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 #21
Team A works collaboratively on new functionality for a customer application. The acceptance criteria have each been minimally met.
Team A decides to release the functionality with a method for collecting direct customer feedback.
Which of the following high-performing team characteristics is Team A demonstrating?
- A . Balancing abilities on the team with the challenge of the work
- B . Taking appropriate risks without fear of failure
- C . Focusing on success over trying to avoid failures
- D . Using regular feedback loops built into the learning cycle
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
One of the high-performing team characteristics that Team A is demonstrating is using regular feedback loops built into the learning cycle. A high-performing Agile Team is a cross-functional group of people that have everything, and everyone, necessary to produce a working, tested increment of product1 They are empowered, collaborative, aligned, and committed to delivering value to the customers and the organization1 One of the factors that enable a high-performing Agile Team is using regular feedback loops to learn and improve. Feedback loops are mechanisms that provide the team with information about the outcomes and impacts of their actions, as well as the needs and expectations of their customers and stakeholders23 Feedback loops help the team to validate their assumptions, measure their progress, and adjust their plans accordingly23 Feedback loops also help the team to foster a culture of experimentation, innovation, and continuous improvement, as well as to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty23 Team A is using regular feedback loops by releasing the functionality with a method for collecting direct customer feedback. This allows them to learn from the actual users of their product, and to incorporate their feedback into the next iteration of development. This way, they can deliver value faster and more effectively, as well as to enhance the quality and usability of their product4 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Feedback – Scaled Agile Framework
Agile Teams – Scaled Agile Framework
Feedback Loops: The Key to Building Better Products Faster | UserTesting Blog The Importance of Customer Feedback in Product Development | SurveyMonkey
D
Explanation:
One of the high-performing team characteristics that Team A is demonstrating is using regular feedback loops built into the learning cycle. A high-performing Agile Team is a cross-functional group of people that have everything, and everyone, necessary to produce a working, tested increment of product1 They are empowered, collaborative, aligned, and committed to delivering value to the customers and the organization1 One of the factors that enable a high-performing Agile Team is using regular feedback loops to learn and improve. Feedback loops are mechanisms that provide the team with information about the outcomes and impacts of their actions, as well as the needs and expectations of their customers and stakeholders23 Feedback loops help the team to validate their assumptions, measure their progress, and adjust their plans accordingly23 Feedback loops also help the team to foster a culture of experimentation, innovation, and continuous improvement, as well as to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty23 Team A is using regular feedback loops by releasing the functionality with a method for collecting direct customer feedback. This allows them to learn from the actual users of their product, and to incorporate their feedback into the next iteration of development. This way, they can deliver value faster and more effectively, as well as to enhance the quality and usability of their product4 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Feedback – Scaled Agile Framework
Agile Teams – Scaled Agile Framework
Feedback Loops: The Key to Building Better Products Faster | UserTesting Blog The Importance of Customer Feedback in Product Development | SurveyMonkey
Question #22
Team A has decided to use the IP Iteration to continue the finalizing Feature delivery work they have been working on for the past two Iterations.
What is one effect Team A might experience by continuing to stay heads-down rather than using the IP Iteration as intended?
- A . Individual team members could lose an opportunity to learn from one another
- B . Individual team members could lose an opportunity to keep their technical skills current
- C . Individual team members could lose an opportunity to consider their team work more holistically
- D . Individual team members could lose an opportunity to refresh their motivation
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
By continuing to stay heads-down on the finalizing Feature delivery work, Team A might miss the chance to reflect on their team work more holistically and identify areas for improvement. The IP Iteration is intended to provide time for the team to participate in the Inspect and Adapt event, where they can review their PI performance, analyze the root causes of any issues, and create an improvement backlog. The IP Iteration also allows the team to engage in innovation and learning activities, such as hackathons, that can foster creativity, collaboration, and experimentation. These activities can help the team generate new ideas, solutions, and feedback that can benefit their future work. By skipping the IP Iteration, Team A might lose the opportunity to learn from their past experiences, improve their processes, and innovate their products.
