PSM I Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Scrum's rules are designed to do what with relationships and interactions?

Eliminate them
Standardize all of them rigidly
Replace them with documentation
Guide them (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Guide them

Scrum's rules guide the relationships and interactions among roles, events, and artifacts.

Question 2: What happens to the time-box if the Scrum Team finishes a Daily Scrum in 8 minutes?

They must continue until 15 minutes
They restart the meeting
They add new agenda items to fill time
The event ends; 15 minutes is a maximum (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The event ends; 15 minutes is a maximum

The 15-minute time-box is a maximum, so finishing early is acceptable.

Question 3: The Product Goal changes significantly. What is the impact on the Sprint in progress?

The Sprint may continue, but a Sprint becomes obsolete only if its goal is no longer valid, allowing cancellation (Correct answer)
All Increments are immediately deleted
The Definition of Done must be rewritten
The Scrum Master takes over the backlog

Correct answer: The Sprint may continue, but a Sprint becomes obsolete only if its goal is no longer valid, allowing cancellation

A Sprint can be cancelled if its Sprint Goal becomes obsolete, a decision only the Product Owner can make.

Question 4: Is the Daily Scrum the only time Developers can adjust their plan during a Sprint?

Yes, changes are only allowed then
Yes, unless the Scrum Master agrees
No, only the Product Owner can adjust it
No, Developers can adjust their plan at any point during the Sprint (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No, Developers can adjust their plan at any point during the Sprint

The Daily Scrum is not the only time to adjust the plan; Developers can meet and adapt throughout the day.

Question 5: What happens to inspection and adaptation when the Scrum values are NOT lived by the team?

They are unaffected by team behavior
They become less effective because trust erodes (Correct answer)
They become automatic and require no values
They are replaced by velocity tracking

Correct answer: They become less effective because trust erodes

Without the values, the trust needed for honest inspection and adaptation breaks down.

Question 6: During the Daily Scrum, who is the primary audience and owner of the event?

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

Correct answer: The Developers

The Daily Scrum is for the Developers to inspect progress and plan the next day's work.

Question 7: Which set correctly lists all five Scrum values?

Focus, Accountability, Transparency, Respect, Courage
Commitment, Velocity, Openness, Respect, Discipline
Trust, Honesty, Speed, Quality, Teamwork
Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, Courage (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, Courage

The Scrum Guide defines the five values as Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, and Courage.

Question 8: During the Sprint Review, who is encouraged to attend besides the Scrum Team?

Only executives
Key stakeholders invited by the Product Owner (Correct answer)
Only the Scrum Master's manager
No one outside the team

Correct answer: Key stakeholders invited by the Product Owner

The Product Owner invites key stakeholders to collaborate on what to do next.

Question 9: Why is a single Sprint Goal preferred over multiple unrelated goals in one Sprint?

It eliminates the need for a Product Owner
It provides focus and encourages the team to work together rather than on separate initiatives (Correct answer)
It reduces the number of meetings
It guarantees higher velocity

Correct answer: It provides focus and encourages the team to work together rather than on separate initiatives

A single coherent Sprint Goal fosters focus and collaboration toward one objective.

Question 10: A Scrum Team is working on a complex new product. Midway through a Sprint, the Developers realize they will not be able to complete all the work in the Sprint Backlog. As the Scrum Master, what is the best course of action?

Cancel the Sprint and start a new one with a more realistic scope.
Coach the Developers to work with the Product Owner to adjust the work and ensure the Sprint Goal can still be met. (Correct answer)
Add more developers to the team to increase capacity for the remainder of the Sprint.
Ask the Product Owner to remove some of the Product Backlog Items from the Sprint.

Correct answer: Coach the Developers to work with the Product Owner to adjust the work and ensure the Sprint Goal can still be met.

The Scrum Team is self-managing. The most appropriate action is for the Scrum Master to coach the Developers to collaborate with the Product Owner. Their goal should be to negotiate the scope of the Sprint Backlog to best achieve the Sprint Goal. The Sprint Goal's integrity should not be endangered.

