Scrum PSM-I Professional Scrum Master I Exam Practice Test

The correct answer is B, because the time-box for the Sprint Planning meeting is 8 hours for a monthly Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “Sprint Planning is time-boxed to a maximum of eight hours for a one-month Sprint. For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter.”

 According to the Scrum Guide 1 , ordering Product Backlog items is solely up to the Product Owner’s discretion. The Product Owner orders items in the Product Backlog to best achieve goals and missions. To do this, they optimize value by considering various factors such as cost and benefit, risk, dependencies, date needed, etc. The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the work the Development Team does. The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization. Therefore, an appropriate action for the Scrum Master to take if the Product Owner is struggling with ordering the Product Backlog is to offer the Product Owner help in understanding that the goal of ordering the Product Backlog is to maximize value.

The correct answers are B and C, because technical debt impacts transparency in these ways. It leads to false assumptions about the current state of the system, specifically of an Increment being releasable at the end of a Sprint, as it may contain hidden defects or incomplete functionality. It also results in future work being slowed down in unpredictable ways, as development progresses and code is added, the system becomes more difficult to stabilize and maintain.

The correct answers are A and B. When multiple Scrum Teams work on the same product, Scrum calls for one Product Owner and one Product Backlog for that product. This ensures a single source of prioritization, clear accountability for maximizing value, and consistent product direction. One Product Owner helps avoid conflicting priorities across teams and provides one clear voice for product decisions.

One Product Backlog is equally important because it creates transparency for all work needed to develop the product. If each team had its own separate Product Backlog, the organization would risk fragmentation, duplicate work, inconsistent ordering, and confusion about the overall product direction. A single Product Backlog supports coordinated planning and alignment across all teams contributing to the same product.

Options C, D, and E are incorrect because they divide product accountability across multiple backlogs or multiple Product Owners. Scrum does not define a Chief Product Owner structure. For one product, there should be one Product Owner and one Product Backlog, even when multiple Scrum Teams are involved. This setup best supports focus, transparency, and value optimization.

According to the Scrum Guide, a Scrum Master fulfills a different role from a traditional project manager. A Scrum Master is a servant-leader and a coach for the Scrum Team and the organization, not a manager or a supervisor. A Scrum Master does not assign tasks, set deadlines, or monitor progress, but rather facilitates self-organization, collaboration, and empiricism within the Scrum Team and the organization.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , the heart of Scrum is a Sprint, a time-box of one month or less during which a “Done”, useable, and potentially releasable product Increment is created. The Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal. Each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and thoroughly verified, ensuring that all Increments work together.

The correct answer is C, because if necessary, the Development Team is responsible for removing a team member who is creating a hostile environment. The Scrum Guide states that “development Teams are self-organizing. No one (not even the Scrum Master) tells the Development Team how to turn Product Backlog into Increments of potentially releasable functionality.” Therefore, the Development Team should manage its own composition and dynamics, and may need help from the Scrum Master to facilitate this process.

According to the Scrum Guide, three behaviors that demonstrate that a team is self-organizing are creating their own sprint backlog, having all the skills needed to create a releasable Increment, and collaboratively selecting their own work during the Sprint. The other options are not behaviors that demonstrate self-organization, as they are either contrary to Scrum values and principles (such as stakeholders walking in at the Daily Scrum or working within functional boundaries) or unnecessary for self-organization (such as the Product Owner not being at Sprint Retrospectives or the Development Team inviting external people to the Sprint Planning).

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , the Daily Scrum is an event for the Developers of the Scrum Team. The purpose of the Daily Scrum is to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary, adjusting the upcoming planned work. The Scrum Master and Product Owner may attend as observers, but only if it is useful for the Developers.

The correct answer is E, because any of the above (or others) which are a decomposition of the selected Product Backlog items can be included in the Sprint Backlog. The Scrum Guide states that “the Sprint Backlog is the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, plus a plan for delivering the product Increment and realizing the Sprint Goal.” Therefore, any work items that help the Development Team achieve the Sprint Goal can be part of the Sprint Backlog.

Two techniques that the Scrum Master could use when the Scrum Team gets caught in an internal disagreement about which agile practices to apply are to involve the complete Scrum Team in making a decision, and to use coaching techniques such as open questions and active listening, as stated in [3]: “The Scrum Master should facilitate a constructive dialogue among the team members and help them reach a consensus on which agile practices to use. The Scrum Master should also use coaching techniques such as open questions and active listening to understand the underlying needs and motivations of each team member and to help them find common ground.”

The correct answer is B because as a Scrum Team matures, it is expected to strengthen its quality standards and improve its Definition of Done. The Scrum Guide explains that the Definition of Done creates transparency by making clear what it means for work to be complete. As the team becomes more capable, disciplined, and technically proficient, it often raises those standards to ensure higher quality, greater releasability, and more dependable Increments.

This improvement reflects empirical learning. A mature Scrum Team does not become less Scrum-like. It usually becomes more effective at applying Scrum. That means the team may refine engineering practices, strengthen testing, improve integration, and include more rigorous completion criteria in the Definition of Done.

