PSM I Study Guide: Pass Scrum.org's 85% Threshold Without a Training Course
PSM I requires 85% to pass — one of the highest thresholds of any cert — but it only costs $200 with no mandatory training. If you know the Scrum Guide deeply, you can pass with 2 weeks of focused study.
Pass Rate
~68% (first attempt, Scrum.org estimates)
Total Cost
$200–$250 all-in
Difficulty
Intermediate
Study Timeline by Background
Estimates for 1–2 hours of daily study.
Active Scrum practitioner (2+ years in Scrum teams)
Study Hours
15–25 hours
Timeline
1–2 weeks
Developer or designer in agile teams
Study Hours
25–40 hours
Timeline
2–3 weeks
New to Scrum
Study Hours
40–60 hours
Timeline
3–5 weeks
PSM I vs CSM: Which Should You Get?
PSM I (Scrum.org) and CSM (Scrum Alliance) are both widely recognized but structurally different. CSM requires a 2-day trainer-led course ($1,000–$1,500 total) and has no minimum pass score. PSM I requires 85% to pass but costs only $200 with no required training. Employers generally consider both valid, but PSM I's higher pass threshold means it carries slightly more signal.
Key Tips
- ✓PSM I: self-directed, affordable, high bar — best for practitioners who can self-study
- ✓CSM: classroom experience, networking opportunity, lower bar — better for those who benefit from structured learning
- ✓Both are lifetime credentials with no renewal required (PSM has optional higher tiers)
- ✓PSM II and PSM III exist for advanced practitioners — PSM I is the starting point
What the PSM I Actually Tests
80 questions in 60 minutes with an 85% pass requirement (68/80 correct). The exam is based entirely on the 2020 Scrum Guide — 13 pages that define the entire framework. The exam is technically open-book (internet access allowed), but 60 minutes for 80 questions gives you about 45 seconds per question — not enough time to look anything up. You must know the Scrum Guide thoroughly before you start.
⚠ Watch out
The open-book format is a trap for underprepared candidates. 45 seconds per question is not enough to look up answers. Candidates who rely on searching will run out of time. Know the Scrum Guide well enough that looking things up is only needed for 5–10% of edge-case questions.
Key Tips
- ✓Read the Scrum Guide at least 5 times — read it until it's boring and you can predict what comes next
- ✓Know all three Scrum accountabilities (Product Owner, Scrum Master, Developers) and their specific responsibilities
- ✓Know all four Scrum events (Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective) and their purpose, timeboxes, and who attends
- ✓Know all three Scrum artifacts (Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment) and their commitments (Product Goal, Sprint Goal, Definition of Done)
What Trips Candidates Up
Most wrong answers on PSM I come from candidates applying how their company does Scrum rather than how the Scrum Guide defines it. The exam tests the Scrum Guide, not common practice.
Common Traps
- ✕The Scrum Master is NOT a project manager — they don't assign tasks, manage resources, or hold authority over the team
- ✕The Sprint backlog is owned by the Developers, not the Product Owner or Scrum Master
- ✕Only the Product Owner can order the Product Backlog — the Scrum Master facilitates but doesn't control it
- ✕Sprints cannot be shortened mid-Sprint (only cancelled, which is extremely rare — only the Product Owner can cancel a Sprint)
- ✕The Daily Scrum is a 15-minute event for Developers to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal — it's not a status meeting for the Scrum Master
The Study Plan
Two to three weeks of focused study is enough for most people. Don't over-engineer this — the Scrum Guide is 13 pages and Scrum.org provides free learning resources.
Key Tips
- ✓Day 1–3: Read the Scrum Guide 3 times. Understand, don't just read.
- ✓Day 4–7: Take Scrum.org's free open assessments (Scrum Open, Product Owner Open) repeatedly until you score 100% consistently
- ✓Day 8–12: Take a paid practice exam set (Mikhail Lapshin's or similar) — these are much closer to the real exam difficulty
- ✓Day 13: One final Scrum Guide review and a full mock exam
Resources
The Scrum Guide is free. Scrum.org's open assessments are free. You can prepare thoroughly for under $20.