The Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) from Scrum.org tests whether you actually understand the Scrum Guide. Here is exactly what you are walking into, how to study for it, and practice questions to find your gaps before exam day.
The honest answer: it depends on what you want from it. The PSM I is a credible, well-regarded entry point into Scrum, and Scrum.org has a reputation for assessments that are harder than they look. A 60-minute, 80-question test with an 85% bar leaves little room to bluff, so a PSM I on your resume signals that you genuinely read and understood the Scrum Guide rather than sat through a slideshow.
It will not, by itself, make you a Scrum Master. It is a knowledge check, not proof of experience leading a team through real conflict, messy backlogs, or stakeholders who want everything by Friday. Treat it as a foundation you build on, not a finish line.
PSM I vs. CSM: The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) from Scrum Alliance usually requires a paid two-day course and the exam is comparatively gentle. The PSM I has no mandatory course, no renewal fees, and a tougher passing bar, so many people see it as better value and a stronger signal of self-driven understanding. CSM can be the right call if your employer specifically asks for it or you want the in-person training.
PSM I vs. PSPO I: These are different roles, not different levels. PSM I focuses on the Scrum Master accountability and facilitating the framework; the Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) focuses on maximizing product value and managing the Product Backlog. Pick the one that matches the seat you want to sit in.
Who it is for: developers, project managers, business analysts, and team leads moving toward agile delivery; aspiring Scrum Masters who want a recognized, affordable credential; and current practitioners who want to confirm their understanding is aligned with the current Scrum Guide.
The PSM I draws from the Scrum framework as defined by Scrum.org, anchored to the Scrum Guide. Scrum.org maps the assessment to its Scrum Master learning focus areas. It does not publish fixed percentage weights for each area, so any source claiming a precise breakdown is guessing. Study all of it. The focus areas you should know cold include:
Expect scenario questions that test judgment, not just definitions. Many wrong answers describe common workplace habits that contradict the Scrum Guide, which is exactly the trap the exam is checking for.
| Number of Questions | 80 questions |
| Time Limit | 60 minutes |
| Passing Score | 85% |
| Format | Multiple choice, multiple answer, and true/false; in English; taken online from anywhere |
| Cost | Approximately $200 USD per attempt (confirm current pricing on Scrum.org) |
| Prerequisites | None; a course is recommended but not required |
| Validity | Lifetime certification; no renewal or maintenance fees |
| Based On | The Scrum Guide (2020) |
| Vendor | Scrum.org |
The Scrum Guide is short, free, and the single source of truth for this exam. Read it slowly, then re-read it until the accountabilities, events, artifacts, and their commitments are second nature. Most failed attempts trace back to skimming it.
Scrum.org offers free Open Assessments, including the Scrum Open, that pull from the same question style. Score 100% consistently before you pay for the real thing; if you cannot, you are not ready yet.
80 questions in 60 minutes is roughly 45 seconds each. You do not have time to deliberate on every one. Practice answering quickly, flagging the uncertain ones, and circling back with whatever time remains.
The exam favors answers that match the Scrum Guide over answers that match common workplace shortcuts. When two options feel right, choose the one truest to Scrum theory, not the one your last job actually did.
You can read the Scrum Guide ten times and still misjudge a scenario under a ticking clock. Practice questions do something passive reading cannot: they force a decision, then show you where your understanding was actually wrong instead of where you assumed it was solid.
Good practice also builds the pacing the PSM I demands. When you have answered enough timed questions, 45 seconds stops feeling like a sprint and starts feeling normal, so you spend exam-day energy on judgment rather than panic. Our practice questions are written to mirror the framework and the reasoning the assessment rewards, with explanations for why the right answer is right and why each distractor is wrong, so every miss becomes a lesson rather than a guess you got away with.
Go straight to the source for the current rules, pricing, and free practice:
The PSM I assessment has 80 questions, delivered as multiple choice, multiple answer, and true/false.
You need 85% to pass, which means roughly 68 of the 80 questions correct. There is little margin for error, so aim higher than that in practice.
You have 60 minutes for all 80 questions, which works out to about 45 seconds per question. Pacing matters as much as knowledge.
The PSM I assessment costs approximately $200 USD per attempt. Always confirm the current price on Scrum.org, since pricing can change.
No. The PSM I is open to anyone, with no prior certification or course required, though a Professional Scrum Master course is recommended.
No. The PSM I is a lifetime certification with no renewal, no continuing education requirement, and no maintenance fees.
PSM I (Scrum.org) needs no mandatory course and never expires, with a tougher passing bar. CSM (Scrum Alliance) typically requires a paid course and renews periodically. Both validate Scrum Master knowledge.
It is more demanding than many entry-level certs because of the 85% bar and the time pressure. Candidates who thoroughly study the Scrum Guide and consistently ace the free Open Assessments tend to do well.
Practice PSM I-style questions with clear explanations, then walk into the real assessment knowing where you stand.
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