Option A is incorrect because timeboxes do not expand simply because a team matures. Option C is incorrect because the Scrum Master remains accountable for Scrum effectiveness even with a mature team. Option D is incorrect because the Sprint remains a fixed timebox and a core element of Scrum. Option E is incorrect because Sprint Reviews continue to be essential for inspection and adaptation with stakeholders.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , the Sprint Review is an informal meeting at the end of the Sprint, where the Scrum Team and stakeholders collaborate about what was done in the Sprint. Based on that and any changes to the Product Backlog during the Sprint, attendees collaborate on what to do next. The Product Owner explains what Product Backlog items have been “Done” and what has not been “Done”; the Development Team discusses what went well during the Sprint, what problems it ran into, and how those problems were solved; and the Development Team demonstrates the work that it has “Done” and answers questions about the Increment. The entire group collaborates on what to do next, so that the Sprint Review provides valuable input to subsequent Sprint Planning. The Sprint Review is mainly an inspect and adapt opportunity for the Scrum Team and stakeholders.

The correct answers are A and B, because these are true about the Product Owner role. The Product Owner is one person, not a committee or a team, who is accountable for ordering the Product Backlog and maximizing the value of the product. The Scrum Guide states that “the Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from work of the Development Team. How this is done may vary widely across organizations, Scrum Teams, and individuals. … For the Product Owner to succeed, the entire organization must respect his or her decisions.”

The correct answer is B, because the time-box for a Daily Scrum is 15 minutes. The Scrum Guide states that “the Daily Scrum is a 15-minute time-boxed event for the Development Team to synchronize activities and create a plan for the next 24 hours.”

The best two answers are A and B. As a Scrum Team, prioritizing the list and working on them in order is a good technique to tackle the impediments. This way, the team can focus on the most urgent and important issues first and avoid being overwhelmed by the number of impediments. The Scrum Master discusses the impediments with the Scrum Team is also a helpful technique, as it allows the team to share their perspectives, identify the root causes, and come up with possible solutions. The Scrum Master can also coach the team on how to remove or prevent impediments in the future.

The two effective ways for the Scrum Team to make non-functional requirements visible are C and D.

C. Add them to the Definition of Done so the work is taken care of every Sprint.

The Definition of Done (DoD) is a shared understanding of what it means for a Product Backlog item to be complete and potentially releasable 1 . The DoD can include non-functional requirements that apply to the entire product or system, such as performance, security, usability, etc. By adding them to the DoD, the Scrum Team ensures that they are met every Sprint and that the quality of the product is maintained 2 .

D. Add them to the Product Backlog to ensure transparency.

The Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that is known to be needed in the product 1 . The Product Backlog can include non-functional requirements that are specific to certain features or functionalities, such as response time, availability, scalability, etc. By adding them to the Product Backlog, the Scrum Team ensures that they are visible to all stakeholders and that they are prioritized and refined along with the functional requirements 3 .

A and B are not effective ways for the Scrum Team to make non-functional requirements visible.

A. Run the integration and regression tests before the end of the Sprint, and capture the open work for the Sprint Backlog of the next Sprint.

This approach does not make non-functional requirements visible, but rather postpones them until the end of the Sprint. This can lead to incomplete or low-quality Increments that do not meet the expectations of the customers or users. Moreover, this approach does not account for any changes or feedback that may occur during the Sprint 4 .

B. Put them on a separate list on the Scrum board, available for all to see.

This approach does not make non-functional requirements transparent, but rather isolates them from the functional requirements. This can lead to confusion or inconsistency in how they are handled by the Scrum Team. Moreover, this approach does not align with the principle of having a single source of truth for the product requirements, which is the Product Backlog 5 .

According to the Scrum Guide, the Product Owner can cancel a Sprint, as he or she is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Development Team. The other roles do not have this authority, although they may provide input and suggestions to the Product Owner.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , a Sprint can be cancelled before the Sprint time-box is over. Only the Product Owner has the authority to cancel the Sprint, although he or she may do so under influence from the stakeholders, the Developers, or the Scrum Master. A Sprint would be cancelled if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete. This might occur if the company changes direction or if market or technology conditions change. In general, a Sprint should be cancelled if it no longer makes sense given the circumstances. But, due to the short duration of Sprints, cancellation rarely makes sense.

According to the Scrum Guide, the purpose of a Sprint is to produce a valuable useful Increment that meets the Definition of Done and the Sprint Goal. This means that the Developers work on items from the Product Backlog that deliver value to the stakeholders and align with the product vision. The other option is not valid, as it implies that producing an Increment is not the purpose of a Sprint.

The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide and for helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice. Option A is correct because Scrum events are timeboxed, and the Scrum Master helps the Scrum Team understand and properly use those timeboxes so events remain focused, productive, and effective. Teaching the team how timeboxing supports empiricism, focus, and predictability is part of the Scrum Master’s service to the team.

Option D is also correct because the Scrum Master serves the organization by helping those outside the Scrum Team understand how to interact effectively with the team. This includes removing barriers between stakeholders and Scrum Teams and coaching the organization in Scrum adoption.

Option B is incorrect because Scrum does not require the Scrum Master to maintain burndown charts. Option C is incorrect because Developers are self-managing and the Scrum Master does not assign tasks. Option E is incorrect because the Sprint Review is a collaborative inspection of the Increment, and completion is determined by whether work meets the Definition of Done, not by the Scrum Master declaring it.

According to the Scrum Guide, a self-organizing Development Team chooses how to best accomplish its work, rather than being directed by others outside the team. The other options are not choices that a self-organizing Development Team makes, as they are either determined by the Scrum framework (such as Sprint length and Product Backlog ordering) or by collaboration with other roles (such as stakeholders for the Sprint Review and when to release).

