To test core data code you have to set up a managed object context in the test fixture. There is a special store type you can use for that.

- (void)setUp {  
    [super setUp];  
    NSManagedObjectModel *managedObjectModel = [NSManagedObjectModel mergedModelFromBundles:@[[NSBundle mainBundle]]];  
    NSPersistentStoreCoordinator *storeCoordinator = [[NSPersistentStoreCoordinator alloc] initWithManagedObjectModel:managedObjectModel];  
    XCTAssertTrue([storeCoordinator addPersistentStoreWithType:NSInMemoryStoreType configuration:nil URL:nil options:nil error:NULL] ? YES : NO, @"Should be able to add in-memory store");  
    _managedObjectContext = [[NSManagedObjectContext alloc] init];  
    _managedObjectContext.persistentStoreCoordinator = storeCoordinator; 
}