Having trouble getting started with usability testing? From writing your tasks and survey questions, to choosing your sample size, setting up demographic filters, and picking the right quantitative data points to collect – it can feel pretty daunting.
While the Trymata user testing platform is designed to make all of these steps as easy as possible, writing a good set of tasks is always a bit tricky. Talking to our customers, we’ve found that it’s often the step that slows people down the most.
That’s why we created the user testing task templates provided below. Each one has been written by our UX research experts, as a starting point for testing some of the most popular types of platforms being tested by our customers.
User testing task templates in this article:
- Ecommerce store user testing template
- Travel site user testing template
- SaaS platform user testing template
- Prototype A/B testing template
- Marketing assets user testing template
A few notes about these templates:
At the beginning of each one, we’ve recommended whether or not to include an “impression test” – this is a built-in Trymata feature for getting insight into users’ first impressions of your site. When you include an impression test in your Trymata user test, we’ll automatically run it at the start of each tester session.
Also, be sure to keep an eye out for any bracketed callouts in each template – such as “[PRODUCT]” – where you’ll need to input information yourself when using the template.
For example, if you’re testing a website that sells jewelry, you might replace “[PRODUCT]” with “necklace” or “bracelet” where it appears in the task.
Lastly, underneath each task we’ve recommended whether or not to include task usability and completion questions. Both of these are built-in on the Trymata platform, and can be turned on simply by checking the box when creating your test.
Ecommerce store usability test script template
This is a starter template you can use for running a user test on your ecommerce website. It’s been written to lead users through a thorough exploration of your site’s product options. They’ll start on the home page, then look into multiple products, before continuing to check out. They’ll also be asked about factors important to the user experience on ecommerce sites, such as trust.
Start with impression test: ✓
Scenario:
You’ve been thinking about getting a [PRODUCT] recently, and after a few Google searches you found this website. You’ve decided to check it out, see what products they have, and maybe make a purchase.
Tasks:
- Does anything in particular attract your interest on the home page? Where would you go first on this site?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Look through the different products the site has, and identify 2-3 that you like.
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - Now narrow down your choice to the one you’d be most likely to purchase. Why did you pick this one? What factors were most important in making your decision?
✓ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - What are your thoughts on the product pages? If you haven’t already, talk a little bit about what you see here. Is there anything you don’t understand, or any information you can’t find?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Customize the size, color, and any other options for the product you’ve chosen, and then add it to your cart.
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Proceed with the checkout process, all the way up until you are asked for credit card info. You may use fake details to fill out any forms along the way.
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - At this point, how likely or unlikely would you be to make a purchase on this website? Do you trust the site? Why or why not?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion
Travel site usability test script template
If you’re running a user test on a travel booking site or app, this template is a great starting point. Depending on the specific services your platform offers, you may need to modify some details, but these tasks will still be an excellent model for a task-writing approach that will get you useful feedback.
Start with impression test: ✓
Scenario:
You’re planning a trip to Washington, D.C. from April 8th through 12th. You’ll be flying there by yourself, but sharing accommodations with a friend who will be meeting you there. You’ve come to this website today to book your flight and hotel.
Tasks:
- What site(s) do you usually use for travel booking, if any? What do you like and/or dislike about these sites?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Find a flight for yourself, with 1 or fewer stops, for less than $700 if possible.
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - Save the flight you want to book, but don’t proceed with purchasing it yet.
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - Now, find a hotel you and your friend can stay at that’s within walking distance of the national mall and the rest of the city’s sights. As you go, please describe what criteria you are looking for and how you are making your choice.
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - How much will the total price be for your chosen flight and hotel accommodations?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Move ahead with purchasing the flight and hotel you chose. Stop when you are asked for credit card info (feel free to use fake details while filling out the steps). Is anything confusing or difficult about the checkout process?
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - Sign in using the email [email protected] and password 12345. This account has a flight and hotel booked in it. Find the details of this booking. What options are there for sending these details to yourself and your friend?
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion
Ready to set up your first user test with our easy task templates?
SaaS platform usability test script template
SaaS tools can offer a wide variety of services, of course, so this template will still require a bit more customization than some of the others. The tasks here have been written so that they’ll apply to a broad range of sites; just update them as needed to refer to some of the specific capabilities, features, and pricing options of yours. The general approach demonstrated in this template will work well.
Start with impression test: ✓
Scenario:
You’re looking for a new tool to help you at your job. It needs to be able to [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FUNCTIONALITY], and your budget for such a tool is [AN EXAMPLE OF COST] or less.
Tasks:
- Based on your first impressions so far, do you think this site might be able to provide what you’re looking for? What makes you think that it would or would not?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Find information about the pricing options for this tool. Which tier would be the best fit for your needs and budget?