The correct answers are B and C because security is part of product quality and should be addressed within the Scrum Team’s ongoing work, not delegated away or deferred to a later phase. Option B is correct because security concerns can and should be made visible in the Product Backlog when there is specific work needed to address them. This ensures transparency and allows the team to inspect, prioritize, and act on those concerns as part of product development.

Option C is also correct because if security is necessary for an Increment to be complete and releasable, it belongs in the Definition of Done. This ensures that security expectations are consistently applied every Sprint rather than treated as optional or postponed.

Option A is incorrect because Scrum does not rely on handing responsibility to a separate department. Option D is incorrect because delaying security work undermines transparency and increases risk. Option E is incorrect because security should not be isolated into one future Sprint as a separate cleanup effort. Scrum promotes integrating quality, including security, continuously into development so each Increment is usable and meets appropriate standards.

The correct answer is B, because the guideline that a Scrum Master should give is that estimates are made by the Development Team. The Scrum Guide states that “the number of items selected from the Product Backlog for the Sprint is solely up to the Development Team. Only the Development Team can assess what it can accomplish over the upcoming Sprint.” Therefore, the Development Team should estimate the work in Scrum, using any method or unit they prefer.

The correct answer is B, because when multiple Scrum Teams work from the same Product Backlog, they should pull in work in agreement with the Product Owner. The Scrum Guide states that “multiple Scrum Teams often work together on the same product. One product goal unites them. Therefore, they must mutually define and comply with a definition of ‘Done’ that applies to their combined work product.” Therefore, they should collaborate and coordinate with each other and with the Product Owner to select Product Backlog items that align with their shared product goal.

The Product Owner is responsible for engaging the stakeholders, as stated in the Scrum Guide 1 : “The Product Owner is one person, not a committee. The Product Owner may represent the desires of a committee in the Product Backlog, but those wanting to change a Product Backlog item’s priority must address the Product Owner.”

According to the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. The topics that are appropriate for discussion are those that relate to how the team does its work, such as team relations, Definition of Done, and processes, tools, communication, collaboration, quality, etc. The other options are not appropriate topics for discussion in a Sprint Retrospective, as they belong to other Scrum events (such as arranging the Sprint Backlog for the next Sprint in the Sprint Planning or evaluating the value of work in the Product Backlog in the Sprint Review).

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , the Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization.

 The Scrum Master should be concerned about the ability of the Development Teams to produce integrated Increments, as this is one of the goals of Scrum. The Scrum Master should also encourage the Development Teams to figure out a solution for themselves, as this fosters self-management and collaboration. The other options are not relevant or important for the Scrum Master in this situation.

The correct answer is D because Scrum Teams are self-managing. That means the Scrum Team, and especially the Developers with respect to Sprint Backlog execution, manages its own work rather than relying on a project manager, Product Owner, or Scrum Master to make sure individuals complete assigned tasks. Scrum does not operate through command-and-control task enforcement. Instead, the team collaborates to achieve the Sprint Goal and holds itself collectively accountable.

Option A is incorrect because Scrum does not define a Project Manager role responsible for directing daily task completion. Option B is incorrect because the Product Owner is accountable for maximizing value, not managing the team’s day-to-day task execution. Option C is incorrect because the Scrum Master coaches and facilitates Scrum but does not supervise or police whether each person does their tasks. Option E is incorrect because the roles listed do not all share this responsibility.

A key Scrum principle is collective accountability. The Scrum Team organizes its own work, inspects progress, and adapts as needed. Rather than focusing on whether each individual completes personal assignments, Scrum emphasizes whether the team is progressing toward the Sprint Goal and delivering a Done Increment.

According to the Scrum Guide, a Scrum Team is cross-functional if it includes skilled individuals who together have all the skills necessary to create value each Sprint. This means that the Developers can work on any aspect of the product without depending on others outside the team. The other options are not valid descriptions of cross-functionality, as they either imply that the Developers work in silos or rely on external people (such as business analysts, architects, testers, or separate teams).

The correct answer is B, because a Product Owner is best described as a value optimizer. The Scrum Guide states that “the Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from work of the Development Team.” Therefore, a Product Owner should focus on delivering value to the customers and stakeholders through the product.

According to the Scrum Guide, Developers do meet with stakeholders, especially during the Sprint Review and Sprint Planning events. The Product Owner is the primary person who interacts with stakeholders, but Developers also need to communicate with them to understand their needs, expectations, and feedback. The Product Owner may also invite stakeholders to provide clarifications or inputs during the Sprint.

The correct answer is C, because a Development Team should deliver an increment of working software that is “done” by the end of a Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “the Increment is the sum of all the Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint and the value of the increments of all previous Sprints. At the end of a Sprint, the new Increment must be ‘Done,’ which means it must be in useable condition and meet the Scrum Team’s definition of ‘Done’.”

The correct answer is A, because keeping component teams while starting Scrum may cause less initial disruption than organizing into new teams. As they start using Scrum, they will discover what works best for them and how to potentially re-organize towards feature teams. However, component teams may face some challenges in delivering a working Increment of software that provides business value every Sprint, as they may depend on other teams or layers.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , when multiple Scrum Teams are working together on one product, they must coordinate their work with each other. One way to do this is through Nexus, a framework for scaling Scrum. Nexus helps to reduce cross-team dependencies and integration issues by making them more transparent. Multiple Scrum Teams working on one product use one Product Backlog.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , during each Daily Scrum, each Developer answers three questions:

What did I do yesterday that helped meet our Sprint Goal?

