Sopra Group continues to extend a range of training courses specifically designed to improve and/or enhance your testing knowledge and overall testing capability.  In addition to the traditional ISEB/ISTQB series, Sopra Group has introduced a series of masterclasses that focus on the next phase of testing requirements, giving greater clarity on how testing operates in a real business environment.  We also provide a variety of training relating to the use of functional performance testing tools.

Foundation Level

Foundation Certificate In Software Testing

For testers, test team leaders, developers, business analysts and anyone wishing to gain the ISEB/ISTQB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing.  This course covers the ISTQB foundation syllabus using lecture sessions, exercises, practice exams and games to highlight key aspects of the syllabus to assist the delegate in the understanding of the concepts and methods presented.  The afternoon of day three is dedicated to revision including a full sample paper taken under exam conditions.  On the final morning you sit the ISEB/ISTQB multiple choice exam.

In the last 12 months our training courses have produced a first-time pass rate of over 95%.  Candidates needed to achieve 26/40 i.e. 65% to pass the exam - our average pass mark is 32/40 i.e. 80% (which would be a distinction if these applied at the Foundation level).

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ISTQB Advanced / ISEB Practitioner Level

There have been significant changes in the more advanced software testing qualifications offered by different industry bodies.  Sopra Group has considered the impact of these changes and have set out below our views and recommendations.

Sopra Group was accredited for the old style ISEB Practitioner Qualification and ran successful courses in this with a significant proportion of candidates achieving a distinction.   The breadth of content in this course was both a personal and logistical challenge for candidates and a new 'streamed' structure was introduced in 2008.

While at the Foundation level ISEB and ISTQB are aligned unfortunately different qualification structures are now used by them above the Foundation Level.  The two schemes are quite different, and it has not been possible to merge them.

We are happy to discuss the pros and cons of each structure with potential clients/delegates though of the two schemes we believe the better split of technical content used, coupled with its broader international appeal of ISTQB, currently makes them the best choice.  However, Sopra Group recognises that companies and individuals may have different views or have already taken the ISEB Intermediate quialification and consequently we will offer training in both schemes.

The materials for all of our courses, which are used under license from Grove Consultants, have already accredited.

ISTQB Advanced Level Qualification

Sopra Group is accredited by ISTQB to deliver the Advanced Test Analyst and Advanced Test Manager certificates and our accreditation for the Advanced Technical Test Analyst is pending.

Three separate multiple-choice exams (each 65 questions, 3 hours) with a certificate for each.  Our training will consist of a two-day 'core' module followed by separate three-day courses for each of the following certificates

• Test Manager
• Test Analyst
• Technical Test Analyst

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ISEB Intermediate Certificate

Sopra Groups is accredited by ISEB to deliver the ISEB Intermediate Certificate.

This takes the form of a three day course followed by a one hour (25 question scenario-based) multiple-choice exam.  It is aimed at those who hold the ISEB/ISTQB foundation certificate and are interested in gaining a higher qualification as well as improving their knowledge in Software Testing.  It is a pre-requisite for the other two ISEB certificates in test management and test analysis.  The course prepares students for the exam through slides, notes, exercises, practice exams and different learning aids.

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ISEB Practitioner Qualification

Sopra Group has submitted for accreditation for the new style practitioner certificate and our accreditation is pending.

This will consist of two separate three days courses followed by a 2 hour, 4 question essay style exam with a certificate for each.  Each course is a separate three-day module for the following qualifications:

• Practitioner Certificate in Software Test Management 
• Practitioner Certificate in Software Test Analysis

Please note – recent developments at ISEB have included the proposal to alter the exam structure from four optional questions (out of a choice of six) to one mandatory 1-hour question followed by 2 optional, half hour, questions (out of a choice of four).  These changes have yet to be confirmed but candidates should be aware of this.

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Influencing Skills For Testers

In today's highly competitive IT marketplace, the demands on IT service deliverers, including Software Testers; to make a personal impact which significantly influences customer decisions is business critical.

In particular, the following capability areas will help people differentiate themselves and achieve greater results:

• Recognition of the different needs of customers and colleagues in formulating ways of working for mutual benefit 
• Raised awareness of the need to create buy-in and commitment to ideas on the basis of win-win 
• Willingness to invest time and effort in developing key customer and colleague relationships 
• Conscious awareness of and choice in using a wide range of influencing styles to achieve required outcomes 
• Awareness of personal impact on others and adapting this dependent on feedback 
• Sustaining and embedding improved impact and influencing practices on the job.

