- A
Reduce the team's velocity for the next sprint to match their actual performance
Why wrong: Adjusting velocity is a result, not a solution; the root cause should be addressed.
- B
Increase the sprint length to give the team more time to complete work
Why wrong: Changing sprint length is a process change that does not address the root cause of unclear criteria.
- C
Coach the product owner on writing clear acceptance criteria and ensure stories are refined before sprint planning
Addressing the root cause will help the team make realistic commitments and reduce blockers.
- D
Remove the blockers during the standup by clarifying the acceptance criteria yourself
Why wrong: While removing blockers is good, the scrum master should empower the product owner to do this consistently.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to coach the product owner on writing clear acceptance criteria and ensure stories are refined before sprint planning. This is the right action because the scrum master serves as a servant-leader and process coach, not a task assigner; when the team misses sprint commitments due to unclear acceptance criteria, the root cause is a breakdown in backlog refinement, which the scrum master must address by guiding the product owner to define precise, testable conditions of satisfaction before the sprint begins. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the scrum master’s role in facilitating stakeholder collaboration and removing impediments at the process level, often appearing as a distractor where you might be tempted to have the scrum master rewrite the criteria themselves or simply tell the team to “try harder.” A common trap is confusing the scrum master with a project manager who directly fixes the work; instead, remember that the scrum master empowers others to improve. Memory tip: “Coach, don’t fix—teach the PO to write the mix.”
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
In a Scrum project, the development team is consistently missing sprint commitments. The daily standup reveals that they are blocked by unclear acceptance criteria. 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
Coach the product owner on writing clear acceptance criteria and ensure stories are refined before sprint planning
The scrum master should coach the product owner to improve user story refinement, ensuring acceptance criteria are clear before sprint 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.
- ✗
Reduce the team's velocity for the next sprint to match their actual performance
Why it's wrong here
Adjusting velocity is a result, not a solution; the root cause should be addressed.
- ✗
Increase the sprint length to give the team more time to complete work
Why it's wrong here
Changing sprint length is a process change that does not address the root cause of unclear criteria.
- ✓
Coach the product owner on writing clear acceptance criteria and ensure stories are refined before sprint planning
Why this is correct
Addressing the root cause will help the team make realistic commitments and reduce blockers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Remove the blockers during the standup by clarifying the acceptance criteria yourself
Why it's wrong here
While removing blockers is good, the scrum master should empower the product owner to do this consistently.
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 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 PMP 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.
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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Coach the product owner on writing clear acceptance criteria and ensure stories are refined before sprint planning — The scrum master should coach the product owner to improve user story refinement, ensuring acceptance criteria are clear before sprint planning.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on PMP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. In a Scrum project, the development team consistently fails to complete all committed stories in each sprint. The daily stand-up meetings are running long and often devolve into problem-solving sessions. As the Scrum Master, what should you do?
easy- ✓ A.Coach the team to keep the stand-up focused and time-boxed, and facilitate separate sessions for detailed discussions
- B.Add more stories to the sprint backlog to increase velocity
- C.Cancel the daily stand-up and replace it with email updates
- D.Allow the stand-up to run longer to ensure issues are resolved
Why A: The daily stand-up should be time-boxed and focused on coordination, not problem-solving. The Scrum Master should coach the team on the purpose and enforce time-boxing.
Variation 2. During a sprint retrospective, a team member complains that the daily standups are too long and unproductive. Several others agree. What is the BEST action for the Scrum Master to take?
medium- A.Enforce a strict 15-minute timebox for future standups
- B.Cancel the daily standups and replace them with written status reports
- C.Move the standup to a later time when team members are more focused
- ✓ D.Ask the team to propose improvements to the standup format and agree on changes
Why D: The retrospective is the appropriate place to discuss process improvements. The Scrum Master should facilitate a discussion to modify the standup format based on the team's feedback.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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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