Introduction
As QA professionals, we spend hours writing test cases, documentation, and reports. With AI tools becoming part of our daily workflow, knowing how to write effective prompts is no longer optional—it's a core skill that directly impacts your productivity and output quality.
This guide teaches you a simple, repeatable formula that works for any task: generating test cases, writing bug reports, creating documentation, or automating repetitive work.
Why Prompt Engineering Matters for QA
A vague prompt gives you a vague answer. A specific prompt gives you exactly what you need. The difference between a junior and senior engineer often comes down to how clearly they communicate requirements—the same principle applies to AI.
Good prompt engineering helps you:
Generate accurate test cases in seconds instead of minutes
Create professional documentation without starting from scratch
Automate repetitive writing tasks consistently
Reduce back-and-forth iterations with AI tools
Produce stakeholder-ready outputs on the first try
The CRISP Prompt Formula
CRISP stands for Context, Role, Instruction, Scope, and Parameters. This five-part structure ensures you provide all the information AI needs to deliver exactly what you want.
Breaking Down Each Component
1. Context — Set the Stage
Context tells the AI what situation you are in. Without context, the AI makes assumptions that may not match your reality.
Good context includes:
What project or system you are working on
Who will use or read the output
Any constraints or requirements
The current phase or status of work
Example: "I am working on an e-commerce checkout flow. The audience is developers who will implement these test cases in Playwright."
2. Role — Define the Expert
Assigning a role shapes how the AI thinks and responds. A technical writer produces different output than a senior developer, even for the same topic.
Useful roles for QA work:
Senior QA Engineer — for test strategy and coverage
Technical Writer — for documentation and guides
Automation Architect — for framework design
Business Analyst — for stakeholder-friendly reports
Security Tester — for vulnerability assessments
Example: "Act as a senior QA automation engineer who specializes in Playwright and TypeScript."
3. Instruction — State the Task Clearly
The instruction is the core of your prompt. Use action verbs and be specific about what you want.
Strong action verbs:
Write, Create, Generate — for new content
Review, Analyze, Evaluate — for assessment
Explain, Summarize, Simplify — for clarification
Compare, Contrast, Prioritize — for decision support
Fix, Improve, Optimize — for enhancement
Example: "Write comprehensive test cases that cover the complete user registration flow, including form validation."
4. Scope — Set the Boundaries
Scope prevents the AI from going off track. Tell it what to include and, just as important, what to exclude.
Define your scope with:
Focus areas — what must be covered
Exclusions — what to skip or ignore
Priority — what matters most
Depth — how detailed to go
Example: "Focus on: email validation, password strength, duplicate account handling. Exclude: social login options, CAPTCHA testing."
5. Parameters — Control the Output
Parameters shape how the final output looks and feels. This is where you specify format, length, style, and technical requirements.
Common parameters:
Format — bullet points, numbered list, table, prose
Length — word count, number of items, page limit
Tone — professional, casual, technical, simple
Language level — expert, intermediate, beginner-friendly
Structure — Gherkin, BDD, specific template
Example: "Use Gherkin format (Given-When-Then). Include 15 test cases. Write in easy English suitable for junior team members."
The Universal Prompt Template
Copy and adapt this template for any QA task:
[ROLE]
Act as a [role] who specializes in [domain].
[CONTEXT]
I am working on [project/task]. The audience is [target readers].
[INSTRUCTION]
Write/Create/Generate [deliverable] that [objective].
[SCOPE]
Focus on: [specific topics]
Exclude: [what to skip]
[PARAMETERS]
- Format: [structure type]
- Length: [word count or item count]
- Tone: [professional/casual/technical]
- Language: [easy English/technical]Real-World Examples for QA Engineers
Example 1: Generating Test Cases
Act as a senior QA automation engineer who specializes in
Playwright and TypeScript.
I am testing a banking application's fund transfer feature.
The test cases will be implemented by junior developers.
Write comprehensive test cases for the fund transfer flow.
Focus on: amount validation, account verification,
insufficient funds, daily limits, success confirmation.
Exclude: international transfers, recurring payments.
Format: Gherkin (Given-When-Then)
Length: 12 test cases covering positive, negative, edge cases
Language: Easy English with clear step descriptionsExample 2: Writing a Bug Report
Act as a detail-oriented QA engineer writing a bug report
for the development team.
I found a bug where the checkout button remains disabled
after adding items to the cart on mobile devices.
Write a professional bug report that developers can
immediately act on.
Include: steps to reproduce, expected vs actual behavior,
environment details, severity assessment.
Format: Standard bug report template with sections
Tone: Professional, concise, actionableExample 3: Creating Documentation
Act as a technical writer who explains software features
to non-technical business users.
I am releasing a new dashboard with automated alerts.
The audience is finance managers with no technical background.
Write an article explaining how the alert system works
and why it matters for their daily operations.
Focus on: triggers, notifications, benefits
Exclude: API details, backend architecture
Format: Short paragraphs with subheadings
Length: 400-500 words
Language: Easy English, avoid jargonQuick Reference: Common QA Use Cases
Use this table as a quick reference for adjusting your prompts based on different QA tasks:
Tips for Getting Better Results
Be Specific, Not Vague
Instead of "write some test cases," say "write 10 test cases for the login flow covering valid credentials, invalid password, locked account, and session timeout scenarios."
Iterate and Refine
If the first output is not quite right, adjust one component at a time. Change the scope, add a parameter, or clarify the instruction. Small tweaks often fix big issues.
Save Your Best Prompts
When you create a prompt that works well, save it as a template. Build a personal library of prompts for test cases, documentation, reports, and other recurring tasks.
Use Examples When Needed
If you want output in a specific format, include a short example in your prompt. Showing the AI exactly what you want often works better than describing it.
Match the Audience
Always specify who will read the output. Documentation for developers looks different from reports for executives. The audience shapes everything from vocabulary to depth.
Conclusion
Prompt engineering is a skill that improves with practice. The CRISP formula gives you a consistent structure to follow, but the real power comes from understanding your own needs and refining your prompts over time.
Start with the template, adapt it for your specific tasks, and build a personal library of prompts that work for you. As AI tools become more central to QA work, engineers who can communicate effectively with these tools will deliver better results in less time.
Remember: A clear prompt is not extra work—it is the work that saves you hours of revision and frustration.
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