- A
Tell the team to continue working on other tasks and hope the documentation arrives soon.
Why wrong: This is passive and does not address the blocker; it risks incomplete work.
- B
Facilitate a meeting with the vendor to escalate the issue, and work with the team to re-prioritize the Sprint Backlog, possibly removing low-priority items to achieve a realistic Sprint Goal.
The Scrum Master removes impediments and helps the team self-organize to adjust the Sprint Backlog.
- C
Ask the Product Owner to remove the blocked stories from the Sprint Backlog without consulting the team.
Why wrong: The Product Owner can reprioritize but should not unilaterally remove items; the team must agree.
- D
Extend the Sprint by 3 days to allow the vendor to deliver the documentation and the team to complete the work.
Why wrong: Sprints are timeboxed; extending them undermines the timebox and does not solve the root cause.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to facilitate a meeting with the vendor to escalate the issue and work with the team to re-prioritize the Sprint Backlog, possibly removing low-priority items to achieve a realistic Sprint Goal. This is correct because the Scrum Master’s core responsibility is impediment removal and reprioritization when a blocker threatens the Sprint’s viability. By escalating the missing API documentation directly to the vendor, the Scrum Master removes the external blocker, while re-prioritizing the backlog ensures the team shifts focus to well-defined tasks, preventing confusion and aligning work with their stable velocity of 20 points. On the CAPM exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Scrum Master’s servant-leader role in facilitating transparency and adaptation mid-Sprint. A common trap is choosing to simply wait for the vendor or push the team to work harder, which ignores the need for active impediment removal and scope adjustment. Memory tip: “Escalate and re-prioritize—don’t wait or overcommit.”
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.
You are the Scrum Master for a distributed team of 8 developers working on a mobile app. The team uses two-week Sprints and has a stable velocity of 20 story points. In the current Sprint, the team committed to 22 points. By Day 5 of the Sprint (out of 10), the team has completed only 6 points. During the Daily Scrum, several members mention they are blocked by missing API documentation from a third-party vendor. The Product Owner says the vendor promised the documentation by Day 3, but it has not arrived. The developers have started working on other tasks, but they are not well-defined and are causing confusion. What should the Scrum Master do?
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
Facilitate a meeting with the vendor to escalate the issue, and work with the team to re-prioritize the Sprint Backlog, possibly removing low-priority items to achieve a realistic Sprint Goal.
Option B is correct because the Scrum Master's primary responsibility is to remove impediments and facilitate the team's progress. By escalating the missing API documentation to the vendor and facilitating a re-prioritization of the Sprint Backlog, the Scrum Master directly addresses the blocker and ensures the team can focus on well-defined, achievable work. This aligns with the Scrum Guide's principle of transparency and adaptation within the Sprint, especially given the team's stable velocity of 20 points and the current 6-point completion rate.
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.
- ✗
Tell the team to continue working on other tasks and hope the documentation arrives soon.
Why it's wrong here
This is passive and does not address the blocker; it risks incomplete work.
- ✓
Facilitate a meeting with the vendor to escalate the issue, and work with the team to re-prioritize the Sprint Backlog, possibly removing low-priority items to achieve a realistic Sprint Goal.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master removes impediments and helps the team self-organize to adjust the Sprint Backlog.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ask the Product Owner to remove the blocked stories from the Sprint Backlog without consulting the team.
Why it's wrong here
The Product Owner can reprioritize but should not unilaterally remove items; the team must agree.
- ✗
Extend the Sprint by 3 days to allow the vendor to deliver the documentation and the team to complete the work.
Why it's wrong here
Sprints are timeboxed; extending them undermines the timebox and does not solve the root cause.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think extending the Sprint (Option D) is a valid solution, but Scrum strictly enforces time-boxed Sprints, and altering the duration would break the empirical inspection and adaptation cycle.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Scrum, the Sprint Backlog is a plan by and for the Developers, and any changes to it must be negotiated with the team. The Scrum Master acts as a servant-leader, facilitating impediment removal and ensuring the Sprint Goal remains viable. Real-world distributed teams often face vendor dependencies; a common mitigation is to include buffer time or have contingency stories ready, but when a blocker hits mid-Sprint, the Scrum Master must escalate through the vendor's support channel or contractually agreed SLA, not just wait.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CAPM question test?
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: Facilitate a meeting with the vendor to escalate the issue, and work with the team to re-prioritize the Sprint Backlog, possibly removing low-priority items to achieve a realistic Sprint Goal. — Option B is correct because the Scrum Master's primary responsibility is to remove impediments and facilitate the team's progress. By escalating the missing API documentation to the vendor and facilitating a re-prioritization of the Sprint Backlog, the Scrum Master directly addresses the blocker and ensures the team can focus on well-defined, achievable work. This aligns with the Scrum Guide's principle of transparency and adaptation within the Sprint, especially given the team's stable velocity of 20 points and the current 6-point completion rate.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CAPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 CAPM exam.
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