What will I do today to help meet our Sprint Goal?

Do I see any impediment that prevents me or our Development Team from meeting our Sprint Goal?

The Developers can select whatever structure and techniques they want, as long as their Daily Scrum focuses on progress toward achieving their Sprint Goal and producing a usable Increment. The Developers can start with any one person and proceed in any order.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , the purpose of the Sprint Retrospective is to plan ways to increase quality and effectiveness. The Scrum Team inspects how the last Sprint went with regards to individuals, interactions, processes, tools, and their Definition of Done. Inspected elements often vary with domain, practices, and people involved. The Scrum Team identifies the most helpful changes to improve its effectiveness. The most impactful improvements are addressed as soon as possible. They may even be added to the Sprint Backlog for the next Sprint. The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. The Scrum Master is part of the Scrum Team and should participate as a Scrum team member and facilitate as requested or needed.

The next Sprint begins immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint, as stated in the Scrum Guide: “Sprints have consistent durations throughout a development effort. A new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint.”

According to the Scrum framework, the Product Owner is responsible for managing the Product Backlog, which includes prioritizing and adding new items1. However, when a new item is introduced during a Sprint, it is crucial to involve the entire Scrum Team in the decision-making process. This ensures that the team can assess the impact of the new item on the current Sprint goals, capacity, and workload1. By discussing the item with the team, they can collectively decide whether to include it in the current Sprint, defer it to a future Sprint, or handle it in another way1. This collaborative approach aligns with the principles of transparency, inspection, and adaptation, which are core to Scrum.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , there is no such thing as a Release Sprint in Scrum. A Release Sprint implies that there are other Sprints that don’t produce a potentially releasable Increment, which violates the core principle of Scrum. Every Sprint should result in a “Done”, useable, and potentially releasable product Increment.

A Product Backlog item is considered complete when it meets the Definition of Done, as stated in [5]: “When a Product Backlog item or an Increment is described as “Done”, everyone must understand what “Done” means. Although this varies significantly per Scrum Team, members must have a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete, to ensure transparency. This is the definition of “Done” for the Scrum Team and is used to assess when work is complete on the product Increment.”

The correct answer is B because in Scrum, Developers are collectively accountable for creating a usable Increment every Sprint, and they share accountability for the Sprint Backlog. Scrum emphasizes self-management and collective ownership rather than assigning individual accountability for separate backlog items in the traditional sense. The Developers decide how to turn selected Product Backlog items into an Increment and how to organize their work, but the responsibility remains shared across the team.

This shared accountability supports collaboration, flexibility, and focus on the Sprint Goal. It prevents siloed behavior where individuals protect only their own tasks instead of working together to achieve the Sprint outcome. The Sprint Backlog is created by and for the Developers, and they adapt it throughout the Sprint as more is learned.

Option A is incorrect because accountability does not begin during the Daily Scrum. Option C is incorrect because capacity does not create individual ownership in Scrum. Option D is incorrect because Scrum does not require even task splitting or pre-assigned ownership at Sprint Planning. The Developers remain collectively accountable throughout the Sprint.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , the Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. The Sprint Retrospective occurs after the Sprint Review and prior to the next Sprint Planning. The purpose of the Sprint Retrospective is to plan ways to increase quality and effectiveness. The Product Owner is part of the Scrum Team and should participate as a Scrum Team member in the Sprint Retrospective.

The Scrum Master should ask the person to share the issue with the team as soon as possible, as stated in [5]: “The Scrum Master should encourage transparency and collaboration within the team and with other stakeholders. If there is a concern about data security issues, it should be brought up to the team and discussed openly. The team can then decide how to handle it, whether by creating a Product Backlog item, updating the definition of “Done”, or taking some other action.”

According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Team consists of three roles: the Scrum Master, who coaches and facilitates the team; the Product Owner, who manages and prioritizes the Product Backlog; and the Development Team, who delivers a potentially releasable Increment at the end of each Sprint. Users and customers are not roles on the Scrum Team, but they are stakeholders who may provide feedback and input to the product.

The correct answer is C because Sprint Planning is timeboxed to a maximum of eight hours for a one-month Sprint. For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter. This timebox is defined in the Scrum Guide and helps ensure that planning is focused, efficient, and proportionate to the length of the Sprint.

Sprint Planning starts the Sprint by setting a clear direction for the work ahead. During this event, the Scrum Team discusses why the Sprint is valuable, what can be done during the Sprint, and how the chosen work will be accomplished. The outcome is the Sprint Goal, the selected Product Backlog items, and the initial Sprint Backlog plan.

Option A is incorrect because four hours is not the Scrum Guide’s timebox for a one-month Sprint. Option B is incorrect because “monthly” is not a valid timebox length for the event itself. Option D is incorrect because Scrum events are always timeboxed to promote discipline and effectiveness.

This timebox matters because Scrum encourages enough planning to begin effectively, but not so much that excessive discussion delays value delivery. The purpose is to create clarity and alignment while still preserving agility and adaptability.

