How to pass Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) certification test in #6 steps

Pass Professional Scrum Master PSM certification!

As I promised, follows below some tips to pass in Professional Scrum Master PSM I test certification – the Professional Scrum Master certification provided by Scrum.org.

It worked for me and now I am sharing with you! So, let’s start!

Edited: If even after these points you does not feel prepared to do the Professional Scrum Master PSM I test, please check these materials too:

It certainly will help you to get more confident and wiser to succeed on the PSM exam/test

How to pass Professional Scrum Master PSM certification?


Step #1 – Read the Scrum guide in your native language. This step is important to guarantee you certainly understand all the knowledge existent in the Scrum guide.
How to Pass Professional Scrum Master PSM certification:

Step #2 – Practice these learnings in your daily projects. In this step you will be consolidating what you got on the first step. If you could not apply the learnings, at least try to imagine how you would use them in your company, and what kind of challenges you would need to solve. For example, imagine how you would explain the Development Team about self-management, focus and commitment to the sprint goal, and how the Product Owner should manage and prioritize the product backlog. As the test is focused in daily experiences with Scrum, this exercise will help you.
How to Pass Professional Scrum Master PSM certification:

Step #3 – Read the U.S. English Scrum guide version. This step is important to make you feel comfortable with the terminology used in the test. Currently the test is applied only in English language.
How to Pass Professional Scrum Master PSM certification:

Step #4 – Start to do the open assessment provided by Scrum.org. The PSM test questions are very similar to the open assessment questions. As the open assessment always show aleatory 30 questions, you will be well trained and will know more about the questions style. After achieving 95 points or more, you will be prepared to do the final test. Obs.: try to learn with your wrong answers. After the open assessment all the questions are discussed and revised.
How to Pass Professional Scrum Master PSM certification:

Step #5 – Discuss the questions you answered wrongly in scrum community and forums, for example on the scrum.org forum.  This will make you contact with other people that already took the test and had the same doubts you have.
How to Pass Professional Scrum Master PSM certification:

Step #6 – During the test don’t try to do online research about the questions. You have 80 questions to solve in 60 minutes, this kind of action will only get you late and nervous, and as the questions refer to daily decision, you will not find answers on Google. Believe me!

After this steps you will be more than prepared to pass PSM I – Professional Scrum Master Certification Test.

Please, let me know how these steps worked for you and if you added more steps during your preparation.

I hope I could help you to pass in this test. If you have any doubts, please email me on eduardo.sucena@getscrum.com.

Success, Peace and Hugs.

Eduardo Rodrigues Sucena
MBA | MCP | PSM | PSPO | SPS | ASF | Business Analyst

Related Articles: 

  1. Professional Scrum Master I (PSM) Simulated Exam Review
  2. Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) Exam Simulator
  3. How to Pass EXIN ASF Agile Scrum Foundation in 4 steps!
  4. e-Learning Scrum Course for PSM I Test (Professional Scrum Master)

Pass Professional Scrum Master PSM certification in 6 steps - Eduardo Rodrigues Sucena

49 Comments



  2. // Reply

    I’ve had three of my CSM students go on to take the PSM I test and all did fine, so I suppose another option would be to take a CSM class from an instructor who uses tests in his class to make sure you’re getting it. I have a study aide anyone can use for free at http://ScrumTrainingSeries.com . The cartoons are in English only, but the words are displayed and non-native English speakers can go at their own pace on the quizzes.


    1. // Reply

      Its a good option too. It is good to join an training session to discuss the main points and the doubts about the Scrum guise. In my courses I give tips for the profissional Scrum master Exam too.


  3. // Reply

    One point I forgot to mention: the PSM II test was quite a bit harder than PSM I last time I checked. I managed it, but one of my participants (from India, not completely familiar with US English) failed it. He said unfortunately there was not much feedback from that test about what to improve upon. You kinda have to get inside Ken Schwaber’s mind to know what he’s looking for on the PSM II.


    1. // Reply

      I agre with you. It is not about alternatives, you need to write your answer and this detail makes everything more dificult.



