Scrum SSM Practice Exams
Last updated on Oct 21,2026- Exam Code: SSM
- Exam Name: SAFe 5 Scrum Master (SSM) 6.0
- Certification Provider: Scrum
- Latest update: Oct 21,2026
Question #11
During which of the following stages of team development do team members stop focusing on their own goals and begin focusing on developing better ways of working together?
- A . Forming
- B . Norming
- C . Storming
- D . Transforming
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
Norming is the stage of team development where team members stop focusing on their own goals and begin focusing on developing better ways of working together. Norming occurs after the team has gone through the Forming and Storming stages, where they have established their roles and responsibilities, and have resolved their initial conflicts and disagreements12 In the Norming stage, the team starts to build trust, respect, and cohesion among themselves. They also align on a common vision, mission, and goals, and agree on the norms and expectations for their collaboration and communication12 The team becomes more productive, efficient, and effective, as they leverage their collective strengths and skills, and support each other in overcoming challenges and delivering value12 The team also develops a sense of identity and pride, and celebrates their achievements and learnings12 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Agile Teams – Scaled Agile Framework
5 Stages of Team Development | Agile Scrum Guide | Book | Blog
B
Explanation:
Norming is the stage of team development where team members stop focusing on their own goals and begin focusing on developing better ways of working together. Norming occurs after the team has gone through the Forming and Storming stages, where they have established their roles and responsibilities, and have resolved their initial conflicts and disagreements12 In the Norming stage, the team starts to build trust, respect, and cohesion among themselves. They also align on a common vision, mission, and goals, and agree on the norms and expectations for their collaboration and communication12 The team becomes more productive, efficient, and effective, as they leverage their collective strengths and skills, and support each other in overcoming challenges and delivering value12 The team also develops a sense of identity and pride, and celebrates their achievements and learnings12 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Agile Teams – Scaled Agile Framework
5 Stages of Team Development | Agile Scrum Guide | Book | Blog
Question #12
What is one way a Scrum Master/Team Coach can help improve ART performance?
- A . Prioritize the ART backlog for PI Planning
- B . Run an Agile Team charter workshop
- C . Communicate the PI Planning agenda
- D . Facilitate cross-team collaboration
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
According to the SAFe 6 Scrum Master documentation, one of the ways a Scrum Master/Team Coach can help improve ART performance is to facilitate cross-team collaboration. Cross-team collaboration is the ability of Agile teams to work together effectively and efficiently to deliver value to the customers and stakeholders. It involves sharing information, resolving dependencies, aligning on goals, and providing feedback. Cross-team collaboration is essential for achieving the ART vision and objectives, as well as for delivering integrated and high-quality solutions.
The Scrum Master/Team Coach plays a key role in facilitating cross-team collaboration by 1: Participating in the Scrum of Scrums (SoS) and ART Sync meetings, where they communicate the team’s progress, impediments, and dependencies, and coordinate with other teams and the Release Train Engineer (RTE)
Helping the team prepare for and participate in the PI Planning event, where they collaborate with other teams to define and commit to the PI objectives and identify risks and dependencies Supporting the team in the System Demo, where they demonstrate the team’s work to other teams and stakeholders, and receive feedback and validation
Assisting the team in the Inspect and Adapt (I&A) event, where they review the ART performance, identify improvement opportunities, and create action plans
Encouraging the team to adopt Communities of Practice (CoPs), where they share knowledge, best practices, and learnings with other teams and experts
Promoting a culture of trust, respect, and cooperation among the team and other teams (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Scrum Master/Team Coach
Team Sync
PI Planning
System Demo
Inspect and Adapt
[Communities of Practice]
D
Explanation:
According to the SAFe 6 Scrum Master documentation, one of the ways a Scrum Master/Team Coach can help improve ART performance is to facilitate cross-team collaboration. Cross-team collaboration is the ability of Agile teams to work together effectively and efficiently to deliver value to the customers and stakeholders. It involves sharing information, resolving dependencies, aligning on goals, and providing feedback. Cross-team collaboration is essential for achieving the ART vision and objectives, as well as for delivering integrated and high-quality solutions.