During the Sprint, the Scrum Master’s role is to facilitate inspection and adaptation opportunities as requested or needed, and to coach the team members in self-management, as stated in  3 : “The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization. The Scrum Master is accountable for the Scrum Team’s effectiveness. They do this by enabling the Scrum Team to improve its practices, within the Scrum framework.”

A Developer becomes accountable for an item in the Sprint Backlog never as Developers on the Scrum Team share accountability for items in the Sprint Backlog, as stated in the Scrum Guide: “The Developers can select whatever items they want as long as they feel they can complete the work by the end of the Sprint. The Scrum Team is responsible for all estimates. The Product Owner may influence the Developers by helping them understand and select trade-offs, but the people who will perform the work make the final estimate.”

The correct answers are B and D, because adding non-functional requirements to the Product Backlog and keeping the Product Owner posted on the expected effort helps prioritize and plan them in alignment with the product vision and goals. Additionally, adding non-functional requirements to the definition of ‘Done’ ensures that they are met every Sprint and do not accumulate technical debt.

The correct answer is A because the Sprint Backlog is created during Sprint Planning. The Sprint Backlog is composed of the Sprint Goal, the Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, and a plan for delivering them. During Sprint Planning, the Scrum Team collaborates to decide why the Sprint is valuable, what can be done during the Sprint, and how the chosen work will be accomplished. This is when the Sprint Backlog comes into existence.

Option B is incorrect because although Product Backlog refinement may prepare items before Sprint Planning, the Sprint Backlog itself is not created until the Sprint Planning event. Option C is incorrect because refinement supports readiness and clarity of Product Backlog items, but it does not establish the Sprint Backlog. Option D is incorrect because the Sprint Retrospective is focused on improvement of the team’s effectiveness and ways of working, not on creating the Sprint Backlog for the next Sprint.

This distinction matters in Scrum because Sprint Planning formally begins the Sprint by creating a clear commitment around the Sprint Goal and the work needed to produce a useful Increment.

A Sprint may be cancelled only if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete. This makes Option A the correct answer. The Scrum Guide is very clear that only the Product Owner has the authority to cancel a Sprint, although that decision may be influenced by stakeholders, the Developers, or the Scrum Master. The reason for cancellation is not general disruption, poor forecasting, or the appearance of new work. It is specifically tied to the Sprint Goal no longer having value or relevance.

Option B is incorrect because a new business opportunity does not automatically justify cancelling a Sprint. Scrum is designed to handle change without disrupting the Sprint unless the Sprint Goal itself is no longer valid. Option C is incorrect because feasibility concerns should be addressed through collaboration and adaptation, but they do not by themselves define the cancellation rule. Option D is incorrect because not finishing all selected work is not a reason to cancel a Sprint. Scrum accepts uncertainty, and the team inspects and adapts. The Sprint Goal remains the key commitment, and as long as it is still relevant, the Sprint should continue.

The correct answers are C and E, because these statements explain what “Done” means. No work left from the definition of “Done” means that all Product Backlog items selected for a Sprint meet the quality criteria agreed upon by the Scrum Team. All work to create software that is ready to be released to end users means that the Increment is potentially releasable at any time during the Sprint.

There are no activities that a Product Owner would typically undertake in the phase between the end of the current Sprint and the start of the next Sprint, because there is no such phase. The next Sprint starts immediately after the current Sprint, without any gaps or breaks. The other options are either activities that occur during a Sprint (such as refining the Product Backlog) or activities that are not consistent with Scrum (such as working with Quality Assurance departments or updating project plans).

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , the Sprint Backlog is the property of the Developers and no one else can tell them which items they should work on. The Developers can select any item from the Product Backlog that they forecast they can complete within a Sprint. The Developers are self-organizing and decide how to turn Product Backlog items into an Increment of value. Therefore, no one owns a Sprint Backlog item, but the entire Development Team is accountable for it.

According to the Scrum Guide, multiple Scrum Teams working on the same product do not have to have the same Sprint start date. They may start their Sprints at different times, as long as they synchronize their work and integrate their Increments at least by the end of each Sprint. The other option is not valid, as it implies that having the same Sprint start date is mandatory for multiple Scrum Teams.

The correct answer is A because the Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. Product Backlog ordering should therefore be driven primarily by value, not by keeping every Developer busy at all times. Scrum does not optimize for utilization. It optimizes for value delivery, learning, and progress toward the Product Goal.

The Scrum Master should coach the Product Owner to keep the Product Backlog ordered based on what delivers the most value and best supports product outcomes. External dependencies may influence sequencing, but they should not cause the Product Owner to abandon value-based ordering just to fill capacity. In Scrum, some inefficiency may temporarily occur due to uncertainty or dependency constraints, but that is not a reason to shift toward activity-based planning.

Option B is too prescriptive and assumes a specific backlog ordering response. Option C is incorrect because maximizing utilization is not the Product Owner’s responsibility and is not a Scrum objective. Scrum encourages focus on valuable Increments, not on ensuring that everyone is always fully occupied regardless of whether the work is the most important.

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. Therefore, Option A is correct. This is one of the clearest and most important responsibilities defined in the Scrum Guide. The Product Owner manages the Product Backlog, orders work to best achieve goals and missions, and ensures that the backlog is transparent and understood. Their focus is on value optimization, not on controlling people or acting as a project manager.

