The CTFL v4.0 exam
Everything worth knowing about the exam before you start studying: what is assessed, how it's scored and where the questions come from. Knowing the format is half the preparation — the exam is very predictable once you know how to read it.
Format
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 40, multiple choice |
| Scoring | 1 point per question, no penalty for wrong answers |
| Pass mark | 26 out of 40 (65%) |
| Duration | 60 minutes (+25% if the exam isn't in your native language: 75 min) |
| Answers | Single correct answer, unless the question states otherwise |
You can take it online with remote proctoring or in person, through an accredited exam provider (I took mine with Brightest). The certificate never expires.
K-levels: how questions are asked
Every learning objective in the syllabus has a cognitive level, and that level determines the question type:
| Level | What it demands | Questions in the exam | Rough time per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| K1 — Remember | Exact terminology and definitions | 8 | 30–45 s |
| K2 — Understand | Explain, compare, classify concepts | 24 | 1–1.5 min |
| K3 — Apply | Solve a case: apply a technique to an example | 8 | 2–3 min |
The exam includes 8 K3 questions, and they decide who passes. Most come from chapter 4 (the four black-box techniques and ATDD); the rest from chapter 5 (effort estimation, test case prioritization, writing a defect report). All of them require practicing exercises, not just reading.
The 6 syllabus chapters
The v4.0 syllabus has 6 chapters, 14 business outcomes and 64 learning objectives. They don't carry equal weight in the exam:
| Chapter | Topic | Exam weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundamentals of testing | High |
| 2 | Testing throughout the SDLC | Medium |
| 3 | Static testing | Low |
| 4 | Test analysis and design | The highest |
| 5 | Managing the test activities | High |
| 6 | Test tools | The lowest |
Key idea
Chapters 4 and 5 account for about half of the questions, and they also hold all the K3s. If you're short on time, prioritize mastering the chapter 4 techniques (equivalence partitioning, boundary values, decision tables, state transitions and ATDD) and the chapter 5 exercises (estimation, prioritization, defect reports).
Official documents (free download)
All the primary study material is free on the ISTQB website:
- CTFL v4.0 Syllabus — the complete curriculum. It is THE source: every exam question derives from it.
- Sample exams A, B, C and D — on the same page, each with justified answers. The best way to calibrate your level.
- Official ISTQB Glossary — the exact terminology K1 questions use. When in doubt between two definitions, this is the source of truth.
- Your local member board often provides translated syllabi and exams (in Spain, the SSTQB).