In this article I am trying to provide sufficient details to the certification aspirants in our testing community which could help them decide on the certification suiting their individual needs and taste, while most important factor being their pocket. There are lot many similarities among the two certifications – ISTQB & ISEB. Both the certification schemes are broadly equivalent and enjoy great respect due to being of international recognition.

1. Let us compare the two leading Role based certifications ISTQB & ISEB
In this article I am trying to provide sufficient details to the certification aspirants in our testing community
which could help them decide on the certification suiting their individual needs and taste, while most
important factor being their pocket.
There are lot many similarities among the two certifications – ISTQB & ISEB.
Both the certification schemes are broadly equivalent and enjoy great respect due to being of
international recognition.
Quick introduction to Major Certifying Bodies - ISTQB & ISEB:
ISTQB ISEB
ISTQB (International Software Testing ISEB (Information Systems Examination
Qualification Board) is a Non-Profit Body) is the qualifications arm of the
organization. British Computing Society.
It decides the core syllabus & defines
standard guidelines for certification exams
being conducted by national boards for
conducting exams in their respective
countries.
What are the Levels of Specialization you acquire with these certifications?
Broad hierarchical comparison among two streams is given below

2. Functional comparison different levels of certifications are:
Level - 1 (Foundation Level):
This is the entry-level certification offered by ISTQB as well as ISEB to the software testers. Both these
certifications are equivalent, since their exams use the same international level syllabus and glossary of
terms defined by ISTQB.
It provides an introduction to the basics or the theory of testing & this aspect is tested through short
multiple choice objective-type exam covering K-1, K-2 & K-3 skill levels described below.
These certification exams are administered at online-tests centers and other local examination bodies of
various countries.
Level - 2 (Advanced / Practitioner Level):
At this level, ISTQB and ISEB operate on different schemes. Although both these schemes are quite
similar & equivalent, since these too are built upon foundation level syllabus and the same glossary of
terms defined by ISTQB. Hence testers have a choice to go in for either of these certifications.
Following table describes some of the key points of differences among various schemes at these levels.
Level - 3 (More Advanced / Practitioner Level):
At present such third level certification are not available. Both ISTQB and ISEB are contemplating on
coming out with this most advanced level of certification schemes having different merits in due course of
time.
Here ISTQB is likely to have different viewpoint from ISEB in following aspects.
Vision of ISTQB Vision of ISEB
# The aspirants for third level # To offer a full fledged diploma to
certification are being expected the aspirants with a view to widen
to concentrate more & more on their perspective and be able to
detailed aspects of testing like enhance their qualifications in
test automation or performance other areas supported by ISEB.
testing.
# The ISEB has a large basket of
# It is believed that experts of qualification offerings covering
ISTQB are already engaged in areas like requirements
formulating the syllabus & engineering, project management,
structure of exam. development & service
management.
Before going ahead with skill to skill comparison; let us briefly delve upon the various skill levels or
knowledge levels for the testing industry being designated as K-Levels.
What are K-Levels of knowledge?
K-Levels or “Knowledge Levels” basically refers to the prescription of an upper limit of skills or knowledge
essential for a particular certification.
Hierarchy of K-Levels is described in globally recognized Bloom’s Texonomy of learning. Reaching a
particular K-Level means that the individual has successfully achieved some measurable & meaningful
objectives.
How many K-Levels or learning objectives do we when talking about test certification?

3. K-Levels begins at K-1 being the kindergarten level of learning in testing & ending up at K-6 with
specialized knowledge as described in the Following Article
Article:
Pictorial comparison of various schemes by ISTQB & ISEB with Knowledge levels acquired on our
career path are:
Salient features of various Level –1 & 2 Certification Schemes by ISTQB
Feature Foundati ISTQB ISTQB ISTQB
on Level Certified Certified Certified
(Common Tester Tester Tester
for ISTQB Advanced Advance Advance
& ISEB) Level: d Level: d Level:
Test Test Technical
Manager Analyst Test
Analyst
1 Pre -requisites None Foundatio Foundatio Foundatio
n n n
2 Exam Duration 1 Hr. 3 Hrs. 3 Hrs. 3 Hrs.
3 Learning Levels K1, K2, K1, K2, K1, K2, K1, K2,
K3 K3,K4 K3,K4 K3,K4
4 Examining Body ISEB ITB / Local ITB / ITB /
(s) Testing Local Local
Board Testing Testing

4. Board Board
5 Current syllabus 12th April Oct 2007 Oct 2007 Oct 2007
issued on 2007 (v2007) (v2007) (v2007)
(v2007)
6 Exam format Multiple Multiple Multiple Multiple
Choice Choice Choice Choice
7 Number of 40 40 40 40
Questions
8 Type of Independe Pick ‘N’ Pick ‘N’ Pick ‘N’
Questions nt Multiple Mix & Mix & Mix &
Choice Scenario Scenario Scenario
Based Based Based
9 Min. %age to 65% 65% 65% 65%
Pass
10 Exam Compa - Each Each Each Each
rability across ISTQB ISTQB ISTQB ISTQB
different Testing Testing Testing Testing
countries Board and Board and Board and Board and
ISEB ISEB ISEB ISEB
prepare prepare prepare prepare
their own their own their own their own
exam exam exam exam
papers papers papers papers
11 What to do After ISTQB None at None at None at
this Certified the the the
Tester moment – moment – moment –
Advanced Expert Expert Expert
Level or Level not Level not Level not
ISEB Available Available Available
Intermedia yet yet yet
te
12 Availability on Yes Yes Yes No
Public Schedule
13 Exam Fee per Defined Defined by Defined Defined
person by ITB / ITB / Local by ITB / by ITB /
Local Testing Local Local
Testing Board Testing Testing
Board Board Board
Salient features of various Level –1 & 2 Certification Schemes by ISEB
Feature ISEB ISEB ISEB
Intermediate Practitioner Practitioner
– Test – Test
Management Analysis
1 Pre-requisites Foundation Intermediate Intermediate
2 Exam Duration 1 Hr. 2 Hrs. 2 Hrs.
3 Learning Levels K1, K2, K1, K2, K1, K2,
K3,K4 K3,K4,K5,K6 K3,K4,K5,K6
4 Examining ISEB ISEB ISEB
Body (s)
5 Current syllabus June 2008 June 2008 June 2008
issued on (Version 1.3) (Version 2.0) (Version 2.0)
6 Exam format Multiple Essay Style Essay Style

5. Choice
7 Number of 40 40 40
Questions
8 Type of Scenario Written Written
Questions Based Question & Question &
Multiple Answer Answer
Choice
9 Min. %age to 60% 60% 60%
Pass
10 Exam Same core Same core Same core
Comparability papers are papers are papers are
across different used used used
countries internationally internationally internationally
11 What to do After Practitioner in None at the None at the
this Test Analysis moment – moment –
or Expert Level Expert Level
Practitioner in not Available not Available
Test yet yet
Management
12 Availability on Yes Yes Yes
Public Schedule
13 Exam Fee per Defined by Defined by Defined by
person ISEB / Local ISEB / Local ISEB / Local
Body Body Body
Best of Luck Friends !!!!! in your pursuit for these World Class Test Certifications
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