  5. // Reply

    I wouldn’t recommend taking any old CSM course to help you pass PSM I. Every CST essentially creates his own courseware, and some of them are not that consistent with the Scrum.org view of Scrum. Maybe Michael’s is, but not everyones will be.

    Obviously the Scrum.org courses (Professional Scrum Foundations and Professional Scrum Master — both of which I teach) are very geared towards the Scrum.org view and assessments. If you’re looking for training to help you pass PSM I, then I’d recommend taking a Scrum.org course.

    If you’re looking to go the “self-study” route like Eduardo did, then I think his plan above was a pretty good one.

    More PSM I study tips here: https://www.scrum.org/Forums/aft/264


    1. // Reply

      I agree with Charles. CSM courseware is not standardized and will only confuse people how Scrum actually look like.


      1. // Reply

        I think the course is good to eliminate doubts concerning Scrum guide and the Scrum proccess. The course must be a experience exchange between trainer and the students. It is how I drive my classes.


  6. // Reply

    Eduardo, vejo vários cursos “Certified Scrum Master” aqui no Brasil, mas nada do “Professional Scrum Master” do scrum.org… aliás, nem falam do Brasil na página de cursos, no site. Como faço o PSM por aqui? Obrigado, abraço


    1. // Reply

      Olá Christian! Para fazer a prova PSM não é obrigatório ter realizado treinamento em escolas afiliadas à Scrum.org. Mas se vc quiser, em Sao Paulo conheço duas: Lambda3.com.br e a Programmers.com.br. Uma outra escola que também recomendo é a KaSolution.com.br, onde ministro treinamento de Gestão Ágil de Projetos com Scrum. Nesse treinamento abordamos temas do dia-a-dia de nossos projetos de software e comentamos sobre como isso é abordado na prova PSM. Espero ter ajudado. Precisando de algo, por favor, não hesite em entrar em contato.


  7. // Reply

    Olá Eduardo!

    Ler seu artigo me deixou mais tranquilo a respeito da minha preparação para o exame do PSM I.

    Acabei montando uma pequena variação, onde pulei o passo 1 e decidi ler o Scrum Guide direto em inglês. Foi tranquilo, uma vez que material técnico quase sempre é obtido em inglês mesmo.

    Como estou no meio de um processo de implantação de Scrum na empresa em que trabalho, praticar o que estava lendo foi bastante automático (passo 2) e já no passo 5, ao invés de discutir no forum, acabei discutindo as questões do simulado e o material que lia com meus próprios colegas de trabalho.

    Esta discussão foi curiosa, pois muitos deles são certificados CSM e pudemos trocar opiniões.

    Quanto ao simulado (passo 4), eu me guiei pelo simulado do Scrum Open, pelo simulado do site testetakeronline.com e por um aplicativo para Android chamado CSM Exam Certification, que simula as perguntas feitas no final do curso da Scrum Aliance. Estas 3 fontes me deram a segurança de que estava com uma base sólida sob meus pés.

    Embora eu já “flertasse” com o scrum a uns 2 anos, lendo um artigo aqui e outro ali, meu tempo de preparo efetivo para o exame foi de 20 dias.

    Passei na certificação na primeira tentativa, com 92% de acerto. O ponto curioso é que terminei a prova em 40 minutos, o que me deixava com 20 minutos livres para confirmar algumas respostas na internet e ai vem o seu passo 6… ao tentar confirmar as respostas on-line, só encontrava material confuso e preferi confiar no meu próprio taco.

    Além disso, um aplicativo para andrioid chamado “Scrum Guide” (nome óbvio) contendo uma versão digital navegável do scrum guide atualizado (em inglês) se tornou meu melhor amigo nesse tempo de preparo para o exame.

    Pois é, essa foi a minha história. Obrigado pelo seu artigo, foi muito útil e muito agradável de ler.


    1. // Reply

      Olá Ângelo! Fico muito feliz que o artigo tenha te ajudado a conseguir sua certificação PSM. Se precisar de qualquer ajuda durante a implantação do SCRUM na sua empresa, por favor, conte comigo! Abcs.





