Tips for passing the Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) exam and obtaining certification from ScrumAlliance.org
TLDR: Attend 2-day training, Follow the official Scrum Guide and Agile Manifesto, and Take the exam!
I recently obtained the Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) certification from Scrum Alliance after completing training and passing the exam with a score of 98%. Based on my experience, here’s a quick guide to help you understand the CSM certification process and the exam tips that worked for me.
#1 — Choose the right certification (CSM vs. PSM vs. …..)
Around 250+ agile and scrum certifications are available in the market right now and among them, CSM (ScrumAlliance.org) and PSM (Scrum.org) are the recommended entry-level certifications for Scrum Master candidates. CSM is the most widely known certificate in the market and its content is simple because of its focus on the fundamentals.
To obtain CSM, you must satisfy 2 conditions.
- Attend a 16-hour mandatory training by a certified Scrum trainer (usually spanning 2–3 days).
- Pass a 50-MCQ open-book exam within 1 hour.
#2 — Attend mandatory scrum training
If your employer sponsors the exam, you can follow their instructions.
If you are an independent candidate, you can easily find a course from the Scrum Alliance website. Go to the Course Search page and using search filters, find a course program that suits you. Check details, find reviews about the trainer, and finally, when you are confident about the course, go ahead and register.
Note that usually, most trainers have their own websites and communication channels to handle communications and payments.
In my case, I attended a 2-day virtual training program conducted by Kok Ewe Siew from Good Agile.
If you register for an online course, you will receive meeting invites from the trainer. During those sessions, I actively participated in group activities and discussions and learned and clarified my doubts about scrum practice.
At the end of the 2-day training program, the trainer will inform the Scrum Alliance that you attended their training program for 2 days and satisfied the above condition #1. He will also collect your personal information and create your profile on the Scrum Alliance website. By following the emails you receive from the Scrum Alliance, you can log into the Scrum Alliance dashboard. It is where you can schedule your CSM final exam to satisfy the above condition #2.
In my case, the course fee was around 288 USD and that package included training, certification, exam fees, 2-year membership in Scrum Alliance, and all course materials.
#3 — Prepare for CSM exam
The current CSM exam covers:
- All topics on the official Scrum Guide (2020 version) and
- 4 Values + 12 Agile Principles on the Agile Manifesto.
The following outline will give us an idea of the content of the exam.
This exam is open-book — but I highly recommend reading the official Scrum Guide and understanding its concepts deeply. In my case, I read it fully in one go and highlighted important concepts for later.
With busy schedules at work and personal life, finding time to re-read the Scrum Guide multiple times was not an option for me. However, luckily, I found a Scrum Guide audiobook from YouTube which I listened to multiple times within 3 days while doing my workouts. This was a great time-saver.
I googled and found some freely available mock tests online too. I tried them a few times to check my understanding and speed.
With a few days of preparation like this (while also working full 8+ hours a day), I knew I was ready. Honestly, I was over-prepared for the exam because I got distracted by the difficulty of other scrum exams. And, it took me some time to realize the various scopes and difficulty levels among scrum exams and pick the right scope for CSM.
I also later found that some candidates take the exam right after the training and pass it effortlessly. That is very impressive and if I could redo this exam, I would follow the same path.
The CSM exam includes 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) to be answered within 1 hour. A score of 74.0% or greater is needed to pass this exam (i.e. 37 correct out of the 50 questions). You can take this exam anytime by following the instructions on your Scrum Alliance dashboard and right after completing the exam, the results and your certification will also be available.
In my case, I took the exam during the evening time and it took me around ~30 minutes to answer all the questions. Then, I spent around ~10 minutes checking the bookmarked questions and finished the exam. I got a score of 98% on my first attempt and could collect my certification immediately after the exam.
Conclusion
In conclusion, earning the Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) certification is an indication that demonstrates our commitment to Agile principles and working practices, especially in corporate tech environments. By following these tips and investing time and effort into the preparation, I hope you will conveniently obtain your CSM certification and embark on a rewarding journey as a Certified Scrum Master!