Question 11: If two backlog items have a dependency, how should that affect ordering?

The dependent item must always be first
Both must be done in the same Sprint by rule
Dependencies are ignored in ordering
The prerequisite item should generally be ordered earlier (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The prerequisite item should generally be ordered earlier

Dependencies are one factor the Product Owner weighs when ordering for value and flow.

Question 12: The Product Owner manages the Product Backlog. Which activity is NOT part of that responsibility?

Ensuring the backlog is transparent and understood
Estimating each item's effort personally (Correct answer)
Developing and communicating the Product Goal
Ordering Product Backlog items

Correct answer: Estimating each item's effort personally

The Developers are responsible for sizing/estimating work, not the Product Owner.

Question 13: Who can the Product Owner consult to understand the value of backlog items?

Only the Scrum Master
No one, decisions are made in isolation
Stakeholders and the Scrum Team (Correct answer)
Only senior management

Correct answer: Stakeholders and the Scrum Team

The Product Owner represents stakeholders and collaborates to maximize value.

Question 14: Who is responsible for facilitating the Daily Scrum?

A line manager
The Scrum Master alone
The Product Owner
The Developers (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Developers

The Daily Scrum is held by the Developers, who own and run the event.

Question 15: A Scrum Master should foster an environment where the Developers feel safe to:

Raise problems and admit mistakes openly (Correct answer)
Work in isolation without collaboration
Skip events they dislike
Avoid all difficult conversations

Correct answer: Raise problems and admit mistakes openly

Psychological safety enables transparency, learning, and continuous improvement.

Question 16: Which of the following would you consider the most unethical in Scrum software development? <br> (Choose the two best responses)

A development team releasing software that potentially exposes customer data, because the Product Owner and stakeholders estimate the organizational risk of not releasing to be far greater. (Correct answer)
A Scrum Team using KanBan to visualize the cycle time of their work and impose Work in Progress limits.
A Scrum Team committing to a deadline when many unknowns exist. (Correct answer)
A Product Owner not ordering the Product Backlog by highest value or priority.
A development team mid-sprint refusing to add work to the Sprint Backlog.

Correct answer: A development team releasing software that potentially exposes customer data, because the Product Owner and stakeholders estimate the organizational risk of not releasing to be far greater.

Releasing software that potentially exposes customer data is a severe ethical breach, prioritizing organizational risk over customer security and trust. Scrum emphasizes transparency and adaptation, but these principles must operate within a strong ethical framework that protects users. Deliberately compromising data security is fundamentally unethical and goes against the professional responsibility of any development team.

Question 17: The Scrum Guide defines three distinct topics that Sprint Planning addresses to lay out the work to be performed. What are these three topics?

Why is this Sprint valuable? What can be Done this Sprint? How will the chosen work get done? (Correct answer)
What is the Product Goal? Who are the stakeholders? What are the key risks?
How many story points will be completed? Which tasks are assigned to each Developer? What is the team's velocity?
What is the release date? How will we report progress? What is the budget?

Correct answer: Why is this Sprint valuable? What can be Done this Sprint? How will the chosen work get done?

The 2020 Scrum Guide structures Sprint Planning around three core topics: Topic One: Why is this Sprint valuable? (leading to the Sprint Goal), Topic Two: What can be Done this Sprint? (the selection of Product Backlog Items), and Topic Three: How will the chosen work get done? (the Developers' plan for creating the Increment).

Question 18: What is the maximum length of a Sprint in Scrum?

Three months
Six weeks
One week
One month (Correct answer)

Correct answer: One month

Sprints are fixed-length events of one month or less.

Question 19: Cross-functionality of the Scrum Team means the team can do what?

Avoid specialization entirely
Rely on outside teams for testing
Skip the Definition of Done
Create value without depending on others outside the team (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Create value without depending on others outside the team

Cross-functional teams have all competencies needed to create value without depending on others not part of the team.

Question 20: For a Product Owner to be successful, the Scrum Guide states that the entire organization must respect their what?

Project management certifications.
Decisions. (Correct answer)
Technical expertise.
Seniority within the company.

Correct answer: Decisions.

The Scrum Guide explicitly states, 'For Product Owners to succeed, the entire organization must respect their decisions.' These decisions are made visible in the content and ordering of the Product Backlog and the state of the Increment at the Sprint Review. This respect empowers the Product Owner to make choices that maximize product value.

Question 21: Can a Scrum Master also work on a Scrum Team as a Developer?

B) Yes (Correct answer)
A) No

Correct answer: B) Yes

The Scrum Guide does not prohibit a Scrum Master from also acting as a Developer on the same Scrum Team. While it can present challenges in maintaining focus and avoiding conflicts of interest, it is technically permissible. If a Scrum Master takes on both roles, they must ensure they can effectively fulfill the responsibilities of both without compromising the team's agility or their servant-leader stance.

Question 22: The Scrum Values exist primarily to strengthen what?

Stakeholder contracts
The product roadmap
Trust and the empirical pillars (Correct answer)
Velocity metrics

Correct answer: Trust and the empirical pillars

Living the values builds trust and brings the pillars of transparency, inspection, and adaptation to life.

Question 23: What is the best way for a Scrum Master to coach a team toward self-management?

Assign a lead Developer to make decisions
Make all decisions to save time
Provide step-by-step instructions for every task
Ask powerful questions and let the team find solutions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ask powerful questions and let the team find solutions

Coaching through questions builds the team's capacity to self-manage rather than depend on the Scrum Master.

Question 24: How are the Developers structured according to the Scrum Guide?

Cross-functional and self-managing (Correct answer)
Led by a single technical lead
Organized by specialized silos
Assigned tasks by the Scrum Master

Correct answer: Cross-functional and self-managing

Developers are cross-functional, meaning they collectively have all skills needed to create value each Sprint.

Question 25: During Sprint Planning, the Developers inform the Product Owner that they have less capacity than expected. How should the Product Owner respond?

Ask the Scrum Master to find additional developers to add to the team for the Sprint.
Insist that the Developers commit to the original forecast to meet stakeholder expectations.
Work with the Developers to renegotiate the scope of the Sprint Backlog, focusing on the highest priority items that contribute to the Sprint Goal. (Correct answer)
Cancel the Sprint and create a new plan once the team's capacity is stable.

Correct answer: Work with the Developers to renegotiate the scope of the Sprint Backlog, focusing on the highest priority items that contribute to the Sprint Goal.

Sprint Planning is a collaborative event. When new information arises, like a change in developer capacity, the Product Owner collaborates with the Developers. They work together to select the most important Product Backlog items that can realistically be completed and still meet a valuable Sprint Goal. The key is to adapt the plan based on the new information.

Question 26: What does it mean that Scrum artifacts are designed to maximize transparency?

They are visible only to managers
They must be locked from changes
Decisions to optimize value and control risk are based on their perceived state (Correct answer)
They replace the need for Scrum events

Correct answer: Decisions to optimize value and control risk are based on their perceived state

Artifacts maximize transparency so that everyone inspecting them has the same basis for decisions to optimize value and control risk.

Question 27: Who is accountable for maximizing the value of the work the Scrum Team performs?

Scrum Master
Developers
Stakeholders
Product Owner (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Product Owner

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the team's work.

Question 28: What should the Developers do with selected items during the 'how' discussion?

Wait for the Product Owner to break them down
Skip decomposition entirely
Assign all tasks to one person
Decompose items into smaller work items as needed (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Decompose items into smaller work items as needed

Developers decompose selected Product Backlog items into smaller work items to create a plan.

Question 29: A team is having difficulty with its effectiveness. They are frequently missing Sprint Goals and interpersonal conflicts are rising. Who is accountable for improving the Scrum Team's effectiveness by enabling them to improve their practices?

An external Agile Coach assigned by management.
The Developers, by holding each other accountable as professionals.
The Product Owner, by refining the Product Backlog better.
The Scrum Master, by coaching the team and helping them improve their practices. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Scrum Master, by coaching the team and helping them improve their practices.

According to the Scrum Guide, '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.' While other members contribute to effectiveness, the Scrum Master holds the specific accountability for it.

Question 30: What happens to a Scrum event if its purpose is achieved before the timebox ends?

The event is rescheduled
Time is added to the next event
The team must wait until the timebox expires
The event can end early (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The event can end early

Events can end as soon as their purpose is achieved; the timebox is a maximum, not a minimum.

Question 31: The Product Goal is described in the Scrum Guide as:

The long-term objective for the Scrum Team in the Product Backlog (Correct answer)
The Definition of Done
A short-term Sprint objective
A list of all release dates

Correct answer: The long-term objective for the Scrum Team in the Product Backlog

The Product Goal is the long-term target the Scrum Team plans against, residing in the Product Backlog.

Question 32: During a Daily Scrum, a Developer explains they have completed their planned task and have no other work assigned from the Sprint Backlog. What is the most appropriate next action for this Developer?

Wait for the Scrum Master to assign them a new task.
Collaborate with other Developers to see how they can best contribute to achieving the Sprint Goal. (Correct answer)
Ask the Product Owner for a new Product Backlog Item to work on.
Start working on items from the next Sprint to get ahead.

Correct answer: Collaborate with other Developers to see how they can best contribute to achieving the Sprint Goal.

The Developers are a self-managing team focused on a collective Sprint Goal. The appropriate action is for the Developer to proactively collaborate with the rest of the team to help with ongoing work, remove impediments, or do whatever is needed to help the team achieve the Sprint Goal together.

Question 33: What is the maximum time-box for the Sprint Review of a one-month Sprint?

8 hours
2 hours
4 hours (Correct answer)
1 hour

Correct answer: 4 hours

The Sprint Review is time-boxed to a maximum of four hours for a one-month Sprint.

Question 34: During Sprint Planning, who selects how many items to bring into the Sprint?

The Developers, through discussion with the Product Owner (Correct answer)
The Product Owner alone
The Scrum Master
The stakeholders

Correct answer: The Developers, through discussion with the Product Owner

The Developers select the items for the Sprint, collaborating with the Product Owner on trade-offs.

Question 35: If a development team produces work that does not meet the Definition of Done, what should happen?

The Definition of Done is lowered to match the work
It is automatically added to the next Sprint Backlog
The work is not part of the Increment and returns to the Product Backlog (Correct answer)
It is released anyway with a warning

Correct answer: The work is not part of the Increment and returns to the Product Backlog

Work that does not meet the Definition of Done cannot be released or presented as part of the Increment and goes back to the Product Backlog.

Question 36: What does the 'why' topic of Sprint Planning produce?

The Sprint Goal (Correct answer)
The Definition of Done
The task board
The release date

Correct answer: The Sprint Goal

Discussing why the Sprint is valuable leads the team to craft the Sprint Goal.

Question 37: Why does Scrum favor an empirical approach over a predictive one?

It eliminates the need for feedback
Complex work is unpredictable and benefits from experience-based decisions (Correct answer)
It guarantees fixed timelines
It requires less planning

Correct answer: Complex work is unpredictable and benefits from experience-based decisions

Empiricism suits complex work where outcomes are best understood through experimentation and feedback.

Question 38: How many distinct accountabilities exist within the Scrum Team?

Three (Correct answer)
One
Two
Four

Correct answer: Three

The Scrum Team comprises three accountabilities: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers.

Question 39: A Developer wants to change a Sprint Backlog item's approach mid-Sprint. Who decides?

Stakeholders vote
The Product Owner must approve
The Scrum Master decides
The Developers self-manage this decision (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Developers self-manage this decision

Developers are self-managing and decide how to turn Product Backlog items into Increments.

