Yes, a beginner can learn test case design in two weeks by working on everyday forms: a login page, a registration form, a bus-ticket booking screen. This workbook gives you five forms, a method for splitting inputs into equivalence partitions, a method for finding boundary values, and answer keys so you can check your own work.
How equivalence partitioning and boundary value analysis fit together
A form field accepts an enormous number of possible inputs. You cannot try them all, so you group them. Equivalence partitioning (EP) divides inputs into groups where the software should behave the same way for every member. You then test one representative from each group. Boundary value analysis (BVA) adds the observation that bugs cluster at the edges of those groups, so you also test the values on and next to each edge.
The two techniques work as a pair. EP tells you which groups exist. BVA tells you which specific values inside and beside those groups deserve a test. Together they usually reduce hundreds of possible inputs to a handful of well-chosen ones.
The five-step routine used throughout this workbook
- Read the requirement and write down every rule for the field (type, length, range, mandatory or optional).
- List valid partitions, then invalid partitions, including empty input and wrong data type.
- Pick one representative value per partition.
- For every numeric or length limit, list the boundary values: just below, on, and just above each limit.
- Write each test as input, expected result, and partition or boundary it covers.
Boundary values for a range: the quick reference table
For a field that accepts a range from min to max, use the table below. This is the standard three-point approach; some teams use two points per boundary, so ask which your instructor expects.
| Position | Value | Expected |
|---|---|---|
| Just below minimum | min − 1 | Rejected |
| Minimum | min | Accepted |
| Just above minimum | min + 1 | Accepted |
| Just below maximum | max − 1 | Accepted |
| Maximum | max | Accepted |
| Just above maximum | max + 1 | Rejected |
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Worked illustration: an age field on a library membership form
This example is illustrative. The rule is invented for practice and is not any real library’s policy.
Requirement: Age is a whole number from 18 to 60 inclusive. Anything else shows an error.
Partitions:
- Valid: 18 to 60
- Invalid low: 17 or less
- Invalid high: 61 or more
- Invalid type: letters, symbols, decimals such as 25.5
- Invalid empty: no entry
Boundary values: 17, 18, 19, 59, 60, 61.
| ID | Input | Covers | Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 35 | Valid partition | Accepted |
| A2 | 17 | Lower boundary, below | Error |
| A3 | 18 | Lower boundary | Accepted |
| A4 | 19 | Just above lower | Accepted |
| A5 | 59 | Just below upper | Accepted |
| A6 | 60 | Upper boundary | Accepted |
| A7 | 61 | Upper boundary, above | Error |
| A8 | abc | Invalid type | Error |
| A9 | 25.5 | Invalid type (decimal) | Error |
| A10 | (blank) | Empty | Error: required |
Ten tests cover a field that could otherwise take thousands of inputs. Notice also that the negative number −5 belongs to the invalid-low partition, so it needs no separate test unless the requirement treats negatives differently.
Workbook exercises: five everyday forms with answer keys
Attempt each exercise on paper before reading its key. Count how many partitions and boundaries you found, then compare.
Exercise 1: Mobile number field
Requirement: Exactly 10 digits, digits only, first digit 6, 7, 8 or 9. No spaces or country code.
Answer key 1
Answer key 1:
- Valid partitions: 10 digits starting with 6, 7, 8, 9 (one example each, such as 6123456789, 7123456789, 8123456789, 9123456789).
- Invalid first digit: starts with 0 to 5 (test 5123456789 and 0123456789).
- Length boundaries: 9 digits (rejected), 10 digits (accepted), 11 digits (rejected).
- Invalid type: letters (98765abcde), symbols (98765-4321), spaces inside the number.
- Empty field: rejected as required.
- Extra: pasted number with +91 prefix; the requirement says no country code, so expect rejection.
Exercise 2: Password field
Requirement: 8 to 16 characters, at least one uppercase letter, one digit and one special character.
Answer key 2
Answer key 2:
- Length boundaries (with all character rules satisfied): 7 characters rejected, 8 accepted, 9 accepted, 15 accepted, 16 accepted, 17 rejected.
- Rule partitions at a valid length: missing uppercase, missing digit, missing special character, each rejected individually.
