Performance test types (load, stress, spike, soak) in Testing Fundamentals - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is Load Testing?

Load Testing checks how a system behaves under expected normal and peak user loads. It helps ensure the system can handle typical traffic without issues.

beginner

Define Stress Testing.

Stress Testing pushes the system beyond its normal limits to see how it behaves under extreme conditions, such as very high traffic or resource exhaustion.

intermediate

What is Spike Testing?

Spike Testing suddenly increases the load drastically to check if the system can handle sharp traffic bursts without crashing.

intermediate

Explain Soak Testing (Endurance Testing).

Soak Testing runs the system under a normal load for a long time to find issues like memory leaks or performance degradation over time.

intermediate

How do Load Testing and Stress Testing differ?

Load Testing checks system behavior under expected loads, while Stress Testing pushes the system beyond limits to find breaking points.

Which test type checks system behavior under expected user traffic?

A Soak Testing

B Load Testing

C Spike Testing

D Stress Testing

Load Testing simulates expected user traffic to verify system performance under normal conditions.

What is the main goal of Stress Testing?

A Test system under normal load for a long time

B Check system response to sudden traffic spikes

C Push system beyond limits to find breaking points

D Measure system speed under expected load

Stress Testing pushes the system beyond its limits to identify failure points.

Spike Testing is best described as:

A Sudden sharp increase in load

B Gradually increasing load over time

C Testing system under normal load for hours

D Testing system with no load

Spike Testing involves sudden sharp increases in load to test system stability.

Which test type helps find memory leaks by running long tests?

A Load Testing

B Stress Testing

C Spike Testing

D Soak Testing

Soak Testing runs the system for a long time under normal load to detect issues like memory leaks.

If a system crashes when traffic suddenly doubles, which test type revealed this?

A Spike Testing

B Stress Testing

C Load Testing

D Soak Testing

Spike Testing reveals how a system handles sudden sharp increases in traffic.

Describe the four main types of performance testing: load, stress, spike, and soak.

Think about how each test challenges the system differently.

Explain why soak testing is important for long-running systems.

Consider what problems appear only after hours or days of use.