WGU C857 Software Quality
Assurance Exam 2025/2026 Updated 65
Questions with Correct Answers and
Explanations
Question 1
What is the primary goal of software quality assurance (SQA)?
A. To write code for software applications
B. To ensure software meets specified requirements and standards
C. To deploy software to production
D. To market software products
B. To ensure software meets specified requirements and standards
Rationale: SQA, per IEEE 730-2025, focuses on processes to verify and validate software
quality, ensuring compliance with requirements. A is development, C deployment, D marketing.
Question 2
Which standard defines the framework for software quality assurance plans?
A. ISO 9001
B. IEEE 730
C. ISO/IEC 25010
D. CMMI
B. IEEE 730
Rationale: IEEE 730-2025 provides guidelines for SQA plans, detailing processes for quality
control. ISO 9001 (A) is general quality, ISO/IEC 25010 (C) defines quality models, CMMI (D)
focuses on process improvement.
Question 3
What is the difference between verification and validation in SQA?
A. Verification tests functionality; validation tests design
B. Verification ensures the product is built right; validation ensures the right product
C. Verification is manual; validation is automated
D. Verification is post-release; validation is pre-release
,B. Verification ensures the product is built right; validation ensures the right product
Rationale: Per ISTQB 2025, verification checks process compliance (“built right”), while
validation confirms user needs (“right product”). C and D misrepresent testing types and timing.
Question 4
Which testing level focuses on interactions between components?
A. Unit testing
B. Integration testing
C. System testing
D. Acceptance testing
B. Integration testing
Rationale: ISTQB 2025 defines integration testing as verifying interfaces and interactions
between modules. Unit (A) tests individual components, system (C) the whole, acceptance (D)
user requirements.
Question 5
What is a key characteristic of a defect in software?
A. A feature requested by users
B. A deviation from specified requirements
C. A successful test case
D. An enhancement to functionality
B. A deviation from specified requirements
Rationale: IEEE 1044-2025 defines a defect as a flaw causing failure to meet specifications. A
and D are enhancements, C is a test outcome.
Question 6
Which SQA process involves evaluating software against quality attributes like reliability and
usability?
A. Code review
B. Quality attribute testing
C. Static analysis
D. Configuration management
B. Quality attribute testing
Rationale: ISO/IEC 25010:2025 quality model evaluates attributes like reliability, usability, and
performance. Code review (A) and static analysis (C) focus on code, configuration management
(D) on versioning.
Question 7
, What is the purpose of a test case?
A. To document the software design
B. To specify inputs, execution conditions, and expected results
C. To deploy software to production
D. To train end-users
B. To specify inputs, execution conditions, and expected results
Rationale: ISTQB 2025 defines test cases as structured scenarios to verify functionality. A is
design documentation, C deployment, D training.
Question 8
Which testing type evaluates software performance under heavy load?
A. Regression testing
B. Stress testing
C. Usability testing
D. Security testing
B. Stress testing
Rationale: ISTQB 2025: stress testing assesses system behavior under extreme conditions.
Regression (A) checks existing functionality, usability (C) user experience, security (D)
vulnerabilities.
Question 9
What is the primary focus of static testing?
A. Executing the software to find defects
B. Reviewing code or documents without execution
C. Testing software in production
D. Automating test scripts
B. Reviewing code or documents without execution
Rationale: ISTQB 2025: static testing (e.g., reviews, static analysis) finds issues early without
running code. A is dynamic, C production, D automation.
Question 10
Which metric measures the percentage of code executed during testing?
A. Defect density
B. Test coverage
C. Mean time to failure
D. Fault slippage ratio
B. Test coverage
Rationale: IEEE 982.1-2025: test coverage quantifies code or requirements tested. Defect
density (A) is defects per size, MTTF (C) reliability, fault slippage (D) post-release defects.
Assurance Exam 2025/2026 Updated 65
Questions with Correct Answers and
Explanations
Question 1
What is the primary goal of software quality assurance (SQA)?
A. To write code for software applications
B. To ensure software meets specified requirements and standards
C. To deploy software to production
D. To market software products
B. To ensure software meets specified requirements and standards
Rationale: SQA, per IEEE 730-2025, focuses on processes to verify and validate software
quality, ensuring compliance with requirements. A is development, C deployment, D marketing.
Question 2
Which standard defines the framework for software quality assurance plans?
A. ISO 9001
B. IEEE 730
C. ISO/IEC 25010
D. CMMI
B. IEEE 730
Rationale: IEEE 730-2025 provides guidelines for SQA plans, detailing processes for quality
control. ISO 9001 (A) is general quality, ISO/IEC 25010 (C) defines quality models, CMMI (D)
focuses on process improvement.
Question 3
What is the difference between verification and validation in SQA?
A. Verification tests functionality; validation tests design
B. Verification ensures the product is built right; validation ensures the right product
C. Verification is manual; validation is automated
D. Verification is post-release; validation is pre-release
,B. Verification ensures the product is built right; validation ensures the right product
Rationale: Per ISTQB 2025, verification checks process compliance (“built right”), while
validation confirms user needs (“right product”). C and D misrepresent testing types and timing.
Question 4
Which testing level focuses on interactions between components?
A. Unit testing
B. Integration testing
C. System testing
D. Acceptance testing
B. Integration testing
Rationale: ISTQB 2025 defines integration testing as verifying interfaces and interactions
between modules. Unit (A) tests individual components, system (C) the whole, acceptance (D)
user requirements.
Question 5
What is a key characteristic of a defect in software?
A. A feature requested by users
B. A deviation from specified requirements
C. A successful test case
D. An enhancement to functionality
B. A deviation from specified requirements
Rationale: IEEE 1044-2025 defines a defect as a flaw causing failure to meet specifications. A
and D are enhancements, C is a test outcome.
Question 6
Which SQA process involves evaluating software against quality attributes like reliability and
usability?
A. Code review
B. Quality attribute testing
C. Static analysis
D. Configuration management
B. Quality attribute testing
Rationale: ISO/IEC 25010:2025 quality model evaluates attributes like reliability, usability, and
performance. Code review (A) and static analysis (C) focus on code, configuration management
(D) on versioning.
Question 7
, What is the purpose of a test case?
A. To document the software design
B. To specify inputs, execution conditions, and expected results
C. To deploy software to production
D. To train end-users
B. To specify inputs, execution conditions, and expected results
Rationale: ISTQB 2025 defines test cases as structured scenarios to verify functionality. A is
design documentation, C deployment, D training.
Question 8
Which testing type evaluates software performance under heavy load?
A. Regression testing
B. Stress testing
C. Usability testing
D. Security testing
B. Stress testing
Rationale: ISTQB 2025: stress testing assesses system behavior under extreme conditions.
Regression (A) checks existing functionality, usability (C) user experience, security (D)
vulnerabilities.
Question 9
What is the primary focus of static testing?
A. Executing the software to find defects
B. Reviewing code or documents without execution
C. Testing software in production
D. Automating test scripts
B. Reviewing code or documents without execution
Rationale: ISTQB 2025: static testing (e.g., reviews, static analysis) finds issues early without
running code. A is dynamic, C production, D automation.
Question 10
Which metric measures the percentage of code executed during testing?
A. Defect density
B. Test coverage
C. Mean time to failure
D. Fault slippage ratio
B. Test coverage
Rationale: IEEE 982.1-2025: test coverage quantifies code or requirements tested. Defect
density (A) is defects per size, MTTF (C) reliability, fault slippage (D) post-release defects.