- Valid partition: contains all three classes, such as
Study#2026. - Empty password: rejected.
- Leading or trailing spaces: the requirement is silent, so record this as a question for the requirement owner rather than guessing the expected result.
Exercise 3: Exam fee payment amount
Requirement (invented for practice): Amount in rupees, whole number from 100 to 5000. Amounts up to 999 carry a ₹10 service charge; amounts from 1000 upward carry none.
Answer key 3
Answer key 3: This field has two sets of boundaries: the validity range and the charge threshold.
| Input | Covers | Expected |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | Below minimum | Rejected |
| 100 | Minimum | Accepted, ₹10 charge |
| 101 | Above minimum | Accepted, ₹10 charge |
| 999 | Below charge threshold | Accepted, ₹10 charge |
| 1000 | Charge threshold | Accepted, no charge |
| 1001 | Above threshold | Accepted, no charge |
| 4999 | Below maximum | Accepted, no charge |
| 5000 | Maximum | Accepted, no charge |
| 5001 | Above maximum | Rejected |
| 0, −100, 250.50, text, blank | Invalid partitions | Rejected |
Exercise 4: Date of travel on a bus booking form
Requirement: Travel date can be today or any date up to 30 days ahead. Past dates are rejected. Format DD/MM/YYYY.
Answer key 4
Answer key 4: Treat today as day 0.
- Boundaries: yesterday (rejected), today (accepted), tomorrow (accepted), day 29 (accepted), day 30 (accepted), day 31 (rejected).
- Format partitions: 2026-11-20 style (wrong order), 20-11-2026 (wrong separator), 31/02/2026 (impossible date), 29/02 in a non-leap year, empty.
- Time-sensitive case: booking just before and just after midnight, because “today” changes. Confirm which time zone the system uses.
Exercise 5: Name field on a registration form
Requirement: 2 to 40 characters, letters and single spaces only, mandatory.
Answer key 5
Answer key 5:
- Length boundaries: 1 character rejected, 2 accepted, 3 accepted, 39 accepted, 40 accepted, 41 rejected.
- Valid partition: “Anita Verma”.
- Invalid partitions: digits (“Ravi2”), symbols (“Ravi@”), double space, only spaces, empty.
- Judgement case: names such as “Mary-Ann” or names with apostrophes. The requirement says letters only, so expect rejection, and raise it as a possible requirement gap.
Scorecard for rating your own test cases
After finishing an exercise, score yourself on this checklist. Each row is worth one point.
| Check | Yes / No |
|---|---|
| Every rule in the requirement appears in at least one test | |
| Each valid partition has one representative | |
| Each invalid partition is tested separately, not combined | |
| Every limit has values below, on and above it | |
| Empty input is covered | |
| Wrong data type is covered | |
| Every test states an expected result before execution | |
| Ambiguities are logged as questions, not silently assumed |
Seven or eight points means your design is solid. Five or six means revisit the key and look for the partitions you missed. Below five, redo the exercise from step one.
Applying this workbook at Hemchand Yadav Vishwavidyalaya (Durg University)
The official site presents the institution as Hemchand Yadav Vishwavidyalaya, Durg (C.G.), so you may see both names in use. According to the university’s own description, it was established in 2015 by bifurcating Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, and its jurisdiction covers 147 affiliated colleges across several districts. In practice, that means you are probably studying at an affiliated college, and academic arrangements may be set partly by the university and partly by your college.
The university publishes its ordinances on a university-wide page, including a February 2026 NEP amendment, which suggests academic rules are set centrally. Syllabi for 2026-27, including a PGDCA listing dated 22 October 2026, appear on the PG semester-exam syllabus page. Check the current version of that page, because syllabi change by session.
What this means for you: nothing verified here tells you whether software testing, internships or project work are formally required in your programme, or how they are evaluated. Treat this workbook as self-study that supports your coursework and your own portfolio, not as something your university has endorsed or will credit. You can pair it with the free two-week online internship at CareerSwami, which is independent of your university.
Verification steps for Durg University students on testing practice and internships
- Download your programme’s current syllabus PDF from the university syllabus pages and search it for “testing”, “software engineering” and “project”.