Reference: Innovation and Planning Iteration – Scaled Agile Framework, Exam Study Guide: SSM (6.0) – SAFe® Scrum Master
C
Explanation:
By continuing to stay heads-down on the finalizing Feature delivery work, Team A might miss the chance to reflect on their team work more holistically and identify areas for improvement. The IP Iteration is intended to provide time for the team to participate in the Inspect and Adapt event, where they can review their PI performance, analyze the root causes of any issues, and create an improvement backlog. The IP Iteration also allows the team to engage in innovation and learning activities, such as hackathons, that can foster creativity, collaboration, and experimentation. These activities can help the team generate new ideas, solutions, and feedback that can benefit their future work. By skipping the IP Iteration, Team A might lose the opportunity to learn from their past experiences, improve their processes, and innovate their products.
Reference: Innovation and Planning Iteration – Scaled Agile Framework, Exam Study Guide: SSM (6.0) – SAFe® Scrum Master
Question #23
What is one anti-pattern that emerges when teams do not spend enough time refining the backlog?
- A . Teams arrive to Team Sync without progress to share
- B . Teams enter retrospectives without improvement ideas
- C . Teams enter new Iterations without enough Stories prepared
- D . Teams arrive to Iteration Planning without specified goals
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
One anti-pattern that emerges when teams do not spend enough time refining the backlog is that they enter new Iterations without enough Stories prepared. This can result in several negative consequences, such as: 123
The team may struggle to plan and commit to the Iteration Goals, as they lack clarity, feasibility, and testability of the Stories.
The team may face delays, rework, and waste, as they encounter unanticipated dependencies, risks, or technical issues during the Iteration.
The team may deliver low-quality or incomplete Stories, as they rush to meet the Iteration deadlines or compromise on the Definition of Done.
The team may lose focus, alignment, and motivation, as they work on ambiguous or unrealistic Stories that do not deliver value to the customers or the organization.
To avoid this anti-pattern, the team should dedicate sufficient time and effort to refine the backlog on a regular basis, preferably every Iteration123 Backlog Refinement is an ongoing process where the team collaborates with the Product Owner and other stakeholders to review, split, prioritize, and estimate the Stories in the Team Backlog4 One of the main objectives of Backlog Refinement is to ensure that the Stories are ready for Iteration Planning, which means they are clear, feasible, testable, and small enough to be completed in a single Iteration2 By doing so, the team can improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of their work, as well as deliver value to the customers and the organization
C
Explanation:
One anti-pattern that emerges when teams do not spend enough time refining the backlog is that they enter new Iterations without enough Stories prepared. This can result in several negative consequences, such as: 123
The team may struggle to plan and commit to the Iteration Goals, as they lack clarity, feasibility, and testability of the Stories.
The team may face delays, rework, and waste, as they encounter unanticipated dependencies, risks, or technical issues during the Iteration.
The team may deliver low-quality or incomplete Stories, as they rush to meet the Iteration deadlines or compromise on the Definition of Done.
The team may lose focus, alignment, and motivation, as they work on ambiguous or unrealistic Stories that do not deliver value to the customers or the organization.
To avoid this anti-pattern, the team should dedicate sufficient time and effort to refine the backlog on a regular basis, preferably every Iteration123 Backlog Refinement is an ongoing process where the team collaborates with the Product Owner and other stakeholders to review, split, prioritize, and estimate the Stories in the Team Backlog4 One of the main objectives of Backlog Refinement is to ensure that the Stories are ready for Iteration Planning, which means they are clear, feasible, testable, and small enough to be completed in a single Iteration2 By doing so, the team can improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of their work, as well as deliver value to the customers and the organization
Question #24
What is one example of an Agile Team development practice?
- A . Tracking regulations
- B . Writing requirements
- C . Demoing frequently
- D . Visualizing effort
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
One example of an Agile Team development practice is to demo working functionality frequently to the product owner and other stakeholders. This practice helps the team to get fast feedback, validate their assumptions, and ensure that they are delivering value that meets the customer needs and expectations. Demoing frequently also helps the team to improve the quality of their work, as they have to ensure that the functionality is tested and meets the definition of done before showing it to others. Demoing frequently is part of the SAFe Scrum and SAFe Team Kanban practices, and is done at the end of each iteration in the Iteration Review event.
