Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) Exam Questions
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Comprehensive list of Free Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) practice exam questions curated for cracking the Scrum.org PSM I assessment with confidence.
Disclaimer: Scrum.org and the Scrum Guide are protected brands/works. These exam questions are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with Scrum.org, Ken Schwaber, or Jeff Sutherland. These are not the official Scrum.org exam questions/dumps. Every question below is created strictly from the free, official Scrum Guide (the current November 2020 version) and official Scrum.org resources, never from unauthorized dump sites. Scrum.org’s own free Scrum Open practice assessment is another great official self-check resource to try before your real attempt. Once you understand the concepts behind these questions, you are more than ready to crack the real PSM I assessment on your first attempt.
Free Online Practice Exam
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Overview
- PSM I validates that you understand Scrum as described in the Scrum Guide and how to apply it in Scrum Teams — the exam tests precise adherence to the Guide’s exact wording, not “common practice” folklore.
- The exam consists of 80 questions in Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer, and True/False format.
- You have 60 minutes to complete the assessment, and a passing score of 85% is required.
- The exam costs $200 USD per attempt; test passwords have no expiration date but are valid for one attempt only.
- PSM I certification never expires — it is a lifetime certification with no annual renewal fee, and it includes a free Credly digital credential.
- There are no mandatory prerequisites and no required course attendance, though Scrum.org recommends attending a Professional Scrum Master or Applying Professional Scrum course.
- The authoritative content source for every question below is the Scrum Guide, current November 2020 version, authored by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland — there is no newer official revision as of this writing.
- Scrum.org does not publish official domain-weight percentages for PSM I (unlike some vendor-specific exams); instead, PSM I questions are drawn from three Focus Areas defined in the Professional Scrum Competencies: Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework, Developing People and Teams, and Managing Products with Agility.
- This guide instead organizes its 50 practice questions around the Scrum Guide’s own structure, since that document is the actual source of truth the exam draws from.
- Scrum.org’s own free Scrum Open assessment is an excellent official self-check tool to try before attempting the real exam.
- Official PSM I certification page for more details.
Topic Areas
Scrum.org does not publish official percentage weights for PSM I. The breakdown below instead follows the Scrum Guide’s own major content sections, weighted by how much text and emphasis the Guide gives each area and how it maps to Scrum.org’s own Focus Areas. Scrum Events and Scrum Team accountabilities receive the most questions since they are both the most detailed sections of the Guide and the areas most consistently emphasized in real PSM I attempts.
| # | Topic Area (Scrum Guide Section) | Approx. Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scrum Theory and Values | 8 |
| 2 | The Scrum Team | 11 |
| 3 | Scrum Events | 12 |
| 4 | Scrum Artifacts and Commitments | 10 |
| 5 | Scrum Master Accountabilities & Servant-Leadership | 9 |
Practice Questions
According to the Scrum Guide, Scrum is founded on which two foundations?
⬜ Empiricism and lean thinking
⬜ Waterfall and empiricism
⬜ Predictive planning and lean thinking
⬜ Agile principles and iterative planning
Scrum combines four formal events for inspection and adaptation within a containing event. What is that containing event called?
⬜ The Sprint
⬜ The Daily Scrum
⬜ The Release
⬜ The Program Increment
The Scrum Guide names three pillars that uphold every implementation of empirical process control: transparency, inspection, and adaptation. Which TWO of the following statements about these pillars are accurate?
⬜ Inspection enables adaptation; inspection without adaptation is considered pointless.
⬜ Adaptation enables transparency; without adaptation, transparency is impossible.
⬜ Transparency enables inspection; inspection without transparency is misleading and wasteful.
⬜ Adaptation becomes easier when the people involved are not empowered or self-managing.
Per the Scrum Guide, what happens to inspection when it is not followed by adaptation?
⬜ It becomes more valuable
⬜ It is considered pointless
⬜ It automatically triggers a Sprint cancellation
⬜ It replaces the need for transparency
How many values does the Scrum Guide define, and what is their stated purpose?