Question 40: Which long-term outcome shows a Scrum Master is succeeding?

The team cannot function without the Scrum Master present
The team increasingly self-manages and continuously improves (Correct answer)
Velocity is the only thing that ever changes
The Scrum Master makes every key decision

Correct answer: The team increasingly self-manages and continuously improves

A maturing, self-managing team that continuously improves is the hallmark of effective Scrum Mastery.

Question 41: Who crafts the Sprint Goal?

Management
The whole Scrum Team (Correct answer)
The Product Owner alone
The Scrum Master

Correct answer: The whole Scrum Team

The whole Scrum Team collaborates to craft the Sprint Goal during Sprint Planning.

Question 42: Which empirical process control pillar is upheld by the Sprint Review?

Inspection (Correct answer)
Adaptation
Estimation
Transparency

Correct answer: Inspection

The Sprint Review inspects the Increment and progress toward the Product Goal.

Question 43: How do the Scrum values relate to the Scrum Master's responsibilities?

The Scrum Master ignores values and tracks velocity
The Scrum Master helps the team and organization live the values (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master enforces values through penalties
The values replace the Scrum Master role

Correct answer: The Scrum Master helps the team and organization live the values

The Scrum Master coaches the team and organization to embody the Scrum values.

Question 44: Scrum is founded on which theory?

Empirical Process Control (Correct answer)
Defined Process Control
Adaptive Process Control
Predictive Process Control

Correct answer: Empirical Process Control

Scrum is based on empirical process control theory, or empiricism. Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is observed. The three pillars of empiricism are transparency, inspection, and adaptation.

Question 45: Which of the following is NOT an accountability of the Product Owner as defined by the Scrum Guide?

Creating and clearly communicating Product Backlog items.
Developing and explicitly communicating the Product Goal.
Ensuring the Developers complete all work in the Sprint Backlog. (Correct answer)
Ordering Product Backlog items to best achieve goals and missions.

Correct answer: Ensuring the Developers complete all work in the Sprint Backlog.

While the Product Owner is accountable for creating a valuable Sprint Goal and a well-ordered Product Backlog, they are not accountable for the Developers' work execution. The Developers are accountable for managing their own work, creating a plan for the Sprint (the Sprint Backlog), and instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done. The entire Scrum Team is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment every Sprint.

Question 46: An effective Product Owner balances stakeholder demands by:

Hiding the backlog to reduce requests
Delegating all negotiations to the Scrum Master
Negotiating scope and order transparently while protecting the Product Goal (Correct answer)
Committing to every requested deadline

Correct answer: Negotiating scope and order transparently while protecting the Product Goal

Transparent negotiation of scope and order keeps work aligned to the highest value.

Question 47: A Scrum Team is conducting a Sprint Review for their three-week Sprint. After 3.5 hours, the Product Owner is still demonstrating functionality and key stakeholders have started to leave. According to the Scrum Guide, what is the primary problem here?

The event has exceeded its proportional timebox for a three-week Sprint. (Correct answer)
The stakeholders were not properly engaged by the Product Owner.
The Scrum Master should have set a stricter agenda.
The Developers did not prepare the Increment correctly for review.

Correct answer: The event has exceeded its proportional timebox for a three-week Sprint.

The Sprint Review has a maximum timebox of 4 hours for a one-month Sprint. For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter. For a three-week Sprint, the proportional timebox would be a maximum of 3 hours. Exceeding this timebox indicates an issue with the event's execution.

Question 48: A team with two-week Sprints consistently finds their Daily Scrum taking 30 minutes as they engage in detailed technical problem-solving. What is the primary issue with this approach according to the Scrum framework?

The event is exceeding its 15-minute timebox and is being used for more than its intended purpose. (Correct answer)
A 30-minute meeting is more valuable if it solves problems immediately.
The Scrum Master is failing to document the solutions discussed.
The Product Owner should be present to make decisions faster.

