A common problem is faced in testing phases (especially when UAT/release is near) – There are so many tests for testing/execution but there is so less time. In 2004, Johanna Rothman gives a recipe in her article “So Many Tests, So Little Time
| TimeBox the testing”. From Johanna’s article, I conclude that Prioritizing the tests is one important step to achieve time-boxing in testing.


For those who don’t know what is time-boxing:
Time-boxing is a well-established project management (time management technique) used to limit project scope in a fixed duration by forcing tradeoffs. Time-boxing is a valuable technique for testing as well. For example you need to test the application before UAT and there are only 4 weeks left.
Here we will discuss, how to prioritize tests (test scripts/test cases), complete the most important tests in given time and deliver a high quality product. There can be many other best practices for time-boxing the testing but Prioritizing the tests is one important step to achieve time-boxing in testing.


Why to Prioritize Tests:

• We can’t test everything.
• There is never enough time to do all testing you would like.

(Read Testing Limitations)
Tips to Prioritizing the tests:

• Possible ranking criteria ( all risk based)
• Test where a failure would be most serve (take help from development team)
• Test where failures would be most visible (take help from development team)
• Take the help of customer/Business Analyst in understanding what is most important to him.
• What is most critical to the customers business? (Take the help of customer/Business Analyst)
• Areas changed most often. (take help from development team)
• Areas with most problems in the past. (take help from development team)
• Most complex areas, or technically critical. (take help from development team, Business Analyst)

Note: If you follow above, whenever you stop testing, you have done the best testing in the time available.