Overview¶

This guide covers foundational Scrum Master certification preparation for two of the most recognized entry-level credentials: Scrum.org's Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) and Scrum Alliance's Certified ScrumMaster (CSM). While both certify baseline Scrum Master competency, they differ in format, governance body, and renewal requirements.

Who it's for: People new to formal Scrum Master certification, deciding between (or preparing for both) PSM I and CSM.

Core Topics Breakdown¶

1. PSM I vs. CSM — Key Differences¶

2. Scrum Fundamentals (Common to Both)¶

• The three accountabilities: Product Owner, Scrum Master, Developers.
• The five events: the Sprint (container event), Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective.
• The three artifacts and their commitments: Product Backlog (Product Goal), Sprint Backlog (Sprint Goal), Increment (Definition of Done).
• Empiricism's three pillars: Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation — the philosophical foundation both certifications test in different ways.

3. Scrum Values¶

• Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, Courage — memorize these five; both certifications reference them, and PSM I in particular may test recognition of behaviors that align or conflict with each value.

4. Common Exam Traps¶

• Confusing "Scrum Master" authority (process facilitation) with "Product Owner" authority (backlog value) or "manager" authority (people/resources) — a very common source of wrong answers on both exams.
• Assuming Scrum prescribes specific estimation techniques (it does not — story points, T-shirt sizes, etc. are common practices, not Scrum Guide requirements).
• Believing the Daily Scrum is a status meeting for the Scrum Master — it's for the Developers to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the plan.

5. Study Path Recommendation¶

1. Read the current Scrum Guide fully (short, ~13 pages, free from scrum.org) — this is the primary source for PSM I.
2. Take practice assessments (Scrum.org offers free open assessments) repeatedly until consistently scoring 95%+ before attempting the real PSM I exam.
3. If pursuing CSM, attend the required instructor-led course, since it's a prerequisite for exam eligibility — verify current requirements with Scrum Alliance.

Study Tips¶

• Because PSM I is drawn directly from the Scrum Guide, treat any external blog or course content as supplementary — always fact-check against the Guide's actual wording.
• Take the free official Scrum.org "Scrum Open" and "Product Owner Open" assessments repeatedly; they use a similar question bank style to the real exam.
• For CSM, engage actively in the instructor-led course exercises rather than treating it as a passive lecture — participation often reinforces concepts better than the exam itself.

Common Pitfalls¶

• Studying only from third-party prep material without reading the actual Scrum Guide — subtle wording differences can cost exam points.
• Assuming CSM and PSM I are interchangeable in rigor or renewal terms — they are governed by different organizations with different models.
• Neglecting the Scrum Values — they appear more often in exam questions than many candidates expect.

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet¶

Further Practice¶

Take a free official Scrum Open assessment, review every wrong answer against the exact Scrum Guide text, and repeat until scoring consistently above 90%.