Which Foundation Level Exam is Best for You?

ISTQB released the new Foundation Level 4.0 syllabus this week. So which ISTQB Foundation Level exam should you take – the current 3.1 exam or the upcoming 4.0 exam?

Our recommendation: If you are planning to take your ISTQB Foundation Level exam in the next few months, you should take the current exam. Here are four reasons why:

1. The current ISTQB Foundation Level exam will be available for another year. You can take the current exam through May 9th, 2024. If you have already begun your preparation for the current exam, don't worry, you have plenty of time.
    
2. There is no accredited training currently available for the 4.0 exam, but there are proven training courses and great training materials for the current exam. Because of this, we feel it will be much easier to study for the current exam if you are planning on taking it in the next few months.
    
3. Both of the exams are equally valid. Upon passing either exam, you will be an ISTQB Certified Tester, Foundation Level. There is no reference to the version number in the ISTQB successful candidate register, the Official U.S. List of Certified Software Testers™, or Testing Tiers®.
    
4. If you purchase a voucher from ASTQB / AT*SQA for the current exam and change your mind later, don't worry – our ISTQB Foundation Level vouchers are good for either version of the exam. You have up to 365 days to take your ISTQB exam after you purchase your exam from ASTQB and AT*SQA, so you have the flexibility to choose either version when you are ready to take your exam.

Are You Ready for Changes in the Economy? Testers & Managers Should Prepare Now

Economic changes catch many testers – and managers – off guard. Projects can evaporate overnight. Layoffs can occur. Workloads for those left behind can increase.

How do you get your testing career ready for a recession? If you are a manager, how do you prepare your testing team?

ASTQB has identified a few ways to stay ahead of the curve:

• Trend #1: When the economy goes down, educational enrollment goes up. Why is that, and what does this mean for you?
   
• Trend #2: When everyone wants a job, getting an interview can be exceptionally difficult. How can you move your resume to the top?
   
• Trend #3: The amount of work doesn’t drop as quickly as the number of staff to do that work. How can you protect yourself as a manager?

Get full details on steps you can take with our article "3 Ways Testers and Test Managers Can Be Ready for Any Economy."

3 Ways the Official U.S. List Helps You 

1. It can help you get jobs with American companies. American companies and governmental organizations check with ASTQB & AT*SQA to see if you are certified. Why? Because ASTQB is the official U.S. board for ISTQB certification and AT*SQA is our official ISTQB exam provider. If you're on this list, companies know you took the official U.S. Board's American English ISTQB exam. 
    
2. It could help your company get contracts with American companies. Your inclusion on the Official U.S. List of Certified Software Testers™ is a bonus for your company because it demonstrates your commitment to working with a U.S.-based software quality team. That's a big deal.
    
3. It makes you and your company more prominent. AT*SQA and ASTQB promote the importance of hiring individuals on our Official U.S. List of Certified Software Testers™, and our ads have been seen more than 50 million times. That makes your certification accomplishment more well-known to U.S. employers and clients every day! Don't forget that ASTQB and AT*SQA will also give you Testing Tiers® points that increase your level on the list.

Take Your ISTQB Exam at Home Anywhere