Test Efficiency

What is Test Efficiency?

Test efficiency measures how effectively testing effort translates into defect detection, relative to the resources (time, cost, people) invested.

Common Ways to Measure Test Efficiency

• Defect Detection Percentage (DDP): Ratio of defects found during testing to total defects found (including those found post-release).
• Defects per Test Hour: Number of defects found per hour of testing effort.
• Test Case Effectiveness: Ratio of test cases that actually found a defect, versus the total number executed.

Why Test Efficiency Matters

Tracking test efficiency helps teams identify whether their testing effort is well-targeted, and highlights opportunities to improve test design and prioritisation over time.