Manual Software Testing Interview Questions (2025) – Your Complete Guide to Ace the Interview

Introduction: Why Manual Testing Still Matters

In today’s fast-paced software world, automation grabs much of the spotlight. Yet, manual testing remains a crucial skill — the backbone that ensures software meets real-world standards of usability, functionality, and reliability. Behind every seamless app you use lies a manual tester thinking like an end user, dissecting every feature to catch bugs that machines might miss. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming to sharpen your expertise, mastering manual software testing interview questions will open doors to exciting opportunities.

Landing that dream job requires more than knowledge—you need confidence, clear understanding, and up-to-date insights to impress recruiters. This guide provides 50 essential manual testing interview questions for 2025, including tips, scenarios, and terminology explained in an easy-to-understand manner. Plus, discover how Entri’s AI-powered Software Testing course can equip you with cutting-edge skills and placement support to launch or level up your career.

Key Manual Testing Interview Questions & Answers

1. What is software testing?

Software testing verifies if a software application performs as intended by executing it with the goal of finding defects and ensuring quality. It can be manual or automated.

2. What is manual testing?

Manual testing involves human testers executing test cases without automation tools, simulating end-user behavior to discover bugs, validate features, and ensure usability.

3. How does manual testing differ from automated testing?

Manual testing relies on human observation to identify issues, ideal for exploratory, usability, or ad-hoc tests. Automated testing uses scripts and tools for repetitive, high-volume tasks like regression or load testing.

4. What are the different types of manual testing?

• Functional Testing
• Usability Testing
• Exploratory Testing
• Regression Testing
• Smoke Testing
• Sanity Testing

Each serves specific purposes in the software validation lifecycle.

5. Explain the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

SDLC is a framework defining phases involved in software development: Requirements, Design, Development, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance. Testing ensures quality before release.

6. What is the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?

STLC outlines testing phases: Requirement Analysis, Test Planning, Test Case Development, Environment Setup, Test Execution, and Test Closure.

7. What is a Test Case?

A test case is a documented set of conditions, steps, inputs, and expected results to verify a specific feature or functionality.

8. What is a Test Scenario?

A test scenario is any functionality or feature of the application that can be tested. It’s broader than a test case and can have multiple test cases.

9. Difference between Verification and Validation?

Verification checks if the product is built correctly per specifications (internal process), whereas validation checks if the product meets user needs (external).

10. What is a Bug, Defect, and Error?

• Bug: A flaw causing incorrect software behavior.
• Defect: A deviation from requirements found during testing.
• Error: A mistake by a developer that leads to a defect.

11. What is Regression Testing?

Retesting after changes to ensure that new code hasn’t broken existing functionality.

12. What are Smoke and Sanity Testing?

• Smoke Testing is a quick, broad test to check basic functionality.
• Sanity Testing is a narrow focus on specific functionalities after changes are made.

13. What is Exploratory Testing?

Testing without pre-written test cases, relying on tester’s skill to explore the application dynamically.

14. What is a Test Plan?

A document detailing the strategy, scope, objectives, resources, schedule, and deliverables for the testing process.

15. What is Test Data?

Data used to execute test cases, which can be valid, invalid, or boundary data.

16. What is a Test Bed?

The environment configured with hardware, software, and network settings used for testing.

17. What is Defect Life Cycle?

The states a defect goes through: New, Assigned, Open, Fixed, Retested, Closed, Reopened, Deferred, and Rejected.

18. What are the advantages of manual testing?

• Flexible and intuitive
• Suitable for UI/UX feedback
• Requires minimal setup
• Essential for exploratory and ad-hoc testing
• Better when requirements change frequently

19. What are the drawbacks of manual testing?

• Time-consuming for large projects
• Prone to human error
• Not feasible for repetitive or load testing
• Less scalable than automation.

20. What is Usability Testing?

Testing the product’s user-friendliness and ease of use.

Also read Accenture Performance Testing Interview Questions

21. Define Static Testing.

Testing done without executing the code, e.g., reviews, walkthroughs of documents and code.

22. Define Dynamic Testing.

Testing performed by executing code to find defects.

23. What is Test Harness?

A collection of software and test data designed to test software under various scenarios and record results.

