Free Practice Questions for Scrum PSM-I Exam

The answer is A. True. The Sprint Backlog is a result of Sprint Planning, and it includes the Sprint Goal. According to the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Backlog is composed of the Sprint Goal (why), the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint (what), as well as an actionable plan for delivering the Increment (how)1. The Sprint Goal is the single objective for the Sprint, and it provides coherence and focus for the Scrum Team2. The Sprint Backlog is a plan by and for the Developers, and it is updated throughout the Sprint as more is learned2.

In the Scrum framework, there is no specific role or accountability for a Tester. Instead, the responsibility for quality lies with the entire Scrum Team, particularly the Developers. Scrum emphasizes cross-functional teams, where every team member contributes to all aspects of the development process, including testing. The Developers collectively ensure that the work meets the Definition of Done and maintains high-quality standards. This approach fosters collaboration, shared responsibility, and continuous improvement, aligning with the core principles of Scrum.

According to the Scrum Guide1, there are five values that guide decisions within Scrum teams:

Commitment

Focus

Openness

Respect

Courage

In order to achieve the benefits of Scrum, it is important to enact these values. Two actions that demonstrate the commitment of Scrum Team members are:

Help the other Scrum Team members, as they work together as a self-organizing team to accomplish the Sprint Goal and create the anticipated Increment by the end of the Sprint.

Do your best, as they strive to deliver a potentially releasable Increment that meets the definition of “Done” and provides value to the stakeholders.

The best answer is B. A valuable, useful Increment that meets the Definition of Done.

According to the Scrum Guide1, “an Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal. Each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and thoroughly verified, ensuring that all Increments work together. In order to provide value, the Increment must be usable.” The Scrum Guide also states that “work cannot be considered part of an Increment unless it meets the Definition of Done. The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product.”

Therefore, a Scrum Team should deliver a valuable, useful Increment that meets the Definition of Done at the end of each Sprint. This ensures that the product is potentially releasable and that the stakeholders can inspect and provide feedback on it.

A, C, and D are not correct answers.

A. A single document, if that is what management asked for.

This answer does not reflect the Scrum values of commitment, focus, and respect1. A Scrum Team should not deliver a single document just because management asked for it, but rather deliver an Increment that provides value to the customers and users. A document may be part of an Increment, but it is not an Increment by itself.

C. Failing unit tests, to identify acceptance tests for the next Sprint.

This answer does not reflect the Scrum principle of empiricism1. A Scrum Team should not deliver failing unit tests, but rather deliver an Increment that is thoroughly verified and meets the quality standards. Failing unit tests indicate that the work is not done and that there are defects or errors in the product. A Scrum Team should use unit tests to ensure that the product works as expected and to identify and fix any issues before delivering the Increment.

D. An Increment of software with minor known bugs in it.

This answer does not reflect the Scrum value of openness1. A Scrum Team should not deliver an Increment of software with minor known bugs in it, but rather deliver an Increment that meets the Definition of Done and is free of any known defects or issues. Delivering an Increment with bugs in it can compromise the trust and satisfaction of the stakeholders and can lead to technical debt or rework in the future. A Scrum Team should strive to deliver high-quality products that meet or exceed the expectations of the customers and users.

According to the Scrum Guide1, each event in Scrum is a formal opportunity to inspect and adapt something. These events are specifically designed to enable critical transparency and inspection. Failure to include any of these events results in reduced transparency and is a lost opportunity to inspect and adapt. All events are time-boxed events, such that every event has a maximum duration. Once a Sprint begins, its duration is fixed and cannot be shortened or lengthened. The remaining events may end whenever the purpose of the event is achieved, ensuring an appropriate amount of time is spent without allowing waste in the process. The time-box for the Sprint Review is four hours for a one-month Sprint.

References: Scrum Guide

The correct answer is A, because the Scrum Guide states that “the definition of ‘Done’ is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product.” Therefore, non-functional requirements should be part of the definition of ‘Done’ and ensure every Increment meets them.

If the Development Team cannot complete its work by the end of the Sprint, then the Sprint length holds and the Development Team continuously learns what is actually possible to do within a Sprint of this length, as stated in [7]: “If a Development Team determines it has overcommitted itself for a Sprint, one option is to collaborate with the Product Owner to negotiate removing or reducing scope. Another option is to simply work hard and do its best, without cutting quality or pressuring individuals. In either case, the Development Team learns from its experience and uses this learning when planning future Sprints.”

According to the Scrum Guide1, an Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal. Each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and thoroughly verified, ensuring that all Increments work together. In order to provide value, an Increment must be usable. Multiple Increments may be created within a Sprint. The sum of the Increments is presented at the Sprint Review thus supporting empiricism. However, an Increment may be delivered to stakeholders prior to the end of the Sprint. The Sprint Review should never be considered a gate to releasing value. Therefore, the best description of an increment of working software is additional features in a usable state that complement those delivered in previous iterations.

References: Scrum Guide

he correct answer is A, because doing all work needed to meet the definition of “Done” enhances the transparency of an increment. The Scrum Guide states that “when a Product Backlog item or an Increment is described as ‘Done’, everyone must understand what ‘Done’ means.” Therefore, by meeting the definition of “Done”, an increment becomes transparent to all stakeholders and ready for release.