Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

ICASAS503A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Perform systems tests

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ICASAS503A - Perform systems tests
Description This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to ensure that the properties of the entire system are tested and proved adequate before handover to the client or user for final acceptance testing.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit applies to senior information and communications technology (ICT) staff employed in a range of work environments who are required to ensure that a system is defect-free before it is acceptance tested by the user.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare for test
  • Prepare test environment
  • Determine software life cycle
  • Define test plan and appropriate test tools
  • Recognise and separate the system into runnable modules mirroring live scenarios
  • Gather and prepare logs and result sheets
  • Notify operations of scheduled test to ensure preparedness and understanding of implications for operations
  • Test scripts for online test or test run for batch test
  • Conduct walkthrough to review expected results against acceptance criteria and system requirements documentation
       
Element: Conduct test
  • Run test scripts and document results according to test and acceptance processes
  • Perform required quality benchmarks or comparisons for acceptance testing
  • Adopt organisation and industry standards
  • Compare actual results to expected results on completion of each system unit, and complete result sheets
       
Element: Analyse and classify results
  • Summarise and classify results, highlighting critical or urgent areas of concern and prepare report
  • Compare results against requirements
  • Notify operations of test completion
  • Log attendees’ details or comments and gain required signatures
  • Schedule feedback meeting to discuss report and possible next actions with stakeholders if necessary
  • Ensure test reporting complies with documentation and reporting standards
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

test the operation and consistency of the total system according to the system requirements, including testing performance, security, configuration sensitivity, and start-up and recovery from failure modes; with testing taking place prior to delivery

analyse test results

prepare reports in compliance with documentation and reporting standards.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

appropriate learning and assessment support when required

modified equipment for people with special needs

requirements and design documents

human resources

test hardware and environments in place and free for system test use (all testing to be carried out on the same platform as the completed system; scheduled testing to be on the production platform; production environment is required as part of test preparation)

system or application suitable for testing.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of candidate conducting a test using appropriate test tools

verbal or written questioning of underpinning skills and knowledge of components and run-able modules that make up a total system

evaluation of test results prepared by candidate, including confirming that functionality is as specified by the business, and documenting any software issues

review of test documentation, specifically confirming that:

functionality of the tested system is as specified by the business in the business design specification document and the requirements documentation

software will replace existing software or support the intended business functions and achieves the standards required by the organisation for the development of new systems

software, network or web page is of high quality and interfaces with existing systems.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communication skills to:

present information

provide advice to colleagues and staff

literacy skills to:

interpret technical documentation

write reports

problem-solving skills to solve testing problems

technical skills to analyse and use programming skills related to testing the operation and consistency of the total system.

Required knowledge

automated test tools, with detailed knowledge of some features and processes

input and output requirements

organisational practice and rules for preparing test

particular system requirements and features

underlying test data.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Test environment may include:

data

network, communications and other equipment

operating system

other support software

program libraries.

Test tools may include:

applications testing:

Cyrano Suite

DataShark

Datatect

preVue-C/S

code, unit, class testing:

AssertMate

BoundsChecker

C-Cover

CodeReview

CodeWizard

DeepCover

FailSafe

Hindsight

Insure++

JavaPureCheck

JCAST

Logiscope

stress load testing:

Astra SiteManager

Astra SiteTest

automated test facilities

AutoTester Web

e-Load

e-MONITO

e-TEST Suite

JavaLoad

LoadRunner.

Organisation and industry standards may include:

AS3925.1-1994 Software quality assurance - plans

AS4042-1992 Software configuration management plans

AS4043-1992 Software configuration management

AS/NZS 14102:1998 Information technology - guideline for evaluation and selection of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools

AS/NZS 4258:1994 Software user documentation process

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 12207:1997 Information technology - Software life cycle processes.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Prepare test environment 
Determine software life cycle 
Define test plan and appropriate test tools 
Recognise and separate the system into runnable modules mirroring live scenarios 
Gather and prepare logs and result sheets 
Notify operations of scheduled test to ensure preparedness and understanding of implications for operations 
Test scripts for online test or test run for batch test 
Conduct walkthrough to review expected results against acceptance criteria and system requirements documentation 
Run test scripts and document results according to test and acceptance processes 
Perform required quality benchmarks or comparisons for acceptance testing 
Adopt organisation and industry standards 
Compare actual results to expected results on completion of each system unit, and complete result sheets 
Summarise and classify results, highlighting critical or urgent areas of concern and prepare report 
Compare results against requirements 
Notify operations of test completion 
Log attendees’ details or comments and gain required signatures 
Schedule feedback meeting to discuss report and possible next actions with stakeholders if necessary 
Ensure test reporting complies with documentation and reporting standards 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICASAS503A - Perform systems tests
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

ICASAS503A - Perform systems tests

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: