Scrum Master
Summary of the Scrum Master test
This Scrum Master test evaluates candidates’ knowledge of the Scrum framework (as outlined in the Scrum Guide) and their ability to apply it in real situations. The test helps you identify candidates with practical experience in Scrum, too.
Covered skills
Scrum principles (roles and artifacts)
Scrum events
The Scrum Master role
Scrum in practice
Use this Scrum assessment test to hire
Scrum Masters, Agile coaches, business analysts, systems analysts, Scrum Developers, Scrum Trainers, project managers, and other roles that benefit from a strong knowledge of Scrum.
About the Scrum Master test
Scrum is one of the most widely adopted Agile methodologies. It’s an Agile framework that helps people work together, often on development projects, to reach common goals.
However, for teams to work effectively with Scrum, they need Agile Scrum Masters – specialists who coach and manage people based on the methodology’s principles.
Our Scrum Master test uses multiple-choice questions that measure a candidate’s:
Knowledge of Scrum principles, artifacts, and events
Understanding of master responsibilities
Ability to communicate with different people across an organization
Aptitude for coaching, managing, and inspiring others
It does this by presenting real-world problems for candidates to solve. For example, they might need to decide who to communicate with on specific project areas or how to coach new Agile teams on Scrum principles.
In turn, candidates with a passing score on this test or better:
Understand Scrum’s strengths and weaknesses and how to manage them
Collaborate comfortably with people at all project levels
Listen actively to others and show exceptional attention to detail
Help people hit targets with a supportive, results-focused attitude
Want to try the Scrum Master test? Take a look at some preview questions as a taster.
The test is made by a subject-matter expert
TestGorilla’s tests are created by subject matter experts. We assess potential subject-matter experts based on their knowledge, ability, and reputation.Before being published, each test is peer-reviewed by another expert, then calibrated using hundreds of test takers with relevant experience in the subject.
Our feedback mechanisms and unique algorithms allow our subject-matter experts to constantly improve their tests.
Iván G.
With certifications in PRINCE2 and as a professional Scrum Master, and a dual-position of senior project manager and senior frontend developer, Iván’s understanding of how to manage a development team and project runs deep.
He has received various awards for his work, including from Entrepreneurs Magazine Award and the Bancaja Young Entrepreneurs Award.In addition to a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in computer engineering, Iván also holds a master’s in marketing and commercial management.
Reliability: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = .68
Face validity: Candidates rated this test as accurately measuring their skills (average score of 3.99 out of 5.00).
Criterion-related validity: Candidates with higher scores on this test received higher average ratings from the hiring team during the selection process (r = .16, N = 356).
For an in-depth look at interpreting test results, please take a look at our Science series articles: How to interpret test fact sheets (part 1): Reliability, and How to interpret test fact sheets (part 2): Validity.
For an explanation of the various terms, please refer to our Science glossary.
Reliability and validity | Sufficient data available | Analyses and checks conducted | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
Reliability | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Content validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Face validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Construct validity | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Criterion-related validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Group differences | |||
Age differences | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Gender differences | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Ethnicity differences | Pending | Pending | Pending |
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Why are Scrum Master skills important to employers?
Scrum is a framework that helps team members organize themselves to meet project checkpoints and deadlines. To ensure people stick to this framework, employers rely on Scrum Masters who coach individuals to stay focused and productive.
Employers need masters with certain skills to help employees understand how Scrum works and how to stay accountable throughout projects. They also rely on masters to act as facilitators for resolving project conflicts fairly and efficiently and managing product backlogs.
Without Scrum Masters, people struggle to manage their workloads and understand their accountability – leading to project bottlenecks and poor quality results.
These skills are useful beyond the tech industry, too – everyone needs to feel inspired and focused to produce top-quality work! With a Scrum Master test for employment, narrowing down the most encouraging leaders is easy.
4 competencies to look for
Our Scrum assessment test helps you validate skills and hire the best candidates based on the following competencies:
Sprint planning: Does your candidate understand the meaning and purpose behind Scrum sprints and how they can help keep others on target?
Removing roadblocks: Does the applicant know how to assess and manage project bottlenecks, remove them efficiently, and coach team members?
Managing stakeholder expectations: Can the candidate work out the project's scope and velocity, and report changes and risks?
Knowledge of Agile methodologies: Does the applicant know how to coach and guide team members in line with Agile principles?
The professional Scrum Master certification
Professional Scrum Master certifications hypothetically prove that a candidate can run an efficient Scrum team. In fact, some employers require applicants to be Certified Scrum Masters (also known as CSMs) before even being considered.
However, relying on the certification test alone can lock out “nontraditional” candidates, such as lateral hires or talented professionals who have the qualifications but not the credentials.
Our test, on the other hand, helps you find Scrum Masters with the skills and attitude required for the role, regardless of their certification status.
Using a more inclusive test as an alternative to looking for certified Scrum Masters lets your applicants prove their skills to you. In return, you avoid relying on resumes and experience alone to hire masters.
What job roles can you hire with our professional Scrum Master test?
Our professional Scrum Master test is great for hiring more than just masters alone. Many of the skills required of a Scrum Master are useful and transferable in different roles, such as the following:
Scrum Masters coach and guide teams on complex projects using the popular Scrum framework
Agile coaches support people and assist with project checkpoints, ensuring people and workloads align with Agile principles
Business analysts dive deep into company processes to find areas where productivity and efficiency can be improved, sometimes through Scrum principles
Systems analysts audit business technology and processes to ensure they’re efficient and intuitive
Professional Scrum product owners define and assist Scrum projects with the end user in mind, often liaising between teams and stakeholders
Project managers develop, oversee, and manage project outlines and any team members assigned, communicating with people at all business levels
Many companies use role-specific tests to narrow down project management candidates. Take 7Systems, a software company that uses TestGorilla to assess applicants for developer and project roles.
Since partnering with us, the company has improved its quality of hire dramatically – simply because our skills tests help its HR team understand people better before interview selections start.
To find out how much time, money, and effort you could save with skills-based hiring, try our free recruitment ROI calculator.
Create a multi-measure assessment: 4 tests to pair with Scrum Master test questions
Our Scrum Master test measures the most important skills your candidates need to thrive in the role. But what about complementary soft skills, personality traits, and culture add?
With TestGorilla, you can build a custom multi-measure assessment and evaluate up to five skill areas at once. It’s the best way to get a 360-degree view of your candidates and their capabilities.
Here are four tests we recommend you use alongside our Scrum Master test:
Software Engineer test: Hire a Scrum Master for your software development team with knowledge of typical project roadblocks and how to overcome them
Communication test: Recruit an active listener who follows and retains instructions easily, and who can report project updates to different people
Project Management test: Evaluate a Scrum Master’s skills in overseeing and managing complex projects, such as understanding different moving parts, and how to motivate people
Leadership and People Management test: Find an inspiring Scrum Master who knows how to encourage people to stay focused and play to their strengths
If you’d like to learn more about narrowing down your candidate pool after testing their skills, check out some recommended Scrum Master behavioral interview questions.
FAQs
View a sample report
The Scrum Master test will be included in a PDF report along with the other tests from your assessment. You can easily download and share this report with colleagues and candidates.