CSM Scrum Master Core Competencies Practice Question
Exhibit
JSON_Policy: {"Sprint_Review": "Product_Owner_and_Stakeholders_focus_on_Backlog_refinement"}Refer to the exhibit. As a Scrum Master, how do you address this misinterpretation of the Sprint Review?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often suggest that the Scrum Master should 'run' the meeting differently or 'present' the work themselves, failing to focus on the event's educational purpose.
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.
The Sprint Review is intended for inspecting the increment and adapting the Product Backlog, not for general backlog refinement. The Scrum Master must ensure the event focuses on collaboration and feedback regarding the product's progress. Correcting this misconception is crucial because the Sprint Review serves as the primary feedback loop between stakeholders and the team to ensure the product remains aligned with market needs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Update the policy to include Refinement.
Why it's wrong here
Adding refinement to the Sprint Review conflates two distinct Scrum events. Refinement is an ongoing activity to prepare items for future Sprints, whereas the Sprint Review is an inspection of the current increment. Misaligning these events leads to fragmented focus and prevents effective stakeholder engagement during the review.
- ✓
Coach the team and stakeholders on the purpose of the Sprint Review.
Why this is correct
Coaching is a fundamental Scrum Master competency. By clarifying the intent of the event, the Scrum Master enables the team to leverage the Sprint Review for its true purpose: inspecting the increment and adapting the Product Backlog based on feedback, thereby increasing the value delivered in subsequent Sprints.
- ✗
Allow the session to continue as it is.
Why it's wrong here
Allowing an incorrect implementation of Scrum rituals leads to process decay and poor team performance. If the Sprint Review is treated as a refinement session, the team loses the opportunity to gather critical stakeholder feedback on the work produced, which is the cornerstone of empirical product development.
- ✗
Host a separate session for Backlog Refinement.
Why it's wrong here
While refinement is necessary, this does not fix the misunderstanding of the Sprint Review. The Scrum Master must address the conceptual error directly so that the stakeholders understand the difference between inspecting a completed increment and the ongoing collaborative work of preparing future items for the team.
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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 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.