Introduction

Imagine working on a live software project. The development team fixes a bug in the login module, but suddenly, the payment feature stops working. This isn’t a rare case; it happens often. According to a Capgemini World Quality Report, 48% of companies cite software defects introduced by new changes as a top challenge in testing. This is where regression testing scenarios come in.

Regression testing ensures that new code changes don’t negatively impact existing functionality. But many QA beginners struggle with one critical question: How are regression testing scenarios actually created in a real QA project? With the right quality assurance training, testers can learn to identify, design, and prioritize regression scenarios effectively. In this blog, we’ll break it down step by step, using practical examples, hands-on instructions, and insights from live projects. Whether you’re pursuing a Quality Assurance certification or actively working on projects, this guide will help you design effective regression testing scenarios like a pro.

What Is Regression Testing in QA?

Regression testing is the process of retesting existing features after new changes, updates, or bug fixes to ensure nothing is broken.

• Goal: Verify that the old functionalities work after modifications.

• Scope: Covers test cases that are impacted by new changes.

• Timing: Performed after functional testing, unit testing, or system testing.

Example:

• A new "Remember Me" feature is added to the login page.

• Regression testing ensures login, logout, session handling, and related modules still work.

Why Regression Testing Is Critical in Real Projects

1. Minimizes Business Risk – A defect in a live environment can cost companies millions. Regression testing reduces that risk.

2. Maintains User Experience – Ensures updates don’t disrupt customer workflows.

3. Supports Agile & DevOps – Continuous updates need continuous regression checks.

4. Builds Confidence in Releases – Stakeholders trust the product more when regression testing is done properly.

Industry Insight:

• According to IBM Research, defects found post-release cost 6x more to fix than those caught during QA testing.

• That’s why QA certification programs with live projects emphasize regression testing skills.

Step-by-Step: How Regression Testing Scenarios Are Created in a Real QA Project

Step 1: Understand the Scope of Change

The first step is identifying what part of the application has changed. This requires close collaboration with developers and business analysts.

• Ask these questions:

• Which modules were modified?

• Were any bug fixes applied?

• Is there new functionality?

• Example: If the development team updates the "Order Summary" page to include discounts, modules like payment, invoice generation, and cart total must be included in regression scenarios.

Step 2: Identify Impacted Areas

Regression testing doesn’t mean retesting everything it’s about focusing on impacted functionalities.

• Techniques for Impact Analysis:

• Review requirement documents and change logs.

• Check defect reports.

• Discuss with developers about dependencies.

Real-World Example:
If the “search filter” feature is updated, regression should include:

• Search box input validation.

• Search results accuracy.

• Pagination.

• Integration with product details page.

Step 3: Select Regression Test Cases

Now comes the most important part selecting which test cases will be reused for regression.

• Selection Criteria:

1. Frequently used functionalities.

2. High-risk modules.

3. Modules with past defects.

4. Core business workflows.

Example Test Cases for a Banking App:

• Verify login with valid credentials.

• Verify account balance display.

• Verify transaction history loads correctly.

• Verify money transfer feature after recent updates.

Step 4: Create Regression Testing Scenarios

Regression testing scenarios are broader than individual test cases. They outline end-to-end user flows.
Example Scenario – E-Commerce Application:

Login with valid credentials.

Search for a product using filters.

Add product to cart.

Apply a discount coupon.

Complete payment via credit card.

Verify order confirmation email is received.

This scenario ensures that login, search, cart, discount, payment, and email modules still work after changes, which is a critical skill you’ll master during software quality assurance training.

Step 5: Prioritize Test Cases

Not every test case can be executed every time, especially in Agile sprints. Prioritize based on risk and frequency.

• High Priority: Core business flows (checkout, login, payment).

• Medium Priority: Secondary flows (wishlist, profile update).

• Low Priority: Rarely used features.

Step 6: Automate Where Possible

In real projects, manual regression becomes time-consuming. That’s why teams automate critical regression scenarios.

Example Tools:

• Selenium WebDriver

• TestNG / JUnit

• Jenkins (for CI/CD integration)

Sample Selenium Code for Login Regression Test:

@Test

public void testLoginRegression() {

    WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

    driver.get("https://example.com/login");

    driver.findElement(By.id("username")).sendKeys("testuser");

    driver.findElement(By.id("password")).sendKeys("password123");

    driver.findElement(By.id("loginBtn")).click();

    String expectedTitle = "Dashboard";

    String actualTitle = driver.getTitle();

    Assert.assertEquals(actualTitle, expectedTitle);

    driver.quit();

}

This automated test ensures that login functionality remains intact after changes.

Step 7: Maintain a Regression Suite

A regression suite is a collection of reusable test cases for future releases.

• Organize by modules (Login, Payments, Reports).

• Keep it updated after every release.

• Mark obsolete test cases and add new ones as the project evolves.

Real-World Example: Regression Testing in a QA Live Project

Case Study – Online Travel Booking Platform

• Change Introduced: Added “Wallet Payment” option.

• Regression Scope:

• Login and session management.

• Flight booking flow.

• Payment (Credit Card, UPI, Wallet).

• Ticket confirmation email.

• Outcome: 30% of defects found in regression testing before production.

This case shows why hands-on QA live projects in certification courses focus heavily on regression scenarios.

Best Practices for Creating Regression Testing Scenarios

1. Collaborate Early – Work with developers and BAs during impact analysis.

2. Use Risk-Based Testing – Focus on areas with maximum user impact.

3. Maintain Traceability – Map regression scenarios to requirements.

4. Automate Smartly – Automate repetitive test cases, not everything.

5. Keep Regression Suite Lean – Remove redundant test cases regularly.

Challenges in Regression Testing and How to Overcome Them

• Challenge: Large test suite execution time.

• Solution: Prioritize and automate.

• Challenge: Frequent application updates.

• Solution: Maintain a living regression suite.

• Challenge: Resource limitations.

• Solution: Use risk-based regression testing.

How QA Certification with Live Projects Prepares You

A Quality Assurance certification with live projects ensures you practice these concepts hands-on:

• Identifying impacted areas in real applications.

• Creating regression test scenarios for end-to-end workflows.

• Automating regression with Selenium and Jenkins.

• Executing regression in Agile sprints.

By practicing on live projects, you’ll build confidence to handle real client environments.

Key Takeaways

• Regression testing ensures new changes don’t break old features.

• Scenarios are created by analyzing impact, selecting test cases, and building end-to-end flows.

• Automation tools like Selenium help speed up regression execution.

• A well-maintained regression suite is essential for long-term QA success.

• QA certification programs with live projects give real-world exposure to these methods.
  
  

Conclusion

Regression testing is not just a task it’s a critical safeguard for every software project. By learning how to create regression testing scenarios in real QA projects through quality assurance training online, you become job-ready and industry-relevant. Ready to master regression testing hands-on? Enroll in our Quality Assurance Certification – Live Projects course today and start building real-world skills!