the official test run. Leftover data from smoke tests can skew results.
- 5
Which of the following is a clear indicator of a 'Memory Leak' in a Java application during an endurance test?
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Correct answer: C
A classic memory leak pattern is the 'sawtooth' wave of heap usage where the trough (lowest point after GC) keeps getting higher over time, indicating objects are not being released.
- 6
A financial organization is planning a performance test for a new trading platform. The stakeholder requirement states that the system must remain stable and recover gracefully when traffic exceeds 500% of the expected peak load for short durations. Which specific performance test type should be prioritized to verify this requirement?
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Correct answer: C
Spike testing specifically evaluates a system's ability to handle sudden, extreme bursts of load and verify recovery. While stress testing pushes limits, spike testing focuses on the rapid increase and decrease (impulse) of load.
- 7
During the risk assessment phase for a medical records system, the team identifies a risk related to 'Resource Utilization.' Which of the following potential failures best aligns with this risk category?
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Correct answer: A
Resource utilization risks involve the consumption of system resources (CPU, Memory, Disk, Network). A memory leak leading to a crash is a direct failure of resource management/utilization.
- 8
Which of the following statements accurately distinguishes between 'Performance Efficiency' and 'Reliability' according to ISO 25010 standards in the context of performance testing?
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Correct answer: D
Performance Efficiency (Time Behavior, Resource Utilization, Capacity) is about how well the system performs relative to resources. Reliability (Maturity, Availability, Fault Tolerance, Recoverability) is about maintaining service levels over time.
- 9
True or False: A system that meets all functional requirements will automatically satisfy performance efficiency requirements if the hardware is sufficiently powerful.
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Correct answer: B
False. Poor software architecture or inefficient code can cause performance failures regardless of hardware power. Functional correctness does not imply performance efficiency.
- 10
A performance tester is analyzing response time data. The dataset contains several extreme outliers caused by network hiccups. Which statistical metric would provide the MOST accurate representation of the 'typical' user experience?
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Correct answer: A
The Median is less sensitive to outliers than the Mean. While the 90th percentile is good for worst-case analysis, the Median represents the central tendency of the 'typical' user when data is skewed.
