How to Create a QA Report for a Project: Essential Content and Example

Introduction: Why QA Reports Are Critical in 2025

Imagine launching a web app only to discover broken features, sluggish performance, or security flaws that drive users away. In 2025, with 80% of users abandoning apps due to poor performance, per Statista, quality assurance (QA) is the backbone of successful projects. A QA report is your project’s health check, summarizing testing efforts, identifying issues, and guiding improvements. It bridges developers, stakeholders, and testers, ensuring everyone’s aligned on quality goals.

Whether you’re testing a mobile app, API, or website, a well-crafted QA report communicates progress, risks, and next steps clearly. This guide explains how to create a QA report, outlines essential content, and includes a QA report example for a web application. With charts and practical tips, you’ll learn to build reports that drive project success. Let’s dive in!

What Is a QA Report?

The Basics

A QA report (Quality Assurance report) is a document that summarizes the results, findings, and metrics from testing a software project. It evaluates whether the system meets requirements, performs reliably, and is ready for release. Used in agile, waterfall, or DevOps environments, QA reports provide actionable insights for stakeholders, from developers to C-suite executives.

Why It Matters

• Transparency: Shows what was tested and found.

• Decision-Making: Informs release readiness or fixes needed.

• Risk Management: Highlights bugs, performance issues, or security risks.

• Accountability: Tracks QA progress, per Testim.

Essential Content for a QA Report

A comprehensive QA report should be clear, concise, and data-driven. Below are the key sections to include, based on industry best practices from sources like Guru99 and TestRail.

1. Title and Metadata

• Purpose: Identify the report and its context.

• Content:

  • Project name

  • Report title (e.g., “QA Report for Sprint 3”)

  • Date and version

  • Prepared by (QA lead/team)

  • Stakeholders (e.g., PM, developers)

2. Executive Summary

• Purpose: Provide a high-level overview for non-technical readers.

• Content:

  • Testing objectives

  • Key findings (e.g., pass/fail rates)

  • Overall project status (e.g., “Ready for release with minor fixes”)

3. Test Objectives and Scope

• Purpose: Define what was tested and why.

• Content:

  • Functional areas (e.g., login, payment)

  • Non-functional areas (e.g., performance, security)

  • Test types (unit, integration, regression, load)

  • Exclusions (e.g., untested features)

4. Test Environment

• Purpose: Document the setup to ensure reproducibility.

• Content:

  • Hardware/software specs

  • Browsers/devices (e.g., Chrome, iOS 18)

  • Test data (e.g., mock users)

  • Tools used (e.g., Selenium, Artillery)

5. Test Metrics and Results

• Purpose: Quantify testing outcomes with data.

• Content:

  • Total test cases executed

  • Pass/fail rates

  • Defects found (severity: critical, high, medium, low)

  • Performance metrics (e.g., response time)

  • Coverage (e.g., 95% code coverage)

6. Defect Summary

• Purpose: Detail issues for resolution.

• Content:

  • Bug ID, description, severity, status (open/closed)

  • Steps to reproduce

  • Impact on users

7. Risks and Recommendations

• Purpose: Highlight potential issues and next steps.

• Content:

  • Risks (e.g., unresolved critical bugs)

  • Mitigation strategies

  • Recommendations (e.g., additional testing)

8. Conclusion

• Purpose: Summarize findings and readiness.

• Content:

  • Overall quality assessment

  • Sign-off readiness

  • Lessons learned

9. Appendices (Optional)

• Purpose: Provide supporting details.

• Content:

  • Test case samples

  • Screenshots/logs

  • Glossary of terms

Best Practices for Creating a QA Report

• Keep It Concise: Focus on key insights; avoid overwhelming details.

• Use Visuals: Charts and tables make metrics digestible.

• Tailor to Audience: Technical details for devs, summaries for execs.

• Automate Metrics: Tools like TestRail or Jira streamline data collection.

• Be Objective: Report facts, not opinions, per SoftwareTestingHelp.

• Iterate: Update reports per sprint or milestone.

Chart 1: Key QA Metrics to Include

Insight: Visualizing pass rates and defects helps stakeholders prioritize fixes.

Comparison: QA Reporting Tools

Tools can enhance QA report creation. Here’s how popular options compare:

Chart 2: QA Reporting Tools

Source: TestRail, Guru99.
Insight: TestRail excels for automation, while Excel suits small teams.

Step-by-Step Example: QA Report for a Web Application

Let’s create a QA report for a fictional e-commerce web app, “ShopEasy,” tested in Sprint 4 using Artillery for load testing and Playwright for functional testing.

Sample QA Report

Title: ShopEasy Web App QA Report – Sprint 4
Date: June 20, 2025
Prepared by: Jane Doe, QA Lead
Stakeholders: John Smith (PM), Dev Team, Marketing Team
Version: 1.0

1. Executive Summary

The QA team tested ShopEasy’s core features (login, product search, checkout) in Sprint 4 to ensure functionality, performance, and security. Of 500 test cases, 92% passed, with 5 critical defects resolved. Load tests confirmed the API handles 1,000 concurrent users with 150ms response times. The app is ready for release pending fixes for 3 medium-severity bugs.

