Introduction: Why Everyone Searches for Manual Testing Interview Questions
If you are preparing for a QA or software testing interview, one of the first things you search online is manual testing interview questions.
Why? Because manual testing is the foundation of software testing, and almost every company starts interviews with manual testing concepts.
Whether you are:
- A fresher
- A manual tester with 1–5 years of experience
- Switching from automation to QA
- Preparing for MNCs or product-based companies
You will face basic + real-time manual testing interview questions.
This article is a complete, beginner-friendly, job-oriented guide covering:
- Top manual testing questions
- Scenario-based questions
- Real company interview rounds
- Best answers to manual testing interview questions
- Final revision sheet
What Is Manual Testing? (Simple Explanation)
Manual testing is the process of testing software manually without using automation tools.
Simple Definition
Manual testing means:
A tester checks the application by hand, acting like a real user, to find bugs.
Real Example
Suppose you are testing a login page:
- Enter valid username + password → Should login
- Enter wrong password → Error message should appear
- Leave fields empty → Validation message should appear
All this testing is done manually, without writing any code.
Why Companies Ask Manual Testing Interview Questions?
Companies ask interview questions for QA because:
- Manual testing shows testing fundamentals
- It proves your logical thinking
- It checks real-time project experience
- Automation is useless without strong manual basics
- Bugs are first identified manually in real projects
💡 Most interviewers believe:
“A good automation tester must first be a good manual tester.”
Top Manual Testing Interview Questions with Answers
Below are top manual testing questions asked in real interviews.
1. What is Software Testing?
Answer:
Software testing is the process of finding defects in a software application and ensuring it works according to requirements.
2. What are the types of testing?
Answer:
Common types include:
- Manual Testing
- Automation Testing
- Functional Testing
- Non-Functional Testing
- Regression Testing
- Smoke & Sanity Testing
3. What is SDLC?
Answer:
SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) defines the phases of software development, such as:
- Requirement
- Design
- Development
- Testing
- Deployment
- Maintenance
4. What is STLC?
Answer:
STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle) defines testing phases, such as:
- Requirement Analysis
- Test Planning
- Test Case Design
- Test Execution
- Defect Reporting
- Test Closure
5. What is a Test Case?
Answer:
A test case is a documented set of steps used to verify a specific feature.
Example:
Login with valid credentials → Expected result: User logs in successfully.
6. Difference Between Verification and Validation?
| Verification | Validation |
| Static testing | Dynamic testing |
| Reviews documents | Tests the product |
| “Are we building it right?” | “Are we building the right product?” |
7. What is a Bug / Defect?
Answer:
A bug is a deviation from expected behavior of the application.
8. Bug Life Cycle (Defect Life Cycle)
Stages:
- New
- Assigned
- Open
- Fixed
- Retest
- Closed
- Reopened (if failed)
9. What is Severity and Priority?
- Severity: Impact of defect on application
- Priority: Urgency to fix the defect
Example:
Login not working → High severity & high priority.
10. What is Regression Testing?
Answer:
Regression testing ensures that new changes do not break existing functionality.
Real-Time Manual Testing Interview Questions
These real-time manual testing questions are commonly asked.
11. What documents do you prepare in a project?
Answer:
- Test Plan
- Test Scenarios
- Test Cases
- Defect Report
- Test Summary Report
12. How do you write test cases?
Answer:
I follow:
- Requirement understanding
- Positive scenarios
- Negative scenarios
- Boundary conditions
13. What if requirements are unclear?
Answer:
- Discuss with BA/Product Owner
- Ask for clarification
- Use assumptions and document them
14. How do you decide test coverage?
Answer:
Based on:
- Requirements
- Risk areas
- Business priority
- Past defects
Scenario-Based Manual Testing Interview Questions (Most Important)
These scenario-based questions are asked in almost every interview.
1. Login button works but nothing happens. What will you do?
Answer:
- Check console errors
- Verify backend API response
- Check logs
- Raise defect with screenshots
2. Developer says “It’s working on my machine”. What will you do?
Answer:
- Share steps
- Share environment details
- Attach evidence
- Reproduce issue again
3. No requirements document available. How will you test?
Answer:
- Explore application
- Use exploratory testing
- Refer similar apps
- Ask stakeholders
4. How do you test a text box?
Answer:
- Valid input
- Invalid input
- Special characters
- Length validation
- Empty input
5. How do you test a payment page?
Answer:
- Valid card details
- Invalid card details
- Expired card
- Network failure
- Payment interruption
6. Production bug reported. What will you do?
Answer:
- Reproduce in lower environment
- Analyze root cause
- Verify fix
- Do regression testing
7. How do you prioritize test cases?
Answer:
- Business critical features first
- High-risk modules
- Frequently used features
8. Build received late. Deadline is tomorrow. What will you do?
Answer:
- Smoke testing first
- Critical functionality testing
- Communicate risks to manager
9. What if a bug is rejected?
Answer:
- Recheck issue
- Provide proof
- Discuss with developer
- Accept rejection if valid
10. How do you test without test cases?
Answer:
- Exploratory testing
- Ad-hoc testing
- Based on user behavior
Real Company Interview Round Format (QA Manual Testing)
Typical Interview Rounds
- HR Round
- Background
- Role understanding
- Background
- Technical Round 1
- Manual testing interview questions
- Scenario-based questions
- Manual testing interview questions
- Technical Round 2
- Real-time project discussion
- Defect handling
- Real-time project discussion
- Managerial Round
- Communication
- Ownership mindset
- Communication
How to Answer Manual Testing Interview Questions Like a Pro
Use the STAR Framework
- Situation
- Task
- Action
- Result
Example:
“When a critical bug appeared in production, I analyzed logs, reproduced the issue, coordinated with developers, and verified the fix successfully.”
Common Mistakes Candidates Make
Avoid these mistakes:
- Giving bookish answers
- No real examples
- Not knowing defect life cycle
- Poor communication
- Blaming developers
Final Revision Sheet – Quick Prep
Must-Remember Topics:
- SDLC & STLC
- Test Case Writing
- Bug Life Cycle
- Severity vs Priority
- Regression, Smoke, Sanity
- Real-time scenarios
FAQs – Manual Testing Interview Questions
Q1. Is manual testing still in demand in 2026?
Yes. Manual testing is mandatory before automation.
Q2. Can freshers get QA jobs with manual testing?
Yes. Many companies hire freshers for manual testing roles.
Q3. How many manual testing questions should I prepare?
At least 100+ questions with scenarios.
Q4. Is automation mandatory for QA jobs?
No. Manual testing is enough for entry-level and mid-level roles.