Professional Scrum Master (PSM) Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The Product Goal is the long-term objective for the Scrum Team. Who is primarily accountable for developing and explicitly communicating the Product Goal?

The Scrum Master
The Product Owner (Correct answer)
The Developers
The key stakeholders

Correct answer: The Product Owner

The Scrum Guide clearly states that the Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes developing and explicitly communicating the Product Goal. While the Product Owner may collaborate with the Scrum Team and stakeholders to define it, the ultimate accountability rests with them.

Question 2: A new Scrum Team is formed and the members ask who should lead them. What is the Scrum perspective on team leadership?

The Product Owner leads the team toward the product vision
The Scrum Master is the team lead and makes final decisions
The Scrum Team is self-managing with no single leader directing the work (Correct answer)
The most senior Developer takes the leadership role

Correct answer: The Scrum Team is self-managing with no single leader directing the work

Scrum Teams are self-managing, meaning they collectively decide how to do their work without a single designated leader directing them.

Question 3: How should a Scrum Master handle a recurring impediment that keeps appearing Sprint after Sprint?

Raise it once in the Retrospective and move on
Add it to the Sprint Backlog so Developers can resolve it
Accept it as a normal part of the environment
Investigate the root cause and drive a systemic fix rather than treating symptoms each Sprint (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Investigate the root cause and drive a systemic fix rather than treating symptoms each Sprint

Recurring impediments signal a systemic issue; the Scrum Master should use root cause analysis and organizational influence to permanently eliminate the source.

Question 4: What should the Scrum Master do if the Product Owner tries to add new items to the Sprint Backlog mid-Sprint without team consent?

Coach the Product Owner that new work can be added only with the Development Team's consent, as it may affect the Sprint Goal (Correct answer)
Immediately escalate the issue to the Scrum Team's management
Allow it since the Product Owner controls the backlog and can change it at any time
Remove the new items from the backlog without telling the Product Owner

Correct answer: Coach the Product Owner that new work can be added only with the Development Team's consent, as it may affect the Sprint Goal

The Sprint Backlog belongs to the Development Team; the Scrum Master coaches that mid-Sprint additions require team agreement and should be evaluated against the Sprint Goal.

Question 5: During Sprint Review, the team is reluctant to demonstrate incomplete work to stakeholders. As Scrum Master, what is the BEST coaching approach?

Tell stakeholders only completed items will be shown and reschedule a second review
Coach the team that transparency includes showing actual progress and that stakeholder feedback on incomplete work is valuable (Correct answer)
Demonstrate the incomplete items yourself so the team isn't embarrassed
Allow the team to skip demonstrating incomplete items

Correct answer: Coach the team that transparency includes showing actual progress and that stakeholder feedback on incomplete work is valuable

Sprint Reviews thrive on transparency; coaching the team to share actual progress — including what isn't done — builds trust and generates useful stakeholder feedback.

Question 6: The Developers consistently finish all Sprint Backlog items two days before the Sprint ends. What should the Scrum Master encourage?

Assign the Developers to help other teams for the remaining days
Reduce the Sprint length to eliminate idle time
End the Sprint early and start a new one immediately
Have the Developers pull additional Product Backlog items in collaboration with the Product Owner (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Have the Developers pull additional Product Backlog items in collaboration with the Product Owner

Developers should collaborate with the Product Owner to select additional work from the Product Backlog when they complete planned items early.

Question 7: A Scrum Team is frequently interrupted by requests from various department heads, which prevents the Developers from focusing on their Sprint Goal. As a Scrum Master, how should you address this organizational impediment?

Work with the department heads and the Product Owner to establish a clear process for engaging with the team, reinforcing the Product Owner's accountability for the Product Backlog. (Correct answer)
Create a separate 'interrupt-driven' team to handle all ad-hoc requests so the Scrum Team can focus.
Ask the Product Owner to add a buffer to every Sprint to account for the interruptions.
Tell the Developers to ignore all requests from anyone other than the Product Owner.

Correct answer: Work with the department heads and the Product Owner to establish a clear process for engaging with the team, reinforcing the Product Owner's accountability for the Product Backlog.

The Scrum Master serves the organization by helping it understand and enact Scrum. The interruptions are an organizational impediment that needs a systemic solution. Coaching the department heads and reinforcing the Product Owner's accountability for the Product Backlog addresses the root cause. This approach educates the organization, respects the Scrum framework, and protects the team's ability to focus. The other options are workarounds that institutionalize the problem rather than solving it.

Question 8: Which statement best describes the relationship between the Increment and the Definition of Done?

An Increment must conform to the Definition of Done to be considered releasable (Correct answer)
The Definition of Done is optional if the team has a testing phase
The Definition of Done applies only to features, not bug fixes
The Product Owner can waive the Definition of Done for urgent releases

Correct answer: An Increment must conform to the Definition of Done to be considered releasable

The Definition of Done creates transparency by ensuring every Increment meets a consistent standard of quality before it can be released.

Question 9: An organization insists that the Scrum Master provide weekly status reports on team productivity. What is the BEST response?

Coach the organization on using Scrum artifacts and events to gain visibility instead of separate reports (Correct answer)
Provide the reports to maintain good organizational relationships
Ask the Development Team to create the reports themselves
Refuse and explain that reporting on team productivity violates Scrum principles

Correct answer: Coach the organization on using Scrum artifacts and events to gain visibility instead of separate reports

Coaching the organization to use Scrum's built-in transparency mechanisms (Sprint Reviews, Sprint Backlog, velocity) reduces reporting overhead while improving real visibility.

