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PSM 1 Exam Tips

The PSM 1 assessment examines the Scrum knowledge in the following subject  areas: 

• Scrum Theory and Principles 

• Scrum Framework 

• Coaching and Mentoring

• Facilitation and Leadership

• Cross-functional and self-managing teams 

• Leadership styles

• Managing products with Agility

These areas provide a detailed idea about the type of questions that may be asked in the assessment along with examples and how this book helps with each type.

From the feedback of multiple PSM 1 holders, about 5 (or max. 10%) of the questions in the actual assessment are directly from the Scrum Open assessment.
 There are also questions directly from the Scrum Guide at the exam. These are questions that are straightforward, but require you to remember every word of Scrum. Active learning helps to remember the core content. 

There are also such questions that require a good understanding of the Scrum concepts around Self-managing, Leadership, Product Ownership, handling issues at the periphery of the Developers' boundary, etc. and some practical experience of applying Scrum. We highly recommend you use our Scrum Master practice tests.

Then there are enough questions outside the Scrum Guide. To answer this specific question, you need to know a technique that is not explained in the Scrum Guide. It is expected that you as a Scrum Master with some practical experience know certain “real-time techniques".

So, before the exam: 

• Read the Scrum Guide and get really familiar with it. This is the primary source of all answers for the assessment. Read and thoroughly understand it. Read it several times. 
• Review the Agile glossary for quick definitions of key terms (take attention to Scrum terms)
• Read all other guides and free materials from Volkerdon Free Resources
• Try the Scrum Open assessment until you can score 100%.
• Search something which is really important for you and what you want to improve in (for example from Scrum.org Forum)
• Try our Scrum Master preparation course. There are a lot of explanations and 100 questions and it is FREE.  
• Try our Scrum Master exam simulator with 420 questions with detailed explanations and professional references for every question. It is the best and most comprehensive practice assessment available anywhere.
• It is not necessary for PSM 1, but if you are still not confident, read some books about Scrum and Scrum Mastery. Highly recommend to read  "Scrum Pocket Guide"

During the exam, it is very important to remember: 

• Being concentrated on the exam during preparation is equally important as that of studying. The question arises here is how to do this? It depends on you. How to remain concentrated? Take the exam in your comfort duration (e.g., avoid selecting the morning shift exam if you’re not an early riser) and move to a silent place to take the exam.
• Be careful with the words: sometimes you don’t pay enough attention to some of the words, and answer the simplest of questions incorrectly. Always read the question carefully, word by word. Also, make sure you’ve read all answers before choosing the desired one.
• Be careful with questions containing “NOT”: some questions ask, for example, “which of the following is NOT a characteristic of…”, and many people forget about the “NOT”, and pick the wrong answer. You won’t believe how common this is; so, be careful not to miss this keyword.
• Have the Scrum Guide and our Agile and Scrum Glossary to hand and use it to look up what you need
• Provide the answer for all questions even if you are unsure about the correct answer. Just mark such questions and return them at the end and use your time to think them over.
• Be careful with multiple answer questions: some questions ask you to choose multiple answers, and some people just don’t pay enough attention and pick one answer. All multiple answer questions use check-boxes instead of radio buttons; get used to paying attention to this as a double-check. It’s a good idea to spend a few minutes at the end of the exam, going through all the questions and only checking to see if you’ve picked multiple answers where you needed them.
• Do not search for correct answers on the internet. Remember, you have just 60 minutes and 80 questions. Don't waste your time. 
• If you have finished the test and have some time, re-check your answers.

PSM 1 Exam Structure

• There are 80 total Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer and True/False questions. which make up the Professional Scrum Master (PSM 1) exam

• Passing score: 85%

• Time limit: 60 minutes

• Only English language is available

• To pass the exam you need (technically) only connected internet (and of course you have to pay for the exam 150 USD) :)

Why PSM 1 certificate? 

• The PSM 1 exam is administered by a company guided by Ken Schwaber, one of the co-founders of Scrum.
 • PSM is the most meritorious certificate of all that certifies Scrum. Other certifications can easily be obtained by attending a class or through an exam where failing could only happen by intention.
 • PSM assessment requires good knowledge of the original version of Scrum, and its passing requirements are high (85%). Such stringent criteria provide more teeth to its certificate than the other certifications provided in the marketplace.
 • PSM assesses the knowledge on authentic Scrum.
 • The assessment can be taken from anywhere with a computer and internet connection.
 • Once you acquire the certificate, you do not need to renew.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us by email at [email protected]