Option B is incorrect because while the Product Owner may help with stakeholder collaboration, shielding Developers from all stakeholder interaction is not the core accountability. Option C is incorrect because Developers are self-managing, and the Product Owner does not direct their day-to-day work. Option D is also incorrect because Scrum does not define the Product Owner’s accountability as ensuring commitments to stakeholders are met in a traditional contractual sense. Instead, the Product Owner balances stakeholder needs, product direction, and value delivery.

A strong Product Owner makes sure the Scrum Team is always working on the most valuable thing first. That value-centered accountability is the best description of the role.

The correct answer is C because the Daily Scrum is specifically an event for the Developers of the Scrum Team. According to the Scrum Guide, the Daily Scrum is held by the Developers to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary, adjusting the upcoming planned work. This makes the Developers the only people who must attend.

The Scrum Master’s responsibility is to ensure that the event takes place and that attendees understand its purpose, but the Scrum Master is not required to attend unless they are actively helping the Developers or are also participating as part of the team’s work. The Product Owner is also not required to attend. While either the Scrum Master or Product Owner may be present, the Daily Scrum remains a Developers’ event.

Options A, B, D, and E are incorrect because they include roles that are not mandatory participants. Scrum is careful about this distinction to preserve self-management and ensure the Developers own daily planning. The Daily Scrum is not a status meeting for management or other roles. It is a focused inspection-and-adaptation event for the Developers.

The correct answer is B, because the Development Team is responsible for managing the progress of work during a Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “the Development Team tracks this total work remaining at least for every Daily Scrum to project the likelihood of achieving the Sprint Goal. By tracking the remaining work throughout the Sprint, the Development Team can manage its progress.”

Sprint Backlog is owned by the Development Team. The Scrum Guide states that “the Sprint Backlog is the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, plus a plan for delivering the product Increment and realizing the Sprint Goal. … The Development Team modifies the Sprint Backlog throughout the Sprint, and the Sprint Backlog emerges during the Sprint. This emergence occurs as the Development Team works through the plan and learns more about the work needed to achieve the Sprint Goal.”

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , an Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal. Each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and thoroughly verified, ensuring that all Increments work together. In order to provide value, an Increment must be usable. Multiple Increments may be created within a Sprint. The sum of the Increments is presented at the Sprint Review thus supporting empiricism. However, an Increment may be delivered to stakeholders prior to the end of the Sprint. The Sprint Review should never be considered a gate to releasing value. Therefore, implementation of a Product Backlog item is considered complete when the item has no work remaining in order to be potentially released.

The correct answer is A, because a good first question for you to suggest the group thinks about when forming into teams is how will we make sure all teams have the right amount of expertise. This question helps the group consider the cross-functionality and self-organization of the Development Teams, which are essential for delivering a potentially releasable Increment every Sprint.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Backlog is the Developers’ plan for the Sprint, as it contains all the Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint and a plan for delivering them. The other options are not valid descriptions of the Sprint Backlog, as they are either incorrect (such as having a designated owner, being ordered by the Product Owner, or being a complete list of all work) or unnecessary (such as estimating each task in hours).

The correct answer is C, because the second Sprint starts immediately after the first Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “Sprints have consistent durations throughout a development effort. A new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint.”

The correct answer is C because the Product Owner is a full member of the Scrum Team and participates in the Sprint Retrospective along with the Developers and Scrum Master. The Sprint Retrospective is not a meeting only for Developers or only for process specialists. It is an event for the Scrum Team to inspect how the last Sprint went with regard to individuals, interactions, processes, tools, and their Definition of Done, and then identify improvements for the future.

The Product Owner’s role in this event is not to act as an external observer or a stakeholder representative. Instead, the Product Owner contributes as a Scrum Team member by sharing observations, listening to concerns, and collaborating on ways to improve effectiveness and value delivery. This shared participation supports transparency and continuous improvement.

Option A is incorrect because the Retrospective is an internal Scrum Team event, not a stakeholder reporting session. Option B is incorrect because the Product Owner absolutely should participate. Option D is incorrect because capturing backlog requirements is not the purpose of the Retrospective. The main purpose is improvement of how the team works together.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , there are five values that guide decisions within Scrum teams:

Commitment

Focus

Openness

Respect

Courage

In order to achieve the benefits of Scrum, it is important to enact these values. Two actions that demonstrate the commitment of Scrum Team members are:

Help the other Scrum Team members, as they work together as a self-organizing team to accomplish the Sprint Goal and create the anticipated Increment by the end of the Sprint.

Do your best, as they strive to deliver a potentially releasable Increment that meets the definition of “Done” and provides value to the stakeholders.

According to the Scrum Guide, every Scrum Team should have the competencies and skills needed to deliver an Increment in a Sprint. This means that the Developers can work on any aspect of the product without depending on others outside the team. The other options are not valid descriptions of what every Scrum Team should have, as they either imply that the Developers work in silos or rely on external people (such as a lead developer or representatives from different departments).

The correct answer is E because Scrum depends on transparency, collaboration, and collective accountability. If a Developer raises concerns about data security, the Scrum Master should encourage that concern to be brought to the Scrum Team as soon as possible so it can be openly inspected and addressed. Security is a serious product quality concern, and in Scrum, important issues should not remain private between two people when they affect the whole team’s work and the quality of the Increment.

