Manual testing to automatic testing A formal training programme for testers at Bands 3 to 7

Capstone brief: Band 6 test engineering

Evidence 16 for Module 16. Hours 230.5–268. Assessed at Gate 4.

Field Value
Track Band 6 test engineering
Band 6
UK GDaD PCF role Test engineer
Module 16 depth Apply independently
Automation target Working
Presentation 20 minutes, aimed at a non-technical audience

The capstone, from the spec

An automated regression suite for a product slice of 15–30 manual cases: plan, browser and API tests, spec, synthetic data, CI, traceability, and handover README.

Scope

A product slice with 15 to 30 manual regression cases.

Agree the exact scope with the product owner and mentor at hour 230.5, using the scope agreement, your Evidence 7 analysis, and your Evidence 15 estimate.

Deliverables

  • A short test plan: scope, risks, layers, what stays manual, and the Evidence 15 estimate.
  • Browser tests for the critical user journeys, and API or integration tests for everything that can be checked below the UI.
  • A spec/index.md that agrees with the code.
  • Synthetic data.
  • The suite in CI, blocking merges on failure.
  • A traceability matrix agreed with the clinical safety officer.
  • A handover README that lets another tester run and extend the suite.
  • At least two pull requests reviewed by developers on the team.

Acceptance

The product owner and the Gate 4 panel will look for:

  • The suite runs green in CI and every test fails when behaviour is wrong.
  • Spec and code agree.
  • Synthetic data only.
  • The product owner accepts the suite.
  • The team agrees to maintain it.
  • Synthetic data only, and no secrets in source control.
  • You can explain every line you submitted.

Support

Independent, with a mentor review every 7.5 hours of learning.

Presentation

20 minutes, plus questions, following the presentation outline. Include a live run: it is the Gate 4 Part D practical.

Panel

Chair: a lead test engineer or test manager at least one band above you, not your mentor. A developer from another team. The training lead. The clinical safety officer reviews traceability evidence in writing.

Gate 4 thresholds

At least 90% in each of Parts A, B, and C of the capability self-assessment; Part D Meets; no skill more than one level below expected; test engineering at your automation target; capstone accepted by the product owner. See the spec for the full rules.

View this document on GitHub materials/modules/module-16-capstone/brief-band-6-test-engineering.md