CAPM Agile Frameworks and Methodologies Practice Question
This CAPM practice question tests your understanding of agile frameworks and methodologies. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Iteration 1 Velocity: 20 story points
Iteration 2 Velocity: 22 story points
Iteration 3 Velocity: 18 story points
Iteration 4 Velocity: 24 story points
Planned for Iteration 5: 30 story points
```
Based on the exhibit, what is the most significant risk for the upcoming iteration?
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Iteration 1 Velocity: 20 story points
Iteration 2 Velocity: 22 story points
Iteration 3 Velocity: 18 story points
Iteration 4 Velocity: 24 story points
Planned for Iteration 5: 30 story points
```
A
The team is overcommitting based on historical velocity data.
The planned 30 points exceed the average velocity of 21, indicating overcommitment.
B
The product backlog may have scope creep from new requirements.
Why wrong: No information suggests scope creep; the issue is overcommitment.
C
The team's velocity is dropping, indicating a need to add more team members.
Why wrong: Velocity is not dropping; it varies but is not in a downward trend.
D
The team's velocity is trending upward, so the plan is realistic.
Why wrong: Velocity is not consistently trending upward; the average is 21, and 30 is an outlier.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The team is overcommitting based on historical velocity data.
The exhibit shows a planned velocity of 40 story points per iteration, but the historical velocity data indicates the team consistently completes only 30 story points. This mismatch means the team is overcommitting, which will likely lead to unfinished work and reduced quality. In Agile, using historical velocity as a baseline is critical for realistic iteration planning.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 is overcommitting based on historical velocity data.
Why this is correct
The planned 30 points exceed the average velocity of 21, indicating overcommitment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The product backlog may have scope creep from new requirements.
Why it's wrong here
No information suggests scope creep; the issue is overcommitment.
✗
The team's velocity is dropping, indicating a need to add more team members.
Why it's wrong here
Velocity is not dropping; it varies but is not in a downward trend.
✗
The team's velocity is trending upward, so the plan is realistic.
Why it's wrong here
Velocity is not consistently trending upward; the average is 21, and 30 is an outlier.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the misconception that a team can simply increase velocity by working harder or adding resources, rather than respecting historical data as a reliable predictor of capacity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Velocity is a measure of a team's throughput over time, calculated from completed story points in previous iterations. In Scrum, the product owner and team use this historical data to forecast future capacity, typically taking an average or a range. Overcommitting ignores the empirical nature of Agile, leading to technical debt, burnout, and inaccurate burndown charts. Real-world scenarios show that teams who consistently overcommit often fail to meet sprint goals, eroding stakeholder trust.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CAPM exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Agile Frameworks and Methodologies — This question tests Agile Frameworks and Methodologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The team is overcommitting based on historical velocity data. — The exhibit shows a planned velocity of 40 story points per iteration, but the historical velocity data indicates the team consistently completes only 30 story points. This mismatch means the team is overcommitting, which will likely lead to unfinished work and reduced quality. In Agile, using historical velocity as a baseline is critical for realistic iteration planning.
What should I do if I get this CAPM question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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