Advantages of test planning are :

1. Work involved in test planning and setup pays in the long term. It gives insight testing activity completely. One knows scope and deliverables of test plan execution.
2. Test plan describes the way in which testing team will show whether software work correctly as per requirements and the acceptance criteria as defined by customer or development team with customer. It defines various objectives for testing to measure its performance and coverage offered.
3. Test plan addresses various levels of testing such as unit testing module testing, System testing, integration testing, black box testing as well as white box testing. Some time there may be single master test plan with several child test plan at each level for a number of a small plans or one monolithic test plan covering every aspect of testing.
4. Test plan explain who does testing. Why test are performed how test are conducted and when tests are scheduled (calendar date and milestone). It defines various criteria such as entry criteria, exit criteria, suspension criteria and resumption criteria at various stages of testing.

5. Test plan must contain procedures, environment and tools necessary to implement an orderly, controlled process for test execution, defect tracking, coordination of rework and configuration, and change control.

   OR

It is strategic document describes how to perform a task in as effective, efficient and optimized manner. It also specifies, the scope and objectives for testing Primary tasks in testing are :.( Explanation of followings related to):

1. Scope of testing
2. Set objectives of test planning
3. Methodology for testing
4. Requirement,
5. Entry and exit criteria
6. Develop Test matrix
7. Test estimation and administrative component
8. Write and execute test cases.
9. Deciding Criteria for test-to-pass, test-to-fail,
10. Schedule of testing
11. The main purpose of test planning is to show whether software is correct as per requirement.