Shadowing Practice: How to Write Test Cases for Manual Testing? - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
QA Madness.
2
How to write test cases for manual testing.
3
QA specialists have to deal with different kinds of documentation.
4
In today's video, I will tell you about one of such artifacts, a test case, what it is, and how to create one.
5
A test case is a set of actions you execute to verify a particular software feature or functionality.
6
Using test cases, we can make sure that a certain feature works as expected, or discover that it does not work properly.
7
There are three types of test cases.
8
Positive, negative, and destructive.
9
Positive test cases use valid inputs to verify that software does what it is supposed to do.
10
For example, when a user enters valid credentials, they can sign into the system.
11
Negative test cases use invalid inputs.
12
Their mission is to verify that the software does not do what it is not supposed to do.
13
For example, if a user enters an incorrect login or password, they cannot sign in.
14
Destructive test cases are created to learn what the system can handle until it breaks or destructs.
15
For this, a software tester can fast click on the sign in button to see what happens in this case.
16
Another example is a significant increase in web page load, it aims to check how many users a system can handle.
17
Like every document, a test case has a specific format.
18
It consists of eight elements, 1.
19
ID, 2.
20
Summary, 3.
21
Preconditions, 4.
22
Steps, 5.
23
Postconditions, 6.
24
Expected Results, 7.
25
Actual Results, 8.
26
Status.
27
Let's take a closer look at each of them.
28
Number 1.
29
ID.
30
As you can guess, it is the name of a test case.
31
An ID is a unique combination of letters and numbers.
32
As a rule, it is related to the project name, and indicates the number of a test case in the sequence.
33
For example, if we test a website called BuyOnline, you can name the first test case Bow1.
34
The second one will be Bow2, and so on.
35
Number 2.
36
Summary.
37
A summary is the main idea of a test case, a brief description of its contents.
38
For example, check adding a product to a wishlist.
39
Number 3.
40
Preconditions.
41
Preconditions are a list of actions a user needs to perform before executing a test case.
42
For example, a user should be logged in.
43
In this situation, you should include the credentials so a person working with this test case can reproduce it.
44
Preconditions are not mandatory, so you do not need to include this clause in every test case.
45
Number 4.
46
Steps.
47
Steps are the description of the actions required for verification.
48
Steps in a test case can go like this.
49
1. Open a website.
50
2. Open a product page.
51
3. Add a product to the wishlist.
52
Number 5.
53
Post conditions.
54
These are one or several actions that return the system to its original state.
55
For example, remove an item from the wishlist.
56
Just like preconditions, post conditions are not mandatory.
57
Number 6.
58
result.
59
It is what we expect to see getter achieve after the successful test case execution.
60
Back to our example, we expect to see a message about an item being added to a wishlist.
61
We also expect to find a product on the list after opening the corresponding section.
62
Number 7.
63
Actual result.
64
If there is a bug in the system, the actual result will differ from the expected one.
65
So, The actual result is what we get after the test case execution.
66
For example, the success message isn't displayed or the item doesn't appear on the wishlist.
67
Number 8.
68
Status.
69
It is the conclusion in your test case.
70
In this clause, you summarize the outcome in one word.
71
The most common statuses are success, failed, and blocked.
72
It depends on whether there are bugs in the software or not.
73
Keep in mind that test cases come in many different formats.
74
For example, sometimes you can use brief test cases with only four elements.
75
Summary, Priority, Steps, and Expected Result.
76
The sections can also have different names.
77
You can see software testers using the word inputs instead of steps, and outputs instead of results.
78
Moreover, you can find an alternative definition of post conditions.
79
Some use this term to describe the state of the system after test execution.
80
In this case, you may find it a bit complicated to tell the difference between post conditions and expected results.
81
To choose the correct format for the test case, you can look into the existing documentation or address other team members to specify this information.
82
The preferred format can depend on both a company's practices and the complexity of a tested feature.
83
Every test case should be comprehensive.
84
It should not depend on other test cases.
85
The description of the steps and expected results should be accurate and clear.
86
Make sure to include the necessary information, avoid vague formulations and excessive details.
87
All team members should be able to understand and execute a test case, even if they interact with software for the first time.
88
It should be easy to match a test case with the requirements in the product documentation.
89
All test cases should be repeatable.
90
In other words, a user should be able to reproduce a test case over and over again.
91
Finally, aim to create reusable test cases.
92
will help you to spend less time creating test documentation in the future.
93
There are several common mistakes QA engineers tend to make during test case writing.
94
The first is writing two abstract summaries.
95
The summary should be concise but specific.
96
For example, instead of the generalized check the wishlist functionality you can write check adding a product to the wishlist.
97
Another common mistake is interesting unclickable links.
98
When you insert a link in the text, make it active so another team member can click and open the intended page.
99
It is much more convenient than copying the text and pasting it in another tab.
100
And always make sure the link leads to the right page.
101
Providing two detailed explanations is not a good idea either.
102
Be specific, but not too specific.
103
There is no need to state the obvious through a very detailed description.
104
For example, it is enough to right-click the wishlist button.
105
Specifying
106
that it is the round blue wishlist button on the right
107
to the buy now button below the product description is not necessary.
108
Finally, the lack of details can also be confusing.
109
It is okay to be more specific when you add some tech directions.
110
It will be helpful for newbies or those who are not familiar yet with the technology you mentioned.
111
The example is on the screen.
112
So these are the basics of test case writing.
113
Let me finish this guideline with a tip.
114
To check how good your test case is, show it to a person who does not know anything about the project you are working on.
115
The questions you are going to hear will highlight the weak points of your test case.
116
You can find more examples of test cases in the article on our blog.
117
The link is in the description.
118
Subscribe to our channel to learn more about test documentation in the future.
119
See you in the next video.
✨ Recommend Video
QA Automation Interview Questions and AnswersC1
1
245 sentences