The Scrum Master/Team Coach plays a key role in facilitating cross-team collaboration by 1: Participating in the Scrum of Scrums (SoS) and ART Sync meetings, where they communicate the team’s progress, impediments, and dependencies, and coordinate with other teams and the Release Train Engineer (RTE)
Helping the team prepare for and participate in the PI Planning event, where they collaborate with other teams to define and commit to the PI objectives and identify risks and dependencies Supporting the team in the System Demo, where they demonstrate the team’s work to other teams and stakeholders, and receive feedback and validation
Assisting the team in the Inspect and Adapt (I&A) event, where they review the ART performance, identify improvement opportunities, and create action plans
Encouraging the team to adopt Communities of Practice (CoPs), where they share knowledge, best practices, and learnings with other teams and experts
Promoting a culture of trust, respect, and cooperation among the team and other teams (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Scrum Master/Team Coach
Team Sync
PI Planning
System Demo
Inspect and Adapt
[Communities of Practice]
Question #13
According to SAFe, what is one Iteration Retrospective anti-pattern?
- A . The team only shares issues that are too small to result in real improvement
- B . The team only shares issues that are too big to be solved
- C . The team only shares issues that cannot be measured
- D . The team only brings up issues that are outside of their control to address
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
One Iteration Retrospective anti-pattern is when the team only brings up issues that are outside of their control to address, such as organizational policies, external dependencies, or stakeholder expectations. This can lead to frustration, helplessness, and cynicism among the team members, as well as a loss of focus on their own improvement opportunities12 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Iteration Retrospective – Scaled Agile Framework
21 Sprint Retrospective Anti-Patterns | Scrum.org
D
Explanation:
One Iteration Retrospective anti-pattern is when the team only brings up issues that are outside of their control to address, such as organizational policies, external dependencies, or stakeholder expectations. This can lead to frustration, helplessness, and cynicism among the team members, as well as a loss of focus on their own improvement opportunities12 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Iteration Retrospective – Scaled Agile Framework
21 Sprint Retrospective Anti-Patterns | Scrum.org
Question #14
What can a Scrum Master/Team Coach recommend to a team that is showing signs of burnout, not addressing increasing technical debt, and acting out of urgency rather than considering innovation?
- A . A constructive IP Iteration at the end of each PI
- B . A collective Iteration Review and demo each Iteration
- C . A communicative retrospective at the end of each Iteration
- D . A careful plan at the beginning of each Iteration
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
A constructive IP Iteration is one of the recommended practices for Scrum Masters/Team Coaches to help teams avoid burnout, address technical debt, and foster innovation. An IP Iteration is a unique, dedicated iteration that occurs every PI and provides an estimating buffer for meeting PI Objectives and dedicated time for innovation, continuing education, PI Planning, and Inspect and Adapt events. During the IP Iteration, teams can work on activities such as hackathons, research and design, spikes, refactoring, automation, training, and other improvement initiatives that are difficult to fit into a continuous, incremental value delivery pattern. An IP Iteration also allows teams to prepare for and participate in the PI Planning and Inspect and Adapt events, which are essential for alignment, collaboration, and learning across the ART. A constructive IP Iteration can improve the predictability
and flow of value delivery, increase employee engagement and satisfaction, enhance the agility and resilience of the teams, and create a competitive advantage for the enterprise. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Innovation and Planning Iteration – Scaled Agile Framework
The CALMR Approach to DevOps [Complete Guide] – KnowledgeHut SAFe Scrum Master Course Outline
A
Explanation:
A constructive IP Iteration is one of the recommended practices for Scrum Masters/Team Coaches to help teams avoid burnout, address technical debt, and foster innovation. An IP Iteration is a unique, dedicated iteration that occurs every PI and provides an estimating buffer for meeting PI Objectives and dedicated time for innovation, continuing education, PI Planning, and Inspect and Adapt events. During the IP Iteration, teams can work on activities such as hackathons, research and design, spikes, refactoring, automation, training, and other improvement initiatives that are difficult to fit into a continuous, incremental value delivery pattern. An IP Iteration also allows teams to prepare for and participate in the PI Planning and Inspect and Adapt events, which are essential for alignment, collaboration, and learning across the ART. A constructive IP Iteration can improve the predictability
and flow of value delivery, increase employee engagement and satisfaction, enhance the agility and resilience of the teams, and create a competitive advantage for the enterprise. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Innovation and Planning Iteration – Scaled Agile Framework
The CALMR Approach to DevOps [Complete Guide] – KnowledgeHut SAFe Scrum Master Course Outline
Question #15
What is one way a Scrum Master/Team Coach can support productive team Backlog Refinement sessions?
