Free EXIN Agile Scrum Master Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the EXIN Agile Scrum Master practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1How does empiricism support decision making in the Scrum framework?

   1. A.It relies on observations and experience.Correct answer: A
   2. B.It relies on plans fixed before work begins.
   3. C.It relies on assumptions that are not tested.
   4. D.It relies on predicting every future change.

   Explanation: "Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is observed." Decisions are informed by observed experience rather than a fixed prediction.

   Reference: The Scrum Guide — Scrum Theory

2. 2A Scrum Master sees that people across the organization misunderstand Scrum. Which accountability directly addresses this problem?

   1. A.Help everyone understand Scrum theory and practice.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Set the order of all Product Backlog items.
   3. C.Assign each Developer their daily work.
   4. D.Approve each stakeholder's product request.

   Explanation: "They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization." Helping the organization understand Scrum supports the Scrum Master's accountability for establishing Scrum.

   Reference: The Scrum Guide — Scrum Master

3. 3How does Scrum characterize the Product Backlog for a product?

   1. A.A fixed release scope established for the product's lifetime.
   2. B.An ordered, emergent list of what is needed to improve the product.Correct answer: B
   3. C.A team-specific list limited to the current Sprint's tasks.
   4. D.An unordered collection that does not change with learning.

   Explanation: "The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product." Its content evolves and is ordered around improving the product.

   Reference: The Scrum Guide — Product Backlog

4. 4What is a purpose of cross-team Product Backlog refinement in Nexus?

   1. A.Make cross-team dependencies visible and minimize them.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Assign items to teams without examining dependencies.
   3. C.Refine each team's items without coordinating dependencies.
   4. D.Defer dependency identification until the final release.

   Explanation: "The Product Backlog must be decomposed so that dependencies are transparent, identified across teams, and removed or minimized." Refinement helps the teams find and reduce dependencies.

   Reference: The Nexus Guide — Cross-Team Refinement, page 7

5. 5Why can dividing work into departmental silos impede accelerated Agile delivery?

   1. A.The divisions create dependencies between departments.Correct answer: A
   2. B.The divisions remove the need to coordinate handoffs.
   3. C.The divisions consolidate all skills within each team.
   4. D.The divisions let each department deliver independently.

   Explanation: "Work is decomposed into departmental silos, creating dependencies that prevent accelerated delivery" describes the organizational obstacle in the scenario.

   Reference: Agile Practice Guide — Section 6.1.2 Readiness for Change, page 74

6. 6What is the purpose of lean thinking in Scrum?

   1. A.To increase the number of activities performed.
   2. B.To reduce waste and focus on essentials.Correct answer: B
   3. C.To prevent the team from changing its plan.
   4. D.To divide work into fixed specialist silos.

   Explanation: "Lean thinking reduces waste and focuses on the essentials." Lean thinking directs attention toward essentials while reducing waste.

   Reference: The Scrum Guide — Scrum Theory

7. 7How does the Scrum Master support the effectiveness of the Scrum Team?

   1. A.Enable the team to improve its own practices.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Prescribe the team's technical solution for it.
   3. C.Have management decide the team's process changes.
   4. D.Defer the team's improvements until the project ends.

   Explanation: "They do this by enabling the Scrum Team to improve its practices, within the Scrum framework." The Scrum Master helps the team improve within the framework.

   Reference: The Scrum Guide — Scrum Master

8. 8What happens to items during Product Backlog refinement in Scrum?

   1. A.The team breaks down and further defines items.Correct answer: A
   2. B.The team fixes every item in detail at the project's start.
   3. C.The team estimates items without clarifying their content.
   4. D.The team refines items only after they are selected for a Sprint.

   Explanation: "Product Backlog refinement is the act of breaking down and further defining Product Backlog items into smaller more precise items." Refinement is ongoing and may add details such as size, description and order.

   Reference: The Scrum Guide — Product Backlog

9. 9What is Nexus intended to scale for Scrum Teams working on a single product?

   1. A.The value the group of teams can deliver.Correct answer: A
   2. B.The number of teams regardless of value delivered.
   3. C.The amount of concurrent work regardless of dependencies.
   4. D.The number of backlog items regardless of product outcomes.

   Explanation: "The goal of Nexus is to scale the value that a group of Scrum Teams, working on a single product, is able to deliver." Nexus aims to increase delivered value while addressing collaboration complexity.

   Reference: The Nexus Guide — Nexus Theory, page 4

10. 10According to the Agile Practice Guide, which response is likely when affected people are excluded from tailoring a process change?

    1. A.It can increase resistance and resentment.Correct answer: A
    2. B.Resistance is removed by avoiding debate.
    3. C.Ownership is assured without involvement.
    4. D.Commitment is established without consultation.

    Explanation: "Omitting people from tailoring a process is likely to result in resistance and resentment to the change, even if it makes good sense technically." Participation in thinking and decisions can support commitment to the change.

    Reference: Agile Practice Guide — Appendix X2.3 How to Use this Appendix, page 120