Test Ideas: PEN

1. See if the different components (the barrel, cap, unscrewable head, refill, spring if any etc.) of
the pen are fitting perfectly. [Install ability Testing!]
2. Test the dimension of the pen. Its shape and size should be ergonomically designed so as to
result in a comfortable writing experience.
3. Test by writing on a piece of paper. See if you can write smoothly. It should not be writing and
stopping with breaks! [Usability Testing!]
4. Test the width of the line drawn by the pen to test the specified millimetre range [FYI:
Ballpoint Pens come with different millimetre specifications like - a "point five millimeter" (0.5
mm) pen has a ball that will produce a line that is 0.5-mm wide, and a "point seven millimeter"
pen (0.7 mm) has a ball that will produce a 0.7-mm line. Ballpoints even come as tiny as "point
one millimeter" wide ("ultra-fine")] [Validation Testing!]
5. Test the writing capacity (the amount of writing that is possible from a single refill) of the
pen. [Capability/Reliability Testing!]
6. Test if you can carry the pen in your shirt pocket using its cap. The cap extension should be
firm enough to grip your pocket! [Robustness Testing!]
7. Test by writing on different types of surfaces like: coarse paper, hard board wrapper,
packaging material, glass, leather, cotton, wood, plastic, metals like aluminium or iron,
polythene sheet etc. [Compatibility Testing!]
8. Write something on a paper and keep the paper for a reasonable duration of time. The written
letters should not fade away over time. Also test by applying water on the writing/drawing
made by the pen. See if the ink is water-proof!
9. Test if the ink leaks from the refill under normal circumstances.
10. Test if the ball of the refill head fits into the socket with just enough space to move freely.
11. Test if the ink flows unevenly. Uneven flowing of ink is a common problem with badly
designed pens.
12. Test if the ink is slow to dry. The ink is exposed to the air while it is flowing through the pen,
so test if it cannot dry quickly or it would clog the pen.
13. Keep the pen without using for a considerable duration of time. Test if the ink does
accidentally dry in the pen. In case the ink gums the whole thing up, test if it requires meticulous
cleaning or can be cleaned easily. [Recovery testing!]
14. Test if the pen can be used in outer space and low gravity environments. If it is a gel pen,
then it should be capable of this. [As usually the ink used in gel pens is of extremely thick
consistency] [Capability testing!]
15. Drop the pen from a reasonable height (may be the height of a study table) and see if it
breaks, ceases to write or continues to work without any damage. Also test by putting the pen in
a “clothes dryer” (ever left your pen in your shirt pocket before sending it to laundry!). See if the
heat is sufficient to cause a leakage! [Stress Testing!]
16. Test if the pen is made up of recyclable material.
17. Test how the pen performs under different climatic conditions, different room
temperatures, and different room pressures. [Performance testing!]
18. Test if the pen leaks ink if it is carried in a flight. [Performance Testing!]
19. Test if the pen is usable with different brands of similar refill. [Compatibility Testing!]
20. Test the pen by writing with different angles of use. Also test if you are able to write on a
vertical surface [sticky note stuck on a notice board!]
21. Test if the materials used in the manufacturing of the pen are harmless if chewed or licked!
It’s a general tendency among users to put the pen in mouth while writing.
22. Test if the writing head is too sensitive and is easily broken while writing. [Robustness
Testing!]
23. Test the ability to write on one sheet of paper on a hard desk. Look for the quality of writing.
24. Test the pressure needed to be applied to the pen to have it write cleanly. [Load Testing!]
25. Test if the ink blots the paper (especially in case of gel pen). [Usability testing!]

