Professional Scrum Master (PSM I)® Exam 2026 Latest
Comprehensive Study Guide Practice Questions, Scrum
Framework Review, Verified Answers, Detailed
Explanations & Success Workbook
QUESTIONS 1–15: SCRUM THEORY, EMPIRICISM & VALUES
Question 1
Scrum is founded on which two core pillars of thinking?
A. Waterfall and Agile
B. Empiricism and lean thinking
C. Transparency and inspection
D. Planning and execution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Scrum Guide states: "Scrum is founded on empiricism and
lean thinking. Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and
making decisions based on what is observed. Lean thinking reduces waste and
focuses on the essentials." Transparency, inspection, and adaptation (Option
C) are the three pillars of empiricism, not the foundational philosophies
themselves.
Question 2
What are the three pillars of empirical process control in Scrum?
A. Planning, Doing, Reviewing
B. Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation
C. Commitment, Focus, Respect
D. Product, Sprint, Increment
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The Scrum Guide defines empiricism as having three pillars:
"transparency, inspection, and adaptation." Option A describes a generic cycle.
Option C describes three of the Scrum values. Option D describes artifacts.
Question 3
A Scrum Team has a Product Backlog that is not visible to stakeholders. Which
pillar of empiricism is being violated?
A. Adaptation
B. Inspection
C. Transparency
D. Commitment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Scrum Guide states: "The emergent process and work must be
visible to those performing the work as well as those receiving the work. With
Scrum, important decisions are based on the perceived state of its three
formal artifacts. Artifacts that have low transparency can lead to decisions
that diminish value and increase risk." When the Product Backlog is not
visible, transparency is violated, which undermines the ability to inspect and
adapt effectively.
Question 4
Which of the following is NOT one of the five Scrum values?
A. Commitment
B. Courage
C. Collaboration
D. Openness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The five Scrum values are Commitment, Focus, Openness,
Respect, and Courage. "Collaboration" is important in Scrum but is not one of
the five formal values defined in the Scrum Guide.
,Question 5
A Developer discovers a better way to implement a feature halfway through
the Sprint. The Developer wants to change the Sprint Backlog. What should
the Developer do?
A. Wait until the next Sprint Planning to make the change
B. Inform the Scrum Master and request approval
C. Collaborate with the Product Owner to renegotiate the Sprint Goal
D. Adjust the Sprint Backlog as long as the Sprint Goal remains intact
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The Sprint Backlog is owned by the Developers. The Scrum Guide
states that "the Developers are responsible for the Sprint Backlog" and they
can modify it during the Sprint as new work is understood, provided the
Sprint Goal remains unchanged. The Developers do not need permission from
the Scrum Master or Product Owner for changes that keep the Sprint Goal
intact.
Question 6
What is the primary purpose of the Sprint Retrospective?
A. To inspect the Increment and gather stakeholder feedback
B. To plan the work for the next Sprint
C. To inspect how the last Sprint went and plan improvements
D. To review the Product Backlog and reprioritize items
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Sprint Retrospective's purpose is to "inspect how the last
Sprint went with regards to individuals, interactions, processes, tools, and
their Definition of Done" and to "identify and plan for ways to
improve." Option A describes the Sprint Review. Option B describes Sprint
Planning. Option D is backlog refinement.
, Question 7
Which statement best describes the Scrum Master's role in relation to the
Scrum values?
A. The Scrum Master enforces the Scrum values through strict rules
B. The Scrum Master helps the Scrum Team live the Scrum values
C. The Scrum Master reports on value adherence to management
D. The Scrum Master only focuses on the value of Commitment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Scrum Master fosters an environment where the Scrum Team
can live the Scrum values. The Scrum Guide emphasizes that the Scrum Master
serves the organization by "leading and coaching the organization in its Scrum
adoption" and helping the team embody the values. Enforcement (A)
contradicts the servant-leadership nature of the role.
Question 8
In Scrum, when is a Sprint considered complete?
A. When all Product Backlog items committed to the Sprint are done
B. When the timebox expires
C. When the Product Owner says it's complete
D. When the team has completed all tasks on the Sprint Backlog
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sprints are timeboxed events. The Scrum Guide is clear: "Sprints
are the heartbeat of Scrum, where ideas are turned into value. They are fixed
length events of one month or less" and end when the timebox expires —
regardless of whether all work is completed. The Sprint ends on time, and the
next Sprint begins immediately.
Question 9
A new team member asks the Scrum Master: "Who assigns tasks to me?" What
is the Scrum Master's BEST response?
