Introduction: Growing Fresher Hiring Demand in Manual Testing
Manual testing is one of the most popular entry points into the IT industry for freshers. As companies continuously develop web applications, mobile apps, and software products, they need testers to ensure quality before release.
Many organizations prefer fresh graduates for manual testing roles because:
- Manual testing is easy to learn
- No programming background is required
- It focuses on logical thinking and attention to detail
- It builds a strong base for automation testing
This article on basic manual testing interview questions and answers for freshers is designed in a beginner-friendly, step-by-step manner, using simple language, real examples, sample test cases, and bug report formats.
What Is Software Testing? (Simple Explanation)
Software testing is the process of checking whether a software application works correctly and meets user expectations.
In simple words:
Testing makes sure the software does what it is supposed to do and does not fail.
Why software testing is important:
- Finds bugs early
- Improves software quality
- Reduces business risk
- Improves customer satisfaction
What Is Manual Testing?
Manual testing means testing the software manually without using any automation tools.
Simple example:
- Open a website
- Enter username and password
- Click Login
- Check if login is successful
All these steps done by a tester are called manual testing.
Why manual testing is best for freshers:
- Easy to understand
- No coding knowledge required
- Helps learn application behavior
- Strong foundation for automation testing
What Is Automation Testing? (Basic Idea)
Automation testing uses tools to test software automatically.
Simple example:
Instead of manually testing the login feature many times, a script performs login automatically.
Manual vs Automation Testing (Easy Comparison)
| Manual Testing | Automation Testing |
| Done by humans | Done by tools |
| Time-consuming | Faster |
| No coding needed | Basic coding needed |
| Best for freshers | Best after basics |
Basic Manual Testing Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers (Fundamentals)
1. What is manual testing?
Manual testing is testing software manually without automation tools.
2. Why is manual testing important?
It helps find bugs from a real user’s perspective.
3. What is a bug?
A bug is an error or defect in the software.
4. What is a defect?
Defect is another name for a bug.
5. What is a test case?
A test case is a document containing steps to test a feature.
6. What is a test scenario?
A test scenario describes what to test, not how to test.
7. What is SDLC?
SDLC is Software Development Life Cycle.
8. What is STLC?
STLC is Software Testing Life Cycle.
9. What is verification?
Checking documents without running the software.
10. What is validation?
Testing the actual application.
11. What is black box testing?
Testing without knowing the internal code.
12. What is white box testing?
Testing with knowledge of code.
13. What is functional testing?
Testing application features based on requirements.
14. What is non-functional testing?
Testing performance, usability, and security.
15. What is regression testing?
Re-testing after changes to ensure old features still work.
Slightly Advanced Manual Testing Interview Questions (For Freshers)
16. What is smoke testing?
Basic testing to check if the build is stable.
17. What is sanity testing?
Quick testing after small changes.
18. What is exploratory testing?
Testing without predefined test cases.
19. What is positive testing?
Testing with valid input data.
20. What is negative testing?
Testing with invalid input data.
21. What is severity?
Severity shows how serious a bug is.
22. What is priority?
Priority shows how urgently a bug should be fixed.
23. Difference between severity and priority?
Severity = impact, Priority = urgency.
24. What is UAT?
User Acceptance Testing done by end users.
25. What is test environment?
The setup where testing is done.
26. What is retesting?
Testing a bug after it is fixed.
27. What is defect life cycle?
The stages a bug goes through from creation to closure.
28. What is boundary value analysis?
Testing values at minimum and maximum limits.
29. What is equivalence partitioning?
Dividing inputs into valid and invalid groups.
30. What is release testing?
Final testing before production release.
Scenario-Based Manual Testing Interview Questions for Freshers
31. How will you test a login page?
- Valid username and password
- Invalid username or password
- Blank fields
- Password masking
- Error message validation
32. What will you do if a developer rejects your bug?
- Recheck the issue
- Share clear steps
- Attach screenshots
- Explain expected vs actual result
33. How will you test a mobile application manually?
- App installation
- App launch
- Screen rotation
- Network change handling
34. What if requirements are unclear?
- Ask questions
- Discuss with senior tester
- Document assumptions
Sample Test Cases for Freshers
Login Test Case Example
| Test Case ID | Description | Steps | Expected Result |
| TC_01 | Valid login | Enter valid credentials | Login successful |
| TC_02 | Invalid login | Enter wrong password | Error message |
| TC_03 | Blank fields | Click login without input | Validation message |
Mobile App Test Case Example
| Scenario | Expected Result |
| Install app | App installs successfully |
| Launch app | App opens without crash |
| Rotate screen | UI adjusts properly |
API Test Case Example (Basic)
| Scenario | Expected Result |
| Valid request | Status code 200 |
| Invalid request | Status code 400 |
| Unauthorized | Status code 401 |
UI Test Case Example
| Scenario | Expected Result |
| Button click | Correct action |
| Text alignment | Proper alignment |
| Responsive UI | Works on all screen sizes |
Bug Report Writing Example for Freshers
Sample Bug Report Format
- Bug ID: BUG_601
- Title: Login button not working
- Module: Login
- Environment: Chrome / Windows
- Severity: High
- Priority: High
Steps to Reproduce:
- Open login page
- Enter valid credentials
- Click Login
Expected Result: User should login successfully
Actual Result: Page does not respond
Tips to Answer Confidently in Manual Testing Interviews
- Keep answers simple and clear
- Use real-life examples
- Explain step by step
- Don’t panic if you don’t know
- Revise basics before interview
Quick Revision Sheet (Last-Minute Prep)
- Manual testing = testing by hand
- Best role for freshers
- Test case = steps + expected result
- Bug = expected ≠ actual
- Severity = impact
- Priority = urgency
- Regression = re-testing after changes
FAQs – Basic Manual Testing Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers
Q1. Is manual testing good for freshers?
Yes, it is the best starting point in software testing.
Q2. Does manual testing require coding?
No, coding is not required.
Q3. Can manual testers become automation testers?
Yes, after learning automation tools.
Q4. Is manual testing a long-term career?
Yes, with growth into automation, lead, and QA manager roles.