# My Exploratory Testing Experience on cars.ng — HNG Internship Cohort 12

Introduction

As a software testing intern in HNG Internship Cohort 12, I recently embarked on an exploratory testing task for cars.ng , a platform dedicated to car sales and pricing information in Nigeria. This task challenged me to analyze the platform’s core user flows, identify bugs, usability issues, and inconsistencies, and document them in a structured format. In this blog post, I’ll share my methodology, findings, and recommendations to enhance the platform’s functionality and user experience.

Methodology: How I Conducted the Test

Exploratory testing is an unscripted, investigative approach to software testing, where testers actively explore the platform to uncover defects. Here’s how I approached this task:

1. Test Environment Setup:

• Devices Used: Laptop (Windows 10 Pro, Chrome 121.0), Mobile (iPhone 11, iOS 17.5.1, Chrome)
• Testing Browsers: Google Chrome (Latest Version).

2. Areas Tested:

• Search functionality
• Filter options and search refinement
• Responsiveness on mobile devices
• Navigation and link accuracy
• User sign-in and authentication
• Overall UI/UX consistency

3. Bug Documentation Format:

• Description of the issue
• Environment (device, browser, OS version)
• Steps to reproduce
• Expected vs. actual results
• Severity level (High, Medium, Low)
• Visual proof (Screenshots/Videos)

Findings: Key Issues Discovered

During my testing session, I identified several issues that impact user experience and functionality. Here are five key issues I found:

1️⃣ Login Attempt Results in 505 Error

• Issue: When attempting to log in, the page displayed a 505 error, preventing user authentication.
• Impact: Users cannot sign in, limiting their ability to save searches or make purchases.
• Severity: Critical

2️⃣ Search Filters Not Functioning Properly

• Issue: Filtering results based on price (₦1,500,000) caused the input field to clear itself automatically.
• Impact: Users cannot refine searches effectively, leading to frustration.
• Severity: Medium

3️⃣ Filter Search Bar Unresponsive

• Issue: After entering filter criteria (e.g., Mercedes-Benz, ₦1M — ₦5M, Lagos, SUV), no results appeared, and no error message was displayed.
• Impact: Users do not receive feedback on whether their search criteria matched available cars, causing confusion.
• Severity: High

4️⃣ Poor Mobile Responsiveness on iPhone 11

• Issue: On an iPhone 11 (iOS 17.5.1, Chrome), images appeared too small, and text was jammed together, affecting readability.
• Impact: Poor UI/UX experience for mobile users, reducing engagement.
• Severity: Medium

5️⃣ Error 500 on Lexus UX Hybrid Price Page

• Issue: Clicking on Lexus UX Hybrid Price in Nigeria resulted in an Error 500 page.
• Impact: Users cannot access pricing details, impacting sales potential.
• Severity: High

Full bug report is available here:👉 Google Sheets Link

Recommendations for Improvement

Beyond identifying bugs, I also explored potential improvements that could enhance cars.ng’s usability and performance. Here are my top five suggestions:

1. Improve Search & Filter Stability — Ensure all car brands return results and fix input fields clearing themselves.
2. Fix Server Errors (Error 500, 505) — Improve backend reliability to prevent login failures and broken pages.
3. Enhance Mobile Responsiveness — Optimize image sizes and text spacing for better readability on mobile devices.
4. Implement Better Error Handling — Show user-friendly messages instead of raw server errors.
5. Enhance Performance Optimization — Improve page load times and refine UI components for a smoother user experience.

Conclusion

This exploratory testing experience for cars.ng has been insightful, allowing me to apply critical thinking, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills as a software tester. I identified key functional and usability issues, documented them in a structured report, and provided actionable recommendations.

I look forward to gaining more hands-on experience in software testing and contributing to building more user-friendly digital experiences. 🚀

📌 Follow my journey as a software testing intern at HNG Internship Cohort 12!