Reference: Iteration Review – Scaled Agile Framework
SAFe Team Kanban – Scaled Agile Framework
Agile Teams – Scaled Agile Framework
C
Explanation:
One example of an Agile Team development practice is to demo working functionality frequently to the product owner and other stakeholders. This practice helps the team to get fast feedback, validate their assumptions, and ensure that they are delivering value that meets the customer needs and expectations. Demoing frequently also helps the team to improve the quality of their work, as they have to ensure that the functionality is tested and meets the definition of done before showing it to others. Demoing frequently is part of the SAFe Scrum and SAFe Team Kanban practices, and is done at the end of each iteration in the Iteration Review event.
Reference: Iteration Review – Scaled Agile Framework
SAFe Team Kanban – Scaled Agile Framework
Agile Teams – Scaled Agile Framework
Question #25
What is one Agile development value?
- A . Healthy interactions over detailed plans
- B . Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- C . Risk-taking over process development
- D . Working teams over busy individuals
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
One Agile development value is customer collaboration over contract negotiation. This value is one of the four core values of the Agile Manifesto, which states: “We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it.
Through this work we have come to value:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools Working software over comprehensive documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Responding to change over following a plan That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.” 1 This value emphasizes the importance of building a trusting and collaborative relationship with the customers, rather than relying on rigid and formal contracts that may limit the ability to respond to changing needs and expectations2 Customer collaboration means involving the customers throughout the development process, seeking their feedback, input, and validation, and delivering solutions that meet their requirements and expectations3 Customer collaboration also means respecting the customers’ opinions and perspectives, and resolving any conflicts or issues in a constructive and respectful manner4 Customer collaboration helps the Agile teams to deliver value faster and more effectively, as well as to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty34 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Manifesto for Agile Software Development
Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation – Mountain Goat Software Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation – Agile Alliance Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation – Scrum Inc
B
Explanation:
One Agile development value is customer collaboration over contract negotiation. This value is one of the four core values of the Agile Manifesto, which states: “We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it.
Through this work we have come to value:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools Working software over comprehensive documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Responding to change over following a plan That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.” 1 This value emphasizes the importance of building a trusting and collaborative relationship with the customers, rather than relying on rigid and formal contracts that may limit the ability to respond to changing needs and expectations2 Customer collaboration means involving the customers throughout the development process, seeking their feedback, input, and validation, and delivering solutions that meet their requirements and expectations3 Customer collaboration also means respecting the customers’ opinions and perspectives, and resolving any conflicts or issues in a constructive and respectful manner4 Customer collaboration helps the Agile teams to deliver value faster and more effectively, as well as to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty34 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Manifesto for Agile Software Development
Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation – Mountain Goat Software Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation – Agile Alliance Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation – Scrum Inc
Question #26
How can teams use Iteration planning to stay aligned on their work?
- A . By reviewing its processes before the next iteration
- B . By committing to a set of goals to be delivered
- C . By agreeing on a meeting timebox
- D . By sharing Stories that could be pairing opportunities
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
According to the SAFe 6 Scrum Master documentation, one of the ways teams can use Iteration planning to stay aligned on their work is by committing to a set of goals to be delivered. Iteration goals are a summary of the business and technical outcomes that the team intends to achieve in the Iteration. They are based on the stories selected from the team backlog, the team’s capacity, and the acceptance criteria. By committing to a set of goals, the team creates a shared understanding of the purpose and scope of the Iteration, as well as the expected value and quality. The team also aligns with the ART vision and objectives, and communicates their commitment to the stakeholders and customers. Iteration goals help the team to stay focused, motivated, and accountable throughout the Iteration. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Iteration Planning
Iteration Goals
Scrum Master/Team Coach
B
Explanation:
According to the SAFe 6 Scrum Master documentation, one of the ways teams can use Iteration planning to stay aligned on their work is by committing to a set of goals to be delivered. Iteration goals are a summary of the business and technical outcomes that the team intends to achieve in the Iteration. They are based on the stories selected from the team backlog, the team’s capacity, and the acceptance criteria. By committing to a set of goals, the team creates a shared understanding of the purpose and scope of the Iteration, as well as the expected value and quality. The team also aligns with the ART vision and objectives, and communicates their commitment to the stakeholders and customers. Iteration goals help the team to stay focused, motivated, and accountable throughout the Iteration. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Iteration Planning
Iteration Goals
Scrum Master/Team Coach
Question #27
What is one example of Scrum Masters/Team Coaches helping without diminishing the commitment of others?