Question 10: How should a Scrum Master respond when stakeholders attempt to directly assign work to the Development Team during a Sprint?

Schedule a meeting between stakeholders and the Development Team
Redirect stakeholders to the Product Owner for backlog prioritization (Correct answer)
Add the work to the current Sprint Backlog immediately
Allow it if the work seems urgent

Correct answer: Redirect stakeholders to the Product Owner for backlog prioritization

The Scrum Master should protect the team and guide stakeholders to work through the Product Owner for proper prioritization.

Question 11: A Scrum Team is building software for an external client. The client insists on communicating directly with Developers to request new features. What is the correct Scrum approach?

Stakeholder requests should flow through the Product Owner to the Product Backlog (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master should filter all client communication
The Scrum Master and Product Owner should share the responsibility of managing client requests
Developers should accept feature requests directly to build strong client relationships

Correct answer: Stakeholder requests should flow through the Product Owner to the Product Backlog

The Product Owner is accountable for managing the Product Backlog and is the single point of contact for stakeholder requests to protect the Developers' focus.

Question 12: How does the concept of self-management in Scrum relate to Scrum Theory?

Self-managing teams can inspect and adapt more effectively because they have the autonomy to act on what they observe (Correct answer)
Self-managing teams do not need a Scrum Master
Self-management replaces the need for Sprint events
Self-management means the team operates without any accountability

Correct answer: Self-managing teams can inspect and adapt more effectively because they have the autonomy to act on what they observe

Self-management empowers teams to make decisions quickly based on empirical evidence, strengthening the inspect-adapt cycle.

Question 13: A stakeholder asks the Scrum Master to assign tasks to individual Developers during Sprint Planning. What should the Scrum Master do?

Create a task assignment matrix for the team
Explain that Developers self-manage and decide how to organize their work (Correct answer)
Assign tasks as requested to keep stakeholders happy
Delegate task assignment to the Product Owner

Correct answer: Explain that Developers self-manage and decide how to organize their work

Scrum Teams are self-managing, meaning Developers internally decide who does what, when, and how.

Question 14: When multiple Scrum Teams work on the same product, what must be true about the Definition of Done?

The Scrum Master decides the Definition of Done
The Definition of Done must be the same for all teams (Correct answer)
The Definition of Done is optional for scaling
Each team creates its own Definition of Done

Correct answer: The Definition of Done must be the same for all teams

When multiple Scrum Teams work on the same product, they must mutually define and comply with the same Definition of Done.

Question 15: Which statement best describes the relationship between an Increment and the Definition of Done?

The Definition of Done is a list of all the work required to complete the Increment.
The Definition of Done is only inspected during the Sprint Retrospective.
Multiple Increments can be created, but only one can meet the Definition of Done per Sprint.
An Increment is created the moment a Product Backlog item meets the Definition of Done. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An Increment is created the moment a Product Backlog item meets the Definition of Done.

The Scrum Guide is explicit that an Increment is born the moment a Product Backlog Item meets the Definition of Done. The Definition of Done is the formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product, creating a shared understanding of what 'Done' means.

Question 16: Which statement best describes the Sprint Backlog?

A list of all work identified for the product
The set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint plus a plan for delivering them (Correct answer)
A fixed contract of deliverables that cannot change during the Sprint
A document approved by the Product Owner before the Sprint starts

Correct answer: The set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint plus a plan for delivering them

The Sprint Backlog consists of the Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint and the Development Team's plan for delivering the Increment.

Question 17: Which of the following actions demonstrates a Scrum Master acting as a leader rather than a manager?

Reporting the team's velocity to stakeholders as a measure of performance.
Creating a detailed plan for how the Developers will accomplish the Sprint Goal.
Coaching the Developers on how to facilitate their own Daily Scrum effectively. (Correct answer)
Assigning specific Product Backlog Items to each Developer during Sprint Planning.

Correct answer: Coaching the Developers on how to facilitate their own Daily Scrum effectively.

A leader empowers and enables, while a manager often directs and controls. Coaching the Developers to self-manage their own events is a key leadership activity that builds the team's capabilities and fosters ownership. The other options represent a more traditional, directive management style that undermines the Scrum Team's self-management and accountability.

Question 18: A Scrum Team has been delivering Increments for six months, but the product has gained no users. What should the Product Owner do FIRST?

Extend the Sprint length to allow more features per release
Increase the Sprint velocity to deliver features faster
Re-examine the Product Goal and validate whether the product is solving a real customer problem (Correct answer)
Replace the Development Team with more experienced developers

Correct answer: Re-examine the Product Goal and validate whether the product is solving a real customer problem

Low adoption signals a potential product-market fit problem; the Product Owner must revisit the Product Goal and validate assumptions about customer needs before continuing.

Question 19: A stakeholder insists on attending Daily Scrums and giving daily feedback to developers. The team feels disrupted. What should the Scrum Master do?

Protect the team's Daily Scrum and redirect the stakeholder to the Sprint Review for feedback (Correct answer)
Schedule a separate daily meeting between the stakeholder and one developer
Allow it since stakeholder engagement is always beneficial in Scrum
Ask the Product Owner to ban the stakeholder from all Scrum events

Correct answer: Protect the team's Daily Scrum and redirect the stakeholder to the Sprint Review for feedback

The Daily Scrum is for the Developers to inspect and adapt their plan; redirecting stakeholders to the Sprint Review maintains both focus and transparency.

