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100+ Free PSPBMS Practice Questions

Pass your Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills (PSPBMS) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Question 1
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A product's Story Map has a large number of activities on the backbone but only 2–3 stories in each column beneath them. What risk does this reveal?

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PSPBMS Exam

40

Exam Questions

Scrum.org

85%

Passing Score

Scrum.org

60 min

Time Limit

Scrum.org

$200

Exam Fee

Scrum.org

Lifetime

Cert Validity

Scrum.org

None

Prerequisites

Scrum.org

PSPBMS is a 40-question, 60-minute online assessment from Scrum.org requiring 85% to pass ($200). Key domains: Product Backlog fundamentals and Product Goal (~35%), refinement techniques and PBI decomposition (~25%), stakeholder engagement (~20%), Sprint Planning connection (~20%). No prerequisites. Certification is lifetime — no renewal.

Sample PSPBMS Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PSPBMS exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the primary purpose of Product Backlog refinement?
A.To add detail, estimates, and order to Product Backlog items
B.To remove completed items from the backlog
C.To assign backlog items to specific Sprint teams
D.To finalize the Sprint Goal for the next Sprint
Explanation: Product Backlog refinement is the act of breaking down and further defining Product Backlog items into smaller, more precise items. This includes adding detail, estimates, and order.
2According to the Scrum Guide, who is accountable for the Product Backlog?
A.The Scrum Master
B.The Development Team
C.The Product Owner
D.The stakeholders
Explanation: The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product and managing the Product Backlog, including its content, availability, and ordering.
3What does the 'D' in the DEEP backlog acronym stand for?
A.Defined
B.Detailed
C.Decomposed
D.Delivered
Explanation: DEEP stands for Detailed Appropriately, Estimated, Emergent, and Prioritized. Items near the top of the backlog should have more detail than items further down.
4In the INVEST criteria, what does the 'I' stand for?
A.Iterative
B.Independent
C.Incremental
D.Integrated
Explanation: INVEST stands for Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable. Independent stories can be developed and delivered without depending on other stories.
5Which factor is NOT typically considered when ordering Product Backlog items?
A.Business value
B.Risk reduction
C.Team member preferences
D.Dependencies
Explanation: Product Backlog ordering considers value, risk, dependencies, learning opportunities, and stakeholder needs. Individual team member preferences are not a primary ordering criterion.
6What is the recommended time Developers spend on Product Backlog refinement per Sprint?
A.At least 50% of Sprint capacity
B.No more than 10% of Sprint capacity
C.Exactly one day per Sprint
D.As much time as the Product Owner requests
Explanation: The Scrum Guide suggests Developers spend no more than 10% of Sprint capacity on refinement. This keeps refinement from dominating the Sprint while still allowing adequate preparation.
7What does MoSCoW stand for in prioritization?
A.Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have
B.Most valuable, Some value, Conditional, Without value
C.Mandatory, Standard, Conditional, Optional
D.Main, Secondary, Conditional, Worthless
Explanation: MoSCoW is a prioritization technique where items are categorized as Must have (critical), Should have (important), Could have (nice-to-have), and Won't have (not this time).
8Who created the Story Mapping technique?
A.Ken Schwaber
B.Jeff Sutherland
C.Jeff Patton
D.Mike Cohn
Explanation: Jeff Patton created User Story Mapping, a technique for visualizing product features along two dimensions: the user's journey (horizontal) and the depth of functionality (vertical).
9What is the Product Goal in Scrum?
A.A Sprint-level objective that guides the team
B.A long-term objective describing a future state of the product that the Scrum Team works toward
C.A collection of user stories ready for development
D.A vision document created by stakeholders
Explanation: The Product Goal is the long-term objective for the Scrum Team. It describes the future state of the product and is contained in the Product Backlog. The Scrum Team must fulfill (or abandon) one goal before pursuing the next.
10What does the 'E' in DEEP backlog stand for?
A.Efficient
B.Emergent
C.Evaluated
D.Executable
Explanation: The 'E' in DEEP stands for Emergent — the Product Backlog evolves as more is learned about the product, its users, and the competitive landscape.

