This is best tested by running the automated backup from the command line. i.e. php admin/tool/task/cli/schedule_task.php --execute= '\core\task\automated_backup_task' Test 1: 1. Enable automated backups in your Moodle site 2. Disable disable backup_auto_skip_modif_days and backup_auto_skip_modif_prev in admin, so there aren't skipped courses. 3. Create 3 test courses in Moodle 4. Run the backup Expected result: The courses should be backed up (or skipped) from most recently modified to least recently modified. Test2: 1. Add a new (fourth) course to your Moodle 2. Advance your system clock 2 weeks to the future (to ensure that next schedule time is past). 2. Run the backup Expected result: The new course should be backed up first. It should then be followed by the other 3 courses with the course with the oldest backup time first. Note that it's not important if the course is backup or skipped, only the order they are processed is.