CSM Scrum Master Core Competencies Practice Question
Which of the following is a primary responsibility of a Scrum Master regarding the Product Backlog?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates frequently believe the Scrum Master should write or order the Product Backlog items themselves, confusing their role with that of the Product Owner.
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
✓
Ensuring the Product Owner knows how to arrange the Product Backlog to maximize value.
The Scrum Master supports the Product Owner in finding techniques for effective Product Backlog management. This includes ensuring the Product Owner understands how to arrange the backlog to maximize value. This is a core competency because the Scrum Master acts as a coach to the Product Owner, ensuring the backlog remains a clear, ordered, and transparent tool for the team's work.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Defining the acceptance criteria for every user story.
Why it's wrong here
Defining acceptance criteria is the responsibility of the Product Owner and the Developers. The Scrum Master should not take over this task as it reduces the team's collaboration and expertise. The Scrum Master's role is to facilitate the process, not to perform the actual backlog refinement work for them.
- ✓
Ensuring the Product Owner knows how to arrange the Product Backlog to maximize value.
Why this is correct
Coaching the Product Owner on backlog management is a key Scrum Master responsibility. By helping the Product Owner optimize the ordering of items, the Scrum Master ensures that the team is always working on the most valuable tasks, which is central to achieving the Product Goal and overall project success.
- ✗
Writing all user stories based on stakeholder requests.
Why it's wrong here
The Scrum Master should not be writing user stories, as this creates a bottleneck and prevents the Developers and Product Owner from owning the requirements. Collaborative creation of user stories is much more effective, as it ensures shared understanding and prevents the Scrum Master from becoming the primary task creator.
- ✗
Approving every item before it enters the Sprint.
Why it's wrong here
The Scrum Master has no authority to approve or reject items in the Product Backlog. This authority lies with the Product Owner. The Scrum Master's job is to facilitate the process of selection, not to act as a gatekeeper or final decision-maker for the content of the work.
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.