✓ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Do you have any other thoughts about the pricing page? Is the information shown here clear and/or useful? Is there anything you don’t understand, or information you would like to see here that is missing?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Sign up for a free trial of the platform. (Remember, you must use a real email, as you will have to confirm the account before using it. All other details may be fake.)
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - Confirm your email, and then return to your logged-in account. What information do you see right away? What are you able to do now?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Set up your first [PROJECT THAT THE PLATFORM IS TO BE USED FOR]. As you go, talk about anything that you like or dislike about the process. (When you finish the last step, don’t set it to go live.)
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - Where and how would you view your data once it starts to be collected? Can you find any examples on the site of what it would look like?
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - You decide that you want to upgrade to a paid license. Proceed to the purchase page. What are your impressions of this page?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - At this point, do you feel that you trust this website? Would you be comfortable making the purchase right now? Please describe why or why not.
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion
Prototype A/B testing usability test script template
Below is an example task script you can use for A/B testing two prototype versions of a design. These tasks were written with a very generic platform design in mind, so that they might fit a wide variety of prototypes well. However, be sure to update the wording as needed to reflect the actual layout of yours.
If you need help A/B testing on Trymata, check out our resources on A/B testing websites and A/B testing mobile apps. Our usability testing suite can do it all!
Start with impression test: ✘
Scenario:
You’ve just created your account on [FILL PLATFORM NAME], a website for [FILL PURPOSE], and this is the first page that you see.
(Please note that this is a prototype of a webpage, so only some links and buttons will work. The task instructions will tell you what you can interact with as it comes up).
Tasks:
- Before clicking anything, spend 10-15 seconds looking around this page. What are your first impressions of the look and feel? What do you think this page is mainly for?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Briefly look through each of the main sections on this page one by one, and summarize the information and options shown in each. Is there anything you don’t understand?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - What do you expect would be inside the menu at the top left of this page? (Don’t actually click it yet).
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Click on the menu now. What options are there? Do these make sense to you?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Now click on the option called “My Favorites.” What do you see on the new page? Please briefly describe what you think you could do here. Do you have any questions about it right now?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Where do you think you would go to add a new favorite? How confident are you about this?
✓ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Click on the pink plus-sign button in the bottom right (this is how you would add a favorite). On the new page, select any one of the options you see listed, and save it as a favorite. Don’t stop until you are back on the “My Favorites” page.
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - Now, follow this link to a different prototype: www.prototype-version-b.com This is an alternate version of the same set of pages you just tried out. Don’t click anywhere on the new page yet. What are your first impressions of it? What do you like better or worse about this version, compared to the first one?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - How can you get to the “My Favorites” page in this version? Find it and go there now. Which way of getting to your favorites do you think is more intuitive?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Take some time to explore this new version of the My Favorites page. What is different about it compared to the first version you saw? Which of these differences do you feel are better, and which do you feel are worse? Explain why.
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Where do you think you would go to add a new favorite? How confident are you about this?
✓ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Click on the pink “Add new” button in the bottom left (this is how you would add a favorite). On the new page, select any one of the options you see listed, and save it as a favorite. Don’t stop until you are back on the “My Favorites” page. As you go through this task, please compare the experience to the first version.
✓ Task Usability ✓ Task Completion - Overall, which of the versions did you like better, the first or the second? Why?
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion
Set up your first user test now with our easy templates, and get 5 results free!
Marketing videos/animations usability test script template
User testing isn’t only for websites and apps! If you want user feedback on marketing assets like videos, images, animations, landing pages, or more, try the approach shown here. This template was written especially for getting users’ thoughts on dynamic content like a video or gif. With some modification, you could use it for a variety of marketing materials.
Start with impression test: ✘
Scenario:
You’re looking for [FILL PRODUCT/SERVICE], and you’ve just clicked through an ad from your Google search. The page you’re about to open is what you would see. [[TO THE CUSTOMER – Use google.com as the starting url on Step 1, so the users begin on a neutral page before seeing your asset. DELETE THE BRACKETED SECTION FROM THE SCENARIO.]]
Tasks:
- DO NOT BEGIN THIS TASK BEFORE READING ALL OF THE BELOW.We are testing marketing material and it is very short. You will only see it once, so please be ready to pay attention. You are NOT to refresh the page when it finishes. When you are ready, go to this link: [LINK TO ASSET]
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - What was the main message that the [VIDEO or ANIMATION] was communicating? (Remember, you are not allowed to view it a second time.)
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - State 3 words that describe how the [VIDEO or ANIMATION] made you feel.
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion - Please discuss any other thoughts you have about the [VIDEO or ANIMATION] that you haven’t already given.
▢ Task Usability ▢ Task Completion
