Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Practice Quiz — 20 Free Sample Questions
The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) exam from Scrum Alliance is the most widely held Scrum credential in the industry, and it trips up more candidates than expected. The exam isn't just 'what is a Sprint' — it tests your understanding of the Scrum framework at a conceptual level: why empiricism matters, what the Scrum Master's servant-leader role actually means, when a Sprint can be cancelled and who can cancel it, what constitutes a valid Definition of Done, and how Scrum values (commitment, courage, focus, openness, respect) connect to real team behaviors. This CSM practice quiz covers 20 questions drawn from the Scrum Guide and CSM exam domains: Scrum theory, roles, events, artifacts, and team dynamics. The CSM exam requires a passing score of 74% (37 of 50 questions) and is taken after completing a Scrum Alliance-approved two-day training.
Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory. What are the three pillars of empiricism in Scrum?
About the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) credential is awarded by Scrum Alliance to practitioners who complete a 16-hour Certified Scrum Trainer (CST)-led course and pass the online CSM assessment. The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions with a 60-minute time limit and a passing threshold of 74% (37 correct). The assessment is based on the Scrum Guide (latest version), which defines Scrum as a lightweight framework built on three pillars of empiricism: transparency, inspection, and adaptation. The five Scrum values — commitment, courage, focus, openness, and respect — underpin how teams live the framework. The three Scrum accountabilities are the Product Owner (maximizes product value, owns the backlog), Scrum Master (serves the team and organization, removes impediments), and Developers (cross-functional, self-managing, creates the Increment). The three artifacts are Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment — each with a corresponding commitment: Product Goal, Sprint Goal, and Definition of Done. The five events are the Sprint (container), Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. CSM holders must renew every two years by earning Scrum Education Units (SEUs). The next step up is the Advanced CSM (A-CSM).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the passing score for the CSM exam?
74%, or 37 out of 50 questions. The exam is online, open immediately after completing the required two-day CST-led training, and candidates have two attempts included with the course fee.
Who can cancel a Sprint?
Only the Product Owner can cancel a Sprint, and only if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete — for example, if the business direction changes dramatically. Sprint cancellations are rare and disruptive. The Scrum Master and Developers cannot cancel a Sprint.
How many Developers should be on a Scrum team?
The Scrum Guide recommends 10 or fewer total members on a Scrum Team, which includes the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers. For the Developers specifically, teams are typically 3 to 9 people — small enough to stay nimble, large enough to complete meaningful work in a Sprint.