Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) Certification
Exam Prep 2026 Comprehensive Practice Questions
with Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: Scrum Theory & Empiricism (Questions 1-10)
Question 1
According to the Scrum Guide, what are the three pillars of empiricism?
A) Planning, Execution, Review
B) Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation
C) Communication, Collaboration, Commitment
D) Vision, Strategy, Tactics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The three pillars of empiricism in Scrum are Transparency,
Inspection, and Adaptation. Transparency ensures the process and work are
visible to those responsible for the outcome. Inspection detects variances or
problems through frequent inspection of Scrum artifacts and progress toward goals.
Adaptation adjusts the process to minimize further deviation when inspection
reveals unacceptable variances. These three pillars form the foundation of Scrum—
every event and artifact supports at least one pillar.
Question 2
Scrum is founded on which theory of process control?
A) Defined process control
B) Empirical process control
C) Waterfall process control
D) Predictive process control
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory, also known as
empiricism. Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and
making decisions based on what is observed. Unlike defined (predictive) processes
where every step is planned in advance, empirical processes are suitable for
complex work where requirements are uncertain and solutions are discovered
through experimentation. The three pillars—Transparency, Inspection, and
Adaptation—support this empirical approach.
Question 3
Which of the following best describes the relationship between inspection and
adaptation in Scrum?
A) Inspection happens only at the end of the project; adaptation happens during
planning
B) Inspection should occur frequently and adaptation should occur when
inspection reveals unacceptable variances
C) Adaptation happens only during the Sprint Retrospective
D) Inspection is the responsibility of the Product Owner; adaptation is the
responsibility of the Developers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In Scrum, inspection should occur frequently to detect deviations or
problems, and adaptation should occur when inspection reveals that one or more
aspects of the process or product are outside acceptable limits. This is a continuous
cycle throughout the Sprint, not limited to a single event. The Scrum events
provide formal opportunities for inspection and adaptation, but the Scrum Team
may also inspect and adapt at any time as needed.
Question 4
What is the primary purpose of transparency in Scrum?
A) To allow stakeholders to micromanage the Scrum Team
B) To ensure significant aspects of the process are visible to those responsible for
the outcome
,C) To create detailed documentation for every decision made
D) To enable the Scrum Master to track individual Developer performance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transparency means that significant aspects of the process must be
visible to those responsible for the outcome. Transparency enables inspection,
which in turn enables adaptation. Without transparency, inspection would be
misleading and adaptation would be ineffective. Transparency is achieved through
the use of Scrum artifacts and commitments, which provide a shared understanding
of what is being worked on and the progress being made.
Question 5
When should the Scrum Team inspect and adapt?
A) Only during the Sprint Retrospective
B) Only during the Sprint Review
C) Throughout the Sprint, as well as during formal events
D) Only when the Scrum Master requests an inspection
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Scrum Team should inspect and adapt throughout the Sprint, as
well as during the five formal Scrum events. While the Sprint Review and Sprint
Retrospective provide dedicated opportunities for inspection and adaptation, the
Daily Scrum provides a daily opportunity for the Developers to inspect progress
toward the Sprint Goal. Additionally, the Developers may adapt the Sprint Backlog
throughout the Sprint as more is learned.
Question 6
Which statement about empirical process control is true?
A) It works best when all requirements are known upfront
B) It relies on frequent inspection and adaptation to manage complex work
C) It eliminates the need for any planning
D) It is only suitable for small teams
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Empirical process control relies on frequent inspection and
adaptation to manage complex work where requirements are uncertain and
solutions emerge through discovery. Unlike defined processes that attempt to
predict everything upfront, empirical processes accept that uncertainty exists and
build in mechanisms to respond to change. Planning still occurs in Scrum—it
happens during Sprint Planning and is refined throughout the Sprint as more is
learned.
Question 7
What role does "lean thinking" play in Scrum?
A) It is not relevant to Scrum
B) It encourages reducing waste and focusing on what delivers value
C) It requires eliminating all documentation
D) It mandates that teams work overtime to reduce waste
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lean thinking encourages reducing waste and focusing on what
delivers value. In Scrum, this means eliminating activities that do not contribute to
creating value, focusing on the most important Product Backlog items, and
continuously improving processes to become more efficient. Lean thinking
complements empiricism by providing principles for optimizing value delivery
while minimizing waste.
Question 8
What is the relationship between complexity and the need for empiricism?
A) The less complex the work, the more empiricism is needed
B) The more complex the work, the more empiricism is needed
C) Complexity has no relationship to empiricism
D) Empiricism is only needed for simple work
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The more complex the work, the more empiricism is needed.