Correct answer: The event is exceeding its 15-minute timebox and is being used for more than its intended purpose.

The Daily Scrum is strictly timeboxed to 15 minutes, regardless of the Sprint's length. Its purpose is for the Developers to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt their plan for the day, not to be a deep problem-solving session. Such detailed discussions should happen after the Daily Scrum among the relevant team members.

Question 49: Which of the following best describes the Product Goal's relationship to the other Scrum artifacts and commitments?

It is an independent objective set by stakeholders that dictates the Definition of Done.
It is a long-term objective that gives context to the Product Backlog and guides the creation of Sprint Goals. (Correct answer)
It is a summation of all Sprint Goals planned for a release.
It is a fixed-scope contract that must be fulfilled before the Product Backlog can be changed.

Correct answer: It is a long-term objective that gives context to the Product Backlog and guides the creation of Sprint Goals.

The Product Goal is the long-term objective for the Scrum Team and resides in the Product Backlog, providing context and a target to plan against. Each Sprint Goal is a stepping stone toward the Product Goal. The Product Goal guides the ordering of the Product Backlog and the purpose of each Sprint, it is not simply a sum of Sprint Goals or a fixed contract.

Question 50: A stakeholder asks the Product Owner to reorder the Product Backlog. What should the Product Owner do?

Refuse all stakeholder input
Consider the input but retain accountability for ordering (Correct answer)
Delegate the decision to the Scrum Master
Immediately comply without question

Correct answer: Consider the input but retain accountability for ordering

The Product Owner may take input from many sources but remains solely accountable for ordering the Product Backlog.

Question 51: The Scrum framework is founded on the three pillars of empiricism. How does the Sprint Review event most directly support the pillar of 'Adaptation'?

By enforcing a strict timebox, which forces the team to adapt its presentation to fit the schedule.
By ensuring the Developers provide a detailed status update to stakeholders.
By providing a formal opportunity for the team to inspect and adapt its own internal processes.
By using feedback on the current Increment to make collaborative decisions about what to do next, which often results in adjustments to the Product Backlog. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: By using feedback on the current Increment to make collaborative decisions about what to do next, which often results in adjustments to the Product Backlog.

Adaptation involves adjusting based on what was learned during inspection. In the Sprint Review, the Scrum Team and stakeholders inspect the Increment and progress toward the Product Goal. This inspection leads to adaptation, primarily by adjusting the Product Backlog to reflect new insights, opportunities, and feedback.

Question 52: Who participates in the Sprint Retrospective?

The Product Owner alone
The entire Scrum Team (Correct answer)
Developers and stakeholders
Only the Scrum Master

Correct answer: The entire Scrum Team

The whole Scrum Team participates in the Sprint Retrospective.

Question 53: Can the Scrum Master assign work to individual Developers?

No, the Developers self-organize and assign their own work (Correct answer)
Only with Product Owner approval
Only during Sprint Planning
Yes, the Scrum Master directs all tasks

Correct answer: No, the Developers self-organize and assign their own work

Developers self-manage; no one outside the team tells them how to turn backlog items into Increments.

Question 54: Implementing only parts of Scrum typically results in what?

Guaranteed success
Faster certification
Improved transparency
Something that is not Scrum and often masks problems (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Something that is not Scrum and often masks problems

Scrum exists only in its entirety; partial adoption is not Scrum and can hide dysfunctions.

Question 55: Are the Product Owner and Scrum Master considered part of the Scrum Team?

Yes, all three accountabilities form the Scrum Team (Correct answer)
Only the Product Owner is
They are external advisors
No, only Developers are

Correct answer: Yes, all three accountabilities form the Scrum Team

The Scrum Team consists of one Scrum Master, one Product Owner, and Developers together.

Question 56: Who is accountable for creating a usable Increment every Sprint?

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

Correct answer: The Developers

The Developers are accountable for creating any aspect of a usable Increment each Sprint.

Question 57: What must remain fixed throughout a Sprint to maintain a consistent rhythm?

