Advanced Scrum Master Certification (CSM)
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with
Answers and Explanations for Scrum Master
Certification Exam Preparation
1. A Scrum Team is midway through a Sprint when a senior executive requests an urgent
feature that would significantly increase customer value. The requested work would
prevent the team from achieving the Sprint Goal. What should the Scrum Master
recommend?
A. Instruct the Developers to replace lower-priority Sprint Backlog items immediately.
B. Extend the Sprint to accommodate the additional work.
C. Advise that the Product Owner evaluate the request and, unless the Sprint Goal has
become obsolete, add it to the Product Backlog for future prioritization.
D. Allow the Developers to decide independently whether to include the feature.
Explanation: The Sprint Goal is protected during a Sprint. New requests are typically added to
the Product Backlog and considered during future Sprint Planning unless the Product Owner
determines that the Sprint Goal is no longer valid and cancels the Sprint.
2. During Sprint Planning, the Developers disagree with the Product Owner's expectation of
completing all high-priority Product Backlog Items. What is the Scrum Master's best
response?
A. Require the Developers to accept all requested work.
B. Reduce the Definition of Done.
C. Facilitate a discussion so the Developers make a realistic forecast based on capacity and
past performance.
D. Allow senior management to determine Sprint capacity.
Explanation: The Developers are responsible for forecasting the amount of work they can
complete. The Scrum Master facilitates collaboration while ensuring realistic planning based on
empirical evidence.
3. A Scrum Team consistently completes Sprint Backlog items but frequently misses the
Sprint Goal. What is the most likely underlying issue?
, A. Sprint Reviews are too short.
B. The Product Owner is absent from Daily Scrums.
C. The team is focusing on completing tasks rather than delivering a cohesive Sprint Goal.
D. The Sprint Retrospective is unnecessary.
Explanation: Scrum emphasizes achieving a meaningful Sprint Goal rather than merely
completing individual tasks. The Sprint Goal provides focus and coherence.
4. A Scrum Master notices that Daily Scrums often exceed 30 minutes because technical
problem-solving dominates the discussion. What should the Scrum Master do?
A. Cancel Daily Scrums until the issues are resolved.
B. Shorten the Sprint duration.
C. Encourage detailed technical discussions to occur immediately after the Daily Scrum
while keeping the event within its time-box.
D. Replace the Daily Scrum with written reports.
Explanation: The Daily Scrum is a 15-minute inspection and adaptation event. Detailed
discussions should occur afterward with only the relevant participants.
5. During Sprint Review, stakeholders propose several new requirements. What should
happen first?
A. Immediately modify the current Sprint Backlog.
B. Extend the Sprint.
C. Evaluate the feedback and update the Product Backlog based on business value.
D. Reject all new requests until project completion.
Explanation: Feedback gathered during the Sprint Review informs Product Backlog refinement
and future planning without disrupting the completed Sprint.
6. A Scrum Team repeatedly experiences integration issues late in each Sprint. Which
engineering practice would most effectively reduce this problem?
A. Longer Sprint Reviews.
B. Larger Sprint Backlogs.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with
Answers and Explanations for Scrum Master
Certification Exam Preparation
1. A Scrum Team is midway through a Sprint when a senior executive requests an urgent
feature that would significantly increase customer value. The requested work would
prevent the team from achieving the Sprint Goal. What should the Scrum Master
recommend?
A. Instruct the Developers to replace lower-priority Sprint Backlog items immediately.
B. Extend the Sprint to accommodate the additional work.
C. Advise that the Product Owner evaluate the request and, unless the Sprint Goal has
become obsolete, add it to the Product Backlog for future prioritization.
D. Allow the Developers to decide independently whether to include the feature.
Explanation: The Sprint Goal is protected during a Sprint. New requests are typically added to
the Product Backlog and considered during future Sprint Planning unless the Product Owner
determines that the Sprint Goal is no longer valid and cancels the Sprint.
2. During Sprint Planning, the Developers disagree with the Product Owner's expectation of
completing all high-priority Product Backlog Items. What is the Scrum Master's best
response?
A. Require the Developers to accept all requested work.
B. Reduce the Definition of Done.
C. Facilitate a discussion so the Developers make a realistic forecast based on capacity and
past performance.
D. Allow senior management to determine Sprint capacity.
Explanation: The Developers are responsible for forecasting the amount of work they can
complete. The Scrum Master facilitates collaboration while ensuring realistic planning based on
empirical evidence.
3. A Scrum Team consistently completes Sprint Backlog items but frequently misses the
Sprint Goal. What is the most likely underlying issue?
, A. Sprint Reviews are too short.
B. The Product Owner is absent from Daily Scrums.
C. The team is focusing on completing tasks rather than delivering a cohesive Sprint Goal.
D. The Sprint Retrospective is unnecessary.
Explanation: Scrum emphasizes achieving a meaningful Sprint Goal rather than merely
completing individual tasks. The Sprint Goal provides focus and coherence.
4. A Scrum Master notices that Daily Scrums often exceed 30 minutes because technical
problem-solving dominates the discussion. What should the Scrum Master do?
A. Cancel Daily Scrums until the issues are resolved.
B. Shorten the Sprint duration.
C. Encourage detailed technical discussions to occur immediately after the Daily Scrum
while keeping the event within its time-box.
D. Replace the Daily Scrum with written reports.
Explanation: The Daily Scrum is a 15-minute inspection and adaptation event. Detailed
discussions should occur afterward with only the relevant participants.
5. During Sprint Review, stakeholders propose several new requirements. What should
happen first?
A. Immediately modify the current Sprint Backlog.
B. Extend the Sprint.
C. Evaluate the feedback and update the Product Backlog based on business value.
D. Reject all new requests until project completion.
Explanation: Feedback gathered during the Sprint Review informs Product Backlog refinement
and future planning without disrupting the completed Sprint.
6. A Scrum Team repeatedly experiences integration issues late in each Sprint. Which
engineering practice would most effectively reduce this problem?
A. Longer Sprint Reviews.
B. Larger Sprint Backlogs.