Question 20: A Scrum Master wants to improve their own leadership effectiveness. Which activity is MOST aligned with continuous self-improvement as a Scrum Master?

Attending a Scrum certification exam annually to re-validate their credentials
Reading the Scrum Guide once per year to stay current with the framework
Seeking peer feedback, experimenting with new facilitation techniques, and reflecting on outcomes (Correct answer)
Shadowing other Scrum Masters to replicate their exact facilitation style

Correct answer: Seeking peer feedback, experimenting with new facilitation techniques, and reflecting on outcomes

Actively seeking feedback and experimenting reflects the same inspect-and-adapt empiricism the Scrum Master models for their teams.

Question 21: A Product Owner receives conflicting feature requests from two major stakeholder groups. What is the BEST approach?

Let the Development Team decide which features to build based on technical merit
Build both sets of features simultaneously to satisfy everyone
Facilitate a conversation between stakeholder groups using data and the Product Goal to guide decisions (Correct answer)
Escalate to management to resolve the conflict without involving stakeholders

Correct answer: Facilitate a conversation between stakeholder groups using data and the Product Goal to guide decisions

The Product Owner is responsible for managing stakeholder relationships and using the Product Goal as an objective lens to navigate conflicting priorities.

Question 22: The Product Owner is primarily accountable for which of the following?

Maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. (Correct answer)
Managing the Developers and ensuring they complete all forecasted work.
The Scrum Team's effectiveness and continuous improvement.
Facilitating all Scrum events and ensuring they are positive and productive.

Correct answer: Maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team.

The Scrum Guide clearly defines the Product Owner's primary accountability: 'The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team.' The other options describe accountabilities of the Scrum Master or outdated concepts of management.

Question 23: How should the Scrum Master handle a situation where the Sprint Review becomes a one-way presentation instead of a collaborative working session?

Facilitate interactive activities, demonstrations, and open Q&A to make the Sprint Review a genuine two-way inspection and feedback session (Correct answer)
Allow it since stakeholders prefer passive presentations
Replace the Sprint Review with a written report distributed to stakeholders
Limit attendees to only the Product Owner and Development Team to avoid one-way dynamics

Correct answer: Facilitate interactive activities, demonstrations, and open Q&A to make the Sprint Review a genuine two-way inspection and feedback session

The Sprint Review should be a collaborative working session, not a gate or one-way presentation; the Scrum Master facilitates engagement and active inspection.

Question 24: A newly formed Scrum Team struggles with estimating work and frequently fails to meet Sprint Goals. What coaching stance should the Scrum Master take?

Estimate the work for the team based on historical data from other teams
Facilitate discussions about past Sprints to help the team empirically improve their forecasting over time (Correct answer)
Remove Sprint Goals until the team becomes more experienced
Extend the Sprint length to give the team more buffer time

Correct answer: Facilitate discussions about past Sprints to help the team empirically improve their forecasting over time

The Scrum Master should help the team use empiricism by inspecting past results and adapting their forecasting approach rather than removing goals or doing the work for them.

Question 25: A conflict arises between two Development Team members over technical design choices. The conflict is affecting team collaboration. What is the Scrum Master's BEST response?

Make the technical decision yourself to resolve the conflict quickly
Escalate the conflict to the Product Owner to decide
Separate the two members into different work streams to avoid further conflict
Facilitate a structured conversation where both members can express concerns and find common ground (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Facilitate a structured conversation where both members can express concerns and find common ground

A Scrum Master facilitates conflict resolution by creating a safe space for dialogue, helping the team reach their own resolution rather than imposing a solution.

Question 26: A newly formed Scrum Team is unsure what to discuss during the Daily Scrum. Which guidance should the Scrum Master offer?

The Scrum Master should lead the Daily Scrum and assign tasks to each team member daily
Each developer must answer three fixed questions: what did you do yesterday, what will you do today, and are there any blockers
The Daily Scrum is flexible; the team should use it to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt their plan for the next 24 hours (Correct answer)
The team should use the Daily Scrum to report progress percentages for each backlog item

Correct answer: The Daily Scrum is flexible; the team should use it to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt their plan for the next 24 hours

The 2020 Scrum Guide removed the three fixed questions; the Daily Scrum's purpose is to inspect Sprint Goal progress and adapt the plan, using whatever structure helps the team.

Question 27: An organization wants the Scrum Master to write status reports for senior management. Is this consistent with the Scrum Master role?

Yes, but only monthly reports are appropriate
Yes, reporting to management is a core Scrum Master responsibility
No, the Product Owner is responsible for all management reporting
It depends — the Scrum Master may help improve transparency but is not a status reporter (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It depends — the Scrum Master may help improve transparency but is not a status reporter

The Scrum Master serves the organization by improving transparency but is not primarily a status reporter; this activity should be evaluated for whether it truly serves Scrum adoption.

Question 28: A stakeholder asks why the Scrum Team doesn't produce a detailed project plan at the start. What is the best Scrum-based response?

The Product Owner is responsible for all planning and does so privately
Detailed plans are produced but kept internal to the Scrum Team
Complex work is inherently unpredictable, so Scrum uses iterative planning based on what is learned each Sprint (Correct answer)
Scrum teams are not allowed to plan; they only react to requests

Correct answer: Complex work is inherently unpredictable, so Scrum uses iterative planning based on what is learned each Sprint

Empiricism acknowledges that complex work cannot be fully planned upfront — Scrum uses iterative cycles to progressively discover and plan based on real feedback.

Question 29: Which of the following BEST describes 'value' in the context of Agile product management?

