The correct answer is that the team added new work to the Sprint Backlog. A burndown chart tracks remaining work over time, and its fundamental principle is that the line should only trend downward as tasks are completed. An increase in remaining work, as seen from Day 3 to Day 4, directly violates this principle and logically indicates that new scope or tasks were introduced, or that existing tasks were re-estimated upward. On the Certified Associate in Project Management CAPM exam, this question tests your understanding of Agile monitoring and control, specifically how scope creep or re-estimation visually manifests on a burndown chart. A common trap is confusing this with poor performance—a team working slowly would flatten the curve, not raise it. Remember the memory tip: “Burndown burns down; if it goes up, scope got scooped up.”
CAPM Agile Frameworks and Methodologies Practice Question
This CAPM practice question tests your understanding of agile frameworks and methodologies. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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
Sprint Burndown Chart (remaining hours):
Day 1: 50
Day 2: 42
Day 3: 38
Day 4: 40
Day 5: 35
Refer to the exhibit. What does the increase in remaining work from Day 3 to Day 4 indicate?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The team added new work to the Sprint Backlog.
Option A is correct because a burndown chart should only decrease as work is completed; an increase suggests the team added new work (or re-estimated). Option B would show no change or a decrease if scope was removed. Option C would show a steeper decline. Option D would cause a drop, not an increase.
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 had a holiday on Day 4.
Why it's wrong here
A holiday with no work would typically result in the same remaining hours as the previous day, not an increase.
✗
The team removed some work from the Sprint Backlog.
Why it's wrong here
Removing work would decrease the remaining effort, not increase it.
✗
The team finished work faster than expected.
Why it's wrong here
Finishing work faster would cause a steeper downward trend, not an increase.
✓
The team added new work to the Sprint Backlog.
Why this is correct
An upward trend indicates that the remaining effort increased, which happens when new tasks are identified or scope is added.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 CAPM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 added new work to the Sprint Backlog. — Option A is correct because a burndown chart should only decrease as work is completed; an increase suggests the team added new work (or re-estimated). Option B would show no change or a decrease if scope was removed. Option C would show a steeper decline. Option D would cause a drop, not an increase.
What should I do if I get this CAPM question wrong?
Identify which CAPM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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