The Sprint length (Correct answer)
The Increment scope
The Product Backlog order
The number of team members present each day

Correct answer: The Sprint length

Sprints have a fixed length, providing a consistent cadence for the team.

Question 58: Which is NOT a valid attribute commonly tracked for Product Backlog items?

Estimate
Order
The assigned developer's home address (Correct answer)
Description

Correct answer: The assigned developer's home address

Backlog items typically include description, order, estimate, and value, not personal data.

Question 59: In Scrum, the team commits to what — rather than to a fixed scope of work?

The release date
The Sprint Goal (Correct answer)
A specific number of story points
Every Product Backlog item

Correct answer: The Sprint Goal

The Scrum Team commits to achieving the Sprint Goal, not to completing a fixed list of items.

Question 60: How should the Product Owner make Product Backlog priorities transparent?

By keeping the backlog visible and understood by all (Correct answer)
By updating it only once per release
By hiding it from stakeholders
By sharing it only with the Scrum Master

Correct answer: By keeping the backlog visible and understood by all

Transparency ensures everyone understands the work and its order.

Question 61: Who does the work of Product Backlog refinement?

An outside business analyst only
The Scrum Master alone
The Product Owner alone, in isolation
The Scrum Team, with the Product Owner and Developers collaborating (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Scrum Team, with the Product Owner and Developers collaborating

The Developers who will do the work are responsible for the sizing, with the Product Owner influencing trade-offs.

Question 62: Why is Scrum intentionally kept lightweight and minimal?

To make it harder to learn
To prevent adaptation
So teams add the practices that fit their context (Correct answer)
To eliminate the need for events

Correct answer: So teams add the practices that fit their context

By defining only the essentials, Scrum lets teams layer in context-appropriate practices.

Question 63: What is the timebox for the Sprint Retrospective in a one-month Sprint?

A maximum of three hours (Correct answer)
A maximum of one hour
A maximum of four hours
A maximum of two hours

Correct answer: A maximum of three hours

The Sprint Retrospective is timeboxed to a maximum of three hours for a one-month Sprint.

Question 64: Who decides how to turn Product Backlog items into an Increment?

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

Correct answer: The Developers

The Developers decide how the work is done, owning the technical approach.

Question 65: When can an Increment be delivered to stakeholders?

At any point during the Sprint once it meets the Definition of Done (Correct answer)
Only after the Product Owner codes it
Only at the Sprint Review
Only at the end of the release

Correct answer: At any point during the Sprint once it meets the Definition of Done

Multiple Increments may be created within a Sprint and delivered at any point as long as they meet the Definition of Done.

Question 66: Which is one of the five Scrum Values?

Courage (Correct answer)
Velocity
Efficiency
Predictability

Correct answer: Courage

The five Scrum Values are commitment, focus, openness, respect, and courage.

Question 67: Which of the following statements regarding a Sprint cancellation is false? <br> (Choose the two best responses)

Sprint cancellation consumes resources.
The Product Owner can cancel the Sprint for personal undisclosed reasons.
The Scrum Master may pressure the decision to cancel a Sprint.
All work from the cancelled Sprint is put back on the Product Backlog. (Correct answer)
A Sprint can be cancelled when the Sprint time-box is over. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All work from the cancelled Sprint is put back on the Product Backlog.

A Sprint cannot be cancelled once its time-box is over; at that point, it has either concluded or failed. Sprint cancellation occurs *before* the time-box ends, typically when the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete. The Product Owner is the only one with the authority to cancel a Sprint, although they may be influenced by other Scrum Team members or stakeholders.

Question 68: How does a strong Definition of Done help reduce technical debt?

By capping the number of items selected for each Sprint
By requiring external code reviews from stakeholders outside the team
By preventing the team from starting new features until old ones are perfect
By ensuring consistent quality standards are met before work is declared complete (Correct answer)

Correct answer: By ensuring consistent quality standards are met before work is declared complete

A robust Definition of Done prevents technical debt by enforcing quality, testing, and integration standards consistently before any work is marked complete.

