Does this backlog item pass INVEST?
Six checks. Use them as a conversation — not a scoring formula.
Stand: September 25, 2026 · No account required.
I
Independent
N
Negotiable
V
Valuable
E
Estimable
S
Small
T
Testable
Independent
You can schedule and deliver it without waiting on another unfinished item in the same sprint.
Negotiable
Scope details can still move in conversation. It is not a fixed contract disguised as a story.
Valuable
Someone who matters gets a clear benefit when it ships — not only a technical step with no outcome.
Estimable
The team understands it well enough to put a relative size on it.
Small
It fits in a sprint with margin. If it does not, split it before you estimate.
Testable
You can say what “done” looks like and how you would check it.
Where the numbers come from
Bill Wake’s INVEST mnemonic for backlog items (xp123.com — INVEST). A conversation aid, not a certification checklist.
Check if the item is ready to estimate
Three ticks — outcome, size fact, sprint fit. No account.