How to Prepare a Test Plan Document (With Examples & Template)
✅ What Is a Test Plan Document?
A Test Plan Document outlines the specifics of how testing will be performed for a particular feature set, module, release, or sprint. It includes what will be tested, how, by whom, and when.
While a Test Strategy answers the “what and why” of QA, a Test Plan answers the “how and when.”
🧩 Key Components of a Test Plan Document
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Test Plan ID | Unique ID or reference |
| 2. Objective | Purpose of this test plan |
| 3. Scope | Features/modules in scope (and out of scope) |
| 4. Test Approach | Manual, automated, exploratory, regression, etc. |
| 5. Test Types | Functional, UI, API, integration, performance, etc. |
| 6. Test Cases | Link to test case management system |
| 7. Environment | URLs, devices, mock services, test data |
| 8. Tools | Test automation, bug tracking, CI tools |
| 9. Roles & Responsibilities | Who’s doing what |
| 10. Schedule | Timeline and test cycles |
| 11. Entry & Exit Criteria | Gateways to start and end testing |
| 12. Risks & Mitigations | Potential blockers and contingency plans |
| 13. Approvals | Who signs off on the plan |
🧪 Example Test Plan for a Web App (Feature: User Profile Update)
1. Test Plan ID
TP-2025-001-ProfileUpdate
2. Objective
To validate the functionality and security of the User Profile Update feature, including editing name, email, and password.
3. Scope
In Scope:
- Update user name and email
- Change password flow
- Email verification after change
- Profile UI behavior on desktop and mobile
Out of Scope:
- Avatar/image upload (handled separately)
- SSO profile sync (in another sprint)
4. Test Approach
- Manual testing on staging and mobile devices
- Automated tests via Cypress for name/password flow
- Security testing via Postman and Burp Suite
- Edge-case testing with multiple locales and invalid data
5. Test Types
- Functional Testing
- UI Testing (mobile + desktop)
- Regression Testing
- Security Testing
- Negative Testing
6. Test Cases
Test cases are documented in Xray (Jira) → View Test Case List
| ID | Scenario | Status |
|---|---|---|
| TC-001 | Update name with valid data | ✅ Passed |
| TC-002 | Submit blank name | ✅ Blocked |
| TC-005 | Password mismatch | ✅ Validated |
7. Environment
- Test URL:
https://staging.myapp.com - Browser Matrix: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge
- Mobile Devices: iPhone 12, Pixel 6, Galaxy S22
- Test Accounts:
[email protected](regular user)[email protected](admin)
8. Tools Used
- Cypress (automation)
- Postman (API testing)
- Allure (test reporting)
- BrowserStack (cross-device testing)
- Jira + Xray (test case management & bug tracking)
9. Roles & Responsibilities
| Role | Person | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| QA Lead | A. Singh | Review test plan, manage test cycles |
| QA Engineer | M. Gupta | Execute tests, log bugs |
| Developer | T. Roy | Fix bugs, help with debugging |
| Product Owner | J. Patel | Approve test outcomes |
10. Test Schedule
| Activity | Dates |
|---|---|
| Test Plan Creation | Mar 25 |
| Test Case Design | Mar 26 – Mar 27 |
| Test Execution | Mar 28 – Apr 2 |
| Bug Fixing & Retest | Apr 3 – Apr 4 |
| Final Sign-off | Apr 5 |
11. Entry Criteria
- Feature deployed to staging
- Test data and user accounts ready
- Unit tests passed and merged
12. Exit Criteria
- All priority P1/P2 bugs resolved
- Regression tests passed
- Product owner UAT sign-off received
13. Risks & Mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Delay in staging deployment | Add buffer in test schedule |
| Password rules changed late | Keep test cases dynamic and confirm with devs |
14. Approvals
| Name | Role | Approval Date |
|---|---|---|
| A. Singh | QA Lead | Mar 25, 2025 |
| J. Patel | Product Owner | Mar 26, 2025 |
🔖 Test Plan Template (Markdown)
# Test Plan - [Feature/Module Name]
## 1. Test Plan ID
TP-YYYY-XXX-[Module]
## 2. Objective
Describe the purpose of the test plan.
## 3. Scope
### In Scope
- Item 1
- Item 2
### Out of Scope
- Item 3
## 4. Test Approach
Describe whether testing will be manual, automated, exploratory, etc.
## 5. Test Types
- Functional
- Regression
- Security
- Performance (if needed)
## 6. Test Cases
[Link to test case management tool]
## 7. Environment
- Test URLs
- Browsers/devices
- Test users
## 8. Tools
- Automation: [e.g., Cypress, Playwright]
- Reporting: [e.g., Allure]
- Bug tracking: [e.g., Jira]
## 9. Roles & Responsibilities
| Name | Role | Responsibility |
|------|------|----------------|
## 10. Schedule
| Task | Dates |
|------|-------|
## 11. Entry Criteria
List conditions required before test execution begins.
## 12. Exit Criteria
Conditions to mark testing as complete.
## 13. Risks & Mitigation
| Risk | Mitigation |
## 14. Approvals
| Name | Role | Date |
⚙️ Pro Tips
- 🎯 Tailor the depth of your test plan to your release size.
- 🔁 Reuse sections by cloning and tweaking for each sprint or feature.
- 📊 Link to live dashboards (e.g., Allure, Jira reports) instead of duplicating data.
- 🧾 Store plans centrally (Confluence, Notion, Google Drive) with versioning.
FAQs
Q: Who writes the test plan? A: Usually the QA Engineer, reviewed by the QA Lead or Project Manager.
Q: How detailed should test cases be in the plan? A: You don’t need to list all test steps—just link to your test case system (Xray, TestRail, Zephyr, etc.)
Q: Do I need a test plan for every sprint? A: For fast-paced agile teams, a lightweight test plan per sprint is recommended—focus on new features and regression scope.