- A
Ask the product owner to prioritize the new features against existing backlog items
The PO owns the backlog and should prioritize based on value.
- B
Instruct the team to start working on the new features immediately
Why wrong: Starting work without formal acceptance violates sprint scope.
- C
Agree to extend the sprint by one week to accommodate the changes
Why wrong: Extending the sprint undermines timeboxing and the sprint goal.
- D
Communicate the potential impact on the release plan to stakeholders
Transparency about impacts is key in agile.
- E
Add the new features to the product backlog for consideration in a future sprint
New work should be added to the backlog and prioritized for later sprints.
Question 129 of 892
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.
During a sprint review, the product owner requests a significant scope change that would add two new features. The team estimates this would extend the sprint by one week. You are the Scrum Master. Which THREE actions should you take?
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
✓
Ask the product owner to prioritize the new features against existing backlog items
Option A is correct because the product owner is responsible for prioritizing the product backlog. By asking the product owner to prioritize the new features against existing backlog items, you ensure that the most valuable work is addressed first, maintaining the integrity of the sprint goal and the team's commitment.
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.
- ✓
Ask the product owner to prioritize the new features against existing backlog items
Why this is correct
The PO owns the backlog and should prioritize based on value.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Instruct the team to start working on the new features immediately
Why it's wrong here
Starting work without formal acceptance violates sprint scope.
- ✗
Agree to extend the sprint by one week to accommodate the changes
Why it's wrong here
Extending the sprint undermines timeboxing and the sprint goal.
- ✓
Communicate the potential impact on the release plan to stakeholders
Why this is correct
Transparency about impacts is key in agile.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Add the new features to the product backlog for consideration in a future sprint
Why this is correct
New work should be added to the backlog and prioritized for later sprints.
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 may think accommodating the product owner's request immediately (by extending the sprint or starting work) demonstrates agility, but it actually violates Scrum's core principles of time-boxing and protecting the sprint goal.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Scrum, the sprint review is a time for inspection and adaptation, not for introducing new work into the current sprint. The product backlog is the single source of requirements, and any new features must be evaluated against existing items for value and priority. Extending the sprint would break the time-box constraint, which is a core mechanism for managing complexity and ensuring predictable delivery. The correct approach is to add the new features to the product backlog for future sprint planning, allowing the team to maintain focus and the product owner to re-prioritize based on business value.
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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Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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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: Ask the product owner to prioritize the new features against existing backlog items — Option A is correct because the product owner is responsible for prioritizing the product backlog. By asking the product owner to prioritize the new features against existing backlog items, you ensure that the most valuable work is addressed first, maintaining the integrity of the sprint goal and the team's commitment.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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