HP0-M31: Mastering HP Quality Center 10.0 — Exam Prep Guide

Pass HP0-M31: Strategies for HP Quality Center 10.0 SuccessPreparing for the HP0-M31 certification — focused on HP Quality Center 10.0 (also known as HP Application Lifecycle Management/Quality Center) — requires a mix of practical experience, structured study, and effective test strategies. This article provides a clear roadmap: what the exam covers, how to study efficiently, hands-on practice tips, common pitfalls, and a sample study plan to help you approach the exam with confidence.

What is HP0-M31 and why it matters

HP0-M31 is an exam that tests knowledge and skills related to HP Quality Center 10.0, including requirements management, test planning, test execution, defect tracking, customization, and best practices for using Quality Center in real-world testing projects. Earning this certification demonstrates to employers and colleagues that you can effectively use Quality Center to manage test assets and support quality assurance activities across the software development lifecycle.

Exam domains and key topics

Focus your study on these core domains (typical areas measured by the HP0-M31 exam):

• Test Management and Requirements
  • Creating and organizing requirements
  • Traceability between requirements, tests, and defects
  • Requirement coverage analysis
• Test Plan and Test Design
  • Creating test sets and test cases
  • Test lab organization
  • Parameterization and reusable components
• Test Execution and Scheduling
  • Running tests manually and using HP QuickTest Professional (QTP)
  • Scheduling runs and remote execution
  • Analyzing test run results and logs
• Defect Management
  • Logging defects with appropriate fields and severity
  • Linking defects to tests and requirements
  • Defect lifecycle and workflow
• Customization and Administration
  • Project customization (fields, workflows, user permissions)
  • Shared modules and libraries
  • Integration points (QTP/UFT, versioning systems)
• Reporting, Metrics, and Best Practices
  • Built-in reports and dashboards
  • Creating custom reports
  • Key QA metrics (pass/fail rates, defect density, test coverage)

Tip: Use the official exam blueprint (if available) to map these areas to the exam’s weightings.

Study resources — what to use and how to organize them

Recommended resource types and how to use them:

• Official product documentation and user guides — read key sections (Requirements, Test Lab, Defects, Customization).
• Vendor or third-party course materials — structured lessons that map to exam objectives.
• Hands-on access to HP Quality Center 10.0 — the single most important resource. Practice every task listed in the objectives.
• Video tutorials and walkthroughs — useful for visual learners and for seeing workflows end-to-end.
• Practice exams and sample questions — simulate test conditions and identify weak areas.
• Community forums and Q&A — troubleshooting real problems and learning best practices from practitioners.

Organize study notes by feature area, and keep a checklist of tasks you can perform in the application. Create flashcards for terminology and workflows.

Hands-on practice — what to do in Quality Center

Practical experience is essential. Spend time performing these tasks in a live environment:

• Create a sample project and set up users/roles.
• Define a requirements hierarchy and link requirements to test cases.
• Design test cases with parameterization and call reusable actions/modules.
• Execute test sets in the Test Lab, both manually and via QuickTest Professional/UFT integration.
• Log defects from failed runs and link them back to test cases and requirements.
• Customize a field, create a workflow rule, and add a custom report.
• Export/import test assets and practice backup/restore tasks if possible.

Log your steps and screenshots while practicing — these reinforce memory and create a quick-reference study guide.

Study techniques and time management

• Active learning: perform tasks instead of just reading. Teach concepts to a peer or to an imaginary student.
• Spaced repetition: review topics multiple times over weeks rather than cramming.
• Question-first study: attempt practice questions before studying the topic deeply; then study to fill gaps.
• Time-boxed practice sessions: 45–90 minute focused sessions with specific outcomes (e.g., “Today: create parameterized tests and link to requirements”).
• Mock exams: take full-length timed practice tests to build stamina and identify topics needing more review.

Sample 8-week plan (assuming part-time study, 6–8 hours/week):

• Weeks 1–2: Basics — navigation, requirements module, test plan concepts.
• Weeks 3–4: Test design, parameterization, and reusable components.
• Weeks 5: Test Lab execution, scheduling, and QTP/UFT integration.
• Week 6: Defect management and traceability.
• Week 7: Customization, administration, and reporting.
• Week 8: Full-length practice exams and targeted review.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Over-reliance on theory without hands-on practice — avoid by scheduling lab time.
• Not understanding traceability — practice linking requirements, tests, and defects repeatedly.
• Skipping customization topics — administrators often test on workflows and fields; practice a few real changes.
• Ignoring integration scenarios — test integration with QTP/UFT if exam objectives include it.
• Poor time management on the exam — practice with timed tests and learn to skip and return to difficult questions.

Exam-day strategies

• Read each question carefully; identify exactly what the question asks (some options may be distractors).
• Use elimination: discard obviously wrong answers to improve odds when guessing.
• Manage time: allocate time per question and leave buffer for review.
• Stay calm: if a topic seems unfamiliar, flag it and move on; return if time permits.

After the exam — next steps

• If you pass: add the certification to your resume and LinkedIn, highlight projects where you used Quality Center.
• If you don’t pass: review the score report to identify weak domains, then focus studies and practice in those areas before retaking.

Example checklist before taking the exam

• I can create and link requirements, tests, and defects.
• I can build parameterized test cases and reusable modules.
• I can execute tests manually and integrate with QTP/UFT.
• I can log and manage defects through their lifecycle.
• I can customize project fields and workflows.
• I can generate basic and custom reports and interpret metrics.

Passing HP0-M31 is a combination of practical experience in Quality Center 10.0, targeted study of exam objectives, and good test-taking strategy. Follow a structured plan, practice hands-on tasks frequently, and focus review on weaker areas — that approach will give you the best chance of success.