2. Test Objectives and Scope

• Objectives: Validate login, search, checkout, and payment flows; ensure <200ms API response under load.

• Scope:

  • Functional: Login, search, cart, checkout.

  • Non-functional: Performance (Artillery), security (OWASP ZAP).

  • Exclusions: Mobile app testing (planned for Sprint 5).

• Test Types: Unit, integration, regression, load.

3. Test Environment

• Hardware: AWS EC2 t3.medium.

• Browsers: Chrome 126, Firefox 115, Safari 18.

• Devices: Desktop (1920x1080), iPhone 15 (iOS 18).

• Tools: Playwright (functional), Artillery (load), OWASP ZAP (security).

• Test Data: 10,000 mock users, 1,000 products.

4. Test Metrics and Results

• Total Test Cases: 500

• Passed: 460 (92%)

• Failed: 40 (8%)

• Defects:

  • Critical: 5 (resolved)

  • High: 10 (8 open)

  • Medium: 20 (3 open)

  • Low: 5 (all open)

• Performance:

  • Mean API response time: 150ms

  • Peak load: 1,000 concurrent users

• Code Coverage: 95%

Chart 3: Test Case Results

Insight: High pass rate indicates stability, but open defects need attention.

5. Defect Summary

Steps to Reproduce (BUG-001):

1. Open Safari 18.

2. Navigate to checkout.

3. Select PayPal.

4. Error: “Payment gateway unavailable.”

6. Risks and Recommendations

• Risks:

  • Open high-severity bugs may delay release.

  • Performance untested beyond 1,000 users.

• Recommendations:

  • Resolve high/medium bugs before release.

  • Conduct load test for 5,000 users in Sprint 5.

  • Add mobile testing for iOS/Android.

7. Conclusion

ShopEasy is 95% release-ready, with robust functionality and performance. Resolving 3 open bugs and expanding load tests will ensure a smooth launch. The QA team recommends a follow-up report post-fixes.

8. Appendices

• Test Case Sample: “Verify user can add product to cart.”

• Logs: Available in TestRail (#12345).

• Screenshots: Attached for BUG-001.

Generating the Report

1. Collect Data: Use TestRail for test case results, Artillery for load metrics.

2. Draft in Template: Use Google Docs or TestRail’s report builder.

3. Visualize: Add charts via Excel or TestRail dashboards.

4. Review: Share with PM and devs for feedback.

5. Distribute: Email or host on Confluence.

Use Cases for QA Reports

1. Agile Sprints: Summarize testing per sprint for iterative improvements.

2. Release Readiness: Confirm app stability for stakeholders.

3. Compliance: Document testing for audits (e.g., GDPR, ISO).

4. Client Reporting: Provide evidence of quality for external clients.

5. Post-Mortem Analysis: Identify lessons learned after launches.

Benefits of a QA Report

• Clarity: Communicates quality status to all stakeholders.

• Actionability: Guides developers on bug fixes.

• Trust: Builds confidence in the product, per Testim.

• Efficiency: Reduces rework by catching issues early.

Challenges and Limitations

• Time-Intensive: Manual reporting can take hours.

  • Solution: Automate with TestRail or Jira plugins.

• Data Overload: Too many metrics overwhelm readers.

  • Solution: Focus on key metrics like pass rate and critical defects.

• Stakeholder Misalignment: Non-technical readers may misinterpret data.

  • Solution: Include an executive summary.

Recent Developments (2025)

• Automation Rise: 70% of QA teams use automated reporting tools, per TestGuild.

• AI Integration: Tools like Testim leverage AI to summarize reports.

• X Sentiment: QA pros on X emphasize “clear metrics” and “visual reports” for stakeholder buy-in.

• Regulatory Push: EU’s Digital Services Act requires detailed QA for compliance.

Getting Started: Tips for Beginners

1. Use Templates: Start with TestRail or Guru99 templates.

2. Automate Metrics: Integrate with Playwright or Artillery for data.

3. Focus on Clarity: Write for non-technical stakeholders.

4. Learn Tools: Explore TestRail, Jira, or Zephyr tutorials.

5. Engage Communities: Join discussions on X (@TestGuild) or Reddit.

Conclusion: Building Effective QA Reports

On June 20, 2025, mastering how to create a QA report is key to delivering high-quality software. This guide outlined essential content—executive summary, metrics, defects, and more—demonstrated through a QA report example for ShopEasy. Charts visualized critical metrics, and best practices ensure clarity and impact. With tools like TestRail and Artillery, QA reports bridge quality and delivery.

Ready to craft your QA report? Start with a template, automate metrics, and share insights. What’s your next project? Tell us below!