Which activity is performed during backlog refinement sessions?

• A. Estimate story sizes
• B. Clarify acceptance criteria
• C. Plan sprint release
• D. Document backlog items

Answer: (A)

Backlog refinement centers on preparing items so they’re ready for upcoming sprints, and a primary activity is estimating how large each item will be in terms of effort. This sizing, often done with story points, helps the team understand relative complexity, compare items, and determine what can realistically fit into a sprint, which in turn informs planning and forecasting. While teams may also clarify acceptance criteria and ensure enough detail, the act that most directly prepares items for future work is estimating story sizes. Planning a sprint release sits more in the realm of sprint planning and release planning, and documenting backlog items is secondary to ensuring the items have meaningful estimates and clear scope.