Test ideas: Mosquito Repellent

1. Test if the liquidator refill fits well with the repellent machine. [Install ability Testing!]
2. Test the structure of the machine. Verify it with the specified structure in the user manual.
3. Plug in the repellent machine with a power terminal and see if the indicator LED glows. Also
test if the machine actually is getting power supply and the liquidator fume is dispersing in the
surrounding repelling the mosquitoes. [Usability Testing!]
4. Test how the machine performs under different voltage conditions. Test it under different
voltage supplies (like 110 volts, 220 volts, 440 volts and even 11 kilo volts, provided you
manage to get such a power supply in your test lab!) [Performance Testing!]
5. Test the power consumption (wattage) of the machine.
6. Switch ON the machine for a very long time (may be 48-72 hours continuously) and see what
happens. [Stress Testing!]
7. Attach an empty liquidator to the machine and see what happens when the machine is
switched ON in such condition.
8. Test different brands of liquidator refills with the machine and see if it continues to operate
without any problem. [Compatibility Testing!]
9. Test the repellent with other forms of mosquito repellents (like coils, mats etc.) of different
brands and see what happens. [Compatibility Testing!]
10. Test the machine with different forms of plug sockets available in the market. [Compatibility
Testing!]
11. Test the minimum duration in which the repellent seems to work and repel mosquitoes.
[Capability Testing!]
12. Test the minimum area (in cubic feet) in which the repellent is effective on mosquitoes.
[Capability Testing!]
13. Test the machine in an open area (not inside a room, may be on roof top, open field, garden
etc.) and see if the effectiveness changes. [Capability Testing!]
14. Test if the repellent is also effective on any other insects like moths, bugs, cockroaches, flies
etc. [Capability Testing!]
15. Test for possible side effect of the repellent fume on human beings specially, children,
pregnant women, elder persons etc.
16. Test the possible side effects, if the repellent is consumed orally or the liquid is somehow
spilled over someone.
17. Test the repellent in a closed room (An AC room, toilet, store room etc.) and see if the fume
causes suffocation to the inmates.
18. Drop the repellent machine along with the liquidator from a reasonable height (say from the
height of 5-6 feet, because that is the average height of plug points at homes/offices) and test if
the machine is able to avoid any damage. [Stress Testing!]
19. Test the machine under different room temperatures (say in a range of 5-45 degree Celsius).
[Load Testing!]
20. See if the liquid evaporates after the seal is removed.

Test Ideas: Coffee Machine

1. Test the structure and dimensions of the coffeemaker and see if it confirms to the specified
dimensions mentioned in the user manual. [Build Verification Testing!]
2. Test if you can get the machine to work after following the user manual and assembling the
machine. [Install ability Testing!]
3. Test if the different parts (the switches and timers in the control panel, the thermostat that
controls electricity to operate the heating element, the plug, the power cable etc.) are in good
condition and are usable. [Usability Testing!]
4. Plug in the power terminal and see if the LED glows. And test if the machine is actually getting
power supply. Also test the current received and maximum permitted. [Usability Testing!]
5. Test if the heating element stops heating once the electrical power to the machine is turned
off (either by unplugging the cable or by switching OFF the power switch on the control panel).
6. Test the performance of the machine under different room temperatures (an AC room,
kitchen, roadside etc.) and see if the time taken for coffee making varies largely.
[Load/Localizability Testing!]
7. Test how the coffeemaker performs under different voltage conditions. Test how it is
able/unable to sustain fluctuating voltage. [Reliability/Performance Testing!]
8. Test if the power consumption of the coffeemaker is measurable. It will be useless if it
consumes too much of power to operate. [Scalability Testing!]
9. Switch ON the coffeemaker for a very long time (say up to 2-3 days continuously; in office
usage this can be a normal scenario!) and see the result. Test if the thermostat works fine under
such situation. [Stress Testing!]
10. Test the brewing time for different flavours/types of coffee. [Performance Testing!]
11. Test if the heating element boils water when you first put it in the coffee maker. Test the
operational power consumption. [Functionality Testing!]
12. Test if the heating element keeps the coffee warm, once the coffee is made! Test the stand-by
power consumption. [Functionality Testing!]
13. Test if the primary temperature sensor detects the coil getting too hot and cuts off the
current. Also test if it turns the coil back on power when it cools down. [Security Testing!]
14. Test if the thermal fuses cut power if they sense too high a temperature. Test if they are able
to cut the power in the event that the main sensor/thermostat fails. [Security Testing!]
15. Test if the one-way valve prevents the boiling water to flow back into the bucket. The one-
way valve should let cold water into the boiling chamber and should force the bubbles of boiling
water to flow up the tube into the coffee chamber. You might test the working of the one-way
valve by blowing on the tube leading into the value and the valve should open. If you inhale
through the tube, the one-way valve should block any air. [Functionality Testing!]
16. Test if when you turn on the switch, the heating element starts heating the
aluminium/stainless steel made boiling chamber, and eventually the water in the tube boils.
17. Test if the boiling water rises in the pipe into the coffee chamber due to vacuum pressure
and finally drips into the coffee chamber!
18. Test if the pressure with which water is pumped into the coffee chamber is sufficient enough
to brew a nice cup of foaming coffee!
19. Test if coffee is actually delivered when the appropriate button is pressed!
20. Test if desired quantity of coffee is delivered when requested!
21. Test the variation in taste when different dose/variety of coffee is selected.
22. Test if appropriate amount of milk is mixed before the coffee is served.
23. Test if milk is still mixed when NO MILK option is selected.
24. Test if pre-set amount of sugar is actually served with a cup of coffee.
25. Test if the dispenser area is sufficiently spacious to fit in a large coffee cup. [Usability
Testing!]
26. Test the operation of the coffeemaker without a load (i.e. without water, milk, sugar, coffee
etc.). See if it results in electrical short circuits due to overheating of the boiling chamber.
[Security Testing!]
27. Test if the inner chambers are easily cleanable! Test if the drip tray is removable.
[Maintainability Testing!]
28. Test if the machine can also be used to serve other beverages like tea, hot chocolate, soups
etc. [Capability Testing!]
29. Test if the machine can accommodate parts from different manufacturers in case a
replacement is needed in future! [Compatibility Testing!]
30. Test if the coffee inside the reservoir clogs the whole thing up if the coffeemaker is left
unused for a long time! This can happen if a family leaves for a vacation having forgotten to
switch off the machine, or more practically in an office after a long holiday like Xmas. Test if the
machine is easily cleanable or requires meticulous cleaning under such condition
[Maintainability Testing!]

