What is the role of acceptance criteria in testing?
- acceptance criteria
- requirements
- BDD
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Model answer
Acceptance criteria (AC) define the conditions a feature must meet to be accepted by the product owner. Role in testing: (1) AC become test cases, each criterion maps to at least one test. (2) They provide a shared understanding between developers, QA, and product. (3) Well-written AC are testable, specific, and measurable. (4) Use Given-When-Then format for clarity. (5) QA should participate in AC writing during refinement, not just receive them. Example: "Given a logged-in user, when they click Delete Account and confirm, then their data is removed and they are redirected to the homepage."
What interviewers listen for
- Risk-based prioritisationYou can defend skipping coverage on a path because the risk maths supports it.
- Test design fluencyYou apply equivalence partitioning and decision tables to concrete inputs in real time.
- Metric judgmentYou distinguish between metrics that drive learning and metrics that drive theatre.
- Strategy under constraintYou can produce a defensible plan when the team has half the time and twice the scope.