Adherence to the original product roadmap
Financial revenue generated by each release
Outcomes that matter to users, customers, or the business (Correct answer)
The number of story points delivered

Correct answer: Outcomes that matter to users, customers, or the business

Value in Agile means delivering meaningful outcomes for users, customers, and the business, not just completing tasks.

Question 30: During Sprint Planning, the Developers realize they cannot deliver everything the Product Owner wants. What should happen?

The Product Owner forces the Developers to commit to all items
The Sprint is extended to fit all the work
The Developers negotiate with the Product Owner on the scope of the Sprint Backlog (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master removes items from the Sprint Backlog

Correct answer: The Developers negotiate with the Product Owner on the scope of the Sprint Backlog

The Developers and Product Owner collaborate to select an appropriate amount of work that supports the Sprint Goal while remaining feasible.

Question 31: A new stakeholder insists the team should commit to delivering a fixed feature set for the next six months. How does Scrum theory respond to this demand?

Scrum supports this because long-term predictability is a goal
The Scrum Master should negotiate a three-month commitment instead
The team should accept and create a detailed Gantt chart
Scrum theory suggests that such long-range commitments undermine empiricism by eliminating the ability to adapt based on new learning (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Scrum theory suggests that such long-range commitments undermine empiricism by eliminating the ability to adapt based on new learning

Locking in a fixed feature set far into the future prevents adaptation based on inspection, violating the empirical principles at Scrum's core.

Question 32: During the Sprint Retrospective, the team discovers the Definition of Done is inadequate. What should they do?

Ask the Product Owner to update it after the Retrospective
Update the Definition of Done at the next Sprint Planning
Leave it unchanged until the end of the release
Update the Definition of Done during the Retrospective itself (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Update the Definition of Done during the Retrospective itself

The Sprint Retrospective is the right time to identify and commit to improvements, including updating the Definition of Done.

Question 33: During a Sprint Retrospective, team members are reluctant to speak openly because the manager is in the room. What should the Scrum Master do?

Politely ask the manager to leave and explain that the Retrospective is a safe space for the Scrum Team only (Correct answer)
Ask the manager to take notes and share them with the broader organization
Proceed normally since transparency is required regardless of who attends
Cancel the Retrospective and reschedule when the manager is unavailable

Correct answer: Politely ask the manager to leave and explain that the Retrospective is a safe space for the Scrum Team only

The Sprint Retrospective requires psychological safety; the Scrum Master should protect the team's safe space by facilitating without uninvited observers who could inhibit honest feedback.

Question 34: Which accountability in Scrum is responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team?

The Developers
The project sponsor
The Product Owner (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master

Correct answer: The Product Owner

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product and managing the Product Backlog.

Question 35: What is the relationship between the Sprint Goal and the Sprint Backlog Items?

They are independent and unrelated
Sprint Backlog Items define the Sprint Goal
Sprint Backlog Items are selected to achieve the Sprint Goal (Correct answer)
The Sprint Goal is derived from all Sprint Backlog Items combined

Correct answer: Sprint Backlog Items are selected to achieve the Sprint Goal

Sprint Backlog Items are chosen because they contribute to achieving the Sprint Goal established during Sprint Planning.

Question 36: Who keeps an eye on job progress throughout a Sprint?

The Product Owner
The Project Manager
None of the Above (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master

Correct answer: None of the Above

Managing, carrying out, and keeping an eye on the Sprint plan are the Developers' responsibilities. In the Sprint Backlog, this strategy is made clear.

Question 37: A stakeholder wants to attend the Daily Scrum to understand the team's progress. How should the Scrum Master respond?

Explain that the Daily Scrum is for the Developers and invite the stakeholder to observe without disrupting (Correct answer)
Allow the stakeholder to attend and participate actively in the discussion
Ask the Product Owner to provide a separate status update instead
Deny all external attendance to protect the team

Correct answer: Explain that the Daily Scrum is for the Developers and invite the stakeholder to observe without disrupting

The Daily Scrum is for the Developers, but others may attend as observers as long as they do not disrupt the event.

Question 38: During a Sprint Review, the Product Owner announces a major market shift that invalidates half the Sprint's work. What should the Scrum Master facilitate next?

Facilitate a discussion between stakeholders and the Development Team to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog accordingly (Correct answer)
End the Sprint Review early and start a new Sprint immediately
Have the Development Team defend their completed work before accepting any changes
Postpone the Sprint Review until the Product Owner has a revised plan

Correct answer: Facilitate a discussion between stakeholders and the Development Team to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog accordingly

The Sprint Review is an inspect-and-adapt event; the Scrum Master should facilitate open dialogue so stakeholders and the team can examine what was built and update the backlog to reflect new reality.

Question 39: During a Sprint, the Developers realize that a new technical task is necessary to achieve the Sprint Goal. Who is accountable for adding this work to the Sprint Backlog?

The entire Scrum Team must agree before any changes are made.
The Developers. (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master, as they must remove impediments.
The Product Owner, as they manage the backlog.

Correct answer: The Developers.

The Sprint Backlog is a plan by and for the Developers. They are accountable for managing their work within the Sprint. While they must keep the Sprint Goal in mind, the Developers have the authority and accountability to adapt the Sprint Backlog as they learn more throughout the Sprint.

Question 40: What distinguishes a 'complex' problem domain from a 'complicated' one, and why does this matter for Scrum?

