What is a burn down chart used for?

• A. Remaining work in a sprint or project to forecast completion.
• B. A chart showing resource availability.
• C. A diagram of organizational roles.
• D. A table listing project milestones.

Answer: (A)

A burn down chart tracks the amount of work remaining in a sprint or project over time to forecast when the work will be completed. It plots remaining work (often story points or hours) on the vertical axis and time (days in the sprint) on the horizontal axis. As items are finished, the remaining work decreases, creating a downward trend. The chart typically shows an ideal line that reaches zero at the sprint end and an actual line that reflects real progress. If the actual line stays above the ideal, the team is behind schedule; if it meets or drops below, progress is on track or ahead. This visualization helps teams quickly assess progress, spot trends, and adjust plans to improve forecasting. It’s focused on remaining work, not on resource availability, organizational roles, or milestone lists.