Practice for the Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) exam with 16 exam-style practice questions, instant answer reveals, and concise explanations of every correct answer. Topics include: Which of the following is required by Scrum?. Follow @CertPunch and visit certpunch.com for more certification practice exams and study content.
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What you will practice
- Which of the following is required by Scrum?
- What are the two primary ways a Scrum Master keeps a Scrum Team working at its highest level of productivity?
- A Sprint Review is held at:
- What is the outcome of the Sprint Review?
- What are the reasons it is important to have only one Product Owner per product? Choose the BEST three answer…
- During a Sprint, when is new work or further decomposition of work added to the Sprint Backlog?
Answers and explanations
Tap a question to expand the answer and the exam reasoning. Try to commit to your own pick first.
Q1. Which of the following is required by Scrum?
Answer: A. Sprint Retrospective
The Sprint Retrospective is a mandatory Scrum event. Dismiss options like burndown charts or release planning, as the exam strictly tests the framework without prescribing specific charts or scaling practices.
Q2. What are the two primary ways a Scrum Master keeps a Scrum Team working at its highest level of productivity?
Answer: B,C. By causing the removal of impediments to the Scrum Team's progress || By coaching the team members in self-management and cross-functionality
The scrum master serves the team by removing impediments and coaching developers in self-management and cross-functionality. Options like ordering the product backlog belong specifically to the product owner, not the scrum master.
Q3. A Sprint Review is held at:
Answer: B. The end of the Sprint
The sprint review takes place at the end of the sprint to inspect the increment and adapt the product backlog. The scrum team and stakeholders collaborate on what was built and what should happen next.
Q4. What is the outcome of the Sprint Review?
Answer: C. A revised Product Backlog
The primary outcome of a Sprint Review is a revised Product Backlog that reflects stakeholder feedback and current market conditions. The Increment already exists from the Sprint, while updating the Definition of Done happens during the Sprint Retrospective.
Q5. What are the reasons it is important to have only one Product Owner per product? Choose the BEST three answers.
Answer: A,C,E. It is clear who is accountable for the ultimate value of the product. || The Scrum Team always knows who determines the order of the Product Backlog. || It helps avoid barriers to effective communication and rapid decision-making.
A single Product Owner ensures clear accountability for product value, provides a sole decision-maker for backlog ordering, and removes communication barriers. Options about confusing stakeholders or backup roles are incorrect distractors that miss core accountabilities.
Q6. During a Sprint, when is new work or further decomposition of work added to the Sprint Backlog?
Answer: A. As soon as possible after they are identified
New work or further decomposition is added to the Sprint Backlog as soon as it is identified. This maintains transparency, though the Sprint Goal remains fixed. Avoid options suggesting formal approvals are needed for backlog updates during the Sprint.
Q7. When is the Scrum Team allowed to interact with the Key Stakeholders? (choose the best answer)
Answer: D. Any time where it's valuable to have the Stakeholder input
A Scrum Team can interact with Key Stakeholders any time it is valuable to do so. While the Sprint Review is a formal opportunity, collaboration is encouraged throughout development. Do not restrict stakeholder communication to only official events.
Q8. What are the artifacts in Scrum? (choose all that apply)
Answer: B,C,D. Product Backlog || Increment || Sprint Backlog
The three Scrum artifacts are the Product Backlog, the Sprint Backlog, and the Increment. For the exam, remember that the Sprint Goal and Definition of Done are commitments to these artifacts, not artifacts themselves.
Q9. What does it mean for a Scrum Team to be cross-functional?
Answer: B. The Scrum Team includes cross-skilled individuals who are able to contribute to do what is necessary to deliver an increment of product
A cross-functional Scrum Team has all the skills necessary to deliver a Done Increment without relying on external teams. Watch out for options suggesting sub-teams or handoffs to specialists outside the Scrum Team.
Q10. A new Developer is in conflict with other members of the Scrum Team, creating a hostile working environment. If necessary, who is responsible for removing the Scrum Team member?
Answer: A. The Scrum Team is responsible, and may need help from the Scrum Master
The Scrum Team manages its own membership and dynamics, so it holds the responsibility. The Scrum Master might facilitate the resolution. Do not confuse team accountability with the Scrum Master removing impediments.
Q11. Which three statements about Scrum are true?
Answer: C,D,F. Scrum is based on empirical process control theory || Scrum is a framework for developing and sustaining complex products || Each component of Scrum serves a specific purpose, and is essential to Scrum's success and your usage of Scrum to develop complex products
Scrum is firmly grounded in empirical process control theory and acts as a minimal framework for complex product development. Every element of Scrum is essential, meaning you cannot simply pick and choose parts without losing its benefits.
Q12. The Product Backlog is ordered by:
Answer: D. Importance, where the most important items are at the top at all times
The Product Owner orders the Product Backlog by priority, value, risk, and dependencies to maximize product value. While smaller items often rise to the top, the primary driver is overall importance, making high priority the best answer.
Q13. Which topics should be discussed at the Sprint Review?
Answer: A. Sprint results
The Sprint Review focuses on inspecting the Sprint results and collaborating on what to do next. Engineering practices are typically evaluated during the Sprint Retrospective, not the Review. Keep event purposes distinct.
Q14. When should the Scrum Team release the increment into production?
Answer: C. When it makes sense
Multiple increments may be released during a Sprint, but releasing to production only happens when it makes sense to maximize value. A defect-free increment does not automatically dictate a production release without business approval.
Q15. What is included in the Sprint Backlog?
Answer: C. Any of the these options (or others) which are a decomposition of the selected Product Backlog items
The Sprint Backlog contains the selected Product Backlog items and a plan for delivering them. Format choices vary, so answers naming specific artifacts like user stories or tasks are distractors. The core requirement is decomposing work to meet the goal.
Q16. What is the accountability of the Product Owner during Sprint 0?
Answer: B. There is no such thing as Sprint 0
Scrum does not recognize a Sprint Zero or any preparatory Sprints before development begins. Every Sprint must produce a Done, usable Increment. Avoid pseudo-Sprints used for planning; remember that regular Sprints handle upfront work immediately.
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