About the PSPBMS Exam

The Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills (PSPBMS) assessment from Scrum.org validates focused expertise in Product Backlog management. It tests the ability to create, refine, order, and maintain a Product Backlog that maximizes value delivery. Topics include Product Goal alignment, PBI decomposition techniques, acceptance criteria writing, estimation approaches, stakeholder engagement, and the relationship between Product Backlog refinement and Sprint Planning. The 85% passing threshold makes it one of Scrum.org's more challenging assessments.

Questions

40 scored questions

Time Limit

60 minutes

Passing Score

85% (34/40 correct)

Exam Fee

$200 (Scrum.org)

PSPBMS Exam Content Outline

~35%

Product Backlog Management Fundamentals

Product Backlog definition, ordering (not prioritization), transparency, Product Goal, living artifact

~25%

Refinement Techniques

PBI decomposition, user stories, acceptance criteria, Definition of Ready, estimation techniques

~20%

Stakeholder Engagement

Product Owner accountability, stakeholder collaboration in refinement, Sprint Review feedback

~20%

Sprint Planning and Backlog Execution

Ready PBIs for Sprint, Sprint Goal creation, Developer forecasting, Sprint Backlog relationship

How to Pass the PSPBMS Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 85% (34/40 correct)
  • Exam length: 40 questions
  • Time limit: 60 minutes
  • Exam fee: $200

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PSPBMS Study Tips from Top Performers

1The Scrum Guide says 'ordered' not 'prioritized' — the Product Backlog has one order, and only the Product Owner is accountable for it
2Know the Product Goal: it is the commitment of the Product Backlog, and only one Product Goal is pursued at a time
3Understand refinement: not a formal event, no more than 10% of team capacity, ongoing and collaborative
4Know acceptance criteria vs Definition of Done: acceptance criteria are PBI-specific, Definition of Done applies to all Increments
5Understand that READY PBIs should be actionable, small enough to complete in one Sprint, and independently deliverable when possible
6Stakeholder engagement happens primarily during Sprint Review — the Product Owner adjusts the backlog based on feedback
7Know that Developers, not Product Owners, select how many PBIs to take into a Sprint (forecasting, not committing)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PSPBMS assessment?

PSPBMS (Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills) is a Scrum.org assessment validating expertise in Product Backlog management. It tests Product Backlog ordering, refinement techniques, PBI decomposition, stakeholder engagement, and Sprint Planning connections. The exam has 40 questions in 60 minutes and requires 85% to pass. Cost is $200 per attempt.

What is the difference between ordering and prioritizing a Product Backlog?

The Scrum Guide 2020 uses 'ordered' rather than 'prioritized' to describe the Product Backlog because ordering implies a single sequence where each item has a unique position based on value, risk, dependencies, and learning opportunities. Prioritization implies items can share equal priority. Only the Product Owner is accountable for Product Backlog ordering.

What is Product Backlog refinement in PSPBMS?

Product Backlog refinement is the ongoing activity of breaking down and further defining Product Backlog items into smaller, more precise items. It includes adding detail, estimates, and order. The Scrum Guide specifies no more than 10% of Scrum Team capacity should be spent on refinement. It is not a formal Scrum event — it happens when the Scrum Team needs it.

What is the Product Goal in relation to the Product Backlog?

The Product Goal is the commitment of the Product Backlog — it describes the future state of the product and serves as the long-term objective of the Scrum Team. The Product Backlog defines what will fulfill the Product Goal. Only one Product Goal should be pursued at a time. When the Product Goal is met, it is fulfilled or abandoned before a new one is created.

How should I prepare for PSPBMS?

Study the Scrum Guide 2020 thoroughly, particularly Product Backlog, Product Goal, and refinement sections. Take the free Product Backlog Management Open assessment on Scrum.org. Practice scenario questions about backlog ordering decisions, stakeholder communication, and refinement meeting facilitation. Aim for consistent 90%+ on open assessments before attempting PSPBMS.