❓ Have you ever written a test case that nobody else could understand?
Maybe a dev asked, “What exactly are you testing here?”
Or another QA messaged you: “How do I run this case again?”
That usually means the test case lacks clarity — not in format, but in thinking.
A professional test case isn’t just a checklist. It’s how you show your QA logic.
🎯 A great test case answers 5 key questions:
1. What am I testing?
- What's the specific feature or behavior under test?
- Does the title make that obvious?
📌 The test case title should describe exactly what’s being verified.
Example:
✔️ Transfer money between two internal accounts (valid input)
❌ Check transfer function
2. What do I need before I start?
- Logged in? Proper role? Required test data?
- Any setup needed?
📌 Preconditions make your case reproducible.
3. What are the test steps?
- Logical, numbered steps
- No skipped or combined actions
📌 Steps are your script — make them easy to follow.
4. What should happen? (Expected Result)
- What’s the correct outcome after each step?
- Does it match the requirement?
📌 Clear expectations = clear pass/fail decision.
5. What happens if something goes wrong?
- Have you tested invalid input, unexpected actions, or edge cases?
- Is the system handling it properly?
📌 Good testers don’t just test what works — they test what breaks.
✅ Summary Table
| # | Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What am I testing? | Defines the goal |
| 2 | What do I need before I start? | Ensures repeatability |
| 3 | What are the test steps? | Makes execution clear |
| 4 | What should happen? | Validates the result |
| 5 | What if something goes wrong? | Checks system resilience |
🧠 Final Thought: It's About Thinking, Not Filling a Template
Yes, every tester knows the test case structure:
Title, Precondition, Steps, Expected, Actual.
But if you only fill the form, and don’t think through the why,
then your test case might pass review — but fail in real use.
✍️ A real QA doesn’t just write a test case.
They design a thought process others can follow, trust, and learn from.
🧪 Example: Applying the Thought Process to a Real Test Case
Let’s say you’re testing the “Transfer Money” feature between user accounts.
✅ Instead of writing this (too vague):
Title: Test transfer
Steps:
1. Go to transfer screen
2. Enter amount
3. Submit
Expected: Transfer successful
⛔ This tells us nothing. What are you testing exactly? What amount? Logged in as who? What if the input is invalid?
🧠 Now apply the 5-question mindset:
| Field | Content |
|---|---|
| Test Case ID | TC-001 |
| Title | Transfer money between two internal accounts (valid input) |
| Precondition | User is logged in as "Standard User" Both accounts are active Account A has balance ≥ 100 |
| Test Steps | 1. Navigate to "Transfer" screen 2. Select Account A as source, Account B as target 3. Enter amount = 100 4. Click “Submit” |
| Expected Result | Success message is displayed: “Transfer completed” Account A balance reduced by 100 Account B balance increased by 100 |
| Negative Case Reminder | Covered in TC-002: Input negative amount Covered in TC-003: Target account locked |
| Linked Requirement | USER-STORY-TRANSFER-01 |
| Assumptions | No network errors during transaction |
🔍 Why this works:
- ✅ "What am I testing?" → Clearly defined in title
- ✅ "What do I need?" → All preconditions listed
- ✅ "What are the steps?" → Step-by-step, actionable
- ✅ "What should happen?" → Detailed and measurable expected outcome
- ✅ "What if something goes wrong?" → Negative cases listed separately, traceable
🧠 A test case like this is not just executable — it’s transferable.
Anyone on the team can run it, review it, or use it to debug without chasing you down.
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