10 PSM I Practice Questions (With Detailed Explanations)

Test your PSM I readiness with 10 exam-style practice questions covering Scrum values, events, artifacts, and accountabilities — all answered per the Scrum Guide 2020.

PSM I Practice Questions: How to Use This Set

These PSM I practice questions are written in the style of the real Professional Scrum Master I exam. Each question has four options, a correct answer, and a detailed explanation covering why the right answer is right and why each distractor fails. All answers are based strictly on the Scrum Guide 2020. Work through these without looking at the answers first — then review the explanations to identify gaps in your understanding.

Question 1: Who Can Cancel a Sprint?

A Sprint is underway. A major shift in business direction makes the Sprint Goal obsolete. Who has the authority to cancel the Sprint?

A) The Scrum Master
B) The Developers
C) The Product Owner
D) Any Scrum Team member

Correct answer: C

The Scrum Guide 2020 states: "A Sprint could be cancelled if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete. Only the Product Owner has the authority to cancel the Sprint." The Scrum Master facilitates Scrum but does not hold this authority. Developers can raise concerns but cannot cancel. "Any Scrum Team member" is a common distractor designed to test whether you know the accountability is specifically the PO's.

Question 2: What Is the Timebox for the Sprint Retrospective?

For a one-month Sprint, what is the maximum timebox for the Sprint Retrospective?

A) 1 hour
B) 2 hours
C) 3 hours
D) 4 hours

Correct answer: C

The Scrum Guide 2020 states the Sprint Retrospective is timeboxed to a maximum of three hours for a one-month Sprint. For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter. The Sprint Review is timeboxed to four hours — a common source of confusion. The Daily Scrum is 15 minutes. Memorise each event's timebox precisely, as the PSM I exam tests these figures directly.

Question 3: What Are the Three Pillars of Empiricism?

Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory. Which of the following correctly identifies the three pillars of empiricism?

A) Planning, Execution, Review
B) Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation
C) Commitment, Focus, Openness
D) Collaboration, Accountability, Delivery

Correct answer: B

Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation are the three pillars of empiricism as defined in the Scrum Guide 2020. Option C lists three of the five Scrum values (Commitment, Focus, Openness, Courage, Respect) — a deliberate distractor. Options A and D describe generic process steps, not Scrum's theoretical foundation. The three pillars underpin every Scrum event and artifact.

Question 4: Who Is Responsible for the Product Backlog?

Who is accountable for the content, availability, and ordering of the Product Backlog?

A) The Scrum Team collectively
B) The Scrum Master
C) The Developers
D) The Product Owner

Correct answer: D

The Scrum Guide 2020 is unambiguous: the Product Owner is accountable for managing the Product Backlog, which includes ordering items and ensuring the backlog is transparent and understood. The Scrum Team may contribute to backlog refinement, but the accountability rests with one person — the PO. The Scrum Master supports the process; the Developers may write or refine items, but the PO owns the decisions.

Question 5: What Does the Sprint Backlog Consist Of?

Which of the following correctly describes the Sprint Backlog?

A) The Sprint Goal, all Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, and a plan for delivering the Increment
B) The Definition of Done and all tasks assigned to individual Developers
C) The Product Goal and the ordered list of work for the next Sprint
D) A list of bugs and improvements chosen by the Scrum Master

Correct answer: A

The Scrum Guide 2020 defines the Sprint Backlog as composed of three elements: the Sprint Goal (the why), the selected Product Backlog items (the what), and the plan for delivering the Increment (the how). The Definition of Done is a commitment for the Increment, not a component of the Sprint Backlog. The Product Goal is the commitment for the Product Backlog. The Scrum Master does not choose Sprint Backlog items.

Question 6: Can Developers Change the Sprint Backlog During a Sprint?

Halfway through a Sprint, the Developers discover that completing one of the Sprint Backlog items will take significantly longer than planned. What should they do?

A) Wait until Sprint Review to raise the issue
B) Ask the Scrum Master to remove the item from the Sprint Backlog
C) Collaborate with the Product Owner and update the Sprint Backlog to reflect the new plan
D) Cancel the Sprint and re-plan

Correct answer: C

The Scrum Guide 2020 states that the Sprint Backlog belongs to the Developers and they may update it throughout the Sprint as more is learned. Only the Developers can change the Sprint Backlog. They should collaborate with the Product Owner to understand the impact on the Sprint Goal and adjust the plan accordingly. Cancelling a Sprint is reserved for situations where the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete — a planning surprise does not meet that bar.

Question 7: What Is the Definition of Done?

Which statement best describes the Definition of Done in Scrum?

A) A checklist of tasks each Developer must complete before leaving for the day
B) A formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product
C) A list of acceptance criteria written by the Product Owner for each backlog item
D) The set of conditions the Scrum Master uses to approve work at the Sprint Review

Correct answer: B

The Scrum Guide 2020 defines the Definition of Done as "a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product." It applies to the entire Increment, not to individual items or individual Developers. Acceptance criteria are item-level conditions, often set by the PO — distinct from the DoD. The Scrum Master does not approve or reject work; the DoD provides the objective standard.

Question 8: Who Attends the Daily Scrum?

Which of the following most accurately describes who attends the Daily Scrum?

A) The entire Scrum Team — Developers, Scrum Master, and Product Owner
B) The Developers; the Scrum Master and Product Owner may attend if they are also actively working on Sprint Backlog items
C) The Scrum Master and Developers only; the Product Owner is not permitted
D) Any stakeholders who need a status update

Correct answer: B

The Scrum Guide 2020 specifies that the Daily Scrum is for the Developers. If the Scrum Master or Product Owner are also working as Developers in that Sprint, they participate as Developers. The Scrum Master may attend to ensure the event happens correctly, but the event belongs to the Developers. Stakeholders do not attend. Option A is the most common wrong answer — many candidates assume the full Scrum Team attends every event.

Question 9: What Is the Product Goal?

What role does the Product Goal play in Scrum?

A) It is the target for the current Sprint, set during Sprint Planning
B) It is the long-term objective for the Scrum Team that provides context for planning, and is the commitment for the Product Backlog
C) It is a business KPI defined by senior management each quarter
D) It replaces the need for a Sprint Goal when the product strategy is clear

Correct answer: B

The Scrum Guide 2020 describes the Product Goal as the long-term objective for the product, and it is the commitment associated with the Product Backlog. It gives Sprints their direction — each Sprint should bring the team closer to or completely achieve the Product Goal. The Sprint Goal is the commitment for the Sprint Backlog, not the Product Goal. The Product Goal is owned by the Product Owner, not defined by management independently of the Scrum Team.

Question 10: When Does a Sprint End?

Under what circumstances does a Sprint end?

A) When all Sprint Backlog items are complete
B) At the conclusion of the Sprint Retrospective
C) When the Product Owner approves the Increment at the Sprint Review
D) When the timebox expires, regardless of whether the Sprint Goal has been achieved

Correct answer: D

Sprints are fixed-length events of one month or less. A Sprint ends when its timebox expires — not when work is done, not when the PO approves, and not at any other variable milestone. The Sprint Retrospective is the last event within a Sprint, so its conclusion coincides with the Sprint ending, but option B implies causation rather than coincidence. Completing all backlog items before the timebox ends does not end the Sprint early — the team continues refining, improving, or planning ahead.