Prioritize test cases based on risk and impact

Preconditions (1)

Step 1: Review the list of test cases with their risk and impact levels

Step 2: Sort the test cases so that those with highest risk and impact come first

Step 3: Select the top 3 test cases from the sorted list

Step 4: Execute the selected test cases

Step 5: Verify that the test cases executed are indeed the highest priority ones

✅ Expected Result: The test cases executed are the top 3 with the highest combined risk and impact scores

Automation Requirements - Python unittest

Assertions Needed:

Verify the test cases are sorted correctly by risk and impact

Verify only the top 3 test cases are selected for execution

Best Practices:

Use clear and descriptive variable names

Separate test data setup from test logic

Use assertions to validate sorting and selection

Keep test methods small and focused

Automated Solution

Testing Fundamentals

import unittest

class TestPrioritization(unittest.TestCase):
    def setUp(self):
        # Each test case is a dict with name, risk (1-5), impact (1-5)
        self.test_cases = [
            {'name': 'Login Test', 'risk': 5, 'impact': 4},
            {'name': 'Signup Test', 'risk': 3, 'impact': 3},
            {'name': 'Payment Test', 'risk': 4, 'impact': 5},
            {'name': 'Profile Update Test', 'risk': 2, 'impact': 2},
            {'name': 'Logout Test', 'risk': 1, 'impact': 1}
        ]

    def test_prioritize_and_select_top_three(self):
        # Sort test cases by combined risk and impact descending
        sorted_tests = sorted(
            self.test_cases,
            key=lambda x: x['risk'] + x['impact'],
            reverse=True
        )

        # Select top 3
        top_three = sorted_tests[:3]

        # Assert sorting correctness
        combined_scores = [tc['risk'] + tc['impact'] for tc in sorted_tests]
        self.assertEqual(combined_scores, sorted(combined_scores, reverse=True))

        # Assert top three length
        self.assertEqual(len(top_three), 3)

        # Assert top three are highest scoring
        max_scores = sorted(combined_scores, reverse=True)[:3]
        top_three_scores = [tc['risk'] + tc['impact'] for tc in top_three]
        self.assertEqual(top_three_scores, max_scores)

        # Print selected test case names (simulate execution)
        for test in top_three:
            print(f"Executing: {test['name']}")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main()

The setUp method prepares a list of test cases with risk and impact scores.

The test method test_prioritize_and_select_top_three sorts the test cases by the sum of risk and impact in descending order. It then selects the top three test cases.

Assertions check that the sorting is correct, the top three are selected, and these top three have the highest combined scores.

Finally, it prints the names of the selected test cases to simulate execution.

This approach keeps test data separate, uses clear variable names, and validates the prioritization logic with assertions.

Common Mistakes - 4 Pitfalls

Not sorting test cases correctly by combined risk and impact

Hardcoding the top test cases without sorting

Not using assertions to verify sorting and selection

Mixing test data setup inside test logic

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing with 3 different sets of test cases having different risk and impact values

Show Hint