- A . Facilitating necessary meetings for the team
- B . Demoing the team’s completed work
- C . Encouraging handoffs so each team member contributes to the work
- D . Coaching the team to refrain from relying on external resources
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
One example of Scrum Masters/Team Coaches helping without diminishing the commitment of others is facilitating necessary meetings for the team. Facilitating means providing guidance and support to the team in conducting effective and productive meetings, such as Iteration Planning,
Daily Stand-up, Iteration Review, and Iteration Retrospective1 Facilitating does not mean taking over the meeting or making decisions for the team. Rather, it means creating a safe and respectful environment, ensuring clear and shared objectives, encouraging participation and collaboration, managing time and agenda, resolving conflicts and issues, and summarizing outcomes and action items23 By facilitating necessary meetings for the team, Scrum Masters/Team Coaches help the team to achieve their goals, improve their processes, and deliver value to the customers and the organization14 At the same time, they respect and empower the team’s autonomy, self-organization, and self-management, and do not interfere with their commitment or accountability14 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Scrum Master/Team Coach – Scaled Agile Framework
Facilitation – Scaled Agile Framework
How to Facilitate Effective Meetings as a Scrum Master | Agile Velocity The Scrum Master Balancing Act | Scrum.org
A
Explanation:
One example of Scrum Masters/Team Coaches helping without diminishing the commitment of others is facilitating necessary meetings for the team. Facilitating means providing guidance and support to the team in conducting effective and productive meetings, such as Iteration Planning,
Daily Stand-up, Iteration Review, and Iteration Retrospective1 Facilitating does not mean taking over the meeting or making decisions for the team. Rather, it means creating a safe and respectful environment, ensuring clear and shared objectives, encouraging participation and collaboration, managing time and agenda, resolving conflicts and issues, and summarizing outcomes and action items23 By facilitating necessary meetings for the team, Scrum Masters/Team Coaches help the team to achieve their goals, improve their processes, and deliver value to the customers and the organization14 At the same time, they respect and empower the team’s autonomy, self-organization, and self-management, and do not interfere with their commitment or accountability14 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Scrum Master/Team Coach – Scaled Agile Framework
Facilitation – Scaled Agile Framework
How to Facilitate Effective Meetings as a Scrum Master | Agile Velocity The Scrum Master Balancing Act | Scrum.org
Question #28
What is one recommended practice for Scrum Masters/Team Coaches when coaching teams on presenting a draft plan at PI Planning?
- A . Identify as many risks and dependencies as possible for the management review
- B . Align on how the team will answer questions about their proposed objectives
- C . Secure support from other teams on how work will be shared and completed
- D . Ensure the team has Stories written for the first two Iterations of the increment
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
One recommended practice for Scrum Masters/Team Coaches when coaching teams on presenting a draft plan at PI Planning is to align on how the team will answer questions about their proposed objectives. This practice helps the team to prepare for the feedback and input they will receive from the business owners, product management, and other teams and stakeholders during the draft plan review. The team should agree on who will present the objectives, how they will explain the business value and technical feasibility, and how they will handle any objections or concerns. The team should also rehearse their presentation and anticipate potential questions and scenarios. By aligning on how to answer questions, the team can increase their confidence and clarity, and demonstrate their commitment and alignment to the vision and goals of the ART.
Reference: PI Planning – Scaled Agile Framework
Presenting PI Planning Draft and Final Plan Reviews Virtually
SAFe Scrum Master/Team Coach – Scaled Agile Framework
B
Explanation:
One recommended practice for Scrum Masters/Team Coaches when coaching teams on presenting a draft plan at PI Planning is to align on how the team will answer questions about their proposed objectives. This practice helps the team to prepare for the feedback and input they will receive from the business owners, product management, and other teams and stakeholders during the draft plan review. The team should agree on who will present the objectives, how they will explain the business value and technical feasibility, and how they will handle any objections or concerns. The team should also rehearse their presentation and anticipate potential questions and scenarios. By aligning on how to answer questions, the team can increase their confidence and clarity, and demonstrate their commitment and alignment to the vision and goals of the ART.
Reference: PI Planning – Scaled Agile Framework
Presenting PI Planning Draft and Final Plan Reviews Virtually
SAFe Scrum Master/Team Coach – Scaled Agile Framework
Question #29
What is one method a Scrum Master/Team Coach can use to help teams overcome a fear of conflict?