24. What is the role of documentation in manual testing?

Provides traceability, repeatability, and serves as a reference for future testing and audits.

25. How to decide when to stop testing?

• When test cases meet pass criteria
• Deadlines and budget constraints met
• Defect rate decreases below threshold
• Risk factors considered
• Code coverage goals achieved

26. What is the difference between Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC)?

QA is process-oriented, preventing defects; QC is product-oriented, detecting defects.

27. What is Test Closure?

Activities after testing ends, e.g. documentation, defect analysis, and environment clean-up.

28. Explain Boundary Value Analysis.

Testing technique where inputs are tested at their boundary values to catch edge-case defects.

29. What is Equivalence Partitioning?

Dividing input data into partitions where test cases can be reduced, assuming behavior is similar within a partition.

30. What is Error Guessing?

Testing based on experience to guess error-prone areas.

31. What is Monkey Testing?

Random testing with no predefined test cases.

32. What is Ad hoc Testing?

Informal testing performed without test planning or documentation.

33. What are Entry and Exit Criteria?

Conditions that must be met before starting and stopping testing phases.

34. What is a Test Suite?

A collection of test cases intended to test a functionality or a software module.

35. What is Alpha Testing?

Internal acceptance testing performed by testers or developers before releasing software externally.

Also read Accenture Test Manager Interview Questions

36. What is Beta Testing?

Testing performed by a limited external user base in a real environment.

37. How do you write effective test cases?

Clear, concise, with prerequisites, steps, expected results, and traceability to requirements.

38. What is a Negative Test Case?

Tests which ensure the software behaves correctly when invalid inputs are provided.

39. What is Traceability Matrix?

A document mapping requirements to test cases to ensure coverage.

40. What tools are used for manual test management?

Examples include Jira, TestRail, Quality Center, Zephyr.

41. What is the difference between Functional and Non-functional testing?

Functional testing verifies actions and features; non-functional testing checks performance, security, usability.

42. What is Integration Testing?

Testing combined modules to check interface and data communication.

43. What is System Testing?

Testing the whole system for compliance with requirements.

44. What is Load Testing?

Testing system behavior under expected load.

45. What is Stress Testing?

Testing system behavior under extreme conditions.

Also read: Top Automation Tools Manual Testers Should Master

46. What is the Pesticide Paradox?

Repeating the same tests will eventually stop finding new defects.

47. In what scenarios would you prioritize manual testing?

• One-time or exploratory testing
• UI/UX feedback needed
• Tests requiring human judgment and flexibility.

48. How do Agile and DevOps affect manual testing?

Manual testing is integrated into continuous testing cycles, focusing on quick feedback and collaboration.

49. What skills are essential for a manual tester?

Detail oriented, analytical thinking, communication, domain knowledge, and understanding of SDLC/STLC.

50. How do you handle a situation with incomplete requirements?

Use exploratory testing, constant communication with stakeholders, and iterative feedback to adapt tests.

Know more at Future Scope of Software Testing: Career, Jobs, and Skills

Tips for Manual Testing Interview Success

• Understand the SDLC and STLC clearly.
• Familiarize yourself with key testing types and methodologies.
• Practice writing clear test cases and scenarios.
• Be ready with examples from past experiences or simulate scenarios.
• Stay updated on Agile and DevOps practices affecting testing.
• Highlight problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Entri’s AI-Powered Software Testing Course: Your Path to Success

For those serious about excelling in software testing, Entri offers an AI-powered Software Testing Course that blends core manual testing skills with the latest AI integration for smarter, faster quality assurance. This course covers:

• Comprehensive manual and automation testing techniques
• Real-world projects to build practical expertise
• AI tools to automate repetitive tasks while focusing on critical thinking
• Collaborative learning with industry mentors

Placement assistance is available to help students land their dream jobs with top tech companies. Join the thousands who’ve accelerated their careers using Entri’s innovative learning platform.

Conclusion

Manual testing remains a cornerstone of software quality, combining human insight with methodical precision. Whether you are starting your journey or scaling up your career, mastering the top manual testing interview questions of 2025 will set you apart. Prepare confidently, embrace the latest tools and methodologies, and let Entri’s AI-powered course guide you to a rewarding future in software testing. Dive in today and transform your potential into success.