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Rapid/Exploratory Testing

Rapid Software Testing Management is about how to effectively manage a test project under time pressure and conditions of uncertainty.  Based on the rapid software testing practices developed by James Bach and Dr. Cem Kaner and building on the Rapid Software Testing Class, this class answers key questions managers frequently ask about how to run a rapid testing effort.

The skills presented in this class are applicable in any kind of project, from agile to traditional, but will be especially valuable in those projects where time and resources are scarce.

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Web Functionality Testing

While many of the traditional concepts of software testing still hold true, Web and eBusiness applications have a different risk profile to other, more mature, controlled environments.  A Web tester may have to deal with shorter release cycles, constantly changing technology, complex software and hardware architectures and an unknown user base that could run into millions.

Many testers and test managers are being asked to make the transition from testing traditional client/server, PC, and/or mainframe environments to testing rapidly changing and complex websites.  This training course seeks to help those making this transition by explaining these new technologies and suggesting test cases and techniques that can be included in a website's navigation, functional, usability, and compatibility test plans.

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Web Performance & Security Testing

Many organisations are seeking to deploy mission-critical websites/applications that are intended to attract large numbers of visitors, often with significant revenue associated with the activity.  This training course seeks to help developers, testers and test managers already experienced in testing small-scale websites understand the technologies needed to make websites more scalable, secure, and reliable.

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Requirements & Traceability Masterclass

Created by our team of highly skilled Consultants to supplement and enhance existing practices in areas detailed below:

• Requirements overview 
• Why are they so critical to a project's success? 
• Requirements Management 
• The cost of faults 
• Where to test requirements 
• The 10-Point check 
• Putting it into practice 
• Overview of Requirements Traceability 
• Types of Traceability 
• Traceability Techniques 
• Tools 
• Summary.

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Risk-Based Testing Masterclass

Created by our team of highly skilled Consultants to supplement and enhance existing practices in areas detailed below:

• The Basics 
• Risk & Risk Management, Risk-Based Testing, RBT Benefits 
• How to do it, MoSCoW, Boston Matrix, Risk-Based Requirements Analysis (Risk Register) 
• Risk scoring 
• Some RBT examples 
• Practical Exercises 
• Risk-based reporting 
• Watch out for...

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Estimating Masterclass

Created by our team of highly skilled Consultants to enhance existing practices and includes:

• What is test estimation
• How to pull together an estimate with very little information
• How does estimation link to requirements, traceability and RUP/UML
• An example of an estimation model.

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Application Security Testing

Created by our team of highly skilled Consultants to supplement and enhance existing practices in areas detailed below.

• Security Fundamentals 
• Current Threat Environment 
• The Application Security Problem 
• Application Security Best Practice 
• Software Assurance.

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Agile Masterclass

Testing in an agile development environment is significantly different from 'traditional' testing.  This masterclass explains how it is different and highlights the key challenges testers and test managers will face as well as providing advice on how to ensure your testing meets these challenges.  This course includes:

• Agile method definitions, SCRUM and other techniques
• Agile projects and the difficulties of pure Agile testing in a non-Agile environment
• The Agile testing process
• The Agile testing kitbag
• Potential pitfalls.

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RUP/UML Masterclass

Created by our team of highly skilled Consultants, this masterclass includes an:

• Introduction to Rational Unified Process
• Overview of Use Cases/UML (Unified Modular Language)
• Creating Test Cases from Use Cases.

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Behavioural & Consultancy Masterclass

Created by our team of highly skilled Consultants to provide skills to make you a better consultant and includes:

• Selling Consultancy
• Strengths – values, collateral and the team
• Becoming a Trusted Advisor
• Consultancy Skills & Team Dynamics
• Relationship Building – Rapport, Synergy and Trust
• What to avoid
• Power of good communication.

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Reporting & Metrics Masterclass

Created by our team of highly skilled Consultants to supplement and enhance existing practices in areas detailed below.

• What is Reporting & Metrics? 
• Value Benefits of Reporting & Metrics 
• How is Reporting & Metrics delivered? 
• Examples of Reporting & Metrics tools 
• Problems or issues you many encounter delivering Reporting & Metrics.

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We can provide any of the above courses on request, in other locations.

If you wish to sign up to receive the updated schedule, please contact us.