A blank requirement card inside a blue frame with a coral outcome marker.

Conditions

Actor

Choose a person or role involved in the task. A system component is not a substitute for the person accepting the outcome.

Criterion frame

Need

Name one task and its purpose. A broad feature label hides the decision that the user actually makes.

Criterion frame

Starting state

Record the initial state only when it changes what should happen. Keep the setup separate from the action.

Criterion frame

Action

Describe one user action or event. Avoid implementation details that the user cannot observe.

Criterion frame

Visible result

State a result that a tester can compare with what actually appears or arrives.

Criterion frame

Open question

An ambiguous rule stays open for clarification; a polished sentence cannot turn it into a verified requirement.

Criterion frame
Private draftSources in contextVisible outcomes

Make the outcome visible

01Person

Whose task?

02Action

What changes?

03Result

What can be observed?

A feature request becomes a useful criterion when these pieces connect.

Criterion frame

Write the actor, starting condition, action and visible outcome. The frame exposes missing parts; it does not decide whether a product meets them.

Editable examples
Drafts stay on this pageISTQB · Acceptance testing

Another angle

Choose a person or role involved in the task. A system component is not a substitute for the person accepting the outcome.

Who needs this to work?

Follow the work

Criterion clearer?

A drafted test, an observed result and a release decision are different events. Keep each one tied to the product you actually checked.