Test Planning: A Complete Guide for QA
Success
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
In QA, a test plan is your roadmap to delivering a quality product confidently and efficiently.
What is a Test Plan?
A Test Plan is a detailed document that outlines the strategy, scope, objectives, schedule,
resources, and activities required for testing a software product.
It defines:
• What will be tested
• How to test it
• When it will be tested
• Who will test it
• What resources are needed
Pre-Requisites for Test Planning
Before creating a test plan, ensure you have:
1. Requirements Doc (SRS/BRD) – "No specs? Red flag!"
2. Timeline – Sync with dev milestones
3. Tool Stack – Pick the right weapons:
o Test Management: TestRail / Qase
o Automation: Selenium / Cypress / Playwright
o Bug Tracking: JIRA / Linear
4. Team Kickoff – Hold a quick sync with Devs + PM to align on features, scope, and
priorities.
Why it matters: These steps ensure your plan is based on facts, not assumptions.
Components of a Good Test Plan (with Calculator App
Example)
1. Test Plan ID
TP-CALC-001 (for Calculator App v1.0)
A unique identifier for traceability.
2. Objective
Clearly state what you’re testing and why.
Example:
o To verify the accuracy, usability, and error handling of a basic calculator app.
Why it matters: Keeps the testing focused on business goals.
3. Scope
Defines what will and won’t be tested
Example:
• In Scope: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, UI validation
• Out of Scope: Scientific mode, theme settings, history logs
Why it matters: Prevents scope creep and confusion during execution.
4. Test Strategy
Describe how testing will be approached:
• Levels: Unit, Integration, System
• Types: Manual + Automation
• Techniques: BVA (Boundary Value Analysis), EP (Equivalence Partitioning), Smoke,
Regression
Example:
• “We’ll use a hybrid strategy: manual testing for UI and automation for basic math
operations using Cypress. Focus on BVA and edge cases.”
5. Test Environment Setup
Detail where and on what the testing will happen. Include:
• URLs or app builds
• Browsers/devices
• Required tools (e.g. emulator, Postman)
• Access credentials
Example:
Environment: Staging environment with Android and iOS devices
• DB: None (fully client-side app)
• Tools: Android Emulator, iPhone 12 Simulator, Postman (for calculator API), Cypress
(for web version)
• Access: GitHub build pipeline, TestFlight or Google Play Internal Testing
Why it matters: A broken or incomplete environment = blocked testing.
6. Test Deliverables
List what documents and outputs will be produced.
Example:
• Test Plan Document
• Functional Test Cases (Excel/TestRail)
• Bug Reports (JIRA)
• Test Summary Report
Why it matters: Helps everyone know what to expect at the end.
7. Entry and Exit Criteria
Define the conditions to start and stop testing.
Entry:
• Build deployed to test devices
• Feature freeze completed
• Test data prepared
Exit:
• All high/critical bugs fixed
• 100% test cases executed
• Summary report shared with stakeholders
Why it matters: Avoids rushing in or shipping too early.
8. Schedule & Milestones
Activity Start End
Test Planning Apr 1 Apr 2
Test Case Writing Apr 3 Apr 5
Test Execution Apr 6 Apr 12
Final Report Apr 13 Apr 13
9. Roles & Responsibilities
Team Member Role Responsibility
Alex QA Lead Plan, review, stakeholder sync
XYZ QA Engineer Execute tests, log bugs
ABC Automation QA Build automation for core flows
10. Risks and Mitigation
Risk Impact Mitigation
Delayed environment setup High Align with DevOps early
Changing requirements Medium Weekly review with PM
Resource availability Medium Cross-train backup QA members
Real Example: Detailed Test Plan for
Calculator App v1.0
1. Objective
To ensure users can perform basic arithmetic operations (+, -, ×, ÷) correctly, and that the
calculator provides accurate outputs, handles invalid inputs gracefully, and maintains UI
consistency across devices.
2. Scope
Category In Scope Out of Scope
Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Functionality History/saved calculations
operations
UI Button responsiveness, Layout validation Themes/skins customization
Advanced math (sin, cos,
Edge Cases Division by zero handling, Overflow handling
log, etc.)
3. Test Types
• Functional Testing: Validate all core arithmetic operations.
• UI Testing: Verify button placement, label accuracy, and click responsiveness.
• Error Handling Testing: Test for invalid inputs like division by zero or large number
overflows.
4. Entry & Exit Criteria
Phase Criteria
Stable build deployed to QA environment- Test cases reviewed and approved by
Entry
QA lead
Exit 100% of critical test cases passed- No open P1 (Critical) or P2 (Major) defects
5. Test Environment
Component Details
Devices iPhone 14, Pixel 7, iPad Air
OS / Browsers iOS 16+, Android 13+, Chrome 120+, Safari latest
- TestRail (for Test Case Management)- JIRA (for Defect Tracking)-
Tools
Cypress (for Web Automation)
- Valid Inputs: (e.g., "5+3", "8×2")- Invalid Inputs: (e.g., "5/0",
Test Data
"999999999×999999999")
6. Deliverables
Before Testing:
• Test Plan Document (this document)
• 200+ Test Cases covering all operations
• Complete Valid/Invalid Input Data Sets
During Testing:
• Daily Execution Status Logs
• Defect Reports (JIRA) with screenshots and/or videos
• Test Execution Summary Updates
After Testing:
• Final Test Summary Report (pass/fail rates, defect metrics)
• Release Readiness Memo/Recommendation
7. Risks & Mitigation
Risk Mitigation Strategy
Device-specific UI bugs Test on at least 3 real devices (mix of iOS and Android)
Flaky automation tests Implement retry logic in Cypress test scripts
Prioritize critical path tests (basic operations first) and de-scope
Tight project deadline
lower priority cases if needed
Quick Summary for the Calculator App v1.0
Section Example
Objective Validate arithmetic operations
Basic operations, UI; exclude scientific
Scope
mode
Test Strategy Functional, UI, and Error handling tests
Environment Android/iOS/Web, TestRail, Cypress
Deliverables Test Cases, Bug Reports, Summary Report
Entry Criteria Build ready, requirements locked
Exit Criteria No critical defects, 100% critical test pass
Key Risks Build delays, UI misalignment
Tips from a Senior QA
• Start Early – Begin planning even before development finishes
• Involve Dev/PO – Make it collaborative
• Keep it Visual – Tables, timelines, charts help
• Review Often – Keep your plan flexible and current
Final Thoughts
A strong test plan is more than a document — it’s a strategy for success. It aligns teams, sets
expectations, and ensures quality.
With this structured approach, you’re not just testing software — you’re building confidence.
The End
