Landing your first job in software testing isn’t just about completing a course; it’s about confidently cracking the QA interview. And for freshers, this often feels intimidating.
What questions will they ask? Will it be all theory or tools too? Do you need to write test cases or just explain concepts?
At Cinute Digital, we prepare students not only with technical skills but also with interview readiness. In this blog, we’ve compiled the most common and important QA interview questions asked to freshers, plus sample answers, tips, and real-world context.
If you're preparing for your first QA interview, this guide is for you.
Table of Contents
- Why QA Interviews Are Unique
- Top Manual Testing Interview Questions
- Bug Reporting & Defect Lifecycle Questions
- Test Case Writing & Scenario-Based Questions
- Basic Tools You Might Be Asked About
- Tips to Answer Like a Pro (Even as a Fresher)
- FAQs
- Conclusion
1. Why QA Interviews Are Unique
Unlike developer interviews, QA interviews test your logical thinking, clarity of communication, and process understanding. Recruiters want to know:
- Can you think like a user?
- Can you document and explain defects clearly?
- Do you understand the lifecycle of a software project?
Even if you’re a fresher, your answers should reflect practical knowledge, not just textbook definitions.
2. Top Manual Testing Interview Questions
Q1. What is the difference between SDLC and STLC? A: SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) covers the complete process from requirement gathering to deployment. STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle) is the subset focused on planning, executing, and closing test activities.
Q2. What is the difference between severity and priority? A: Severity is about the impact of the bug; priority is about how urgently it needs to be fixed. A high severity bug may not always have high priority, and vice versa.
Q3. What is a test case and what are its components? A: A test case is a set of conditions to validate a specific function. Components include Test Case ID, Description, Steps, Expected Result, and Actual Result.
3. Bug Reporting & Defect Lifecycle Questions
Q4. How do you report a bug? A: Use a bug tracking tool like Jira or Mantis. Provide steps to reproduce, expected vs actual behavior, environment details, and screenshots if needed.
Q5. What are the stages of a bug lifecycle? A: New → Assigned → Open → Fixed → Retest → Closed. It may also pass through Deferred or Rejected statuses depending on the context.
Q6. What is a blocker bug? A: A critical issue that prevents further testing or usage of the system.
4. Test Case Writing & Scenario-Based Questions
Q7. Write test cases for a login page. A: Include positive (valid login), negative (wrong password), UI checks, forgot password flow, and blank input scenarios.
Q8. What will you do if the developer says, “It’s not a bug”? A: I would revisit the requirement or user story, check acceptance criteria, and collaborate respectfully to clarify if it's expected behavior or an oversight.
Q9. How do you test an e-commerce cart? A: Check add/remove items, price updates, stock limits, session persistence, and responsiveness across devices.
Want to boost your test case skills? Read: Resume Building Tips for QA & Data Science Careers
5. Basic Tools You Might Be Asked About
Recruiters don’t expect mastery, but they want to see awareness of tools like:
- Jira or Mantis BT for bug tracking
- TestRail or Excel for test case documentation
- Postman for API testing basics
- Selenium (optional) if you’re learning automation
Be ready to mention how you’ve used these tools in projects or training.
Learn more: What Is a Job-Oriented Training Program?
6. Tips to Answer Like a Pro (Even as a Fresher)
- Answer with clarity—don’t memorize, explain in your own words
- Give examples—even from your training or mock projects
- Don’t bluff—if you don’t know something, say you’re learning it
- Mention tools confidently—if you’ve used Jira or Postman, say so
- Show curiosity—it signals growth mindset
7. FAQs
Q1. Do freshers get technical rounds in QA interviews? Yes, but they're usually scenario-based or logic-based, not deep coding.
Q2. What is the best way to practice QA interview questions? Mock interviews, group discussions, and trainer-led sessions like we offer at CDPL.
Q3. Will I be asked about test automation in a manual QA interview? Sometimes. If you’ve done Selenium basics, it’s a good opportunity to stand out.
Q4. Can I mention internship or CDPL projects in my answers? Absolutely! Interviewers value real projects, even if done during training.
Conclusion
QA interviews are not about perfection, they're about clarity, logic, and confidence.
By preparing answers to these common questions and practicing them out loud, you’ll feel far more prepared when you sit for your real interview.
At Cinute Digital, our mock interviews, resume coaching, and real-world QA training ensure that students don’t just learn, they get placed.
Need help with interview prep? Contact Cinute Digital Today