  13. // Reply

    Hey Eduardo, I have cleared PSM-1 in Oct 2014. Can you tell me where do we get the e-copy of the certificate?

    Thanks for your article on frequently asked questions, it was very much useful.

    Regards



  16. // Reply

    Every week I receive at least one email asking me to give some extra advices to help people passing on PSM I Certification, besides the tips I already gave on my article “How to pass Professional Scrum Master I (PSM) certification test in #6 steps”.

    After answered a lot of those emails I decided to look for a more complete solution on internet to help the GetScrum.com readers.

    The first solution I found in my searches was The Management Plaza PSM I Simulated Exams.

    So I evaluated it and I wrote my conclusion in this article:

    Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) Simulated Exam
    https://getscrum.com/2015/05/28/psm-i-simulated-exam-review/

    I hope you enjoy!


  17. // Reply

    É incrível como a cada passo que leio a respeito do SCRUM, acabo vendo o quanto consigo utilizá-lo no dia a dia de desenvolvimento de Games. As Dicas do artigo também são de grande valia.


  18. // Reply

    This article is very simple to read. I´m following the steps and I´m almost passing on the simulated. Thank you for answer my emails!


  19. // Reply

    Excelente artigo Eduardo, simples e útil.

    Obrigado


  20. // Reply

    Vejo o scrum como a metodologia mais indicada para projetos onde as mudancas são constantes, projetos onde os escopos são dinâmicos e flexíveis, projetos que construirão o futuro. Estou surpreso com o artigo e conteúdo do site. Parabéns!!!


    1. // Reply

      Obrigado Rafael. De fato o Scrum está aí para nos ajudar em muitos projetos. É dificíl imaginar começar um novo projeto hoje sem aplicá-lo =)


  21. // Reply

    The most important is how you keep the comunication, when the people understod the importancy of your job and how this change every thing is possible explain step by step of the solution to te project, the secret is not have secrets independent of the person and the position all team need to have clear the goals.


  22. // Reply

    Muito bom o artigo!!! São dicas importantes para aqueles no processo de entrar para o nosso mundo do Scrum!! Não importa a entidade(Scrum Alliance ou Scrum.org) o mais importante é sair com um aprendizado onde se valoriza as interações, o foco e coloboração. Parabéns e excelente trabalho!


  24. // Reply

    Excelente post, muito intuitivo e claro para um certificação tão importante! Estou me preparando para essa certificação e acredito que vai me ajudar bastante!




  27. // Reply

    Let’s be honest, there is no ready-made formula for success in any field and same applies here while you try to attempt get the certificate for Professional Scrum Master. And in fact, the certificate value just drops to nothing if you have not learned anything during the process.


    1. // Reply

      Hello Alex! The article idea is help people to achieve the certification following a plan that already worked before for many people. Everything you do with a plan is better than without it. You are right about the day-by-day tópic. The certification must help to get more knowledge to use it, not only to say you know it. Thanks for your reply 🙂


  29. // Reply

    EDUARDO SUCENA tips are really helpful .I recently passed the PSM 1 ,studying scrum guide and open assignments are really important.
    Initially i got discouraged by going through various forums ,I dont say not to go through,but only get the content out of them and once you are confident please go ahead and attempt it.
    I read scrum guide ,mplaza simulation material and also done simulation exams of mplaza these online exams will gain you some confidence.


    1. // Reply

      Hello Shalini! Its very good to know I helped you to achieve your PSM. It is a pleasure for me 🙂


  30. // Reply

    I’m intending to mention this within my research paper.
    Many thanks. Are you currently a professional blogger?
    This is very good.


    1. // Reply

      Hello Katelynn. I am happy you enjoy our material. We are here for it. Please, fell free to mention getscrum.com material in your papers and comunities.


  32. // Reply

    Thanks for another great article. This information is very effective and interesting for me. You shared information about how to pass professional scrum master psm certification. Always providing tremendous value! appreciate all that you do!

Leave a Reply