Equivalence Partitioning

aim is to treat groups of inputs as equivalent and to select one representative

input to test them all

the numbers fall into a partition where each would have the same, or equivalent,
result i.e. an Equivalence Partition (EP) or Equivalence Class

EP says that by testing just one value we have tested the partition (typically a
mid-point value is used).

in EP we must identify Valid Equivalence partitions and Invalid
Equivalence partitions where applicable

EP can help reduce the number of tests from a list of all possible inputs to a
minimum set that would still test each partition

Equivalence Partitioning
If the tester chooses the right partitions, the testing will be
accurate and efficient

EP can be used for all Levels of Testing

EP is used to achieve good input and output coverage, knowing
exhaustive testing is often impossible

It can be applied to human input, input via interfaces to a system,
or interface parameters in integration testing
EP Questions
Valid Input: Integers in the range of 100 to 999
EP Questions
Valid Input: Names with up to 20 alphabetic
characters
EP Questions
The Switch is switched off once the temperature falls
below 18 and then it is turned on when the temperature
is more than 21. When the temperature is more than 21,
Identify the Equivalence values which belong to the
same class.

12,16,22
24,27,17
22,23,24
14,15,19
EP Questions
If a candidate is given an exam of 40 questions,
should get 25 marks to pass (61%) and should get
80% for distinction, from the choices below which
is a equivalence class.

23, 24, 25
0, 12, 25
30, 36, 39
32, 37, 40
EP Questions
Which of the following is a valid collection of
equivalence classes for the following problem: An
integer field shall contain values from and
including 1 to and including 15

a. Less than 1, 1 through 15, more than 15
b. Negative numbers, 1 through 15, above 15
c. Less than 1, 1 through 14, more than 15
d. Less than 0, 1 through 14, 15 and more
EP Questions
In a system designed to work out the tax to be paid:
An employee has $4000 of salary tax free
The next $1500 is taxed at 10%
The next $28000 is taxed at 22%
Any further amount is taxed at 40%

Which of these groups of numbers would fall into the
same equivalence class?
$5800; $28000; $32000
$0; $200; $4200
$5200; $5500; $28000
$28001; $32000; $35000
EP Questions
Postal rates for light letters are 25p up to 10g,
35p up to 50g plus an extra 10p for each
additional 25g up to 100g.

Which test inputs (in grams) would be selected
using equivalence partitioning
8, 42, 82, 102
4, 15, 65, 92, 159
10, 50, 75, 100
5, 20, 40, 60, 80
EP Questions
In a Examination a candidate has to score minimum
of 24 marks in order to clear the exam. The
maximum that he can score is 40 marks. Identify the
valid equivalence values if the student clears the
exam
a) 22, 23, 26
b) 21, 39, 40
c) 29, 30, 31
d) 0, 15, 22
EP Questions
One of the fields on a form contains a text box which
accepts alpha numeric values. Identify the valid
equivalence class
a) BOOK
b) Book
c) Boo01k
d) Book
Boundary Value Analysis
BVA operates on the basis that experience shows us that errors are most likely to exist
at the boundaries between partitions and in doing so incorporates a degree of negative
testing into the test design

Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) uses the same analysis of partitions as EP and is
usually used in combination with EP in test case design

As with EP, it can be used for all Test levels

BVA Test cases are designed to exercise the software on and at either side of
boundary values


Value = 0
(invalid)
Value = 1
(valid)
Value = 2
(valid)
Value = 99
(valid)
Value = 100
(valid)
Value = 101
(invalid)
Boundary Value Analysis
find the boundary and then test one value above and
below it

ALWAYS results in two test cases per boundary for valid
inputs and three tests cases per boundary for all inputs

only applicable for numeric (and date) fields
Boundary Value Analysis
Boundary Value Questions
An input field takes the year of birth from 1900
till 2004
The boundary values for testing this field are

a) 0, 1900, 2004, 2005
b) 1900, 2004
c) 1899, 1900, 2004, 2005
d) 1899, 1900, 1901, 2003, 2004, 2005

Boundary Value Questions
The following equivalence class for integer numbers is
given: 0<=x<=100. Based on boundary value analysis,
you should use which of the following test data?

a) 0;100
b) 0; 1; 100; 101
c) -1; 0; 100; 101
d) -1; 0; 1; 99; 100

Order numbers on a stock control system can range between
10000 and 99999 inclusive. Which of the following inputs
might be a result of designing tests for only valid
equivalence classes and valid boundaries:

a) 1000, 5000, 99999
b) 9999, 50000, 100000
c) 10000, 50000, 99999
d) 10000, 99999
e) 9999, 10000, 50000, 99999, 100000


Equivalence & Boundary Value based questions
A program validates a numeric field as follows:
Values less than 10 are rejected, values between 10 and
21 are accepted, values greater than or equal to 22 are rejected.
which of the following input values cover all of the equivalence
partitions?

a. 10,11,21
b. 3,20,21
c. 3,10,22
d. 10,21,22



Equivalence & Boundary Value based questions
In a system designed to work out the tax to be paid:
An employee has 4000 of salary tax free. The next 1500 is
taxed at 10%
The next 28000 is taxed at 22%
Any further amount is taxed at 40%
To the nearest whole pound, which of these is a valid
Boundary Value Analysis test case?

a) 1500
b) 32001
c) 33501
d) 28000



Equivalence & Boundary Value based questions
For a new HR tool, the age of an employee can range between 18
and 58 inclusive which of the following inputs might be a result of
designing tests for only valid equivalence class and valid boundaries?

a) 17, 18, 30, 58, 59
b) 18, 19, 35, 58, 57
c) 17, 18, 19, 57, 58, 70
d) 17, 18, 30, 31, 58, 59
Equivalence & Boundary Value based questions
Which set of test data demonstrates equivalence partitioning to
check whether a customer is a teenager or not?

10, 15 and 19 years
13, 19 and 25 years
13, 16 and 19 years
12, 13 and 20 years

Equivalence & Boundary Value based questions
To test an input field that accepts a two-digit day based on a
particular month which data set demonstrates valid boundary value
analysis?

a) 0, 1, 16,31 and 100
b) 1, 27, 28, 30 and 31
c) 2, 26, 27, 29 and 30
d) -1, 0, 15, 32 and 99

Equivalence & Boundary Value based questions