Option A may sound reasonable, but the Scrum Master should not unilaterally add security to the Definition of Done. The Definition of Done is created and evolved appropriately through the Scrum Team’s work and organizational standards. Option B is too directive and bypasses team inspection and collaboration. Option C could eventually happen, but immediately creating a Product Backlog item does not address the need for transparency within the Scrum Team. Option D is incorrect because Scrum does not rely on a separate tester role to own quality concerns.

The Scrum Master should help the team surface the issue quickly so they can determine the right action together.

The correct answers are B and E, because Scrum has no “tester” role and everyone in the Development Team is responsible for quality. The Scrum Guide states that “the Development Team consists of professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Increment of ‘Done’ product at the end of each Sprint. Development Teams are structured and empowered by the organization to organize and manage their own work. The resulting synergy optimizes the Development Team’s overall efficiency and effectiveness.”

A Sprint burndown chart shows an estimate of the total work remaining for the Sprint, as stated in  3 : “A sprint burndown chart tracks work remaining in a sprint. It shows how much work remains at any given point during a sprint. It helps teams monitor whether they will finish all planned tasks by the end of a sprint.”

The best answers are A, C, and E. The Definition of Done creates transparency by making everyone understand what it means for work to be complete. That makes Option C correct. It also creates a shared understanding of completion, which makes Option E correct. This is essential in Scrum because inspection is only meaningful when there is clarity about whether a Product Backlog item or Increment is actually done.

Option A is also correct because the Definition of Done helps Developers determine how much work they can realistically select during Sprint Planning. If the team understands the full quality criteria required for completion, they can make better decisions about how many Product Backlog items fit within the Sprint.

Option B is incorrect because Scrum does not support “mostly done.” Work is either done according to the Definition of Done or it is not done. Option D is incorrect because the Definition of Done does not describe Scrum events. It applies to the Increment and defines the quality measures required for completeness.

In Scrum, the Definition of Done is a critical tool for quality, transparency, and forecasting realistic Sprint scope.

When a Development Team determines that it will not be able to finish the complete forecast, both the Product Owner and the Development Team have to be present when reviewing and adjusting the Sprint work selected, as stated in [6]: “If there is not enough work remaining for all members of a Development Team then they can renegotiate scope with their Product Owner. If there is too much work remaining then they can also renegotiate scope with their Product Owner.”

The correct answer is A, because the role of management in Scrum is to facilitate the Scrum Teams with insights and resources that help them improve. The Scrum Guide states that “the organization respects their self-organization by not telling them how they should do their work.” Therefore, management should support the Scrum Teams by providing them with an environment that fosters collaboration, learning, and innovation.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , self-organization is one of the essential characteristics of Scrum Teams. Self-organizing teams choose how best to accomplish their work, rather than being directed by others outside the team. Self-organization enables teams to deliver faster and better results by harnessing their creativity and skills. Some benefits of self-organization are:

Increased creativity, as team members have more freedom and autonomy to explore new ideas and solutions.

Increased self-accountability, as team members take ownership and responsibility for their work and outcomes.

Increased commitment, as team members are more engaged and motivated by having a say in how they work.

The other options are not benefits of self-organization, as they may imply external control or pressure.

The best answer is C. Ensure every Increment meets them.  Non-functional requirements (NFRs) are system qualities that guide the design of the solution and often serve as constraints across the relevant backlogs 1 .  NFRs are persistent qualities and constraints typically revisited as part of the definition of done (DoD) for each Iteration, PI, or release 1 . The Scrum Team should ensure that every Increment meets the NFRs, as they are part of the product requirements and affect the value delivery and customer satisfaction.

Several Sprints into a project, a key stakeholder begins using the product and finds the quality lacking. The Product Owner (PO) agrees and shares this concern with the Scrum Master (SM). The Scrum Master needs to determine the best way to respond.

Scrum emphasizes empiricism , which is based on transparency, inspection, and adaptation ​. This means that if quality concerns arise, the Scrum Team must inspect the issue, adapt accordingly, and ensure quality is built into the product incrementally.

✅ A. Encourage the Product Owner to include quality specifications in the Product Backlog and to communicate the stakeholders ' concerns to the Developers.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide :

" The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product. It is the single source of work undertaken by the Scrum Team. " ​

" The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. " ​

???? Why is this Correct?

Since the Product Owner represents the stakeholders , they should translate the stakeholder’s concerns into actionable Product Backlog Items (PBIs) that reflect quality improvements.

Developers can refine and plan these PBIs in upcoming Sprints to ensure quality is systematically addressed.

The Product Backlog is the single source of work , meaning all quality requirements should be made explicit there.

This approach aligns with Scrum’s empirical process of making work transparent so that the team can inspect and adapt.

✅ C. Work with the Product Owner to understand their desired resolution and help formulate an approach for raising the concern with the Developers.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide :

" The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner in several ways, including: Helping find techniques for effective Product Goal definition and Product Backlog management. " ​

" The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team in several ways, including: Helping the Scrum Team focus on creating high-value Increments that meet the Definition of Done. " ​

???? Why is this Correct?

The Scrum Master is a servant leader , responsible for facilitating collaboration between the Product Owner and Developers so that the concern is effectively addressed.

Instead of dictating a solution, the Scrum Master guides discussions and enables the team to decide how best to improve quality.

The Definition of Done (DoD) should be reviewed to ensure it is clear, measurable, and includes quality standards ​.

This approach ensures that all stakeholders—Developers, Product Owner, and Scrum Master— collaborate in a self-managing way to improve quality.

