A Sprint concludes when the Sprint Retrospective is complete. Finishing the planned items or tasks does not end the Sprint early.
Exam Question
When does a Sprint conclude? (choose the best answer)
- A. When all Product Backlog items meet their Definition of Done.
- B. When the Sprint Retrospective is complete.
- C. When the Product Owner decides enough has been delivered to meet the Sprint Goal.
- D. When all the tasks are completed by the Developers.
Correct Answer
B. When the Sprint Retrospective is complete.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The Scrum Guide states it directly: “The Sprint Retrospective concludes the Sprint.” The Sprint is a fixed-length container for Sprint Planning, Daily Scrums, the development work, the Sprint Review and the Sprint Retrospective. It ends when its timebox runs out, and the Retrospective is the last event inside it. A new Sprint then starts immediately. Completing all items or tasks early does not end the Sprint. The Developers can work with the Product Owner to pull in more work. A Sprint can end early only if the Product Owner cancels it because the Sprint Goal became obsolete.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
A. When all items meet the Definition of Done. Meeting the Definition of Done makes items part of the Increment, but the Sprint continues until its timebox ends with the Retrospective.
C. When the Product Owner decides enough has been delivered. The Product Owner can cancel a Sprint only if its goal is obsolete. They cannot end it early because enough is done.
D. When all tasks are completed by the Developers. Finishing tasks early leaves time for more work. The timebox, not the task list, defines the Sprint’s end.
Exam Tip
For questions about when something begins or ends in Scrum, rely on the event order: Sprint Planning opens the Sprint and the Sprint Retrospective closes it.
Key Takeaways
- The Sprint Retrospective is the last event in a Sprint.
- Sprints end by timebox, not by finishing work.
- Only the Product Owner can cancel a Sprint, and only for an obsolete goal.
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