- A . Ensure subject matter experts are invited
- B . Create a reusable agenda for the team ahead of time
- C . Generate ideas for Stories with the team before refinement
- D . Assure teammates that they will be heard
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
One way a Scrum Master/Team Coach can support productive team Backlog Refinement sessions is to ensure subject matter experts are invited. Subject matter experts (SMEs) are people who have specialized knowledge or skills related to the domain or technical aspects of the product or solution. They can provide valuable input and feedback to the team during Backlog Refinement, such as clarifying requirements, validating assumptions, identifying dependencies, and suggesting solutions. SMEs can also help the team to split, estimate, and prioritize the backlog items more effectively and accurately. By inviting SMEs to the Backlog Refinement sessions, the Scrum Master/Team Coach can facilitate better collaboration, communication, and alignment among the team and the stakeholders. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Team Backlog – Scaled Agile Framework
Exam Study Guide: SSM (6.0) – SAFe® Scrum Master – scaledagile.com What is backlog refinement? | Miro
A
Explanation:
One way a Scrum Master/Team Coach can support productive team Backlog Refinement sessions is to ensure subject matter experts are invited. Subject matter experts (SMEs) are people who have specialized knowledge or skills related to the domain or technical aspects of the product or solution. They can provide valuable input and feedback to the team during Backlog Refinement, such as clarifying requirements, validating assumptions, identifying dependencies, and suggesting solutions. SMEs can also help the team to split, estimate, and prioritize the backlog items more effectively and accurately. By inviting SMEs to the Backlog Refinement sessions, the Scrum Master/Team Coach can facilitate better collaboration, communication, and alignment among the team and the stakeholders. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Team Backlog – Scaled Agile Framework
Exam Study Guide: SSM (6.0) – SAFe® Scrum Master – scaledagile.com What is backlog refinement? | Miro
Question #16
What is one recommended practice for Scrum Masters/Team Coaches when facilitating Iteration Review?
- A . Limit participants to just the team members
- B . Encourage team members to spend 3+ hours preparing
- C . Encourage the team member with the best presentation skills to demo each Iteration
- D . Begin to consider how and what to demo in Iteration Planning
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
One of the recommended practices for Scrum Masters/Team Coaches when facilitating Iteration Review is to begin to consider how and what to demo in Iteration Planning. This helps the team to have a clear vision of the expected outcome and to align their work with the iteration goals. It also facilitates the preparation and execution of the demo, as the team can anticipate the feedback and questions from the stakeholders. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Iteration Review – Scaled Agile Framework
SAFe Scrum Master Course Outline
D
Explanation:
One of the recommended practices for Scrum Masters/Team Coaches when facilitating Iteration Review is to begin to consider how and what to demo in Iteration Planning. This helps the team to have a clear vision of the expected outcome and to align their work with the iteration goals. It also facilitates the preparation and execution of the demo, as the team can anticipate the feedback and questions from the stakeholders. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Iteration Review – Scaled Agile Framework
SAFe Scrum Master Course Outline
Question #17
What is the first step of the problem-solving workshop?
- A . Perform a root-cause analysis
- B . Agree on the problem to solve
- C . Restate the new problem for the biggest root cause
- D . Identify the biggest root cause
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
The first step of the problem-solving workshop is to agree on the problem to solve. This step is important because it helps the teams to clearly state the problem, highlight the what, where, when, and impact of the problem, and avoid addressing the symptoms instead of the root causes. By agreeing on the problem to solve, the teams can focus their investigation and analysis, and save time and effort. The problem statement should be succinct and specific, and should not include any assumptions or solutions.
Reference: Inspect and Adapt – Scaled Agile Framework
Problem-solving workshop: Step-by-Step – Agilephoria
The Sun Never Sets on the Problem-Solving Workshop
B
Explanation:
The first step of the problem-solving workshop is to agree on the problem to solve. This step is important because it helps the teams to clearly state the problem, highlight the what, where, when, and impact of the problem, and avoid addressing the symptoms instead of the root causes. By agreeing on the problem to solve, the teams can focus their investigation and analysis, and save time and effort. The problem statement should be succinct and specific, and should not include any assumptions or solutions.
Reference: Inspect and Adapt – Scaled Agile Framework
Problem-solving workshop: Step-by-Step – Agilephoria
The Sun Never Sets on the Problem-Solving Workshop
Question #18
According to SAFe, which of the following types of work should fit into one Iteration for one team?
