These are two of the control parameters. “Entry Criteria” defines the preconditions for undertaking a given test activity. If entry criteria are not met, it is likely that the activity will prove more difficult, more time-consuming, more costly, and more risky. In some cases it will be illogical to run the tes. “Exit Criteria” defines the final expected conditions must be achieved in order to declare a test level or a set of tests completed.
Some examples of Entry Criteria :
- Availability of test environment
- Availability of necessary test tools
- Availability of test data and other necessary resources
- Availability of testable requirements, user stories, and/or models (e.g., when following a model-based testing strategy)
- Availability of test items that have met the exit criteria for any prior test levels
Some examples for Exit Criteria :
- Planned tests have been executed
- A defined level of coverage (e.g., of requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, risks, code) has been achieved
- The number of unresolved defects is within an agreed limit
- The number of estimated remaining defects is sufficiently low
- The evaluated levels of reliability, performance efficiency, usability, security, and other relevant quality characteristics are sufficient
It can be acceptable to end testing under some circumstances, if the project stakeholders and business owners have reviewed and accepted the risk to go live without further testing.
