Testing Programs (OCR GCSE Computer Science)
Revision Note
Written by: James Woodhouse
Reviewed by: Lucy Kirkham
The Purpose of Testing
What is the purpose of testing programs?
Testing is carried out for many reasons, however, 4 main areas are:
To ensure there are no errors or bugs in the code
To ensure that the code performs as it was intended
To ensure no one can gain unauthorised access to the system
To check the program solves the initial problem and meets all requirements
Types of Testing
What are the different types of testing?
There are two types of tests that developers and teams will do to ensure their programs are robust and meet the requirements that have been set out, they are:
Iterative testing
Final testing
Iterative Testing
Each part of a program is tested
Every pathway through the program is tested
This includes each branch/pathway inside of IF statements
This is done during the development of the program
Iterative testing means repeatedly testing the program whilst continuing to make changes and make improvements
This method of testing ensures that the program is fully functional and working as intended
Examiner Tips and Tricks
If you get asked anything about iterative testing, just remember each time you ran your code when you were working on a program. Every time you ran the code, you were testing the program using iterative testing.
Final Testing
Testing that all parts (modules) of a program work together
Checking the program against real data to ensure it meets all of the requirements
Testing the program using normal, boundary and erroneous data
Final testing is done towards the end of the development cycle, once the entire program is complete
Final testing can include
Alpha testing
Beta testing
Worked Example
Describe the difference between iterative testing and final testing. [2]
Answer: 1 mark per bullet to max 2
Iterative is during development // repeatedly testing while making changes
Final is when the development is (almost) complete // done after iterative testing
Last updated:
You've read 0 of your 5 free revision notes this week
Sign up now. It’s free!
Did this page help you?
