Only ASTQB and AT*SQA create sample exams that intentionally mirror their live ISTQB exams. To our knowledge, other exam providers generally do not publish custom-designed sample questions. That is a big advantage when you take your ISTQB exam through ATSQA.
Why ISTQB Sample Exam Styles Can Differ From the Actual Exam
- ISTQB (the global organization) publishes the syllabus for each certification and releases global sample questions.
- However, country boards write and deliver the live exams themselves and/or through their exam providers.
Why Many ISTQB Sample Exams Feel Different From the Real Exam
Global ISTQB sample questions are accurate to the syllabus, yet their style and pacing may not match a particular board or training provider’s live exam because different teams write them in different languages and contexts.
What ASTQB/AT*SQA Does Differently for Their ISTQB Exams and ISTQB Sample Exams
ASTQB’s exam team creates special ASTQB sample exams for most of the certifications delivered through AT*SQA. These are created to reflect the question and answer style, length, and phrasing candidates will see on test day.
To our knowledge, other ISTQB providers rely on the global ISTQB samples, which may not match their live exam writing style. Third-party ISTQB sample exam questions and answers almost certainly do not match the exam writing style because they were not created by the exam authors. Moreover, they should not be trusted because they could have been created by those without expert knowledge.
Implication for ISTQB Exam Candidates
ASTQB’s special ISTQB exam questions offer a closer match to AT*SQA’s live ISTQB exam style than generic samples. This can be a real help when it comes to feeling comfortable in preparing for your ISTQB exam.
FAQ: Do Real ISTQB Exams Match the Sample Questions?
Q: Do other providers publish provider-specific ISTQB sample exams?
A: Not that we’re aware of. Most providers do not publish their own board-specific sample sets.
Q: Who creates ISTQB board-specific sample exams that match the live exam style?
A: Only ASTQB and AT*SQA create special sample exams designed to mirror their live ISTQB exams. This provides a clearer picture of question style and pacing.
Q: Why do some ISTQB samples feel long or confusing compared with live exams?
A: Global ISTQB samples are syllabus-accurate but not tailored to any single board’s writing style, pacing, or language conventions, so they may read differently from a board’s live exam.
Q: If I am taking my ISTQB exam through AT*SQA, which samples are closest to the real thing?
A: The ASTQB special sample exams for the specific certification you are taking, since they are written to match AT*SQA’s live exam style and blueprint.
Q: Does this apply only to ISTQB Foundation Level?
A: No. The same principle applies across multiple ISTQB certifications. ASTQB has created special sample exams for many of the ISTQB exams they deliver through AT*SQA.