Question 69: Who decides how many Product Backlog items are selected for the Sprint?

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

Correct answer: The Developers

The Developers select how much work they can complete, based on past performance and capacity.

Question 70: A Scrum Team is in the middle of a Sprint. A key stakeholder insists that a new, urgent feature must be added to the current Sprint Backlog immediately. According to Scrum accountabilities, how should this be handled?

The Developers must add the new feature to the Sprint Backlog as requested by the stakeholder.
The stakeholder should discuss the new feature with the Product Owner, who will decide if and how to adjust the Product Backlog. (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master should add the item to the Sprint Backlog and adjust the Sprint Goal.
The stakeholder should directly negotiate with the Developers to swap out an existing item.

Correct answer: The stakeholder should discuss the new feature with the Product Owner, who will decide if and how to adjust the Product Backlog.

The Product Owner is accountable for managing the Product Backlog and its contents. Stakeholders who want to change the Product Backlog should do so by convincing the Product Owner. The Developers own the Sprint Backlog and should not be interrupted during the Sprint. The Product Owner can work with the Developers to see if the Sprint Goal is impacted and if there's an opportunity to include the new work, but the initial conversation must go through the Product Owner.

Question 71: A team consistently brings in more work than it can finish each Sprint. The Scrum Master should:

Coach the team on forecasting and using past performance to plan (Correct answer)
Increase the Sprint length indefinitely
Reduce the Definition of Done quality
Force the team to work overtime

Correct answer: Coach the team on forecasting and using past performance to plan

The Scrum Master coaches realistic forecasting based on the team's actual capacity and history.

Question 72: Who is accountable for effective Product Backlog management?

Product Owner (Correct answer)
Developers
The whole organization
Scrum Master

Correct answer: Product Owner

The Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management, though they may delegate the work.

Question 73: When team members share progress and impediments honestly in their events, which value is demonstrated?

Commitment
Courage
Openness (Correct answer)
Focus

Correct answer: Openness

Openness means being transparent about the work and the challenges faced.

Question 74: Who is allowed to add items to the Product Backlog?

Only the Product Owner may even suggest items
Only the Scrum Master
Anyone, but the Product Owner remains accountable for it (Correct answer)
Only external stakeholders

Correct answer: Anyone, but the Product Owner remains accountable for it

Anyone can request changes, but the Product Owner decides and is accountable for the content.

Question 75: Scrum theory holds that decisions are best based on what?

Industry benchmarks
What is observed (Correct answer)
Detailed long-term forecasts
Management directives

Correct answer: What is observed

Empiricism asserts knowledge comes from experience and decisions are based on what is observed.

Question 76: Can stakeholders actively participate in the Sprint Retrospective?

Only customers may attend
Yes, all stakeholders are required
No, it is for the Scrum Team only (Correct answer)
Only the most senior stakeholder may attend

Correct answer: No, it is for the Scrum Team only

The Sprint Retrospective is an internal event for the Scrum Team to improve its own process.

Question 77: A Scrum Master is accountable for the Scrum Team's effectiveness. This means they:

Manage the team members' careers
Help the team improve practices within the Scrum framework (Correct answer)
Personally deliver the increment each Sprint
Own the Product Backlog priorities

Correct answer: Help the team improve practices within the Scrum framework

The Scrum Master is accountable for the team's effectiveness by enabling it to improve within Scrum.

Question 78: A Product Owner raises an uncomfortable truth that the product strategy is failing. This best illustrates which value?

Courage (Correct answer)
Commitment
Focus
Openness

Correct answer: Courage

Courage is needed to do the right thing and tackle tough problems and truths.

PSM I Exam

The Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) certification from Scrum.org validates understanding of the Scrum framework, the Scrum Master accountabilities, and how to apply Scrum in real-world projects.

Questions

60 min

Time Limit

85%

To Pass

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Exam Rules

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