Sopra Group continues to extend a range of training courses specifically designed to improve and/or enhance your testing knowledge and overall testing capability.

We believe that industry-accredited ISEB/ISTQB courses have their place and we offer a number of these. However, we do not believe that training in testing should solely be based on them as the range of skills and the practices available in testing are much broader. As a consequence Sopra Group has introduced a series of masterclasses including Risk-Based Testing, Requirements Testing and Exploratory Testing as well as tailored training specifically created for particular client needs.

We also deliver training in the use of Test Automation and in particular how to ensure effective Performance Testing. Exciting new courses include Influencing Skills for Testers, Agile Masterclass and Developer Testing Training.

ISEB/ISTQB Qualifications

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 morning of the fourth day you will 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).

Enquire About Foundation Certificate In Software Testing

ISTQB Advanced

Sopra Group is one of only seven training providers accredited in the UK to deliver ISTQB Advanced training and when our current application for Technical Test Analyst is approved we will be one of only three providers who can offer all three of the certificates.

Historically Sopra Group has successfully delivered Practitioner/Advanced courses for a number of years. Our Practitioner training regularly produced a significant number of candidates that achieved a distinction. Recent decisions by ISEB and ISTQB have ratified the choice made by Sopra Group, early in 2010, to focus on ISTQB Advanced in terms of the accredited courses that we offer.

As a consequence, from January 2011 we ceased to offer ISEB Intermediate or ISEB Practitioner courses. Practitioner was withdrawn by ISEB in March 2011.

The materials for all of our accredited courses are used under licence from Grove Consultants. We are the longest standing and one of the most active licensees of their material, taking an active role in their development by providing feedback and improvement suggestions.

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

The materials for the above courses, which are used under licence from Grove Consultants, have already been accredited.

Enquire About ISTQB Advanced Level Qualification

Specialist

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.

Enquire About Influencing Skills For Testers

Web Testing

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.

Enquire About Web Functionality Testing

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.

Enquire About Web Performance & Security Testing

Masterclasses

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.

Enquire About Requirements & Traceability Masterclass

Risk-Based Testing Masterclass (1 or 2 days)

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...

Enquire About Risk-Based Testing Masterclass

Exploratory Testing Masterclass (1 or 2 days)

This masterclass gives an overview of Exploratory Testing in terms of what it is, how it works and the management technique of using Session-Based Test Management (or SBTM) to carry it in alongside scripted testing or as an alternative approach. It draws heavily from the work of James Bach but factors in our own experience of using this powerful approach that is based around simultaneous learning, design and execution of tests:

  • What is Exploratory Testing (ET)
  • What is Session-Based Test Management (SBTM)
  • Value Benefits of ET/SBTM
  • How the work in practice
  • Examples of them in action
  • Problems/issues you many encounter in using them
  • Q & A.

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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.

Enquire About Estimating Masterclass

Application Security Testing Masterclass

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 Good Practice
  • Software Assurance.

Enquire About Application Security Testing Masterclass

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.

Enquire About Reporting & Metrics Masterclass

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.