psm 1 test questions Advanced Practice Exam: Hard Questions 2025

A Product Owner insists that once a Sprint starts, the Sprint Backlog is "frozen" and cannot change because "commitment" must be protected. Mid-Sprint, the Developers discover a better technical approach that would replace two planned tasks with one different task while still meeting the Sprint Goal. What is the most appropriate Scrum-based response?

During a Sprint, stakeholders repeatedly ask the Developers to add "small" items. The Product Owner says, "We should accept them because they're minor" and asks the Developers to squeeze them in. The Developers are concerned the Sprint Goal will be at risk. What is the best action consistent with Scrum?

A Scrum Team has a Sprint Goal but is under pressure to maximize utilization. Management demands each Developer be assigned 100% to tasks and measured individually. The team’s throughput has become unpredictable and quality is declining. What is the most appropriate Scrum-focused explanation a Scrum Master should provide?

Near the end of Sprint Planning, the Scrum Team has selected a set of Product Backlog Items, but the Developers are unsure they can finish all of them. The Product Owner insists they must "commit" to completing everything selected because stakeholders were promised those items. What is the best Scrum-consistent outcome of Sprint Planning?

A Product Owner wants the Sprint Review to be a formal sign-off meeting where completed work is accepted or rejected by a steering committee. The Developers argue that acceptance happens continuously via their Definition of Done and Product Owner feedback. What is the best way to align with Scrum while addressing the underlying need for governance?

Multiple teams integrate into a single product. One team claims their Increment is "Done" even though integration happens only once per quarter by a separate group. They argue integration is outside their control. What is the most Scrum-consistent assessment?

During the Daily Scrum, the Developers report to the Scrum Master one-by-one and wait for instructions. The Scrum Master feels needed and provides assignments to keep people busy. Delivery is slowing and ownership is unclear. What should the Scrum Master do?

A Product Owner repeatedly changes ordering in the Product Backlog based on the latest stakeholder request, causing thrashing. The Developers complain they cannot plan effectively and demand the Scrum Master "lock" the Product Backlog for a Sprint ahead. What is the best Scrum Master response?

A Scrum Team has strong engineers but weak cross-functionality. Test automation is done by a separate department, causing multi-Sprint delays to get work to "Done." The Product Owner wants to keep starting new work to satisfy demand. What is the most appropriate next step in Scrum?

In Sprint Planning, the Developers propose a Sprint Goal that is essentially a list of PBIs (e.g., "Complete items 12, 14, 15, 18"). Mid-Sprint, item 15 becomes unnecessary due to market changes, but the remaining items still deliver the same customer outcome. The Product Owner worries removing item 15 means the Sprint Goal will fail. What is the best interpretation?