QA Automation Interview Questions and Answers

Business EnglishInterview EnglishUniversity Students
Seven Testing Principles: Software TestingC1
3
47 sentences

Seven Testing Principles: Software Testing

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
How to Present a Patient Case: The Signpost MethodC1
2
249 sentences

How to Present a Patient Case: The Signpost Method

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
How to Use Google Gemini Al (Full Tutorial)C1
1
227 sentences

How to Use Google Gemini Al (Full Tutorial)

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
How to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read | IndeedB2
1
55 sentences

How to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read | Indeed

Business EnglishInterview EnglishUniversity Students
Unit 1.1: Introduction to Business Management - IB Business ManagementC1
77 sentences

Unit 1.1: Introduction to Business Management - IB Business Management

Cambridge Exam PrepBusiness EnglishUniversity Students
What Is REST API? Examples And How To Use It: Crash Course System Design #3C1
2
65 sentences

What Is REST API? Examples And How To Use It: Crash Course System Design #3

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
AI Can Write Code. And That’s the Problem.C1
1
85 sentences

AI Can Write Code. And That’s the Problem.

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Why 95% of Android Developers Get Use Cases WrongC1
2
78 sentences

Why 95% of Android Developers Get Use Cases Wrong

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
🚨 Most organizations don't fail ISO/IEC 27001 because they don't understand the standard...C1
41 sentences

🚨 Most organizations don't fail ISO/IEC 27001 because they don't understand the standard...

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
How to Formulate Research Questions: From Ideas to Actionable DataC1
2
32 sentences

How to Formulate Research Questions: From Ideas to Actionable Data

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
🔥Launching Analog VLSI Mastery : Cohort (0-100) || A Complete Placement Guide || Himanshu AgarwalC1
6
190 sentences

🔥Launching Analog VLSI Mastery : Cohort (0-100) || A Complete Placement Guide || Himanshu Agarwal

Business EnglishInterview EnglishUniversity Students

Who Is This Video For?

This video is perfect for English learners at the intermediate level who want to boost their IELTS speaking practice while learning about tech concepts. Whether you’re prepping for an exam or just aiming to speak more clearly, the structured, conversational tone makes it ideal for shadowing—repeating phrases aloud to mimic rhythm and pronunciation. It’s also great for anyone curious about software testing, turning a technical topic into a fun language learning tool.

Words & Idioms Worth Stealing

The video is packed with useful terms to add to your toolkit. Test case (a set of steps to check software) and preconditions (actions needed before starting a test) are key tech words, but they’re also great for practicing complex sentence structures. Phrases like “as a rule” (usually) and “aims to check” (intends to verify) are versatile for IELTS speaking, helping you sound more natural. Don’t miss “reproduce it”—a common phrase in problem-solving contexts that works in both tech and daily conversations.

How to Get the Accent Right

To nail the pronunciation, focus on stress in multi-syllabic words like “credentials” (cre-DEN-tials) and “functionality” (func-tion-AL-i-ty). The speaker uses clear, steady pacing, making it easy for shadow speak practice—pause the video, repeat each sentence, and match the rhythm. Notice how “invalid inputs” is spoken with a slight emphasis on “invalid” to highlight contrast. For tricky terms like “destructive,” break it down: de-STRUC-tive. Practicing these will not only improve your English pronunciation but also build confidence in speaking about technical topics, a big plus for IELTS speaking tasks. Keep at it—shadowing even 5 minutes a day will make a difference!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itare created · is related · should be logged
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thingthose who are · person who does

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →