Pass/fail Criteria
Pass/fail criteria are the predefined conditions used to determine whether a test case, test level, or testing activity has succeeded or failed.
“Decision rules used to determine whether a test item has passed or failed.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Pass/fail Criteria?
Pass/fail criteria provide objective rules for evaluating test outcomes by comparing actual results with expected results or acceptance conditions.
Objective evaluation: Results are judged using predefined rules.
Consistency: All testers use the same criteria when assessing outcomes.
Quality decisions: Supports defect reporting and release decisions.
Real World Example
A healthcare scheduling team is building a feature that lets patients book follow-up appointments after a consultation.
Developers, testers, clinicians, and product owners may all believe they understand the request while imagining different rules. Pass/fail criteria gives the team a shared way to confirm intent.
The tester turns clinical and business expectations into concrete examples, such as eligible appointment windows, unavailable doctors, and messages shown when no slot is open.
The team prevents late rework because Pass/fail criteria makes expected behavior testable before the feature is treated as finished.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which statement BEST describes Pass/fail criteria in the context of ISTQB terminology?
Question 2
A tester needs to explain Pass/fail criteria to a non‑technical stakeholder. Which approach is MOST appropriate?
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