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Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 Exam
CTFL is the foundation-level certification exam of the ISTQB Certified Tester scheme, owned by the International Software Testing Qualifications Board and specified centrally (syllabus v4.0.1; Exam Structures and Rules v1.2): a closed-book, 40-question multiple-choice exam in 60 minutes (75 minutes with the 25% non-native-language extension) with a passing score of 26 of 40 points (65%), delivered worldwide through ISTQB Member Boards and licensed Exam Providers who set their own fees, dates, and delivery options.
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Questions40 multiple-choice questions (each worth exactly one point at Foundation Level; no partial scoring)
Testing time60 minutes; candidates entitled to a 25% time extension (75 minutes) when the exam is in a language that is not their first language
ScoringPassing score 26 of 40 points - a score of at least 65% is required to pass; there is no partial scoring in ISTQB multiple-choice exams
Exam feeVaries - no central fee is published; exam fees (and retake fees) are set by each ISTQB Member Board or Exam Provider, which also determine dates, delivery options, and booking
Prep options
Study resources for CTFL
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- ISTQB
- Category
- Software Testing
- Current version
- CTFL v4.0 (released by the ISTQB General Assembly 21 April 2023); current syllabus v4.0.1, formally released 15 September 2024; exam rules per ISTQB Exam Structures and Rules v1.2 (May 2, 2025)
- Where it applies
- Global
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- 1 point per question, 40 points total (Foundation Level); pass at 26 points (65%)
- Testing provider
- ISTQB Member Boards and external Exam Providers licensed by Member Boards, offering exams locally and internationally (ISTQB itself does not deliver exams or issue results)
- Format
- Multiple-choice question exam (all ISTQB Foundation, Specialist, and Advanced level exams); delivery mode (e.g., test center or other arrangements) and scheduling are determined by the Member Board or Exam Provider
- Availability
- Offered by Member Boards and Exam Providers - exam dates and delivery options vary by provider and country; exams can be taken as part of accredited training or independently, and bookings are made with the provider
- Results
- Results are provided by the candidate's Member Board or Exam Provider (ISTQB itself is unable to send exam results)
- Remote testing
- Varies by jurisdiction
Exam structure
One closed-book exam of 40 multiple-choice questions covering the six chapters of the CTFL v4.0.1 syllabus (14 Business Outcomes via 64 Learning Objectives, questions at K1-K3 cognitive levels): Fundamentals of Testing; Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle; Static Testing; Test Analysis & Design; Managing the Test Activities; Test Tools. Foundation Level questions target the syllabus Learning Objectives and ISTQB Glossary keywords (K2 for definitions)
Where rules vary
A truly worldwide vendor-neutral certification: the exam specification (questions, duration, passing score) is standardized centrally by ISTQB and delivered in over 130 countries through national Member Boards and Exam Providers, which set local fees, dates, delivery options, and local-language editions; the specification does not vary by country.
Eligibility
None - the CTFL exam has no prerequisites (CTFL itself, or a previous Foundation Level certificate, is the prerequisite for all other ISTQB certifications)
Retake policy
Exams may be taken as many times as necessary to pass; retake fees and any minimum interval between attempts are set by the local Member Board or Exam Provider