How to Pass the PSM I: Complete 2026 Guide

The Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) from Scrum.org is considered one of the most respected Scrum certifications — and one of the most demanding entry-level exams. This guide shows you how to prepare systematically and pass the exam on your first attempt.

The exam format at a glance

The PSM I exam runs online via Scrum.org and follows clear rules:

• 80 questions in 60 minutes — that's only 45 seconds per question
• 85% passing score — you can afford at most 12 mistakes
• Question types: single choice, multiple choice, and true/false
• Cost: $200 per attempt (as of 2026)
• No proctoring, but a strict time limit — the clock is merciless

Once passed, the certification is valid for life. There is no re-certification and no annual fees.

Step 1: Truly understand the Scrum Guide

All exam questions are based on the Scrum Guide 2020. Don't just read it once — read it several times, ideally in English, because the exam language is English and official translations deviate in places.

Pay special attention to the details Scrum.org loves to test:

• The Scrum Team consists of at most 10 people with three accountabilities: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers
• A Sprint lasts at most one month; the Daily Scrum is timeboxed to 15 minutes
• Every artifact has a commitment: Product Backlog → Product Goal, Sprint Backlog → Sprint Goal, Increment → Definition of Done
• The five Scrum values: Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, Courage

Step 2: Train with exam simulations

Reading alone is not enough. The biggest lever is training under real exam conditions: 80 questions, 60 minutes, no interruptions. This gets you used to the pace and teaches you to analyze multiple-choice questions quickly.

Important: after every simulation, work through the explanations for all questions — including the ones you got right. Knowledge gaps often hide behind correctly guessed answers.

Step 3: Close your weak spots

Analyze your simulations by topic area. Typical stumbling blocks are:

• Scrum events and their timeboxes
• The responsibilities of the three accountabilities (who is allowed to do what?)
• Empiricism and its three pillars: transparency, inspection, adaptation
• Handling unfinished increments at the end of a Sprint

Tips for exam day

1. Ensure quiet: 60 minutes without disturbances, stable internet, phone away.
2. Read every question twice: words like "always", "never", or "must" are often the key.
3. For multiple choice: the number of answers to select is usually stated — use that.
4. Don't panic when unsure: mentally flag the question and move on. Pace matters more than perfection on individual questions.

With structured preparation — Scrum Guide, simulations, targeted repetition — the PSM I is absolutely achievable. Most learners need two to four weeks of focused preparation time.

Want to get started right away? Our PSM I exam simulations mirror the real exam exactly — with a timer, 80 questions, and detailed explanations for every answer.