- A . Enforcing work-in-process limits
- B . Giving every team member the opportunity to contribute
- C . Scheduling regular Team Syncs
- D . Aligning to shared commitments
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
One method a Scrum Master/Team Coach can use to help teams overcome a fear of conflict is to give every team member the opportunity to contribute. Fear of conflict is one of the common dysfunctions of a team, which can result in artificial harmony, lack of trust, and avoidance of issues1 To overcome this fear, the Scrum Master/Team Coach can facilitate a safe and respectful environment where team members can express their opinions, ideas, and concerns without being judged, ignored, or attacked23 Giving every team member the opportunity to contribute can help them feel valued, respected, and heard, as well as foster a culture of collaboration, feedback, and learning45 The Scrum Master/Team Coach can use various techniques to ensure equal participation, such as round-robin, fist of five, dot voting, silent brainstorming, and liberating structures45 By encouraging healthy and constructive conflict, the Scrum Master/Team Coach can help the team improve their performance, creativity, and innovation23
B
Explanation:
One method a Scrum Master/Team Coach can use to help teams overcome a fear of conflict is to give every team member the opportunity to contribute. Fear of conflict is one of the common dysfunctions of a team, which can result in artificial harmony, lack of trust, and avoidance of issues1 To overcome this fear, the Scrum Master/Team Coach can facilitate a safe and respectful environment where team members can express their opinions, ideas, and concerns without being judged, ignored, or attacked23 Giving every team member the opportunity to contribute can help them feel valued, respected, and heard, as well as foster a culture of collaboration, feedback, and learning45 The Scrum Master/Team Coach can use various techniques to ensure equal participation, such as round-robin, fist of five, dot voting, silent brainstorming, and liberating structures45 By encouraging healthy and constructive conflict, the Scrum Master/Team Coach can help the team improve their performance, creativity, and innovation23
Question #30
During which of the following Agile Team events do team members estimate relative story sizes?
- A . Backlog Refinement
- B . Iteration Review
- C . Iteration Planning
- D . Iteration Retrospective
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
Backlog Refinement is the Agile Team event where team members estimate relative story sizes. Backlog Refinement is an ongoing process where the team collaborates with the Product Owner and other stakeholders to review, split, prioritize, and estimate the stories in the Team Backlog1 One of the main objectives of Backlog Refinement is to ensure that the stories are ready for Iteration Planning, which means they are clear, feasible, testable, and small enough to be completed in a single iteration2 To achieve this, the team uses relative story sizing, which is a technique to compare the effort, complexity, and uncertainty of different stories based on a common reference point3 Relative story sizing helps the team to create a consistent and shared understanding of the scope and value of the work, as well as to optimize the flow and predictability of the delivery process4 The team can use various methods to estimate relative story sizes, such as story points, T-
shirt sizes, or Fibonacci numbers35 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Team Backlog – Scaled Agile Framework
Backlog Refinement – Scaled Agile Framework
Story – Scaled Agile Framework
How to Estimate Agile Stories: Introducing Relative Sizing – LeanDog Why Your Agile Team Should Use Relative Story Point Estimation
A
Explanation:
Backlog Refinement is the Agile Team event where team members estimate relative story sizes. Backlog Refinement is an ongoing process where the team collaborates with the Product Owner and other stakeholders to review, split, prioritize, and estimate the stories in the Team Backlog1 One of the main objectives of Backlog Refinement is to ensure that the stories are ready for Iteration Planning, which means they are clear, feasible, testable, and small enough to be completed in a single iteration2 To achieve this, the team uses relative story sizing, which is a technique to compare the effort, complexity, and uncertainty of different stories based on a common reference point3 Relative story sizing helps the team to create a consistent and shared understanding of the scope and value of the work, as well as to optimize the flow and predictability of the delivery process4 The team can use various methods to estimate relative story sizes, such as story points, T-
shirt sizes, or Fibonacci numbers35 (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)
Reference: Team Backlog – Scaled Agile Framework
Backlog Refinement – Scaled Agile Framework
Story – Scaled Agile Framework
How to Estimate Agile Stories: Introducing Relative Sizing – LeanDog Why Your Agile Team Should Use Relative Story Point Estimation