What is a key difference between a system prompt and a user prompt?

System prompts define the overall context and rules, while user prompts provide specific requests or data.

System prompts are only used for testing tasks, while user prompts are used for all other tasks.

System prompts are longer than user prompts.

System prompts are set by the user each time, while user prompts are set by the system.

A QA engineer is using an AI to generate test data. The first prompt 'Generate test data for the user registration form' produced data that was too generic and not suitable for edge cases. Which iterative refinement should the engineer apply next?

Ask the AI to 'generate more data' without further specification.

Refine the user prompt to specify the required data types, formats, and edge cases, such as invalid email formats and boundary passwords.

Change the system prompt to 'You are a test data generator' and keep the user prompt unchanged.

Use a completely different AI model that is known for better test data generation.

What is the typical precedence order when system and user prompts conflict?

System prompt overrides user prompt

User prompt overrides system prompt

The longer prompt overrides the shorter one

The most recent prompt overrides the earlier one

A test engineer is crafting a prompt to ask the AI to convert a set of manual test steps into an automated script. The engineer wants the AI to focus on the conversion and not on reviewing the steps. Which prompt best separates context from instruction?

Review these steps and then convert them to a script.

Convert these steps to a script.

Here are the manual test steps. What do you think?

Context: These are the manual test steps for the checkout process. Instruction: Convert these steps into a Selenium script.

Which of the following is an example of a well-crafted user prompt for a testing task?

You are a testing expert. Always provide detailed reports.

Create test cases for the login form. The form has fields for username and password, and a submit button. Include cases for valid and invalid inputs.

Certified Tester Testing with Generative AI

Domain 2Objective 3

System Prompt and User Prompt CT-GENAI Practice Questions (Page 3)

Part of the Prompt Engineering for Effective Software Testing domain, which makes up ~30% of our current practice bank. ISTQB does not publish an official question count, but from its 60-minute exam (~25–40 total, ~8–12 in this domain), expect 1–1 from this objective — we provide 21 practice questions to prepare you well beyond it. (estimate)

21questions here

5free pages

8concepts

Questions 11–15

11foundation · easy
What is a key difference between a system prompt and a user prompt?
Select an answer first
12application · medium
A QA engineer is using an AI to generate test data. The first prompt 'Generate test data for the user registration form' produced data that was too generic and not suitable for edge cases. Which iterative refinement should the engineer apply next?
Select an answer first
13foundation · easy
What is the typical precedence order when system and user prompts conflict?
Select an answer first
14application · medium
A test engineer is crafting a prompt to ask the AI to convert a set of manual test steps into an automated script. The engineer wants the AI to focus on the conversion and not on reviewing the steps. Which prompt best separates context from instruction?
Select an answer first
15foundation · easy
Which of the following is an example of a well-crafted user prompt for a testing task?
Select an answer first

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