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Software Engineer in Test (QA) interview questionsTest Case Development round

A 60 min interview plan with a time-boxed script, what each question is for, and the signals to score against. Key skills: Test Case Development, Analytical Thinking, Problem Solving, Test Planning, Risk Assessment.

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Introduction

5 min
•

Hi, I’m [YOUR_NAME], and I’m a [YOUR_TITLE] at [COMPANY_NAME]. I’m excited to learn more about your experience today.

•

Could you briefly introduce yourself and share what attracted you to apply for this position?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess communication skills, alignment with the role, and initial confidence.

Signals to score

  • Clear introduction provided
  • Relevant experience mentioned
  • Motivations for applying explained
  • Alignment with team values
  • Specific skills highlighted
  • Response is concise and organized
  • Understanding of role requirements

Follow-up questions

  • What excites you most about this position?
  • How does your background align with our team’s work?
•

Great, thank you for sharing! In the next 50 minutes, we’ll focus on a test case development challenge. After that, you can ask any questions you have about the role or the company.

Test Case Development Challenge

50 min
•

Imagine you are testing a new feature for an e-commerce website: a discount coupon system. Develop a set of test cases to ensure the feature works correctly. Consider different types of coupons, user scenarios, and edge cases.

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess test case development, analytical thinking, problem-solving, test planning, and risk assessment skills.

Signals to score

  • Comprehensive test cases provided
  • Considers various coupon types
  • Identifies edge cases
  • Logical and structured approach
  • Prioritizes test cases effectively
  • Considers user scenarios
  • Demonstrates risk assessment

Follow-up questions

  • What are the different types of coupons you would consider?
  • How would you handle invalid coupon codes?
  • Can you identify potential edge cases?
  • How would you prioritize your test cases?
•

If you had more time, what additional test cases or improvements would you consider?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess the candidate's ability to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Signals to score

  • Recognizes limits in their original answer
  • Points out clear areas to improve
  • Suggests specific changes
  • Talks about how changes could help performance
  • Shares ideas clearly and logically
  • Shows a desire to learn and improve

Follow-up questions

  • Are there any additional scenarios you would test?
  • How would you ensure the system performs well under load?
  • What integration points would you consider testing?
•

Great job on the test case development exercise!

Closing

5 min
•

Do you have any questions for me about the team or the company?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Gauge the candidate’s curiosity and interest in the role.

Signals to score

  • Thoughtful questions asked
  • Interest in company culture
  • Curiosity about growth expressed
  • Questions about role raised
  • Inquiries about team challenges
  • Engagement with responses shown
  • Desire to learn next steps
  • Focus on company values expressed

Follow-up questions

  • What interests you most about this team?
  • Are there any areas of the role you’d like to explore further?
•

Thank you for your time today. We’ll be in touch soon regarding the next steps.

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Interview Template
Position
Software Engineer in Test (QA)
Round
Test Case Development for 60 min
Key skills
Test Case Development, Analytical Thinking, Problem Solving, Test Planning, Risk Assessment

Software Engineer in Test (QA) interviews — common questions

Who is this Software Engineer in Test (QA) interview plan for?
It is written for the interviewer, not the candidate: the hiring manager, engineer or panel member running the Test Case Development round for a Software Engineer in Test (QA) role. It gives you a 60 min script to follow in the conversation — 4 questions with what each one is for and the signals to score against — so you are not writing the round from scratch the night before.
What does the Test Case Development round assess?
This round is focused on: Test Case Development, Analytical Thinking, Problem Solving, Test Planning, Risk Assessment. It works through Introduction, Test Case Development Challenge and Closing, scoring against 28 observable signals, with follow-up prompts on all 4 questions for going deeper where an answer is thin.
How is the 60 min split up?
Introduction (5 min), Test Case Development Challenge (50 min), Closing (5 min). The timings are there so the round stays on schedule and every candidate gets the same shape of interview — which is what makes two candidates comparable afterwards.
What other rounds should I run for a Software Engineer in Test (QA)?

A single round does not cover a whole role. The other rounds in this library for a Software Engineer in Test (QA):