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System Test Plan Template
August 24, 1999
____________________________________________________________________________________
Prepared By:
____________________________________________________________________________________
Abstract:
This document provides a template for use in developing a System Test Plan. A System Test Plan
describes the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of intended test activities. It identifies test items,
the features to be tested, the testing tasks, who will do each task, and any risks requiring contingency
planning.
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System Test Plan Template
Document Information
Document Owner
Document Distribution
Document History
All revisions made to this document are listed here in chronological order.
Version
00.01
00.02
Date
07/23/1999
08/24/1999
Description
First Draft
Second Draft
How to Use This Template
This template is an outline for the System Test Plan. The information in this template
complies with IEEE Standard for Test Documentation IEEE 829-1998.
Use the headings and sections contained in this template to create your own System Test
Plan. Under each heading there is a brief explanation for guidance. If you decide to
omit a section, keep the heading and insert an explanation of why you are omitting the
element. After completing your System Test Plan, make sure all explanatory text has
been deleted or replaced by valid content. Also make sure to change the dates in all of
the footers to match the release date on the title page and to add the appropriate data
classification label—that is, the confidentiality statement—to each footer.
Note: Text within brackets designates where you should enter project-specific
information.
You may delete the template title page and this document information page at any time
during the process of creating your new document.
The first page of the template (and your new document) follows this overview.
<Project Name>
System Test Plan
Document Release or Draft Date Goes Here
Document Number if applicable
____________________________________________________________________________________
Prepared By:
Information Technologies
Your group’s name here.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Abstract:
This System Test Plan describes the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of intended test activities
for <project name>. It identifies test items, the features to be tested, the testing tasks, who will do each
task, and any risks requiring contingency planning.
Document Title
Document Number or Project Name
Document Information
Document Owner
Owner’s name goes here
Owner’s title goes here.
Document Contact
Optional section. If a person other than the document owner is primarily responsible for
this document, list that person's name and title
Document Distribution
employees only.
Change the distribution if it is not employees.
Document History
All revisions made to this document are listed here in chronological order.
Version
00.01
01.00
Date
xx/xx/xxxx
xx/xx/xxxx
Description
First Draft
First Release
Trademarks
Please list any trademarks used in this document.
Document Number or Project Name
Document Title
Table of Contents
1 System Test Plan Overview ............................................................................................. 1
1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1
1.3 System Test Items .................................................................................................. 1
2 System Test Plan.............................................................................................................. 2
2.1 Features to Be Tested ............................................................................................. 2
2.2 Features Not Being Tested ..................................................................................... 2
2.3 System Test Approach ........................................................................................... 2
2.4 Item Pass/Fail Criteria ............................................................................................ 2
2.5 Suspension Criteria and Resumption Requirements .............................................. 2
2.6 System Test Deliverables ....................................................................................... 3
2.7 System Testing Tasks ............................................................................................. 3
2.8 Environmental Needs ............................................................................................. 3
2.9 Responsibilities ...................................................................................................... 4
2.10 Staffing and Training Needs ................................................................................ 4
2.11 Schedule ............................................................................................................... 4
2.12 Risks and Contingencies ...................................................................................... 5
3 Document Approval ......................................................................................................... 6
Document Number or Project Name
Document Title
1 System Test Plan Overview
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this document is to describe the scope, approach, resources, and schedule
of the system testing activities. In addition, it will identify the items being tested, the
features to be tested, the testing tasks to be performed, the personnel responsible for each
task, and the risks associated with this plan.
1.2 Introduction
Use this section to summarize the software items and features to be tested.
Refer to the applicable documents listed below at the highest possible System Test Plan
level.
 Project Authorization
 Project Plan
 Quality Assurance Plan
 Configuration Management Plan
 Relevant Policies
 Relevant Standards.
1.3 System Test Items
Identify each of the system test items and their version or revision number.
Test Item
Version
Characteristics
<Item>
<version>
<characteristic>
Specify the number and the characteristics of transmittal media that may impact
hardware requirements or other software items.
Identify logical or physical transformations that must occur prior to beginning test
activities or those transformations that are required to occur during testing activities.
Provide references to the following project documentation:
Documents
Doc. Ref . No.
Document Date or Version
Requirements Specification
Design Specification
Installation Guide
Operations Guide
User’s Guide
Reference any incident reports relating to the test items. Identify all items that are to be
excluded from testing.
Document Title
Document Number or Project Name
2 System Test Plan
2.1 Features to Be Tested
Identify all software features and combinations of software features that will be tested.
Identify the test design specification associated with each of the features and each
combination of features.
2.2 Features Not Being Tested
Identify all software features and combinations of features that will not be tested.
