07 Exam Strategy

TL;DR

The PAL I exam rewards a specific frame of mind: pick the option that strengthens empiricism and self-management, protects the purpose of each Scrum event, and prefers value-and-learning over busy output. Memorize the common-pitfall list (SM as project manager, Sprint Review as a demo, metrics used to punish) and most questions answer themselves.

How it works

How to think during PAL I questions

• Prefer servant-leadership behaviors that enable self-management.
• Choose options that improve empiricism: transparency, inspection, adaptation.
• Protect Scrum purpose (events are for inspection/adaptation, not status control).
• When forced to choose, prefer value delivery + learning over “busy output”.

How to study efficiently

• Read Scrum Guide once end-to-end, then drill questions.
• For each wrong answer, write a 1–2 sentence “why the right answer aligns with empiricism + values.”

Common pitfalls

• Treating Scrum Master as project manager
• Treating Product Owner as requirements clerk
• Treating Sprint Review as a demo-only meeting
• “Fixing” problems by adding control/reporting rather than changing the system
• Using metrics to punish → people hide reality → empiricism collapses