Comprehensive Study Guide Practice Questions, Scrum
Framework Review, Verified Answers, Detailed
Explanations & Success Workbook
QUESTIONS 1–15: SCRUM THEORY, EMPIRICISM & VALUES
Question 1
Scrum is founded on which two core pillars of thinking?
A. Waterfall and Agile
B. Empiricism and lean thinking
C. Transparency and inspection
D. Planning and execution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Scrum Guide states: "Scrum is founded on empiricism and
lean thinking. Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and
making decisions based on what is observed. Lean thinking reduces waste and
focuses on the essentials." Transparency, inspection, and adaptation (Option
C) are the three pillars of empiricism, not the foundational philosophies
themselves.
Question 2
What are the three pillars of empirical process control in Scrum?
A. Planning, Doing, Reviewing
B. Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation
C. Commitment, Focus, Respect
D. Product, Sprint, Increment
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The Scrum Guide defines empiricism as having three pillars:
"transparency, inspection, and adaptation." Option A describes a generic cycle.
Option C describes three of the Scrum values. Option D describes artifacts.
Question 3
A Scrum Team has a Product Backlog that is not visible to stakeholders. Which
pillar of empiricism is being violated?
A. Adaptation
B. Inspection
C. Transparency
D. Commitment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Scrum Guide states: "The emergent process and work must be
visible to those performing the work as well as those receiving the work. With
Scrum, important decisions are based on the perceived state of its three
formal artifacts. Artifacts that have low transparency can lead to decisions
that diminish value and increase risk." When the Product Backlog is not
visible, transparency is violated, which undermines the ability to inspect and
adapt effectively.
Question 4
Which of the following is NOT one of the five Scrum values?
A. Commitment
B. Courage
C. Collaboration
D. Openness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The five Scrum values are Commitment, Focus, Openness,
Respect, and Courage. "Collaboration" is important in Scrum but is not one of
the five formal values defined in the Scrum Guide.
,Question 5
A Developer discovers a better way to implement a feature halfway through
the Sprint. The Developer wants to change the Sprint Backlog. What should
the Developer do?
A. Wait until the next Sprint Planning to make the change
B. Inform the Scrum Master and request approval
C. Collaborate with the Product Owner to renegotiate the Sprint Goal
D. Adjust the Sprint Backlog as long as the Sprint Goal remains intact
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The Sprint Backlog is owned by the Developers. The Scrum Guide
states that "the Developers are responsible for the Sprint Backlog" and they
can modify it during the Sprint as new work is understood, provided the
Sprint Goal remains unchanged. The Developers do not need permission from
the Scrum Master or Product Owner for changes that keep the Sprint Goal
intact.
Question 6
What is the primary purpose of the Sprint Retrospective?
A. To inspect the Increment and gather stakeholder feedback
B. To plan the work for the next Sprint
C. To inspect how the last Sprint went and plan improvements
D. To review the Product Backlog and reprioritize items
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Sprint Retrospective's purpose is to "inspect how the last
Sprint went with regards to individuals, interactions, processes, tools, and
their Definition of Done" and to "identify and plan for ways to
improve." Option A describes the Sprint Review. Option B describes Sprint
Planning. Option D is backlog refinement.
, Question 7
Which statement best describes the Scrum Master's role in relation to the
Scrum values?
A. The Scrum Master enforces the Scrum values through strict rules
B. The Scrum Master helps the Scrum Team live the Scrum values
C. The Scrum Master reports on value adherence to management
D. The Scrum Master only focuses on the value of Commitment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Scrum Master fosters an environment where the Scrum Team
can live the Scrum values. The Scrum Guide emphasizes that the Scrum Master
serves the organization by "leading and coaching the organization in its Scrum
adoption" and helping the team embody the values. Enforcement (A)
contradicts the servant-leadership nature of the role.
Question 8
In Scrum, when is a Sprint considered complete?
A. When all Product Backlog items committed to the Sprint are done
B. When the timebox expires
C. When the Product Owner says it's complete
D. When the team has completed all tasks on the Sprint Backlog
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sprints are timeboxed events. The Scrum Guide is clear: "Sprints
are the heartbeat of Scrum, where ideas are turned into value. They are fixed
length events of one month or less" and end when the timebox expires —
regardless of whether all work is completed. The Sprint ends on time, and the
next Sprint begins immediately.
Question 9
A new team member asks the Scrum Master: "Who assigns tasks to me?" What
is the Scrum Master's BEST response?