Provide the reasons each feature will not be tested.
2.3 System Test Approach
Describe the overall test approach.
For each major group of features or combinations of features, identify the approach that
will ensure each feature is adequately tested.
Identify the major activities, techniques, and tools used to test a designated feature or
group of features. Include enough detail to identify each major test task and to allow
time estimates for completion. Identify all known testing constraints.
Specify the minimum degree of test comprehensiveness desired either by feature, group
of features, or for the system. List the techniques that will be used to judge the
comprehensiveness.
Specify any additional completion criteria required.
Identify the techniques used to trace requirements.
Identify other significant unique constraints on testing, such as test item availability, test
resource availability, and deadlines.
2.4 Item Pass/Fail Criteria
Specify the pass/fail criteria either by item or group of common items.
2.5 Suspension Criteria and Resumption Requirements
Specify the criteria used to determine whether to suspend all or part of the testing on the
test items defined within this plan.
Specify the items that must be repeated if testing is suspended. Document how to
determine if test activities must be repeated when testing is resumed.
Document Number or Project Name
Document Title
2.6 System Test Deliverables
Identify the documents that the test organization is responsible for delivering. This list
may include but is not limited to the following:
 System Test Plan
 System Test Design Specifications
 System Test Case Specifications
 System Test Procedure Specifications
 System Test Item Transmittal Reports
 System Test Logs
 System Test Incident Reports
 System Test Summary Reports
 System Test Input Data
 System Test Output Data
 System Test Tools Used.
2.7 System Testing Tasks
Use this section to identify the tasks required to prepare for and perform the testing
required for this System Test Plan. Identify all dependencies here.
2.8 Environmental Needs
Specify the necessary and desired test environment properties.





Identify any test tools required.
Identify any software or supplies required to support the tests identified in this
System Test Plan.
Specify the level of security for the test facilities, any special access restrictions
required by system software, and any proprietary restrictions for the software,
hardware, network, or facilities.
Identify any other testing needs, such as publications support, office space, etc.
Identify the source of items not supplied by the test group, for example:
– hardware physical characteristics
– system communication software
– system software
– usage modes (stand-alone, system-high, and so on)
– other test support software
– other test support supplies.
Document Title
Document Number or Project Name
2.9 Responsibilities
Identify the groups responsible for managing, designing, preparing, executing,
witnessing, checking, and resolving issues associated with testing activities identified in
this System Test Plan.
Identify each of the groups that are responsible for providing test items required as part
of this System Test Plan. Test items are listed in the Test Items section on page 1.
Identify the groups responsible for providing system environment needs required as part
of this System Test Plan. These items are listed in the Environmental Needs section on
page 3.
2.10 Staffing and Training Needs
Identify all special test abilities required of the test personnel. For each of the test
abilities listed, identify the skill level of the person doing the testing.
Identify the training required to supply the test personnel with the skills and skill levels
listed above.
2.11 Schedule
Identify test milestones from the project master schedule or integrated master schedule
(IMS).
Identify any additional test milestones required for the tasks in this System Test Plan.
Include the dates for all data transmittal requirements. Include the estimated time
required to perform each test task.
Specify the complete schedule for each test task and each associated test milestone.
Identify test resource scheduling for staff, system facilities, and each of the required
testing tools.
Document Number or Project Name
Document Title
2.12 Risks and Contingencies
Identify each high-risk assumption made in this System Test Plan. Specify a contingency
plan or plans for each high-risk assumption.
Risk
Contingency
Impact
Probability
Responsible
Person
1.
2.
3.
4.
Examples of possible risks are:
 Aggressive deployment schedule.
 Inability to emulate data either via a simulator or acceptable substitute.
 Lack of adequate product-specific training.
 Increased complexity or last minute redefinition of product/application deliverables.
 Lack of access to a dedicated test environment.
 Lack of test data and/or test drivers.
 Unclear or inappropriate role assignments.
 Any missed deliverables.
Document Title
Document Number or Project Name
3 Document Approval
Document Title:
Document Version:
Document Number:
Document Date:
Document Owner:
Your signature, or that of your designated representative, indicates that you approve the contents of this
test plan. It indicates that you have carefully read, reviewed, and considered how this test plan affects
your group, how it conforms to corporate directions, and how it fulfills client needs.
Include as many signatories as the master test plan requires.
Signatures for Approval
Name
Title
Date
Name
Title
Date
Note: Please refer to your local practices to determine whether this is a baselined (signed-off)
document. This information should be contained in both the SCM and SQA plans. These plans
should also identify the individuals responsible for document reviews and approvals.