Complex problems have known solutions; complicated ones do not
Complex and complicated are synonyms in the Scrum context
Complex problems are solved by adding more people; Scrum limits team size instead
Complex problems have unknown solutions requiring experimentation; Scrum is optimized for this environment (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Complex problems have unknown solutions requiring experimentation; Scrum is optimized for this environment

Complex problems (like innovative product development) have emergent solutions that can't be fully predicted — Scrum's empirical cycles are designed precisely for this environment.

Question 41: In Scrum, who is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team?

The Developers
The Product Owner (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master
The CEO or product sponsor

Correct answer: The Product Owner

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team, primarily through effective Product Backlog management.

Question 42: How long is the timebox for a Sprint Retrospective in a two-week Sprint?

30 minutes
No more than 1.5 hours
3 hours (Correct answer)
1 hour

Correct answer: 3 hours

For a two-week Sprint, the Sprint Retrospective is timeboxed to a maximum of three hours.

Question 43: What happens at the end of a Sprint if the Increment does not meet the Definition of Done?

The Product Owner accepts partial credit and the team moves on
The incomplete work is returned to the Product Backlog for future consideration (Correct answer)
The Sprint is extended until the work meets the Definition of Done
The Scrum Master decides whether to release the Increment anyway

Correct answer: The incomplete work is returned to the Product Backlog for future consideration

Work that does not meet the Definition of Done cannot be released or presented at Sprint Review as Done. It returns to the Product Backlog, where the Product Owner may re-order it for a future Sprint.

Question 44: A new Scrum Master joins an organization where teams use Scrum terminology but follow a rigid, phase-gated process. What is the Scrum Master's primary responsibility in this situation?

Redefine Scrum to match the organization's current process so the terminology is consistent
Adopt the existing process to avoid disrupting established workflows
Report the non-compliance to the Scrum Alliance immediately
Help the organization understand and implement Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide, coaching toward empiricism and agility (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Help the organization understand and implement Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide, coaching toward empiricism and agility

The Scrum Master serves the organization by leading and coaching it in Scrum adoption. When organizations use Scrum in name only, the Scrum Master must educate, coach, and influence change toward true empirical process control.

Question 45: During the Sprint Review, who should attend?

Only the Developers and the Scrum Master
Only the Scrum Team and the Product Owner
The Scrum Team and key stakeholders invited by the Product Owner (Correct answer)
The Scrum Team, all stakeholders, and senior management

Correct answer: The Scrum Team and key stakeholders invited by the Product Owner

The Sprint Review is attended by the entire Scrum Team and key stakeholders invited by the Product Owner. It is a collaborative working session to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog.

Question 46: A stakeholder demands a detailed Gantt chart with fixed delivery dates for all planned features. How should the Product Owner respond?

Create a Gantt chart immediately since stakeholder satisfaction is paramount
Explain that Scrum uses empirical planning and offer a transparent Product Backlog with forecasts instead (Correct answer)
Escalate the request to the Scrum Master to handle
Refuse entirely and explain that Scrum produces no planning documentation

Correct answer: Explain that Scrum uses empirical planning and offer a transparent Product Backlog with forecasts instead

Scrum embraces empiricism over fixed plans; the Product Owner should educate stakeholders on empirical forecasting while offering transparency through a well-maintained, ordered Product Backlog.

Question 47: When coaching a new Scrum Team, the Scrum Master observes that team members are waiting for tasks to be assigned rather than self-organizing. What is the FIRST thing the Scrum Master should do?

Facilitate a discussion to help the team understand what self-organization means and its benefits (Correct answer)
Escalate to HR that the team lacks initiative
Assign tasks for the current Sprint to model expected behavior
Restructure the team to include only experienced Scrum practitioners

Correct answer: Facilitate a discussion to help the team understand what self-organization means and its benefits

Coaching begins with building understanding; facilitating dialogue about self-organization helps the team discover how and why to self-manage.

Question 48: A Product Owner is managing a product with high uncertainty. Which approach BEST fits Agile product management principles?

Create a detailed two-year roadmap and stick to it
Delegate all prioritization decisions to the development team
Use short feedback loops, frequent releases, and data to guide decisions (Correct answer)
Avoid releasing until the product is fully built to reduce risk

Correct answer: Use short feedback loops, frequent releases, and data to guide decisions

Agile product management thrives on short cycles, frequent releases, and data-driven decisions to reduce risk in uncertain environments.

Question 49: The CEO demands that the Scrum Master add a ninth developer to the Scrum Team mid-Sprint. How should the Scrum Master respond?

Refuse and cite the Scrum Guide's team size limit
Ask the Product Owner to make the decision
Add the developer immediately since the CEO outranks the Scrum Master
Coach the CEO on the impact of team changes mid-Sprint and the importance of stable teams (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Coach the CEO on the impact of team changes mid-Sprint and the importance of stable teams

The Scrum Master should coach organizational leaders on how changes during a Sprint can disrupt focus and reduce effectiveness.

Question 50: A Scrum Team is holding its Sprint Review. The Product Owner has invited key stakeholders to attend. What is the primary focus of this event?

For the team to reflect on the past Sprint, identify what went well and what didn't, and create a plan for process improvements.
To provide a status report to the stakeholders and secure their approval for the work completed.
To demonstrate the Increment and for the Scrum Team and stakeholders to inspect the outcome of the Sprint and adapt the Product Backlog. (Correct answer)
For the Scrum Master to facilitate a session on how the team can improve its processes and increase velocity in the next Sprint.