Complex work involves high uncertainty, many unknowns, and unpredictable
Exam Prep 2026 Comprehensive Practice Questions
with Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: Scrum Theory & Empiricism (Questions 1-10)
Question 1
According to the Scrum Guide, what are the three pillars of empiricism?
A) Planning, Execution, Review
B) Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation
C) Communication, Collaboration, Commitment
D) Vision, Strategy, Tactics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The three pillars of empiricism in Scrum are Transparency,
Inspection, and Adaptation. Transparency ensures the process and work are
visible to those responsible for the outcome. Inspection detects variances or
problems through frequent inspection of Scrum artifacts and progress toward goals.
Adaptation adjusts the process to minimize further deviation when inspection
reveals unacceptable variances. These three pillars form the foundation of Scrum—
every event and artifact supports at least one pillar.
Question 2
Scrum is founded on which theory of process control?
A) Defined process control
B) Empirical process control
C) Waterfall process control
D) Predictive process control
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory, also known as
empiricism. Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and
making decisions based on what is observed. Unlike defined (predictive) processes
where every step is planned in advance, empirical processes are suitable for
complex work where requirements are uncertain and solutions are discovered
through experimentation. The three pillars—Transparency, Inspection, and
Adaptation—support this empirical approach.
Question 3
Which of the following best describes the relationship between inspection and
adaptation in Scrum?
A) Inspection happens only at the end of the project; adaptation happens during
planning
B) Inspection should occur frequently and adaptation should occur when
inspection reveals unacceptable variances
C) Adaptation happens only during the Sprint Retrospective
D) Inspection is the responsibility of the Product Owner; adaptation is the
responsibility of the Developers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In Scrum, inspection should occur frequently to detect deviations or
problems, and adaptation should occur when inspection reveals that one or more
aspects of the process or product are outside acceptable limits. This is a continuous
cycle throughout the Sprint, not limited to a single event. The Scrum events
provide formal opportunities for inspection and adaptation, but the Scrum Team
may also inspect and adapt at any time as needed.
Question 4
What is the primary purpose of transparency in Scrum?
A) To allow stakeholders to micromanage the Scrum Team
B) To ensure significant aspects of the process are visible to those responsible for
the outcome
,C) To create detailed documentation for every decision made
D) To enable the Scrum Master to track individual Developer performance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transparency means that significant aspects of the process must be
visible to those responsible for the outcome. Transparency enables inspection,
which in turn enables adaptation. Without transparency, inspection would be
misleading and adaptation would be ineffective. Transparency is achieved through
the use of Scrum artifacts and commitments, which provide a shared understanding
of what is being worked on and the progress being made.
Question 5
When should the Scrum Team inspect and adapt?
A) Only during the Sprint Retrospective
B) Only during the Sprint Review
C) Throughout the Sprint, as well as during formal events
D) Only when the Scrum Master requests an inspection
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Scrum Team should inspect and adapt throughout the Sprint, as
well as during the five formal Scrum events. While the Sprint Review and Sprint
Retrospective provide dedicated opportunities for inspection and adaptation, the
Daily Scrum provides a daily opportunity for the Developers to inspect progress
toward the Sprint Goal. Additionally, the Developers may adapt the Sprint Backlog
throughout the Sprint as more is learned.
Question 6
Which statement about empirical process control is true?
A) It works best when all requirements are known upfront
B) It relies on frequent inspection and adaptation to manage complex work
C) It eliminates the need for any planning
D) It is only suitable for small teams
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Empirical process control relies on frequent inspection and
adaptation to manage complex work where requirements are uncertain and
solutions emerge through discovery. Unlike defined processes that attempt to
predict everything upfront, empirical processes accept that uncertainty exists and
build in mechanisms to respond to change. Planning still occurs in Scrum—it
happens during Sprint Planning and is refined throughout the Sprint as more is
learned.
Question 7
What role does "lean thinking" play in Scrum?
A) It is not relevant to Scrum
B) It encourages reducing waste and focusing on what delivers value
C) It requires eliminating all documentation
D) It mandates that teams work overtime to reduce waste
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lean thinking encourages reducing waste and focusing on what
delivers value. In Scrum, this means eliminating activities that do not contribute to
creating value, focusing on the most important Product Backlog items, and
continuously improving processes to become more efficient. Lean thinking
complements empiricism by providing principles for optimizing value delivery
while minimizing waste.
Question 8
What is the relationship between complexity and the need for empiricism?
A) The less complex the work, the more empiricism is needed
B) The more complex the work, the more empiricism is needed
C) Complexity has no relationship to empiricism
D) Empiricism is only needed for simple work
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The more complex the work, the more empiricism is needed.
Complex work involves high uncertainty, many unknowns, and unpredictable
