TEST PLAN:

A document which includes the scope, approach, resources & schedule of planned test activities. It recognized between others test items, features to be tested, testing tasks, who will do the task, degree of tester independence, test environment, test design techniques & entry and exit criteria. It is a document of complete test planning procedure.

TEST PLAN TYPES:

Below are the test plans type:

Master Test Plan: It is a high-level of test plan for a project that combines all the other test plans.
Testing Level Specific Test Plans: It includes the each level of testing:

• Unit Test Plan
• Integration Test Plan
• System Test Plan
• Acceptance Test Plan

Testing Type Specific Test Plans: It includes the Performance Test Plan and Security Test Plan.

TEST PLAN TEMPLATE:

Content & format of the test plan varies, it depends on the procedures, standards & the test management tools which will be used. Below is the summary of test plan:

Test Plan Identifier:
Provide a unique identifier for the document.

Introduction:
It includes an overview of the test plan, the goals/objectives and limitation.

References:
Make a list of the related documents, with links to them if available, including the following:

•    Project Plan
•    Configuration Management Plan

Test Items:
It includes the test items & the versions of these test items..

Features to be Tested:
Make a list of the features to be tested. Also, provide references to the requirements of the features to be tested.

Features Not to Be Tested:
Make a list of the features which will not be tested with their reasons.

Approach:
Specify the complete approach of the testing. Also, mention the testing levels, testing types & testing methods.

Item Pass/Fail Criteria:
Mention the standard that will be used to decide whether the test items are passed or failed the testing.

Suspension Criteria and Resumption Requirements:
Mention the standard to be used to reject the testing activity.
Also, mention the testing activities which should be re-done when testing is restart.

Test Deliverables:
Specify the test deliverables with the links, including the below items:

•      Test Plan (this document itself)
•      Test Cases
•      Test Scripts
•      Defect/Enhancement Logs
•      Test Reports

Test Environment:
Mention the test environment: hardware, software, network etc.
Specify the testing and related tools.

Estimate:
It includes the summary of test estimates including the cost and efforts.

Schedule:
It includes the summary of the schedule and test milestones.

Staffing and Training Needs:
Mention the staffing by role and required skills.
Identify the training which will be necessary to provide those skills.

Responsibilities:
Mention the responsibilities of each team/individual.

Risks:
It includes the risks that have been identified.
Specify the mitigation plan and the contingency plan for each risk.

Assumptions and Dependencies:
It includes the assumptions which will be build during the plan preparation.
Mention the dependencies.

Approvals:
It includes all person's name and their roles who will approve the plan.
Provide space for signatures and dates. (If the document is to be printed.)