Correct answer: To demonstrate the Increment and for the Scrum Team and stakeholders to inspect the outcome of the Sprint and adapt the Product Backlog.

The purpose of the Sprint Review is to inspect the outcome of the Sprint and determine future adaptations. The Scrum Team presents the results of their work to key stakeholders, and progress toward the Product Goal is discussed. It is a working session, not just a presentation, where collaboration and feedback on the Increment lead to adapting the Product Backlog.

Question 51: Which of the following best illustrates the Scrum value of 'focus'?

The Scrum Master focuses on reporting progress to management
Developers concentrate on the Sprint Goal and do not add unplanned work (Correct answer)
The Product Owner focuses solely on technical architecture decisions
The Scrum Team works on multiple projects simultaneously to maximize efficiency

Correct answer: Developers concentrate on the Sprint Goal and do not add unplanned work

Focus means the Scrum Team concentrates on the Sprint Goal and the work of the current Sprint rather than spreading attention across many things.

Question 52: How should a Scrum Master respond when a manager wants to assign specific tasks to individual Developers?

Escalate the issue to the Product Owner
Allow it since the manager has organizational authority
Coach the manager on Scrum principles of self-management (Correct answer)
Ignore the request and continue as normal

Correct answer: Coach the manager on Scrum principles of self-management

The Scrum Master should coach the manager that Developers are self-managing and internally decide who does what, when, and how.

Question 53: The Scrum Team has been unable to achieve the Sprint Goal for two consecutive Sprints. What is the most appropriate action?

Inspect and adapt in the Sprint Retrospective to identify and resolve root causes (Correct answer)
Remove the Sprint Goal requirement for future Sprints
Extend Sprint length to give the team more time
Cancel all remaining Sprints and replan the project

Correct answer: Inspect and adapt in the Sprint Retrospective to identify and resolve root causes

The Sprint Retrospective is the dedicated event for inspecting the team's practices and adapting to improve future performance.

Question 54: Why does Scrum Theory emphasize that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is observed?

Because stakeholders are unreliable sources of requirements
Because documentation is not valued in Scrum
Because Scrum Teams lack the skills for upfront planning
Because complex work cannot be fully predicted upfront and requires iterative learning (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Because complex work cannot be fully predicted upfront and requires iterative learning

Complex work is inherently unpredictable, so Scrum uses empiricism to navigate uncertainty through iterative cycles of trying, observing, and adjusting.

Question 55: Who has the authority to modify the Sprint Backlog?

The Developers (Correct answer)
The Product Owner
Stakeholders
The Scrum Master

Correct answer: The Developers

The Scrum Guide states that "The Sprint Backlog is a plan by and for the Developers."

Question 56: Which of the following best describes Product Backlog refinement?

An ongoing activity where the team adds detail, estimates, and orders backlog items (Correct answer)
A one-time activity that occurs during initial project planning
A meeting run by the Scrum Master to groom the backlog weekly
A formal Scrum event held at the end of each Sprint

Correct answer: An ongoing activity where the team adds detail, estimates, and orders backlog items

Product Backlog refinement is a continuous activity — not a formal Scrum event — where items are broken down and clarified to prepare them for future Sprints.

Question 57: A Product Owner refuses to share product metrics with the Scrum Team, claiming they are confidential. How does this affect empiricism?

It only affects the Sprint Review, not other Scrum events
It reduces transparency, preventing the team from making informed decisions during inspection and adaptation events (Correct answer)
It has no effect because metrics are the Product Owner's responsibility alone
It is acceptable as long as the team can still estimate story points

Correct answer: It reduces transparency, preventing the team from making informed decisions during inspection and adaptation events

Withholding metrics reduces transparency, undermining the team's ability to inspect real outcomes and make evidence-based adaptations to the product or process.

Question 58: A Scrum Team is working in a domain where requirements change frequently and outcomes are hard to predict. Why is Scrum particularly well-suited for this context?

Scrum's fixed roles eliminate the need for project managers
Scrum reduces complexity by breaking work into small tasks
Scrum's empirical approach embraces uncertainty by enabling frequent inspection and adaptation (Correct answer)
Scrum guarantees delivery of all features within the agreed timeline

Correct answer: Scrum's empirical approach embraces uncertainty by enabling frequent inspection and adaptation

Scrum is designed for complex domains where empiricism — learning through doing and adjusting — is more effective than attempting to plan everything in advance.

Question 59: What is the key difference between the Sprint Review and the Sprint Retrospective?

The Sprint Review is focused on inspecting the product Increment with stakeholders, while the Sprint Retrospective is focused on inspecting the team's process and ways of working. (Correct answer)
The Sprint Review is an informal meeting for the Developers only, while the Sprint Retrospective is a formal meeting for all stakeholders.
The Sprint Review's output is an updated Sprint Backlog, while the Sprint Retrospective's output is a report for management.
The Sprint Review happens at the beginning of the Sprint to plan the work, while the Sprint Retrospective happens at the end to review the work.

Correct answer: The Sprint Review is focused on inspecting the product Increment with stakeholders, while the Sprint Retrospective is focused on inspecting the team's process and ways of working.

The Sprint Review focuses on the 'what'—the product Increment that was built—and involves stakeholder collaboration. In contrast, the Sprint Retrospective focuses on the 'how'—the Scrum Team's interactions, processes, and tools—and is an internal event for the Scrum Team to create a plan for improvement.

Question 60: The Scrum Master notices the team frequently skips the Sprint Retrospective to meet delivery pressure. What should the Scrum Master do?

