Search...
Everything needed to plan for the ISTQB CTFL (CTFL) exam: number of questions, time limit, passing score, and the official domain weightings. For the study checklist itself, see the CTFL study guide.
ISTQB CTFL (CTFL) is a Foundational level ISTQB certification exam with about 40 questions in 60 minutes, requiring 65% to pass. It covers 6 official domains: Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (20%); Test Analysis and Design (20%); Managing the Test Activities (16%); Test Tools (16%); Fundamentals of Testing (15%); Static Testing (13%).
Exam code
CTFL
Questions
~40
Time limit
60 min
Passing score
65%
Official domains
6
Level
Foundational
Provider
ISTQB
Practice questions
300+ on CertStud
| Domain | Weight | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle | 20% | How testing aligns with SDLC models, levels, and types of testing. |
| Test Analysis and Design | 20% | Black-box, white-box, and experience-based test design techniques. |
| Managing the Test Activities | 16% | Planning, monitoring, configuration management, and defect management. |
| Test Tools | 16% | Selecting and using tools for support, automation, and quality improvement. |
| Fundamentals of Testing | 15% | Core principles, testing process, psychology of testing, and expected results. |
| Static Testing | 13% | Reviews and static analysis to find defects early. |
Percentages reflect published official domain weightings. Prerequisite knowledge and current scoring rules are confirmed on the ISTQB exam page before booking.
The CTFL exam has approximately 40 questions. Question counts can vary slightly between deliveries, so treat 40 as the planning figure rather than a fixed number.
Candidates get about 60 minutes to complete the CTFL exam, which works out to roughly 2 minute(s) per question at 40 questions.
The CTFL exam requires 65% to pass. Scores are reported on a scaled rather than a raw percentage basis, so a passing result does not correspond to a simple count of correct answers.
The CTFL exam covers 6 official domains: Fundamentals of Testing (15%), Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (20%), Static Testing (13%), Test Analysis and Design (20%), Managing the Test Activities (16%), Test Tools (16%).
Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle carries the heaviest weighting on the CTFL exam at 20% of the exam. How testing aligns with SDLC models, levels, and types of testing.
CTFL is the exam code for ISTQB CTFL (ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL)), a Foundational level ISTQB certification exam covering 6 domains.
The CTFL exam reports 65% on a scaled score. Plan for roughly 40 questions across 60 minutes, weighted by domain: 20% Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle, 20% Test Analysis and Design, 16% Managing the Test Activities, 16% Test Tools, 15% Fundamentals of Testing, 13% Static Testing.
CertStud offers free CTFL practice questions with detailed explanations, plus full-length practice exams and flashcards at https://certstud.com/certifications/istqb/ctfl. Start with 10 free questions at https://certstud.com/try-free.