In this article I'll tell you how I prepared to get certified, with some tricks and tips, resources, books, guides and practice tests to pass the Professional Scrum Master I exam on the first try.
You probably already know that PSM I (Professional Scrum Master I) is the certification offered by scrum.org that prepares you to be a Scrum Master by assessing your knowledge of Scrum.
Ken Schwaber left the Scrum Alliance in 2008 and then founded Scrum.org, with the goal of improving and standardizing the way agile professionals are trained and certified.
Unlike the Scrum Alliance certification, here there isn't just one certification but three (PSM I, PSM II, PSM III), depending on the candidate's level of complexity and experience.
To get the PSM I certification:
- You don't have to attend any official course, although there is an optional course taught by a Professional Scrum Trainer with approved, standardized content, which costs around €1,500.
- These certifications can be earned with enough study time and by reviewing the right materials. The exam fee is $150, or free if you have attended an official course.
- Pass the assessment (a tough one).
The assessment fee for PSM II is $250 and for PSM III it's $500, with a single attempt.
Advantages of getting certified with scrum.org:
- Growing prestige and recognition.
- You don't have to attend any course.
- Cheaper.
- The certifications don't need to be renewed.
- They earn PDUs for PMP certification holders.
Drawbacks:
- A hard certification to get (probably the hardest ones); the assessments require minimum scores of 85%.
- You have to study hard.
Scrum.org also offers the Professional Scrum Product Owner and Professional Scrum Developer certifications.
Preparing for the PSM I Certification
- First of all, it's essential to know and understand the framework, and for that you can check the guide. My recommendation is that, if English isn't a problem for you, you read it in English. Most of the PSM exam questions come from it, and it contains all the key knowledge you need to understand how Scrum works. A quick read isn't enough. It needs a careful, thorough reading.
- Review all the related concepts available in the glossary. Scrum.org has a fairly extensive glossary of terms that describes each of Scrum's key words, its events, artifacts and roles. This glossary is essential for preparing for the exam, and also while taking it. Make sure you bookmark it so you have it handy and check it first, instead of going to Google.
- Use the Open Assessments available for the PSM I certification, and make sure you not only get 100% of the answers right but also understand why. Ideally, before going for the real test, you should pass the open assessment at least 3 times in a row without a single mistake, with plenty of time to spare. If you can't, keep practicing and studying.
- Read all the additional documentation available on scrum.org; it will add value, especially when it comes to the events.
- Visit the scrum.org community forums and blog, read real questions and problems other people have faced, and of course, if you have doubts, ask.
- It's also very important to have been part of a Scrum Team, or try to talk to someone who actually uses it and swap experiences. After all, much of our knowledge comes from exactly that: experience.
- It's a good idea to read some additional books that will help you understand the framework a bit better:
- Scrum a Pocket Guide by Gunther Verheyen.
- Scrum: El nuevo y revolucionario modelo organizativo que cambiará tu vida by Jeff Sutherland.
- Scrum Insights for Practitioners: The Scrum Guide Companion by Hiren Doshi.
- Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland.
- Other reading recommended by scrum.org.
On top of that, I found a number of websites and apps that really help you prepare for the exams by taking practice tests:
- At Scrumdemy you can find courses to prepare for several Scrum certifications.
- You can also download the app for iOS and Android, a very convenient way to take tests and exams, whether you're relaxing at home or riding the subway.
The Exam
Here's what I can tell you about the exam:
- It has 80 questions and you have 60 minutes to complete it. That's more than enough time to answer all the questions and go back over the ones you're unsure about.
- Keep the Scrum Guide and the glossary of terms open to look things up; they'll come in handy.
- If you get stuck on a question, flag it and you can review it later.
- You need to answer at least 85% of the questions correctly to pass.
- The questions are multiple choice, multiple answer, and true/false.
- When you reach the last question, be careful not to click finish exam until you've had time to review your answers.
- The exam currently costs $150, which right now is a little over €122.