Incorrect Answers with Explanations

❌ B. Bring the concern to the testers to improve how the Product is verified.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide :

" Developers are always accountable for: Instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done. " ​

???? Why is this Incorrect?

Scrum does not have a separate testing team ; instead, the Developers are responsible for all aspects of quality (coding, testing, integration, etc.).

Quality should not be " verified " by an external group; rather, it must be built into the Increment from the start .

Instead of passing the issue to testers, the Scrum Team should improve their Definition of Done to ensure the product meets the necessary quality standards.

❌ D. Tell the Product Owner they have noted the concern and will raise this issue at the Sprint Retrospective.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide :

" The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. " ​

???? Why is this Incorrect?

While the Sprint Retrospective is useful for discussing improvements , waiting until the Retrospective delays the resolution of a critical issue.

The Scrum Team should act immediately by addressing quality issues in the Product Backlog and adapting their work in upcoming Sprints.

Transparency and fast feedback are key principles in Scrum— delaying discussions goes against empiricism .

❌ E. Explain to the Product Owner that it is up to the Developers to decide on acceptable quality standards.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide :

" The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product. " ​

" If the Definition of Done for an increment is part of the standards of the organization, all Scrum Teams must follow it as a minimum. " ​

???? Why is this Incorrect?

While the Developers are responsible for meeting the Definition of Done , quality is a shared responsibility across the Scrum Team .

The Product Owner must ensure that the product delivers value to stakeholders , which includes meeting their quality expectations.

Ignoring the Product Owner’s concerns contradicts Scrum’s emphasis on collaboration and transparency.

The best two answers are A and C. These two ways of creating Scrum Teams are consistent with Scrum’s values because they respect the self-organization and empowerment of the people who will be working in the teams. They also foster openness and courage by allowing the people to express their preferences and opinions about the new structure.

B, D and E are not consistent with Scrum’s values because they impose a top-down approach that does not involve the people who will be affected by the change. They also undermine the commitment and focus of the teams by assigning them to work on something they may not be interested in or passionate about.

 According to the Scrum Guide 1 , Scrum is not a process, technique, or definitive method. Rather, it is a framework within which you can employ various processes and techniques. Scrum makes clear the relative efficacy of your product management and work techniques so that you can continuously improve the product, the team, and the working environment.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Master is responsible for promoting and supporting Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide 1 .  Scrum Masters do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values 1 .  The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum 2 .  They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization while serving the Scrum Team as well as the larger organization 2 .

Option B is incorrect because keeping track of resource allocation is not a responsibility of the Scrum Master. The Scrum Master does not manage or control the resources of the Scrum Team or the organization.  The Scrum Team is self-organizing and responsible for managing its own work within a Sprint 1 .

Option C is incorrect because managing the performance of the Scrum Team is not a responsibility of the Scrum Master. The Scrum Master does not evaluate or appraise the performance of the Development Team or the Product Owner.  The Scrum Master serves the Development Team by coaching them on self-organization and cross-functionality, and serves the Product Owner by ensuring that goals, scope, and product domain are understood by everyone on the Scrum Team 1 .

Option D is incorrect because the meetings and the objectives that a Scrum Team sets for itself are not a responsibility of the Scrum Master. The Scrum Master does not dictate or prescribe what meetings or objectives a Scrum Team should have.  The Scrum Master facilitates the Scrum Events as requested or needed, and ensures that they are positive, productive, and kept within the time-box 1 .

The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. The topics that are appropriate for discussion are those that relate to how the team does its work, such as processes, tools, communication, collaboration, quality, etc. The value of work currently represented in the Product Backlog and arranging the Sprint Backlog for the next Sprint are not appropriate topics for discussion in a Sprint Retrospective, as they belong to the Sprint Review and Sprint Planning events respectively.

In Scrum, regulatory and compliance requirements are not treated as work outside the Scrum Team or postponed until a separate phase. They must be made visible and managed as part of normal product development. Option C is correct because any work that is needed for the product, including compliance-related requirements, should be represented in the Product Backlog. The Product Backlog is the single source of work undertaken by the Scrum Team, so compliance items are handled alongside functional and technical work during Sprints.

Option D is also correct because compliance often affects whether an Increment is truly complete. Scrum requires each Increment to meet the Definition of Done, which creates transparency about quality and completeness. If regulatory conditions are necessary for releasability or completeness, they should be included in the Definition of Done and verified every Sprint.

Options A and B are incorrect because Scrum does not promote handing compliance to a separate team or completing all compliance analysis before Sprinting starts. Scrum uses an iterative, incremental approach where such requirements are addressed continuously.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , the Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that is known to be needed in the product. It is the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product. The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing value resulting from work by Developers. The Product Owner is also accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes:

Developing and explicitly communicating the Product Goal;

Creating and clearly communicating Product Backlog items;

Ordering Product Backlog items; and

Ensuring that the Product Backlog is transparent, visible and understood.

Therefore, the Product Owner is responsible for clearly expressing Product Backlog items.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , the Development Team consists of professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Increment of “Done” product at the end of each Sprint. Development Teams are structured and empowered by the organization to organize and manage their own work. The resulting synergy optimizes the Development Team’s overall efficiency and effectiveness. Cross-functional teams have all competencies needed to accomplish the work without depending on others not part of the team. The team model in Scrum is designed to optimize flexibility, creativity, and productivity.