Preparing for a manual testing interview can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. To help you ace your next interview, we’ve compiled an extensive list of 17 manual testing interview questions along with detailed answers. Whether you’re a seasoned tester or just starting your career in testing, these questions cover a broad range of topics and difficulty levels.

Basics of Manual Testing
What is Manual Testing? Manual testing is the process of manually testing software for defects. Testers execute test cases without using any automation tools.

What are the advantages of Manual Testing?
Cost-effective for small projects.
Useful for exploratory testing.
Tests usability and user experience effectively.
What are the disadvantages of Manual Testing?
Time-consuming for large projects.
Prone to human error.
Repetitive tasks can be monotonous.
Testing Fundamentals
Explain the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). SDLC is a process followed for software development, consisting of phases like planning, analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance.

Differentiate between Verification and Validation.
Verification ensures the product is being developed right.
Validation ensures the right product is being developed.
What is the V-Model in software testing? The V-Model is a software development model that emphasizes testing at each stage of development.

Test Design Techniques
What is Equivalence Partitioning? Equivalence Partitioning is a test case design technique where input data is divided into partitions of equivalent data.

Explain Boundary Value Analysis (BVA). BVA is a test design technique where test cases are designed on boundaries of input values.

Test Case Development
What components should a test case document contain?
Test Case ID
Test Case Description
Test Steps
Expected Results
Actual Results
Pass/Fail Criteria
What is Traceability Matrix? A Traceability Matrix is a document that maps requirements against test cases.

Defect Management
Define Defect/Bug. A defect or bug is an abnormal behavior of the software.

What is the lifecycle of a defect?
New
Open
Assigned
Fixed
Retest
Closed
Testing Techniques
Explain Smoke Testing and Sanity Testing.
Smoke Testing: Initial testing to check basic functionality.
Sanity Testing: Testing to ensure minor changes haven’t broken any functionalities.
What is Exploratory Testing? Exploratory Testing is simultaneous learning, test design, and test execution.

Test Management Tools
Name a few popular Test Management Tools.
HP ALM (Application Lifecycle Management)
JIRA
TestRail
Zephyr
Miscellaneous Questions
What is the difference between Black Box Testing and White Box Testing?

Black Box Testing: Tests based on external expectations with no knowledge of internal code.
White Box Testing: Tests based on internal code structure.
How would you handle a situation where a critical defect is found just before release?

Document the defect with all details.
Communicate with stakeholders.
Decide on the release based on risk assessment.
Interview Preparation Tips
Understand Fundamentals: Ensure you have a good understanding of testing fundamentals, SDLC, and different testing techniques.

Practice Scenarios: Practice answering questions related to real-world scenarios you might encounter in the role.

Be Confident: Confidence matters during interviews. Be clear and concise in your answers.

Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the company’s testing processes and tools.