- A . Features
- B . Epics
- C . Tasks
- D . Stories
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
According to the SAFe 6 Scrum Master documentation, the type of work that should fit into one Iteration for one team is a Story. A Story is a short description of a small piece of functionality that provides value to the customer or stakeholder. Stories are derived from Features, which are larger units of value that typically span multiple Iterations. Stories are also decomposed into Tasks, which are the specific activities that the team members perform to implement the Story. Stories are the primary backlog items that the team plans, estimates, and delivers in an Iteration. They are also the basis for defining and committing to the Iteration goals. Stories should be small enough to be completed within one Iteration, and they should meet the definition of ready and the definition of done. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Stories
Features
Tasks
Iteration Planning
D
Explanation:
According to the SAFe 6 Scrum Master documentation, the type of work that should fit into one Iteration for one team is a Story. A Story is a short description of a small piece of functionality that provides value to the customer or stakeholder. Stories are derived from Features, which are larger units of value that typically span multiple Iterations. Stories are also decomposed into Tasks, which are the specific activities that the team members perform to implement the Story. Stories are the primary backlog items that the team plans, estimates, and delivers in an Iteration. They are also the basis for defining and committing to the Iteration goals. Stories should be small enough to be completed within one Iteration, and they should meet the definition of ready and the definition of done. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Stories
Features
Tasks
Iteration Planning
Question #19
What is one benefit of PI Planning?
- A . It maximizes team capacity
- B . It aligns the ART to established DevOps practices
- C . It fosters cross-team dependencies
- D . Allows for faster decision-making
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
One benefit of PI Planning is that it allows for faster decision-making by bringing together all the members of the Agile Release Train (ART) and the relevant stakeholders in a face-to-face (or virtual)
event. PI Planning provides an opportunity for the ART to align on a common vision and mission, review the business context and priorities, identify and resolve dependencies and risks, and commit to a realistic and achievable plan for the next Program Increment (PI). By having everyone involved in the planning process, the ART can leverage the collective knowledge and expertise of the participants, reduce ambiguity and uncertainty, and make informed and timely decisions that support the delivery of value to the customers. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: PI Planning – Scaled Agile Framework
Planning Interval (PI) – Scaled Agile Framework
Preparing for PI Planning | Checklist for Scrum Masters and Product … Scrum Master – Scaled Agile Framework Scrum Master role in PI Planning – ValueGlide
D
Explanation:
One benefit of PI Planning is that it allows for faster decision-making by bringing together all the members of the Agile Release Train (ART) and the relevant stakeholders in a face-to-face (or virtual)
event. PI Planning provides an opportunity for the ART to align on a common vision and mission, review the business context and priorities, identify and resolve dependencies and risks, and commit to a realistic and achievable plan for the next Program Increment (PI). By having everyone involved in the planning process, the ART can leverage the collective knowledge and expertise of the participants, reduce ambiguity and uncertainty, and make informed and timely decisions that support the delivery of value to the customers. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: PI Planning – Scaled Agile Framework
Planning Interval (PI) – Scaled Agile Framework
Preparing for PI Planning | Checklist for Scrum Masters and Product … Scrum Master – Scaled Agile Framework Scrum Master role in PI Planning – ValueGlide
Question #20
What is one way to ensure a team is holding successful Iteration Reviews and demos?
- A . The team demos working functionality
- B . The team swarms to prepare for demos
- C . The team shares improving metrics
- D . The team ensures they complete every Story
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
One way to ensure a team is holding successful iteration reviews and demos is to have the team demo working, tested system components that meet the definition of done (DoD). This shows the team’s progress and value delivery, and allows them to receive feedback from the product owner and other stakeholders. The team should minimize the use of slides and the preparation time for the demos, and focus on the solution instead of the presentation. The team should also discuss the impact of the current solution on the nonfunctional requirements (NFRs) and identify any risks or
impediments.
Reference: Iteration Review – Scaled Agile Framework
Exam Study Guide: SSM (6.0) – SAFe® Scrum Master
A
Explanation:
One way to ensure a team is holding successful iteration reviews and demos is to have the team demo working, tested system components that meet the definition of done (DoD). This shows the team’s progress and value delivery, and allows them to receive feedback from the product owner and other stakeholders. The team should minimize the use of slides and the preparation time for the demos, and focus on the solution instead of the presentation. The team should also discuss the impact of the current solution on the nonfunctional requirements (NFRs) and identify any risks or
impediments.
Reference: Iteration Review – Scaled Agile Framework
Exam Study Guide: SSM (6.0) – SAFe® Scrum Master