- A
The product owner cancels the current sprint and starts a new sprint with the revised backlog
Cancelling a sprint is allowed in Scrum when the sprint goal becomes obsolete.
- B
Replace the least important sprint backlog item with the new work and adjust the sprint goal accordingly
Why wrong: Swapping items mid-sprint undermines the team's commitment and may cause rework.
- C
Instruct the team to include the new work in the current sprint and extend the sprint duration
Why wrong: Extending sprint length is not a standard Scrum practice; it violates time-boxing.
- D
Add the new work to the sprint backlog and ask the team to work overtime
Why wrong: Adding work mid-sprint is not recommended; it compromises the sprint goal and team commitment.
- E
The product owner adds the new work to the product backlog and prioritizes it for the next sprint
This maintains the integrity of the current sprint and allows proper prioritization.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that the product owner adds the new work to the product backlog and prioritizes it for the next sprint. This aligns with the Scrum framework because the sprint backlog is a frozen commitment for the current time-box; introducing a mid-sprint change would disrupt the team’s focus and jeopardize the sprint goal. The other valid option is canceling the sprint only if the sprint goal becomes obsolete, which is a rare, deliberate action. On the PMP exam, this question tests your understanding of the Product Owner’s role in balancing emergent value with sprint stability—a common trap is assuming the team must accept the change immediately. Remember the key principle: the sprint is a shield, not a sponge. For a quick memory tip, think “New work waits; only obsolete goals cancel.”
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. 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.
An agile project team is in the middle of a sprint when the product owner introduces a high-priority change that was not part of the sprint backlog. The team is concerned about their ability to deliver the sprint goal. Which TWO options align with the Scrum framework? (Choose two.)
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
The product owner cancels the current sprint and starts a new sprint with the revised backlog
Option A is correct because the Scrum framework explicitly allows the Product Owner to cancel a sprint if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete, such as when a high-priority change emerges that invalidates the current goal. Cancelling the sprint and starting a new one with the revised backlog ensures the team focuses on the highest-value work without disrupting the sprint's time-box or overloading the team. Option E is correct because the Product Owner can add the new work to the Product Backlog and prioritize it for the next sprint, which respects the current Sprint's commitment and allows the team to complete the Sprint Goal without interruption.
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 product owner cancels the current sprint and starts a new sprint with the revised backlog
Why this is correct
Cancelling a sprint is allowed in Scrum when the sprint goal becomes obsolete.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Replace the least important sprint backlog item with the new work and adjust the sprint goal accordingly
Why it's wrong here
Swapping items mid-sprint undermines the team's commitment and may cause rework.
- ✗
Instruct the team to include the new work in the current sprint and extend the sprint duration
Why it's wrong here
Extending sprint length is not a standard Scrum practice; it violates time-boxing.
- ✗
Add the new work to the sprint backlog and ask the team to work overtime
Why it's wrong here
Adding work mid-sprint is not recommended; it compromises the sprint goal and team commitment.
- ✓
The product owner adds the new work to the product backlog and prioritizes it for the next sprint
Why this is correct
This maintains the integrity of the current sprint and allows proper prioritization.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the Product Owner's authority to re-prioritize the Product Backlog with the ability to change the Sprint Backlog mid-sprint, leading them to select options like B or D that violate the Sprint's immutability and the team's commitment to the Sprint Goal.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Backlog is a plan made visible and is considered frozen during the Sprint to protect the team from scope creep and to maintain focus on the Sprint Goal. The Product Owner has the authority to cancel a Sprint only if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete, which is a rare event typically driven by a major market shift or critical defect. In practice, cancellation is disruptive and should be used sparingly; the preferred approach is to defer the new work to the next Sprint via Product Backlog refinement, as in Option E, which aligns with the empirical process control of Scrum.
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 PMP 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The product owner cancels the current sprint and starts a new sprint with the revised backlog — Option A is correct because the Scrum framework explicitly allows the Product Owner to cancel a sprint if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete, such as when a high-priority change emerges that invalidates the current goal. Cancelling the sprint and starting a new one with the revised backlog ensures the team focuses on the highest-value work without disrupting the sprint's time-box or overloading the team. Option E is correct because the Product Owner can add the new work to the Product Backlog and prioritize it for the next sprint, which respects the current Sprint's commitment and allows the team to complete the Sprint Goal without interruption.
What should I do if I get this PMP 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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PMP 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 PMP exam.
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