- Open the ordinances page and look for any clause on internships, training or project work; read it directly rather than relying on a senior’s summary.
- Ask your department in writing whether an internship or project is mandatory in your semester and what documents are needed.
- Ask whether an online internship certificate is accepted for any requirement, and get the answer by email or on a notice.
- Confirm with your college office whether it has a placement or career cell and how to reach it.
- For general queries, use the contact details on the official university site rather than third-party pages.
A 14-day plan for working through the workbook
| Days | Activity | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read the EP and BVA sections; redo the age-field example without looking | One-page summary in your own words |
| 2 | Exercise 1 (mobile number) | Test table and self-score |
| 3 | Exercise 2 (password) | Test table and self-score |
| 4 | Review keys 1 and 2; fix gaps | Revised tables |
| 5 | Exercise 3 (payment amount) | Boundary list with two sets of limits |
| 6 | Exercise 4 (travel date) | Date partitions and midnight case |
| 7 | Exercise 5 (name) | Test table plus a list of requirement questions |
| 8-9 | Pick a real form (college portal, ticket site) and write its rules from observation | Rule sheet |
| 10-11 | Design EP and BVA tests for that form | Test case sheet |
| 12 | Execute your tests manually and record actual results | Pass/fail log |
| 13 | Write clear bug reports for any mismatches | Bug report drafts |
| 14 | Self-score everything and assemble a portfolio folder | Shareable document |
When you test a live site, use only forms you are allowed to use, never submit real payments or someone else’s data, and stop if a form behaves unexpectedly with personal information.
Writing a test case so another person can run it
A good test case needs few fields. Here is a layout you can copy into a spreadsheet; the sample row is illustrative.
ID | Field | Input | Technique | Expected result | Actual | Status
M3 | Mobile | 987654321 (9 digits) | BVA lower-below | Error: enter 10 digits | | Keep one idea per test. If a test mixes an invalid length and an invalid character, a failure will not tell you which caused it. Leave the Actual and Status columns blank until you really run the test.
Where students lose marks when designing form tests
- Combining invalid conditions. Test one invalid thing at a time so a rejection can be traced to its cause.
- Forgetting the inclusive limits. “18 to 60” includes both 18 and 60. Read whether the limits are inclusive.
- Skipping empty and wrong-type input. These are the partitions most forms mishandle.
- Guessing the expected result. When the requirement is silent, log a question instead of inventing an answer.
- Testing only numbers. Text length, dates and dropdown choices have partitions and boundaries too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between equivalence partitioning and boundary value analysis?
Equivalence partitioning groups inputs that should behave identically and tests one from each group. Boundary value analysis picks values at the edges of those groups, where off-by-one mistakes tend to hide. You normally use both on the same field.
How many boundary values should I test for a range?
The three-point method tests below, on and above each limit, giving six values for a range with two limits. A two-point method tests only the value on the boundary and the nearest invalid value. Follow whichever your instructor or exam expects.
Do decimals count as a separate partition for a whole-number field?
Yes, if the requirement says whole numbers only. A value like 25.5 is an invalid-type input and should be rejected, so it deserves its own test separate from letters or symbols.
What should I do if the requirement does not say what happens for some input?
Do not guess. Record the input as an open question for the requirement owner, such as your instructor or the project lead, and mark the test’s expected result as “to be confirmed”. Spotting these gaps is a valuable testing skill.
Can I use these techniques on dropdowns and checkboxes?
Yes. Each option in a dropdown is usually its own partition, and you can sample representatives plus the first and last options. For checkboxes, consider none selected, one selected and all selected.
How do I know my test design is good enough?
Use the scorecard in this article: every rule covered, every limit tested on both sides, invalid partitions separated, and expected results written before execution. If you can explain why each test exists, the design is sound.
Is there a free way to practise this with guidance?
CareerSwami offers a free two-week online internship with an offer letter and a completion certificate after successful completion, including software testing among its 26 tracks. You can use this workbook alongside it, but check separately whether your college recognises any such certificate.
Will my university or college count this workbook for marks?
Nothing verified indicates that it will. Check your syllabus and ask your department in writing whether self-study or online projects count for any requirement before relying on them.
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