This is a set of tasks I use to get a feel for the default capabilities of a CMS once I've installed it. I used this set of tasks as a basis for evaluating the features of each CMS in this review [1]. It is by no means a comprehensive test suite, but aims to provide a framework for making quick assessments of CMSs.

The test outlines a set of tasks to build a website similar to the OpenAdvantage website [2] (which I would consider a fairly "average" site). I didn't apply the tasks equally in all cases, as they are not all relevant to all of the CMSs covered; but I used the test when I needed the "flex the muscles" of each system.

1. Manage registration
   Can users self-register? Can veto by administrator be enforced?
2. Modify header
   Change the header text across the site (how do I have to edit it? can end users edit it once I deploy the site to them?); change header image and move it to the other side of the page
3. Edit homepage
   Edit the homepage and replace its content with a page which has headings, images and body text (what granularity do I get, e.g. can I break a page into blocks and reuse them elsewhere, so I could do submenus? can I place the images easily? can I upload images through the browser and use them on my pages?)
4. Modify text styles
   Change the font of all body text on the site (testing how tied to the HTML code the site is)
5. Modify column layout
   Change the layout from the default to one with one less column, whilst retaining any elements in the removed column
   OR
   Change the default layout to one with one more column, and shift half of the first column's content to the new one
   OR
   Create a column-less layout and move navigation into header
6. Within-site links
   Create another page and link it to the first one (does it turn up in the navigation? how difficult is it to work out the URL?)
7. Customisable menus
   Add the second page to the navigation, as a child of the first, if it wasn't done automatically
8. Item display by criteria
   Configure the events area to only show events for the current month OR next 6 events (depending on what the default is, I want to do the opposite)
9. User with restricted access
   Add a user "fred" who can only add and edit events; as fred, add a new event which starts tomorrow and ends in a week's time, but release notification now; restrict access by IP address
10. Workflow facilities
    Add a user "bill" who can add events but requires someone else to OK them before they go live; add an event as bill; validate bill's event as administrator
11. Controlled release
    Add another event and set the release time for the announcement to today, but some time in the future (e.g. 2 hour's time); check it doesn't display in the events area
12. Archiving
    Create a separate area for archived events (i.e. events which have already happened, but which need to remain visible)
13. Custom data types
    Create a "Group information" category and associated "Group" type, which allows me to list and search information about the following groups:
    1. Pigeon Fanciers Group
       Meets the first Monday of each month in the Council Offices, room B6
    2. Greyhound Owners Club
       Meets every Wednesday at 16:00 in the Village Hall, and Friday at 14:00 in the Council Offices
    3. Pipe Smokers' Society
       Meets every Tuesday at 12:00 in the Old Shed
14. Area for specific data types
    Add an "Events" area, linked from the navigation; it should display as a separate page with a list of forthcoming events
15. Dynamic in-lining
    As two groups meet in the Council Offices, put the address information for this location into a central web page on the site and link both groups' meeting location details to it
16. Versioning and rollback
    Delete all the text from the homepage, save it in this state, then recover it back to the last pristine version
17. Access-controlled areas
    Create a protected area of the website called "Members only" with a single document describing a special members-only offer; it should only be accessible to registered members of the site; create a user account able to access that area and ensure it is not available to non-registered users
18. File upload
    Upload a PDF and create a link allowing users to download it; protect the PDF and make it only accessible from within the members only area
19. Printable versions
    Produce a printable PDF version from the home page
20. Syndication
    Syndicate the events or news page as RSS

Source: Openadvantage.org [3]
Photo Credit, Arturii [4]