⬜ Three values; they define the Scrum Team’s roles
⬜ Four values; they define the length of each timebox
⬜ Five values; they give direction to the Scrum Team with regard to their work, actions, and behavior
⬜ Five values; they replace the need for Scrum events
Which TWO of the following are among the five Scrum values named in the Scrum Guide?
⬜ Discipline
⬜ Courage
⬜ Predictability
⬜ Respect
According to the Scrum Guide, what is expected of a Scrum Team the moment it learns something new through inspection?
⬜ It should wait until the next Sprint Retrospective to act
⬜ It is expected to adapt immediately
⬜ It should escalate the change to the Product Owner for approval before adapting
⬜ It should document the learning for the next release cycle
True or False: According to the Scrum Guide, artifacts with low transparency can lead to decisions that diminish value and increase risk.
⬜ True
⬜ False
Which of the following correctly describes the composition of a Scrum Team as defined in the Scrum Guide?
⬜ One Scrum Master, one Product Owner, and Developers, with no sub-teams or hierarchies
⬜ A Product Owner, a Project Manager, and a Development Team led by a Team Lead
⬜ Multiple Scrum Masters overseeing several development sub-teams
⬜ A Product Owner and Developers only; the Scrum Master is optional
What team size does the Scrum Guide suggest a Scrum Team should be to remain nimble yet still complete significant work within a Sprint?
⬜ Exactly 5 people
⬜ Typically 10 or fewer people
⬜ Between 15 and 20 people
⬜ No size guidance is given
Which TWO characteristics does the current Scrum Guide use to describe Scrum Teams?
⬜ Cross-functional
⬜ Self-organizing
⬜ Self-managing
⬜ Hierarchical
Who is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment every Sprint, according to the Scrum Guide?
⬜ The Product Owner alone
⬜ The Developers alone
⬜ The entire Scrum Team
⬜ The Scrum Master, since they own the Definition of Done
Which TWO of the following are accountabilities of the Developers, as defined in the Scrum Guide?
⬜ Creating the Sprint Backlog, the plan for the Sprint
⬜ Ordering the Product Backlog
⬜ Instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done
⬜ Setting the price of the certification exam
According to the Scrum Guide, what is the Product Owner primarily accountable for?
⬜ Assigning daily tasks to the Developers
⬜ Maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team
⬜ Facilitating the Daily Scrum
⬜ Removing impediments faced by the Developers
Per the Scrum Guide, can a Product Owner delegate Product Backlog management work to others?
⬜ No, the Product Owner must personally perform every Product Backlog management activity
⬜ Yes, but the Product Owner remains accountable
⬜ Yes, and accountability transfers to whoever performs the delegated work
⬜ No, delegation would violate the self-managing nature of the Scrum Team
According to the Scrum Guide, how should stakeholders who want to change the Product Backlog proceed?
⬜ By submitting a formal change request to the Scrum Master
⬜ By trying to convince the Product Owner
⬜ By voting with the Developers during Sprint Planning
⬜ By directly editing the Product Backlog themselves
What is the Scrum Master accountable for, per the Scrum Guide?
⬜ Establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide, and the Scrum Team’s effectiveness
⬜ Writing the Product Backlog items
⬜ Approving the Increment before it can be released
⬜ Managing the organization’s budget for the product
If a Scrum Team becomes too large to remain nimble, what does the Scrum Guide suggest?
⬜ Appoint a second Scrum Master to manage the extra members
⬜ Split into multiple sub-teams under one Scrum Master
⬜ Consider reorganizing into multiple cohesive Scrum Teams, each focused on the same product and sharing the same Product Goal, Product Backlog, and Product Owner
⬜ Increase the Sprint length to accommodate more people
True or False: According to the Scrum Guide, a Scrum Team may have multiple Product Owners representing different stakeholder groups.
⬜ True
⬜ False
According to the Scrum Guide, what is the maximum length of a Sprint?
⬜ Two weeks
⬜ One month or less
⬜ Six weeks
⬜ There is no maximum; it depends on the Product Owner
Who has the authority to cancel a Sprint, according to the Scrum Guide?
