Professional Scrum Master I or PSM I is a certification demonstrating your knowledge and understanding of Scrum and identifying your ability to be a Scrum Master. This PSM 1 certification benefits any professional who wants to work with Agile and Scrum and will allow any small or large business that wants to adopt Agile quickly.
Once you get a PSM I certification, you become eligible to apply as a candidate to different organizations that use Scrum methodology in optimizing their team’s performance. With PSM 1 certification and a good experience level in using Scrum, any individual can apply for the position of Scrum Master or Scrum Coach or even Product owner.
But at the same time, candidates must keep learning and get as many certifications as possible to be the best in their profession. PSM I certification is already a marker for candidates who are serious about their goals and want to achieve at an individual level to support their team members to perform better.
The PSM I exam is administered by a company guided by Ken Schwaber, one of the co-founders of Scrum. PSM 1 is the most worthy certificate of all that certifies Scrum. Other certifications can easily be acquired by attending a class or an exam where failure could only happen by intention.
The PSM I exam has 80 questions to be taken in 1 hour. The passing rate is 85%. The exam fee is $150. The exam can be taken anytime and anywhere with an Internet connection.
PSM I Certification: Preparation Strategies and Tips
Here are some study tips for preparing for the PSM I certification:
1. Read Scrum Guide and Nexus Guide
The Scrum Guide is the primary reference for Scrum Framework authored by the originators of Scrum, Mr. Ken Schwaber, and Mr. Jeff Sutherland. You may require to read this guide 2-3 times. The PSM 1 will test the correct interpretation of Scrum Rules, Scrum Roles, Scrum Events, and Scrum Artifacts.
The Nexus Guide is for scaling Scrum to multiple teams working on a single product. Inside this guide will increase your understanding of Scrum as applied to different groups, and there are questions relating to numerous units.
2. Join/Register to Scrum.org Community
You will require an account on the Scrum.org site to take the exam. The site offers resources to learn about Scrum, such as blog entries and videos. The Scrum community forum discusses several Scrum concepts applied to real-world scenarios.
3. Enroll in a Scrum Master Course
Accredited training courses are not needed in taking PSM I certification. If you are serious about your PSM journey, enrolling in an accredited course conducted by a Professional Scrum Trainer is highly suggested. Accredited training courses need some investment. For a cheaper alternative, you may get Scrum introductory courses online. However, these courses only concentrate on understanding the Scrum Guide and tips on passing the PSM 1 exam.
4. Take Scrum.org Open Assessment
Scrum.org provides an Open Assessment to gauge your basic knowledge of Scrum. Try to take all four assessments: Scrum Open for Scrum Master, Nexus Open for Understanding of Scaled Scrum, Product Owner Open, and Developer Open.
Some of the exam questions do appear on the actual exam. Try to retake the Scrum Open until you get 95%, while taking the other exams until you get at least a passing rate of 85%. Each exam has 30 questions to be completed within 30 minutes.
5. Take PSM I Mock Exams Available on the Internet
Practice makes perfect. Some sites need registration and may have outdated questions based on the latest Scrum Guide. Tests your depth of knowledge of the Scrum framework and its application; while answering questions, always find them on the guide and not on your personal work experience. This PSM I mock test only wants to test your knowledge of the Scrum framework.
Conclusion
If you do not pass the PSM I exam on the first attempt, you can purchase another shot from Scrum.org. It is not compulsory to undergo PSM 1 certification before taking the exam, but it is advised. You can take the test directly if you have a high understanding and knowledge of Scrum.
These tips will aid you in studying and passing the PSM 1 exam much more ease on the first attempt. The guidance of expert coaches will also help in understanding and implementing Scrum and Agile for any professional.
