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Exam Review

Key Facts: SAFe SA Exam

80%

Passing Score

36 out of 45 questions

90 min

Exam Duration

Scaled Agile

45 Qs

Exam Questions

Multiple choice

1 Year

Certification Validity

Annual renewal required

70%+

Fortune 100 Adoption

Scaled Agile

$50

Retake Fee

Scaled Agile

The SAFe Agilist (SA) exam has 45 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, requiring 80% (36/45) to pass. Prerequisites: complete the 2-day Leading SAFe course ($595-$1,000, includes first exam attempt). First attempt must be within 30 days of course completion. Retake fee: $50. Certification valid for 1 year with annual renewal ($100-$295). Key exam domains: Lean-Agile Leaders (29-33%), Agile Product Delivery (29-33%), Digital Age/Business Agility (12-14%), Lean Portfolio Management (12-14%), Team/Technical Agility (6-8%), Leading the Change (6-8%). SAFe is used by 70%+ of Fortune 100 companies.

Sample SAFe SA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the SAFe SA exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What are the four Core Values of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)?
A.Planning, Quality, Delivery, Feedback
B.Alignment, Built-in Quality, Transparency, Program Execution
C.Speed, Quality, Cost, Scope
D.Vision, Roadmap, Backlog, Delivery
Explanation: The four Core Values of SAFe are Alignment, Built-in Quality, Transparency, and Program Execution. These values guide the behavior and actions of everyone in a SAFe organization and are fundamental to achieving business agility. Exam tip: Remember ABTP — Alignment, Built-in Quality, Transparency, Program Execution.
2In SAFe, what is the primary purpose of PI (Program Increment) Planning?
A.To assign tasks to individual team members for the next quarter
B.To align all teams on the Agile Release Train to a shared mission and vision, identify dependencies, and create plans for the next PI
C.To estimate the total project budget
D.To review completed features from the previous PI
Explanation: PI Planning is a cadence-based event that aligns all teams on an Agile Release Train (ART) to a shared mission, establishes PI objectives, identifies cross-team dependencies, and creates iteration plans for the upcoming Program Increment (typically 8-12 weeks). It is the heartbeat of the ART. Exam tip: PI Planning is THE most important SAFe event — it enables alignment and creates the foundation for execution.
3What is WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) used for in SAFe?
A.To measure team velocity
B.To prioritize work for maximum economic value by dividing the Cost of Delay by job size
C.To calculate the project budget
D.To assign resources to teams
Explanation: WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) is SAFe's prioritization model that calculates the economic value of doing work first. It divides the Cost of Delay (user-business value + time criticality + risk reduction/opportunity enablement) by job size. Higher WSJF scores indicate items that should be done first. Exam tip: WSJF = Cost of Delay / Job Size. Cost of Delay = User-Business Value + Time Criticality + RROE.
4Which leadership style does SAFe recommend for Lean-Agile leaders?
A.Command and control
B.Servant Leadership — leading by example, coaching, and developing people
C.Micromanagement with detailed task assignments
D.Hierarchical decision-making with top-down directives
Explanation: SAFe recommends Servant Leadership, where leaders serve the team by removing impediments, coaching, developing people, and leading by example. Lean-Agile leaders model the Lean-Agile mindset and help create an environment where teams can innovate and deliver value. Exam tip: SAFe's leadership model is servant-first — know the 8 SAFe Lean-Agile leadership behaviors.
5What is an Agile Release Train (ART) in SAFe?
A.A software deployment pipeline
B.A long-lived team of agile teams (typically 50-125 people) that incrementally develops, delivers, and operates one or more solutions
C.A release schedule for software updates
D.A project management methodology
Explanation: An Agile Release Train (ART) is a long-lived team of agile teams (typically 50-125 people) that develops and delivers solutions incrementally. The ART aligns teams to a common business and technology mission. It operates on a fixed PI cadence and plans together at PI Planning events. Exam tip: The ART is the primary value delivery vehicle in SAFe — it's 'a team of teams' on a fixed cadence.
6In SAFe, what is the role of the Release Train Engineer (RTE)?
A.To manage the software release pipeline
B.To serve as the chief Scrum Master and coach for the ART, facilitating events and resolving impediments
C.To write code and deliver features
D.To manage the project budget
Explanation: The Release Train Engineer (RTE) serves as the chief Scrum Master and coach for the Agile Release Train. They facilitate ART events (PI Planning, System Demos, Inspect & Adapt), escalate impediments, manage risks, and help the ART deliver value effectively. Exam tip: RTE = Scrum Master for the ART. They facilitate, don't manage — think servant-leader at scale.
7SAFe Principle #1 states 'Take an economic view.' What does this mean in practice?
A.Always choose the cheapest option
B.Deliver early and often, understand economic trade-offs, sequence work for maximum benefit, and apply WSJF
C.Focus only on reducing costs
D.Avoid taking financial risks
Explanation: SAFe Principle #1, 'Take an economic view,' means understanding the economic impact of decisions, delivering value early and often, operating within Lean budgets, and using WSJF to sequence work for maximum economic benefit. It's about optimizing the whole, not just minimizing cost. Exam tip: Economic view = not just cost cutting. It's about maximizing value delivery speed and understanding trade-offs.
8What is the purpose of the Inspect and Adapt (I&A) event in SAFe?
A.To celebrate the PI completion
B.To reflect on the PI, identify improvement areas through a problem-solving workshop, and create improvement backlog items
C.To plan the next PI
D.To approve the release of completed features
Explanation: Inspect and Adapt (I&A) occurs at the end of each PI and includes three parts: the PI System Demo (inspect), a quantitative and qualitative assessment, and a problem-solving workshop (adapt). The output is improvement stories added to the next PI's backlog. Exam tip: I&A has three parts: PI System Demo, quantitative/qualitative review, and problem-solving workshop — know all three.
9In SAFe, what is the Innovation and Planning (IP) iteration used for?
A.Regular feature development
B.A buffer for completing unfinished work, innovation activities, PI Planning, Inspect and Adapt, and continuous education
C.Only for training activities
D.A vacation period between PIs
Explanation: The Innovation and Planning (IP) iteration serves multiple purposes: it provides a buffer for completing work from the PI, time for innovation and exploration, hosting PI Planning and Inspect & Adapt events, hackathons, infrastructure improvements, and continuous learning. Exam tip: IP iteration is NOT just planning time — it's also for innovation, education, and completing unfinished work.
10What is Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) in SAFe responsible for?
A.Managing individual team backlogs
B.Strategy and investment funding, Agile portfolio operations, and Lean governance for the portfolio
C.Writing user stories for all teams
D.Managing the CI/CD pipeline
Explanation: Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) applies Lean and systems thinking to strategy and investment funding, Agile portfolio operations, and Lean governance. LPM connects the portfolio to enterprise strategy, funds value streams (not projects), and ensures governance supports Lean-Agile delivery. Exam tip: LPM has three dimensions: Strategy & Investment Funding, Agile Portfolio Operations, and Lean Governance.

