Laptop with a ticked checklist, stack of books, coffee cup and scales holding a coin on one pan and a book on the other — Choosing how to sit the CTFL exam: a checklist before you book | AutomationDataCamp

13 November 2026 Oussama Belakhdar 6 min read

ISTQB CTFL Exam: Online or Test Centre, Which to Pick?

The ISTQB CTFL v4.0 exam has 40 multiple-choice questions, lasts 60 minutes and requires 26 correct answers to pass. How you sit it, online or in a test centre, depends on the exam provider you register with, and its rules differ from one country and one provider to another. This guide gives you a decision table and the exact questions to ask before you book, instead of rules we cannot source for your provider.

Key takeaways

The format is the same: 40 questions, 60 minutes, 26 to pass (65%)
The delivery rules are not: they depend on the exam provider you register with
Extra time: 25% more (75 minutes) if you sit the exam in a language that is not your native one, under the provider's rules
Ask in writing before you pay: delivery options, ID checks, equipment, rescheduling, results

How the CTFL v4.0 exam is delivered

The exam has 40 multiple-choice questions worth one point each, split into 8 K1, 24 K2 and 8 K3 questions across 6 chapters. You need 26 points out of 40 (65%) in 60 minutes (ISTQB Exam Structures & Rules Tables v1.18). What changes from one candidate to another is not the exam but the way it is delivered and who delivers it.

Who runs the exam: ISTQB member boards and exam providers

ISTQB defines the syllabus and the exam format. Registration, price, scheduling and delivery are handled by an exam provider. In France, ISTQB exams are organised by the approved bodies GASQ and CFTL; other countries have their own member boards and providers. Check which one applies to you before comparing options. For what the exam covers, see our guide to the CTFL syllabus 4.0.1.

Online or test centre: what to check

We do not quote delivery rules that we cannot source for your provider. What we can give you is the list of points that make the difference, and a way to weigh them.

If the provider offers an online sitting

Which equipment is required (computer, webcam, microphone, browser) and how to test it before the day.
What identity checks and room rules apply (desk clear, door closed, no one else present).
What happens if your connection drops during the exam.
Whether the provider offers a technical check or a practice session in advance.

If the provider offers a test centre

The list of centres and the travel time from where you live.
The identity documents to bring and the arrival time.
What you are allowed to take into the room.
The rescheduling and cancellation conditions.

Extra time for non-native English speakers

Candidates who sit the exam in a language that is not their native language can get 25% more time, which makes 75 minutes instead of 60. The conditions and the way to request it depend on the exam provider, so ask for the procedure and any deadline when you register, not on the day.

Decision table: online vs test centre

Choosing a delivery mode: practical guidance from ADC, to confirm with your exam provider
Your situation	Online sitting may suit you if	A test centre may suit you if
Home environment	You have a quiet private room and a reliable connection	Your home is shared, noisy or the connection is unstable
Travel	The nearest centre is far or hard to reach	A centre is close and you prefer a controlled setting
Stress	You are calmer in your own space	You are calmer when someone else manages the equipment
Preparation	You trained on the same computer and screen	You trained on paper and prefer a standard workstation

Whatever you choose, rehearse in exam conditions: a full 40-question timed run, such as our free ISTQB mock exam, on the same kind of screen. Our guide to passing the CTFL exam covers the question traps and time management.

Prepare the CTFL with ADC

Session on 5 and 6 December 2026, online and taught in French: €450 incl. VAT instead of €800 (opening offer), official ISTQB exam included with a second attempt. You sit the official exam once you score above 75% on the mock exams.

See the programme and book

Oussama Belakhdar

QA Architect · ISTQB CTAL-TM

Founder of AutomationDataCamp: training, consulting and recruitment in software testing. Meet the team →

Frequently asked questions about sitting the CTFL exam

Can I take the CTFL exam at home?

It depends on the exam provider you register with. Ask whether an online sitting is offered for the CTFL, and read the equipment, room and identity rules before you pay.

How long is the CTFL exam and what is the pass mark?

60 minutes and 40 questions. You need 26 correct answers out of 40, which is 65%. Each question is worth 1 point and a wrong answer does not cost a point.

Do I get extra time if English is not my first language?

Candidates who sit the exam in a language that is not their native language can get 25% extra time, which makes 75 minutes. The conditions depend on the exam provider: ask for the procedure when you register.