Test Ideas: Microwave Oven

1. Test the structure and dimensions of the microwave and see if it confirms to the specified
dimensions mentioned in the user manual. [Build Verification Testing!]
2. Test if the door of the oven fits squarely and securely and opens and closes smoothly.
[Installability Testing!]
3. Test if the door hinges are in proper condition and the surface of the door is not damaged.
4. Test if there is no corrosion is evident on the door, the door hinges or the oven interior.
5. Plug the power terminal and see if the LED glows. And test if the oven is actually getting
power supply. Also test the current received and maximum allowed. [Usability Testing!]
6. Test if the microwaves generated in the microwave oven cease to exist once the electrical
power to the magnetron is turned off.
7. Test how the microwave performs under different voltage conditions. Test how it is
able/unable to sustain fluctuating voltage. [Performance Testing!]
8. Test the power consumption of the microwave.
9. Switch ON the oven for a very long time (say up to 12-24 hours continuously) and see the
result. Test if the thermostat works fine under such situation. [Stress Testing!]
10. Test if the timer is working and the microwave switches off automatically after the pre-set
time. [Usability Testing!]
11. Keep the oven door open and test if you are able to set a timer for cooking. [Usability
Testing!]
12. Test if you are able to switch off the microwave before the timer has counted down to the
pre-set time. [Usability Testing!]
13. Test the cooking time for different food items. [Performance Testing!]
14. Test if the oven results in uneven absorption causing localized "hot spots".
15. Test if the bowls made up off glass and plastics are heated when used in the oven. Ideally,
they should not. [Usability Testing!]
16. Test if parts of frozen food remain frozen if insufficient time is allowed for the heating
process.
17. Test if the oven walls and other non-metallic cooking utensils are not directly heated by
microwaves.
18. Test if the microwave exposure causes serious health effects such as deep tissue burns and
hyperthermia. Test if it either causes or promotes cancer. [Security Testing!]
19. Test if the microwaves make the food or the oven radioactive. [Security Testing!]
20. Test if the safety interlock switches stop the generation of microwaves immediately the door
is opened. [Security Testing!]
21. Test that there is no microwave leakage from the device. If it is there it should not exceed
the recommended limit (differs from country to country).
22. Test if cardiac pacemakers are likely to be susceptible to microwave interference, when very
close to an oven. [Security Testing!]
23. Test the operation of the oven without a load (i.e. an absorbing material such as food or
water). See if it results in fire hazards due to resonance of the magnetron tube itself. [Security
Testing!]
24. Test by using the oven for sterilizing baby bottles or other food utensils. [Capability
Testing!]
25. Test if closed containers and eggs explode when heated in the microwave oven due to the
pressure build-up of steam. [Security Testing!]
26. Try to heat grapes in the oven and see if it explodes due to arcing! [Security Testing!]