Schedule the retrospective after the next Sprint Planning instead
Help the team understand the value of continuous improvement and protect the Retrospective (Correct answer)
Remind the team that retrospectives are optional when under pressure
Allow it since delivery is the top priority

Correct answer: Help the team understand the value of continuous improvement and protect the Retrospective

The Scrum Master is accountable for ensuring Scrum events occur as prescribed and helps the team understand their importance for long-term effectiveness.

Question 61: Which of the following is NOT an accountability of the Product Owner?

Managing the Developers' daily work (Correct answer)
Ensuring Product Backlog items are transparent and understood
Ordering the Product Backlog
Maximizing the value of the product

Correct answer: Managing the Developers' daily work

Managing Developers' daily work is not a Product Owner accountability; Developers are self-managing and organize their own work.

Question 62: What is the primary outcome expected from the Sprint Retrospective?

An updated Definition of Done
At least one actionable improvement for the next Sprint (Correct answer)
A prioritized Product Backlog
A stakeholder satisfaction report

Correct answer: At least one actionable improvement for the next Sprint

The Scrum Team identifies improvements and commits to implementing at least one in the next Sprint.

Question 63: During Sprint Review stakeholders provide no feedback and simply approve everything presented. How should the Scrum Master coach the team to improve this situation?

Prepare targeted questions and interactive demonstrations that invite stakeholder engagement and feedback (Correct answer)
Send stakeholders a written report instead of holding the Sprint Review
Stop inviting stakeholders since they do not add value to the event
Accept the approval and move on since no feedback means the team is doing well

Correct answer: Prepare targeted questions and interactive demonstrations that invite stakeholder engagement and feedback

The Scrum Master should help the team create an interactive Sprint Review that actively solicits meaningful stakeholder feedback through demonstrations questions and collaboration.

Question 64: If one of the three pillars of empiricism (Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation) is weak or missing, what is the likely outcome?

The other two pillars will become stronger to compensate for the weakness.
The value delivered will be diminished, and risk will increase. (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master's role becomes unnecessary.
The Scrum Team will deliver value more efficiently as there are fewer rules to follow.

Correct answer: The value delivered will be diminished, and risk will increase.

The three pillars of empiricism are interdependent. Transparency enables true inspection. Inspection without transparency is misleading. Inspection without adaptation is pointless. If any pillar is weak, the empirical process breaks down, leading to poor decisions, increased risk, and a lower likelihood of delivering a valuable product.

Question 65: A new Scrum Team has no organizational Definition of Done. Who creates it?

The Scrum Master alone
The Product Owner alone
The organization's QA department
The Scrum Team collaboratively (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Scrum Team collaboratively

When no organizational standard exists, the Scrum Team must create a Definition of Done appropriate for their product.

Question 66: An organization mandates that Scrum Teams must follow a detailed, prescribed process for every type of task. How does this conflict with Scrum theory?

There is no conflict; Scrum is compatible with fully defined processes
It only conflicts if the prescribed process takes longer than two weeks
It undermines empiricism by removing the team's ability to inspect outcomes and adapt their process based on what they learn (Correct answer)
It conflicts because Scrum requires teams to work without any process

Correct answer: It undermines empiricism by removing the team's ability to inspect outcomes and adapt their process based on what they learn

Rigid prescribed processes eliminate the inspection-and-adaptation loop that empiricism depends on, making it impossible for teams to improve based on real-world outcomes.

Question 67: A Scrum Master wants to help the team improve its estimation accuracy. Which coaching approach is MOST consistent with Scrum values?

Facilitate team reflection on past estimates versus actuals and coach the team to refine its estimation technique collaboratively (Correct answer)
Replace relative estimation with time-based estimates to improve precision
Require the team to use story points and set a minimum velocity target
Assign estimation tasks to the most experienced team member for accuracy

Correct answer: Facilitate team reflection on past estimates versus actuals and coach the team to refine its estimation technique collaboratively

Coaching teams to reflect on their own estimation history and refine their approach builds sustainable capability aligned with Scrum's empirical principles.

Question 68: An organization has multiple Scrum Teams working on the same product. How many Definitions of Done should exist?

One shared Definition of Done for all teams on the product (Correct answer)
One per Scrum Team
Each team decides independently with no coordination
One per Sprint

Correct answer: One shared Definition of Done for all teams on the product

Multiple teams on the same product must share a single Definition of Done so their Increments can be combined into a coherent whole.

Question 69: A Scrum Master notices that the Daily Scrum consistently runs 20–25 minutes. What is the most appropriate action?

Allow extra time since thorough discussion is valuable
Remove the Daily Scrum from the schedule since it is not working
Assign a timekeeper from management to enforce the timebox
Coach the Development Team on techniques to keep it within the 15-minute timebox (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Coach the Development Team on techniques to keep it within the 15-minute timebox

The Daily Scrum is timeboxed to 15 minutes; the Scrum Master's role is to coach the team on self-managing within that constraint.

Question 70: A Scrum Master notices that the team skips creating a Sprint Goal during Sprint Planning. What is the impact of this?

The Sprint will automatically fail without a Sprint Goal
No impact, since the Sprint Goal is optional in Scrum
The Product Owner cannot prioritize the Product Backlog
The team loses a shared objective that provides focus and flexibility in choosing what work to do (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The team loses a shared objective that provides focus and flexibility in choosing what work to do

The Sprint Goal gives the team coherence and purpose, allowing flexibility in how they achieve the objective rather than treating the Sprint Backlog as a fixed list.

