CSM Scrum Events Practice Question
A Scrum Team's Sprint Review consistently runs over its four-hour timebox for a one-month Sprint, with stakeholders engaging in lengthy debates about future features. The Scrum Master wants to improve the event. What should the Scrum Master do?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is believing that the Sprint Review's timebox can be extended to accommodate extensive stakeholder debate rather than coaching participants to use the time effectively.
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 team and stakeholders on the purpose of the Sprint Review, which is to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog, and help them keep the event within its timebox.
The Sprint Review is timeboxed to a maximum of four hours for a one-month Sprint. Its purpose is for the Scrum Team and stakeholders to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog. When discussions become lengthy and unfocused, the Scrum Master should coach participants on the event's purpose and help them manage the timebox, ensuring the event remains productive and within its limit.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Coach the team and stakeholders on the purpose of the Sprint Review, which is to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog, and help them keep the event within its timebox.
Why this is correct
The Sprint Review is timeboxed to a maximum of four hours for a one-month Sprint. Its purpose is to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog, not to conduct lengthy feature debates. The Scrum Master should coach participants on this purpose and help them manage the discussion so the event stays within its timebox and remains productive.
- ✗
Cancel the Sprint Review and replace it with a written status report distributed to stakeholders, since the meeting is too long.
Why it's wrong here
The Sprint Review is a required Scrum event and cannot be replaced by a written report. Its interactive nature allows for inspection and adaptation that a report cannot provide. Canceling it would remove a critical inspect-and-adapt opportunity. The Scrum Master should instead coach participants on how to conduct the event within its timebox.
- ✗
Extend the Sprint Review timebox to six hours to allow all stakeholders to fully express their opinions and reach consensus on future features.
Why it's wrong here
The Scrum Guide sets the maximum timebox for the Sprint Review at four hours for a one-month Sprint. Extending it to six hours violates the timebox and encourages unfocused discussions. The Scrum Master should instead help the team and stakeholders use the allotted time effectively and take deep debates offline.
- ✗
Limit attendance at the Sprint Review to only the Product Owner and Developers so that stakeholder debates can be avoided entirely.
Why it's wrong here
The Sprint Review is an inclusive event where the Scrum Team and key stakeholders collaborate. Excluding stakeholders would reduce transparency and eliminate valuable feedback. The Scrum Master should facilitate effective participation, not restrict attendance. The event is designed to foster collaboration, not to shut it down.
About these practice questions
This CSM question is part of Courseiva's 312-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 Scrum Alliance exam blueprint
This CSM practice question is part of Courseiva's free Scrum Alliance 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 CSM exam.