ISTQB CT-PT Exam - Topic 3 Question 15 Discussion

Actual exam question for ISTQB's CT-PT exam

Question #: 15
Topic #: 3

[All CT-PT Questions]

Which of the following is the best description of spike testing?

AIt focuses on the ability of the system to handle loads that are gradually increased to reach the expected maximum.

BIt focuses on the ability of the system to handle loads that are at or beyond the expected peak load.

CIt focuses on the ability of the system to meet future efficiency requirements.

DIt focuses on the ability of the system to respond to quick and extreme changes in load.

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

Spike testing is a type of performance testing that evaluates how a system responds to sudden, extreme increases or decreases in load. It is designed to simulate unexpected surges in user activity or workload, such as flash sales, viral events, or cyberattacks.

Option A (Gradual load increase testing) describes load testing, not spike testing.

Option B (Handling expected peak load) describes stress testing, which pushes the system to or beyond its limits but does not focus on sudden changes.

Option C (Meeting future efficiency requirements) relates to capacity planning rather than spike testing.

Spike testing helps to identify system bottlenecks, resource allocation issues, and performance degradation when traffic surges unexpectedly.

by Arthur at Nov 25, 2025, 08:17 PM

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Latia

1 month ago

I feel D captures the essence of spike testing perfectly.

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Jolanda

1 month ago

But B is more about sustained loads, not spikes. D is clearer.

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Francesco

2 months ago

I’m leaning towards B. It’s about handling peak loads too.

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Lisha

2 months ago

Agreed, D makes sense. It tests system limits quickly.

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Ena

2 months ago

I think D is the best choice. Spike testing is all about sudden load changes.

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Keneth

3 months ago

Wait, is spike testing really just about quick changes? Sounds odd.

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James

3 months ago

A is not even close, spike testing is all about sudden changes.

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Dierdre

3 months ago

I thought it was B? Seems like the peak load is key.

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Sue

3 months ago

B) Definitely the best description. Gotta test those systems to the max!

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Derick

3 months ago

D) It focuses on the ability of the system to respond to quick and extreme changes in load.

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Beata

3 months ago

B) It focuses on the ability of the system to handle loads that are at or beyond the expected peak load.

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Gary

4 months ago

I thought spike testing was about quick changes in load too, but I’m confused because some resources mention it in the context of peak loads.

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Rochell

4 months ago

I’m not entirely sure, but I feel like option B might be correct since it mentions handling loads beyond the expected peak.

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Gertude

4 months ago

I remember practicing a similar question, and I think spike testing is more about handling extreme loads rather than gradual ones.

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Royal

4 months ago

I think spike testing is about how the system reacts to sudden increases in load, so I’m leaning towards option D.

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Izetta

4 months ago

I'm a little unsure about this one. The different answer choices seem to describe different types of load testing, but I'm not totally sure which one specifically matches spike testing. I'll need to think it through carefully.

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Sharika

4 months ago

I'm pretty confident I know what spike testing is - it's about testing the system's ability to handle loads at or beyond the expected peak, right? So I'm going to go with answer choice B as the best description.

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Desire

5 months ago

Definitely D, that's what spike testing is all about!

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Julie

5 months ago

Okay, I've got a strategy for this. Spike testing is about handling sudden, extreme changes in load, so I'm going to eliminate the answers that don't seem to fit that description. I think B or D are the most likely correct answers here.

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Gertude

5 months ago

I agree with D, it’s all about those sudden spikes!

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Ariel

5 months ago

I see the point for D, but B has its merits for peak scenarios.

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Sharen

5 months ago

Hmm, this one seems a bit tricky. I'm not totally sure what "spike testing" refers to, so I'll need to think through each answer choice and see which one best matches my understanding of that term.

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Fernanda

6 months ago

I think the best approach here is to focus on the key terms in the question, like "spike testing" and the different load scenarios described in the answer choices. I'll need to carefully consider what each one means and how they relate to the concept of spike testing.

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