ISTQB CTAL-TM v3.0 FAQ: Format, Pass Mark and Practice

The ISTQB CTAL-TM v3.0 exam has 50 questions, 120 minutes, and 58 of 88 points (66%) to pass. ExamCaliber has 150 free ISTQB CTAL-TM v3.0 practice questions in 3 full-length mock exams of 50 questions, 120 minutes and 65% to pass — every answer, right and wrong, carries a written rationale. No sign-up, no paywall.

How many questions are on the ISTQB CTAL-TM exam?

50 questions, worth 88 points in total. They are not worth one point each: the weight comes from the K-level, so a K2 question scores 1 point, a K3 question 2 points and a K4 question 3 points.

What is the pass mark for CTAL-TM?

58 of the 88 points, which is 65.9%. Exactly 65% would be 57.20 points, and the published threshold rounds that up to 58.

How long is the CTAL-TM exam?

120 minutes. If you sit the exam in a language that is not your native language you get 25% more time, so 150 minutes.

Do I need CTFL before taking CTAL-TM?

Yes. A valid ISTQB Foundation Level certificate is required. The syllabus also recommends at least six months of experience as a tester or a software developer, but that is a recommendation; the entry criteria that bind you are set by your national Member Board.

How is CTAL-TM split across the chapters?

26 questions from chapter 1, Managing the Test Activities, worth 46 points; 15 from chapter 2, Managing the Product, worth 27 points; and 9 from chapter 3, Managing the Team, worth 15 points.

Which CTAL-TM syllabus version is current?

Version 3.0, released on 3 May 2024. It runs to 87 pages and carries 22.75 hours of recommended study time.

How many K4 questions are on the CTAL-TM exam?

14 of the 50, the highest share of any certification we cover. At 3 points each they carry 42 of the 88 points on the paper.

Can I pass CTAL-TM by memorising definitions?

No. The 26 K2 questions are worth 26 points in total and the pass mark is 58, so at least 32 points have to come from the 24 applied K3 and K4 questions.

Are these real CTAL-TM exam questions?

No. Every question on ExamCaliber is written by our team against the public syllabus and its learning objectives. Real ISTQB exam questions are confidential and are never published.

Are the CTAL-TM mock exams free?

Yes. All three mocks, the whole 150-question pool and the written rationale on every answer option are free, and none of it needs registration.

How many mock exams should I do before booking?

At least two full timed papers, with a third kept for the week before the exam. Because our mocks hold the official 26 / 15 / 9 chapter split and the official 26 K2, 10 K3 and 14 K4 budget, a score here reads on the same scale as the real one.

Does the CTAL-TM certificate expire?

No. ISTQB Advanced Level certificates are valid for life, so there is no renewal exam and no recertification fee.

Can I take CTAL-TM online, and what does it cost?

Both the delivery method, online with a proctor or at a test centre, and the fee are set by your national Member Board rather than by ISTQB, so check your board's own site for the current options.

What do I get when I finish one of your mock exams?

A score out of the real 88 points, a breakdown by chapter and by K-level, a written rationale for every option including the ones you did not pick, and a PDF export of the attempt.

Available mock exams