About the SAFe SA Exam

The SAFe Agilist (SA) certification validates your ability to apply the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) to lead Lean-Agile transformations at the enterprise level. The certification covers Lean-Agile leadership, PI Planning, Agile Release Trains, Lean Portfolio Management, and business agility. The exam is taken after completing the 2-day Leading SAFe instructor-led training and consists of 45 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, with an 80% passing threshold.

Exam sponsor: Scaled Agile, Inc.. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

45 questions

Time Limit

90 minutes

Passing Score

80% (36/45)

Exam / Certification Fees

Included with training (~$595-$1,000)

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: ~80-85%. for candidates who complete the Leading SAFe training This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

29-33%

Lean-Agile Leaders

Lean-Agile mindset, SAFe principles, servant leadership, leading organizational change, and Lean-Agile behaviors

29-33%

Agile Product Delivery

Customer centricity, PI Planning, Agile Release Trains, continuous delivery pipeline, DevOps, design thinking

12-14%

Digital Age and Business Agility

Business agility, organizational agility, continuous learning culture, thriving in the digital age

12-14%

Lean Portfolio Management

Strategy and investment funding, Lean budgets, portfolio Kanban, Lean governance, Epic management

6-8%

Team and Technical Agility

Agile teams, built-in quality, architectural runway, team Kanban, and Scrum practices

6-8%

Leading the Change

SAFe implementation roadmap, launching ARTs, sustaining transformation, and LACE

Preparing for the SAFe SA Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 80% (36/45)
  • Exam length: 45 questions
  • Time limit: 90 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: Included with training (~$595-$1,000) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

SAFe SA: Suggested Study Strategy

1Review all materials from the 2-day Leading SAFe course thoroughly — the exam draws directly from course content and the SAFe framework
2Master the 10 SAFe Principles — know each principle's name, meaning, and practical application in enterprise scenarios
3Understand PI Planning deeply: the agenda, roles, outputs (PI Objectives, Program Board), confidence vote, and ROAM risk categorization
4Study WSJF prioritization: know the formula (Cost of Delay / Job Size) and the three components of Cost of Delay
5Know the SAFe Big Picture and how elements connect across levels: Team → ART → Large Solution → Portfolio

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SAFe Agilist passing score?

The SAFe Agilist (SA) exam requires 80% to pass — that means at least 36 correct answers out of 45 questions in 90 minutes. This gives you an average of 2 minutes per question. The exam is multiple-choice and closed-book, taken online through the SAFe Community Platform.

Do I need to attend training before taking the SAFe Agilist exam?

Yes, you must complete the 2-day Leading SAFe instructor-led training from an authorized Scaled Agile training partner. The course fee ($595-$1,000) includes your first exam attempt, which must be taken within 30 days of course completion. The training provides access to all study materials and exam preparation resources.

How long does the SAFe Agilist certification last?

The SAFe Agilist certification is valid for 1 year. Annual renewal costs $100-$295 and includes access to SAFe Studio resources. You must renew within 90 days before or after the expiration date. Renewal demonstrates ongoing commitment to Lean-Agile practices.

What is the SAFe Agilist exam retake policy?

If you don't pass on your first attempt, retakes cost $50 per attempt through the SAFe Community Platform. Scaled Agile recommends waiting at least 10 days between retake attempts to allow additional study time. There is no limit on retake attempts.

What is the difference between SAFe Agilist and SAFe Scrum Master?

SAFe Agilist (SA) is for leaders driving enterprise-level agile transformation, covering strategic topics like Lean Portfolio Management and organizational change. SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) is for practitioners facilitating agile at the team level within the SAFe framework. SA operates at the portfolio/organizational level; SSM operates at the team/ART level.

Is the SAFe Agilist exam difficult?

With an 80% passing threshold and content drawn directly from the Leading SAFe course materials, most candidates who attend the training and review the study materials pass on their first attempt (~80-85% pass rate). The key is understanding SAFe principles and their practical application, not just memorization.