How I Prepared for the PSM I Exam and Achieved a 98.8% Score
Not that difficult.
With over a decade of experience in software development, including a significant portion of my career involving partial Scrum implementations, I was already familiar with many concepts of Scrum, the role of the Product Owner (PO), and the relationships between developers and stakeholders. But as I looked to formalize my knowledge and become a certified Scrum Master, I knew I had to dedicate some time to understanding the theory and nuances of the Scrum framework.
Here's how I prepared for the Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) certification and how I managed to pass on my first attempt with a near-perfect score of 98.8% (79 out of 80 points).
Resources Used for Preparation
- Complete Agile Scrum Master Certification Training (Udemy)
The primary resource I used was the Complete Agile Scrum Master Certification Training course on Udemy by Mirko Perkusich. This course is comprehensive and covers everything you need to know for the exam. The lessons were easy to follow, and the concepts were clearly explained, which made it easier for me to digest. The total length of the course was about 6 hours, but I took a few days to go through the material, as I prefer to take notes and summarize what I learn. - Personalized Notes on Notion
I have a habit of rephrasing and summarizing the content in my own words, which helps reinforce the learning process. I used Notion to keep track of my notes and updates, and I found that this made the learning process more effective. Taking the time to translate the course material into my own notes helped me better internalize the information. - 340 Practice Questions
The Udemy course included 340 practice questions, and in my opinion, these questions were more than enough to prepare for the actual PSM I exam. They cover the various Scrum principles and scenarios that may appear in the exam. - The Official Scrum Guide
After completing the video lessons, I read the official Scrum Guide slowly and carefully. This document is the ultimate authority when it comes to Scrum. It lays out the rules, roles, and processes that govern Scrum, and it’s essential to understand it inside and out.
Practice and Repetition
- Starting Early in the Morning
I began my practice sessions early in the day, working through the questions and revisiting my notes. I followed a cycle of repeating the practice exams twice, ensuring I understood the rationale behind each answer. - First Practice Exam Failure
For my first practice exam, I scored 63/80 (78%), which was below the required 85% passing score. I made a point to not refer to my notes during the exam, even though you are allowed to during the actual PSM I. After finishing the exam, I carefully reviewed each question and refined my notes based on the gaps I discovered. - Improving Through Repetition
After refining my notes, I retook the practice exams. My second attempt yielded a score of 75/81 (92%), which was much better, but I still wasn’t satisfied. I repeated the cycle again, improving my notes and ensuring I understood why certain answers were correct and others were not. - Consistency Pays Off
Over the course of a few days, I repeated the practice exams until I scored 95% or higher in my second attempts. By this time, I felt confident and ready for the real exam.
Taking the Real Exam
By now, I had gained a good understanding of the exam structure and the kinds of questions I might face. I took a short break before attempting the official PSM I exam, ensuring I was mentally refreshed. In real-life scenarios, Scrum might not deliver immediate results, and it may take time for teams and organizations to adapt and see tangible benefits. However, I felt that with my preparation, I was well-equipped to tackle the exam.
When I took the exam, I completed it in less than 40 minutes. I had trained myself to average 25 minutes per practice exam, but knowing the exam cost USD200 per attempt made me a bit more cautious. I took my time to reflect on each question, flagged the ones I was unsure about, and revisited them with my notes. This approach helped me to answer all questions with confidence.
Final Results
I scored 98.8% on the official exam, with only 1 point deducted out of the maximum 80. This result was a testament to the power of focused preparation, repetition, and refinement of my knowledge.
The Real Challenge of Scrum
While passing the PSM I exam was relatively straightforward for someone with my experience, the real challenge lies in implementing Scrum within an organization. Scrum is a powerful framework, but it often takes time for organizations to fully understand and adopt it. It’s not uncommon for the early stages to show little progress. The challenge is in educating stakeholders, gaining executive support, and fostering a team-oriented culture where Scrum can thrive.
Adopting Scrum is not a one-time event—it requires continuous improvement and adjustments. The framework will evolve within your organization, and the learning never stops. To me, that's the real challenge of Scrum: its application, not its theory.
Final Thoughts and Advice
Whether you are a developer, tech leader, product manager, or part of the business team, I strongly recommend taking the PSM I exam. The cost of the exam (USD200) is well worth it, and many companies may even sponsor it. With Scrum knowledge in hand, you are better equipped to guide your team and steer your organization toward better ways of working.
For those interested in practical improvement, any step forward is better than staying stagnant. Scrum can help your team focus, streamline workflows, and ultimately deliver more value over time.
I hope my experience and preparation strategy can be useful to others as they prepare for the PSM I. Best of luck!