Question 71: The Scrum Team is working in a new domain and lacks domain expertise. Who is responsible for ensuring they acquire the necessary knowledge?

The organization must hire domain experts to join the team
The Product Owner must transfer domain knowledge to Developers
The Developers are responsible for acquiring the skills and knowledge they need (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master must arrange training for the team

Correct answer: The Developers are responsible for acquiring the skills and knowledge they need

Developers are accountable for being cross-functional, which includes acquiring or developing the domain knowledge necessary to create a valuable Increment.

Question 72: A Scrum Team's Definition of Done does not meet the organization's compliance standards. Who is responsible for resolving this?

The Product Owner negotiates with compliance to reduce standards
The Scrum Team collectively adopts the organizational Definition of Done as a minimum (Correct answer)
The Developers must create a Definition of Done that meets organizational standards
The Scrum Master updates the Definition of Done to meet standards

Correct answer: The Scrum Team collectively adopts the organizational Definition of Done as a minimum

When the organization has a Definition of Done, all Scrum Teams must use it as a minimum; if none exists, Developers create one appropriate for the product.

Question 73: The product backlog is best described by which of the following?

All the features that developers are currently working on
All the features that need to be developed to improve the project (Correct answer)
All the features that have been completed
All the use cases that were not completed in the previous Sprint and are now backlogged

Correct answer: All the features that need to be developed to improve the project

The Scrum Guide refers to the product backlog as "an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product." It is a list of all the items that are still in development.

Question 74: Who is responsible for managing the Sprint Backlog during the Sprint?

The Scrum Master
The entire Scrum Team
The Product Owner
The Developers (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Developers

The Developers own the Sprint Backlog and are solely responsible for managing it throughout the Sprint.

Question 75: An Increment must be usable. What does 'usable' mean in the context of Scrum?

It has been approved by the Product Owner
It has been tested by an external QA team
It meets the Definition of Done and can potentially be released (Correct answer)
It has been demonstrated at the Sprint Review

Correct answer: It meets the Definition of Done and can potentially be released

An Increment is usable when it meets the Definition of Done, making it potentially releasable regardless of whether the Product Owner chooses to release it.

Question 76: A stakeholder asks a Developer directly to add an urgent feature during the current Sprint. What should happen?

The team should hold an emergency Sprint Review
The Developer should add it immediately to satisfy the stakeholder
The Scrum Master should reject the request on behalf of the team
The Developer should direct the stakeholder to the Product Owner to discuss prioritization (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Developer should direct the stakeholder to the Product Owner to discuss prioritization

Product Backlog ordering is the Product Owner's accountability, so stakeholder requests for new work should be directed to the Product Owner for prioritization decisions.

Question 77: A Product Owner is being pressured by stakeholders to provide a fixed-scope, fixed-date release plan for the next six months. As a Scrum Master, how would you coach the Product Owner to respond in a way that aligns with Scrum and empiricism?

Work with the Product Owner to create a forecast based on the team's current velocity and the state of the Product Backlog, while clearly communicating that this is a projection, not a guarantee, and will be adapted based on what is learned each Sprint. (Correct answer)
Tell the stakeholders that their request is against Scrum rules and direct them to read the Scrum Guide.
Agree to the request and create a detailed Gantt chart to satisfy the stakeholders.
Explain that forecasting is impossible in Scrum and refuse to provide any long-term outlook.

Correct answer: Work with the Product Owner to create a forecast based on the team's current velocity and the state of the Product Backlog, while clearly communicating that this is a projection, not a guarantee, and will be adapted based on what is learned each Sprint.

Scrum operates on empiricism, acknowledging that more is unknown than known at the start of a project. While fixed guarantees are not compatible with this approach, forecasting is. A Scrum Master should coach the Product Owner to use empirical data (like velocity) to create a forecast, while emphasizing that the plan is emergent and will be adapted as new knowledge is gained through inspection of the Increments.

Question 78: What is the Scrum Team's responsibility regarding the Product Goal?

The Product Goal is set by stakeholders and presented to the team as a directive
The Scrum Master sets the Product Goal independently of the team
Only the Product Owner needs to understand the Product Goal
The entire Scrum Team should understand and work toward the Product Goal (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The entire Scrum Team should understand and work toward the Product Goal

The Product Goal is a commitment for the entire Scrum Team, providing shared purpose and context for all Sprint Goals and Increments.

Question 79: How should a Scrum Team handle work that emerges during a Sprint that was not anticipated in Sprint Planning?

The Scrum Master decides whether the new work fits within the Sprint
Developers negotiate with the Product Owner and may add it to the Sprint Backlog if aligned with the Sprint Goal (Correct answer)
The Product Owner adds the work to the Sprint Backlog if it supports the Sprint Goal
All new work must wait until the next Sprint Planning event

Correct answer: Developers negotiate with the Product Owner and may add it to the Sprint Backlog if aligned with the Sprint Goal

Developers collaborate with the Product Owner to incorporate unplanned work into the Sprint Backlog when it aligns with and supports the Sprint Goal.

Question 80: To whom does the Scrum Master need to report?

The Lead Scrum Master
The Agile Coach
None of the above (Correct answer)
The Project Manager

Correct answer: None of the above

Scrum is a simple framework that aids in producing value by providing adaptable solutions to challenging issues. It offers no guidelines for creating the organizational structure.

Professional Scrum Master (PSM) Exam

The Professional Scrum Master (PSM) exam validates understanding of the Scrum framework and its application.

Questions

60 min

Time Limit

85%

To Pass

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