⬜ The Scrum Master
⬜ The Developers, by majority vote
⬜ Only the Product Owner
⬜ Any stakeholder, if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete
Which TWO of the following does the Scrum Guide state must hold true during a Sprint?
⬜ No changes are made that would endanger the Sprint Goal
⬜ The scope of the Sprint Backlog is completely fixed and can never be renegotiated
⬜ Quality does not decrease
⬜ The Product Backlog may not be touched until the Sprint ends
What is the maximum timebox for Sprint Planning in a one-month Sprint, per the Scrum Guide?
⬜ Four hours
⬜ Eight hours
⬜ Two hours
⬜ There is no timebox for Sprint Planning
The Scrum Guide describes Sprint Planning as addressing three topics. Which of the following correctly reflects them?
⬜ Why is this Sprint valuable? What can be Done this Sprint? How will the chosen work get done?
⬜ Who will do the work? What is the budget? When is the deadline?
⬜ What went wrong last Sprint? What should we improve? Who is responsible?
⬜ What is the Definition of Done? Who are the stakeholders? What is the Sprint length?
Per the Scrum Guide, who decides how the selected Product Backlog items will be turned into an Increment during Sprint Planning?
⬜ The Product Owner, since they know the business priorities
⬜ The Scrum Master, who plans the technical approach
⬜ The Developers, at their sole discretion
⬜ A separate architecture review board
What is the timebox for the Daily Scrum, and who is it for, according to the Scrum Guide?
⬜ 30 minutes, for the entire Scrum Team including stakeholders
⬜ 15 minutes, for the Developers
⬜ 15 minutes, for the Scrum Master to report to management
⬜ One hour, for the Product Owner to review priorities
If the Product Owner or Scrum Master are actively working on items in the Sprint Backlog, how do they participate in the Daily Scrum, per the Scrum Guide?
⬜ They observe silently without participating
⬜ They participate as Developers
⬜ They lead the Daily Scrum instead of the Developers
⬜ They are excluded from the Daily Scrum entirely
What is the primary purpose of the Sprint Review, according to the Scrum Guide?
⬜ To assign story points for the next Sprint
⬜ To inspect the outcome of the Sprint and determine future adaptations
⬜ To conduct a formal performance review of the Developers
⬜ To finalize the Definition of Done for the first time
What is the maximum timebox for the Sprint Review in a one-month Sprint, per the Scrum Guide?
⬜ Three hours
⬜ Four hours
⬜ Eight hours
⬜ There is no maximum
According to the Scrum Guide, which event concludes the Sprint and is timeboxed to a maximum of three hours for a one-month Sprint?
⬜ Sprint Planning
⬜ Daily Scrum
⬜ Sprint Review
⬜ Sprint Retrospective
True or False: According to the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Review should be limited to a presentation of the completed work.
⬜ True
⬜ False
Which commitment is associated with the Product Backlog, according to the Scrum Guide?
⬜ The Sprint Goal
⬜ The Definition of Done
⬜ The Product Goal
⬜ The Increment forecast
Which TWO of the following artifact-commitment pairs are accurate according to the Scrum Guide?
⬜ Sprint Backlog → Sprint Goal
⬜ Increment → Definition of Done
⬜ Product Backlog → Sprint Goal
⬜ Increment → Product Goal
How does the Scrum Guide define the Product Backlog?
⬜ A fixed, unchanging list of all future work
⬜ An emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product
⬜ A list maintained exclusively by the Developers
⬜ A record of completed Sprint Retrospective action items
According to the Scrum Guide, what is Product Backlog refinement?
⬜ A formally timeboxed Scrum event held once per Sprint
⬜ The act of breaking down and further defining Product Backlog items into smaller, more precise items
⬜ A ceremony required to occupy exactly 10% of team capacity
⬜ The Scrum Master’s task of reordering the backlog
Who is responsible for sizing Product Backlog items, per the Scrum Guide?
