PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
During a sprint review, the product owner notices that the team has completed 30 story points, but the burndown chart shows an upward trend. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
PK0-005 often tests the interpretation of burndown charts. Candidates may confuse an upward trend with increased velocity or faster work, but it actually indicates added scope.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Additional scope was added to the sprint
A burndown chart shows remaining work over time. An upward trend indicates that the total work remaining has increased, which typically happens when additional scope is added to the sprint. The team completed 30 story points, but if new stories were added, the remaining work could increase, causing the burndown line to go up.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The team underestimated the velocity
Why it's wrong here
Underestimation would depress recorded velocity, not raise remaining work. An upward burndown line means scope was added mid-sprint, so completed points rose while total work grew faster. Underestimation is tempting because inaccurate estimating is a common agile problem, but it affects forecasts, not the burndown's direction.
- ✗
The sprint duration was extended
Why it's wrong here
Extending the sprint changes the chart's timescale, not its direction; remaining work still declines as points complete. An upward line means scope was injected during the sprint, raising total effort. Duration changes are tempting because timeline adjustments are common, but they do not add backlog items.
- ✓
Additional scope was added to the sprint
Why this is correct
The burndown chart tracks remaining work, so adding stories mid-sprint raises the remaining total even while the team completes points. Completed work of 30 story points alongside an upward trend therefore indicates scope was injected into the sprint.
- ✗
The team is working faster than planned
Why it's wrong here
Faster delivery lowers the burndown line, since remaining points fall quicker. An upward trend requires work added after sprint planning, increasing total scope beyond the committed backlog. Faster-than-planned progress is tempting because high velocity sounds positive, yet it cannot reverse the chart's slope.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PK0-005 exam.