SSM Introducing Scrum in SAFe Practice Question
What is the primary role of the Scrum Master during the Daily Stand-up?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates frequently pick 'updating the status for the stakeholders' or 'assigning work,' which turns the stand-up into a status report meeting for the Scrum Master.
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
✓
To ensure the meeting is focused on the team's progress toward the goal.
The Daily Stand-up is a team event for synchronization and identifying blockers, not a status report to the Scrum Master. The Scrum Master's role is to ensure the meeting happens, stays within the timebox, and focuses on the iteration goals. They facilitate the process, helping the team stay disciplined, and take notes of blockers that require their intervention outside of the meeting.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
To listen to status updates from each member and update the Jira board.
Why it's wrong here
The team should update the board as they go; it is not the Scrum Master's job to act as the team's secretary. Reporting status to the Scrum Master turns the stand-up into a 'command and control' meeting, which undermines the team's self-organization and accountability for their daily progress and blockers.
- ✓
To ensure the meeting is focused on the team's progress toward the goal.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master keeps the team focused on their commitment. By facilitating, they ensure the team discusses what they have done, what they will do, and where the blockers are. This discipline keeps the team aligned and ensures they are working collaboratively to meet their iteration objectives in a timely manner.
- ✗
To decide who works on which story for the day based on skill sets.
Why it's wrong here
Task assignment is a team function, not a Scrum Master function. If the Scrum Master assigns the work, the team becomes passive and stops taking ownership of their tasks. A self-organizing team decides how to best tackle the work, which keeps them engaged and responsible for the overall outcome of the iteration.
- ✗
To resolve every blocker discussed during the meeting immediately.
Why it's wrong here
The Stand-up is time-boxed. Resolving complex issues usually requires longer, focused conversations involving a subset of the team. The Scrum Master should note the blockers and organize the necessary follow-up meetings, rather than attempting to solve every problem during the 15-minute stand-up, which would cause the meeting to run long.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Scaled Agile exam blueprint
This SSM practice question is part of Courseiva's free Scaled Agile 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 SSM exam.