⬜ The Product Owner alone
⬜ The Scrum Master
⬜ The Developers who will be doing the work
⬜ An external estimation committee
What does the Product Goal describe, according to the Scrum Guide?
⬜ A single Sprint’s deliverable
⬜ A future state of the product that serves as a target for the Scrum Team to plan against
⬜ The exact release date of the next version
⬜ A specific technical architecture decision
The Scrum Guide states the Sprint Backlog is composed of which three elements?
⬜ The Sprint Goal (why), the selected Product Backlog items (what), and a plan for delivering the Increment (how)
⬜ A burndown chart, a velocity report, and a risk register
⬜ The Definition of Done, a stakeholder list, and a budget
⬜ The Product Goal, the Sprint Review agenda, and a retrospective summary
True or False: According to the Scrum Guide, an Increment may be delivered to stakeholders before the end of the Sprint.
⬜ True
⬜ False
If multiple Scrum Teams are working together on one product, what does the Scrum Guide require regarding the Definition of Done?
⬜ Each team may use a completely different Definition of Done
⬜ They must mutually define and comply with the same Definition of Done
⬜ Only the Scrum Master of the lead team defines it for everyone
⬜ The Definition of Done does not apply when multiple teams are involved
According to the Scrum Guide, when is a Product Backlog item considered part of an Increment?
⬜ As soon as a Developer marks it complete in a tracking tool
⬜ Only after the Sprint Review presentation
⬜ The moment it meets the Definition of Done
⬜ When the Product Owner personally tests it
Which TWO of the following are ways the Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team, according to the Scrum Guide?
⬜ Causing the removal of impediments to the Scrum Team’s progress
⬜ Deciding which Product Backlog items the Developers must select for the Sprint
⬜ Coaching the team members in self-management and cross-functionality
⬜ Approving the Increment for release
Which of the following correctly describes a way the Scrum Master serves the Product Owner, per the Scrum Guide?
⬜ Writing the Product Backlog items on the Product Owner’s behalf
⬜ Facilitating stakeholder collaboration as requested or needed
⬜ Setting the Product Goal independently of the Product Owner
⬜ Making the final call on Product Backlog ordering
Which of the following correctly describes a way the Scrum Master serves the organization, per the Scrum Guide?
⬜ Managing the organization’s hiring decisions
⬜ Leading, training, and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption
⬜ Setting the organization’s overall product strategy
⬜ Approving the organization’s annual budget
Who is accountable for the Scrum Team’s effectiveness, according to the Scrum Guide?
⬜ The Product Owner
⬜ The Developers collectively, with no single accountable role
⬜ The Scrum Master
⬜ An external Agile coach
True or False: According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Master assigns daily tasks to the Developers.
⬜ True
⬜ False
How does the Scrum Guide characterize Scrum Masters?
⬜ As project managers accountable for on-time delivery
⬜ As true leaders who serve the Scrum Team and the larger organization
⬜ As administrative assistants who schedule meetings
⬜ As quality assurance testers for the Increment
Who, per the Scrum Guide, ensures that all Scrum events take place and are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox?
⬜ The Product Owner
⬜ The Developers
⬜ The Scrum Master
⬜ The most senior Developer
A Scrum Team’s stakeholders keep approaching Developers directly mid-Sprint, disrupting their focus and bypassing the Product Owner. According to the Scrum Guide, whose accountability is it to address this organizational barrier?
⬜ The Product Owner’s, since stakeholders are their responsibility
⬜ The Scrum Master’s, by removing barriers between stakeholders and the Scrum Team
⬜ The Developers’, by refusing to speak with any stakeholder
⬜ No one’s; the Scrum Guide does not address organizational barriers
Which of the following best matches the Scrum Guide’s description of how the Scrum Master helps the Scrum Team with quality?
⬜ By personally writing the Definition of Done for the team
⬜ By helping the Scrum Team focus on creating high-value Increments that meet the Definition of Done
⬜ By testing every Increment before the Sprint Review
⬜ By lowering the Definition of Done when deadlines are tight
