ISTQB CTAL-TAE Exam Practice Questions, practice question pack
ISTQB · CTAL-TAE

ISTQB CTAL-TAE Exam Practice Questions

120 questionsPDF by emailUpdated September 2026

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Three of the 120 questions in this pack

Question 1

Which of the following is considered a disadvantage of test automation?

  1. Automated exploratory testing is difficult to implement.
  2. Test automation can be a distraction from the objective of finding bugs.
  3. Tests are more likely to have operator errors.
  4. Slower feedback on the quality of the system.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Automated exploratory testing is difficult to implement.

implement. Automated exploratory testing is difficult to implement because exploration requires human judgment, creativity, and adaptability, qualities that are challenging to codify into automated scripts. Exploratory testing relies on the tester's intuition and domain knowledge to discover unexpected issues, which automation tools struggle to replicate. Options B and C are incorrect because test automation actually reduces operator errors through consistency and repeatability, and provides faster feedback rather than slower feedback on system quality.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. Test automation is designed to find bugs systematically; it is not a distraction from this objective.
  • C. Automated tests eliminate operator errors since the same script executes identically each time without human intervention.
  • D. Test automation provides faster feedback on system quality, not slower feedback.

Question 2

Which of the following is an important success factor for any significant automation project?

  1. The TAA must be designed for testability.
  2. The TAA is self-documenting.
  3. The SUT must be designed for testability.
  4. The SUT is self-documenting.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. The SUT must be designed for testability.

The System Under Test (SUT) must be designed for testability to enable effective test automation. This means the application architecture should provide interfaces, logging, hooks, and observable states that testers can interact with and verify. When the SUT is testable, automation becomes feasible and maintainable. The Test Automation Architecture (TAA) is designed by the automation team based on the characteristics of the SUT, but the SUT's inherent design is the critical success factor that enables automation.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. While the TAA should be well-designed, the SUT's testability is the foundational success factor.
  • B. Self-documentation alone does not determine automation success; the SUT's testability does.
  • D. The SUT's self-documentation is helpful but secondary to its testability for automation projects.

Question 3

You are working as a TAE for a company who are re-designing their website. The new website provides information for customers and there are two minor features being developed:

Request a newsletter -Ability to contact the organisation with a question or comment The website must be “mobile friendly” and available on all major web browsers.

You have been tasked to provide an automated solution for web browsers only and to concentrate on the two minor features.

What would be a KEY challenge with automation in this context?

  1. A low level of intrusion is likely from use of existing UI elements, but depending on the solution this might be more complex than a higher level of intrusion.
  2. Because there is a high level of intrusion there may be many false alarms.
  3. Automation might not be possible on the mobile devices.
  4. The benefits of automation might not be achieved for many years due to the complexities of the SUT and automation solution.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. A low level of intrusion is likely from use of existing UI elements, but depending on the solution this might be more complex than a higher level of intrusion.

UI elements, but depending on the solution this might be more complex than a higher level of intrusion. The key challenge is that web UI automation using existing UI elements typically involves low-level intrusion (working with the UI as designed), but depending on the technical approach chosen, the solution could become more complex than using higher-level intrusion methods would be. Since the website uses standard web elements for the two minor features, the automation should be straightforward at the UI level, but technical complexities may emerge depending on the implementation approach. Options B, C, and D describe consequences or scenarios that are not the primary challenge in this context.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. There is no indication of high intrusion levels that would generate false alarms in this scenario.
  • C. The task specifically asks for web browser automation only, so mobile device limitations are out of scope.
  • D. Two minor features on a standard website are not complex enough to delay benefits for many years.

See all 10 free questions Get the full pack, US$39

120 practice questions for ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Automation Engineering (CTAL-TAE) v2.0, with full explanations.

Every question comes with the correct answer, the reasoning behind it, and a short note on why each wrong option is wrong. Work through it once with the answers, then again with the questions-only copy under exam conditions.

  • 120 questions mapped to the CTAL-TAE v2.0 syllabus
  • Answers and explanations for every question, including the wrong options
  • A questions-only PDF for timed practice runs
  • Instant delivery by email the moment you check out
  • Free monthly updates for as long as the exam is live
  • Pass or your money back

A CTAL-TAE attempt costs around US$250, set by the national board. This pack is US$39, paid once.

Try 10 questions free before you buy.

Last updated September 2026 · 120 questions

What makes the CTAL-TAE hard

CTAL-TAE v2.0 replaced the 2016 syllabus in 2024, and it is a much more technical exam than its predecessor. ISTQB split the old Test Automation Engineer into a strategy certification and this engineering one, so the strategy and business case material is gone and what remains is architecture, implementation, pipelines and metrics.

There are no recall-level questions. Everything is at the understand, apply or analyse level, and four of the eight chapters are classified at the highest cognitive level, meaning candidates have to analyse a scenario and pick the right engineering decision. The exam is 40 questions in 90 minutes, scored on 66 points with 43 needed to pass, and questions carry one, two or three points by cognitive level, so the hardest scenario questions decide the result.

The syllabus covers the objectives of test automation, preparing for it including feasibility and tool selection, the generic test automation architecture and its layers, implementing automation with approaches such as data driven, keyword driven, BDD and model based, integrating tests into CI/CD pipelines, reporting and metrics, verifying the solution, and continuous improvement. This pack has 120 practice questions for the CTAL-TAE.

About the exam

CTAL-TAE v2.0 is a Core Advanced Level ISTQB certification. It covers test automation objectives, preparation, the generic test automation architecture, implementation and CI/CD integration, deployment risks, reporting and metrics, verification and continuous improvement. The prerequisite is the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level, and the syllabus is version 2.0, released May 2024.

Exam domains

  • Introduction and objectives for test automation
  • Preparing for test automation
  • Generic test automation architecture (gTAA)
  • Implementing test automation
  • Deployment risks and contingencies
  • Test automation reporting and metrics
  • Verifying the test automation solution
  • Continuous improvement

ISTQB weights chapters by points rather than percentages.

40 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes (25% extra time for non-native English speakers), pass mark 65% (43 of 66 points), exam fee set by the national board, typically around US$250, delivered by ISTQB exam providers at test centres or online, certification does not expire.

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Questions before you buy

What do I get when I buy the ISTQB CTAL-TAE pack?

120 practice questions as a PDF, each with the correct answer, a full explanation and a note on why the other options are wrong, plus a separate questions-only PDF for timed practice.

How quickly do I receive it?

Your PDF is prepared and sent to your email address after checkout, and you get a confirmation as soon as it is on its way.

Is there a free sample?

Yes. Ten questions from this pack, with answers and explanations, are free on this page and as a PDF, so you can judge the quality before you pay.

Are updates included?

Yes. The pack is updated every month for as long as the exam is live, and updates are free for everyone who has bought it.

What if I fail the exam?

We refund the pack. Sit the exam 7 to 30 days after buying, then send your official score report within 7 days of the exam date, as set out in the refund policy.

Can I share it with colleagues?

Each purchase is licensed to one person. For a team, school or training organisation, email support@certstash.com for a licence that fits.

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