CSTE Exams - Anyone?

Hi Friends,
I Have 4 yrs experience in Software Testing(manual predominantly).

Does anyone know how useful CSTE exam is in India w.r.t Interviews etc and job use also. Or is the ISTQB exam better suited for working in India?
I just wanted to know. I am already ISTQB(foundation) certified. SO,i thought I wil take up CSTE now as its a complete cpurse unlike ISTQB which has 2 levels.

Hi Neha,

I am CSTE certified and i found it helpful in the following ways:

1. Helps us get acquainted with the commonly used terminology and procedures in testing. Each company/domain uses different terms to refer to a process in testing. CSTE helps us consolidate that.
2. It helped me in getting back into the job after an year long break. My resume was shortlisted mainly because i am CSTE certified.
3. Helps in interviews too. We will be familiar with the terminology and processes used in testing. So we can answer the questions with more confidence.

CSTE and ISTQB are more or less similar and have almost same value when shortlisting your resume for the testing position. One certification is as good as another. My opinion: Going for both certifications is not a great value add. As you have completed level1 in ISTQB foundation, you can go for the second level.

Nowadays automation testing is very much in demand. If you wish to learn something new, i would suggest to learn test autiomation, creation of automation framework etc.

-Lakshmi

Hi Lakshmi,
Thank you for the reply.
I too plan to take up CSTE since i have a break in career of 6 months.
and i have decided upon CSTE since ISTQB centre are very very few in US. and CSTE is easy to complete here.So,i thought I shall give CSTE
how many months did you spend studying?
I plan to study for 2 months.

I had only 10-15days for intense studying Most of the time was lost in preparing for interviews and running after my hyperactive daughter

If we can relate the material in the CBOK to our real world experience, we can remember it quite easily. If you have 2 months to study, an hour or 2 everyday would be quite sufficient for the preparation.

-Lakshmi

thanks lakshmi!
Good to know we don't need a full 2 months to study for it....ill plan for it just when i decide to join back work.

thank you again for ur posts.

:

Originally Posted by orion80

I had only 10-15days for intense studying Most of the time was lost in preparing for interviews and running after my hyperactive daughter

If we can relate the material in the CBOK to our real world experience, we can remember it quite easily. If you have 2 months to study, an hour or 2 everyday would be quite sufficient for the preparation.

-Lakshmi

Certified Software Tester (CSTE) certifications - Software Certifications

Hi Lekshmi!

First of all CONGRATS on clearing the test!

It would be great if you could share more details abt the exam - like the book that you studied for the exam - CSTE CBOK? Any other books in particular?
Also, are there any sites/blogs/documents that helped you for the preparation of the test and/or any particular area/chapters that needs to be given more focus

PS: Thanks to Neha for starting this thread

Thanks in advance

Hi Gurl,

I cleared the test in Dec 2006. Certification will expire Dec this year

For studying i used CBOK and if i had any doubts regarding the terminology, i googled for the information. No need to go beyond the syllabus mentioned in the CBOK. If you are familiar with the topics mentioned in the CBOK, it would be more than enough to clear the exam with good score. If you are looking for more information or discussion abot the CBOK, there are a few yahoo and orkut groups for CSTE. There you will find very good information about CSTE and the exam, any new changes made to the exam pattern, etc. Also the people who have recently cleared the exam will be members, so that you can get the latest information about the exam pattern.

-Lakshmi

Hi Neha,
I too had this doubt abt how useful is CSTE. Thanks for this post.

I have started preparing for CSTE recently, though the preparation is slow. Mainly i guess because i had this doubt. But now after seeing Lakshmi's experience i think my preparations will become intense. Thanks Lakshmi for sharing ur experience.

Originally Posted by orion80

Hi Gurl,

I cleared the test in Dec 2006. Certification will expire Dec this year

For studying i used CBOK and if i had any doubts regarding the terminology, i googled for the information. No need to go beyond the syllabus mentioned in the CBOK. If you are familiar with the topics mentioned in the CBOK, it would be more than enough to clear the exam with good score. If you are looking for more information or discussion abot the CBOK, there are a few yahoo and orkut groups for CSTE. There you will find very good information about CSTE and the exam, any new changes made to the exam pattern, etc. Also the people who have recently cleared the exam will be members, so that you can get the latest information about the exam pattern.

-Lakshmi

Thanks Lekshmi for your valuable reply. Appreciate it.

Also, glad to see that many people are benefiting from this thread.

Hi Sillygurl and laks13,
good to know you also had this in mind and have benefitted from the thread. i was debating over giving this exam for last 4 months. Anyway,I shall give it soon in 2 months or so before i start my job search.
and yes,lakshmi did motivate me also for giving the exam.