CTFL-v4 Static Testing Practice Question
Why is it important to include the author in the review meeting?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often prioritize the idea that the author's presence causes bias, overlooking the practical necessity of the author explaining intent to ensure reviewers don't misinterpret the documentation.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
To provide explanations that help reviewers understand the logic and intent of the product.
The author is the primary source of truth regarding the intent and design of the work product. Their presence allows for immediate clarification of ambiguous points, which prevents misinterpretation by reviewers. While some argue for excluding authors to avoid defensiveness, the collaborative benefits of rapid clarification and shared understanding of the feedback typically outweigh those concerns in a professional and constructive review environment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
To allow the author to defend their design decisions against reviewer criticisms.
Why it's wrong here
Defensiveness can destroy the collaborative nature of a review. The goal is to find defects, not to engage in debates. If the author feels the need to defend their work, it usually indicates a failure in the review culture rather than a productive outcome.
- ✓
To provide explanations that help reviewers understand the logic and intent of the product.
Why this is correct
The author can clarify complex areas, reducing the time reviewers spend guessing the intent of the documentation. This leads to more efficient defect detection and prevents reviewers from logging false positives based on a misunderstanding of the original design goals or business requirements.
- ✗
To assign blame to the author for any defects discovered during the meeting.
Why it's wrong here
Blame-oriented cultures are detrimental to the effectiveness of static testing. The focus should always be on the quality of the product and the improvement of the process, not on identifying an individual to hold accountable for defects found during the review.
- ✗
To ensure the author can rewrite the code or document during the meeting.
Why it's wrong here
Rework is a separate phase that occurs after the review meeting. The meeting is intended for discovery and documentation of defects, not for real-time editing of the documents, which would disrupt the flow and prevent a thorough examination of the work product.
About these practice questions
This CTFL-v4 question is part of Courseiva's 144-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISTQB exam blueprint
This CTFL-v4 practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISTQB certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CTFL-v4 exam.