Prepare for the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) exam in 5 steps

You’ve been working as a Scrum Master for some time and are familiar with how your team runs Scrum. You’re now considering getting certified to validate your knowledge and grow in your role.

You try a few practice tests, but soon realize the questions don’t always match your experience.

This is because the exam follows the Scrum Guide — the official document that defines Scrum and outlines how it's meant to be practiced.

In my experience, different teams often practice Scrum differently, so relying on the Scrum Guide improves your chances of getting the right answers. Preparing the right way will help you succeed on the Certified Scrum Master exam.

You're required to complete a two-day live training (online or in-person) with a Certified Scrum Trainer from Scrum Alliance. 

This may seem demanding, but many candidates find it helpful. Most questions on the test align closely with what the trainer covers, so staying engaged during the sessions and asking questions can help you better understand the concepts.

The training fee includes the cost of the Certified Scrum Master exam. Choose a trainer with good ratings to improve your learning experience.

After the training, you’ll receive an email to activate your Scrum Alliance account and access the Certified Scrum Master exam.

Here’s what you need to know about exam attempts:

• You have two attempts within 90 days to complete the exam at no cost.

• If you take the exam after the 90-day window or fail twice, a fee is required to attempt it.

Certified Scrum Master Exam Format and Scoring

• Total questions: 50

• Time limit: 60 minutes

• Validity: 2 years

• Passing score: 37/50 (74%)

• Question type: Multiple choice

• Format: Online, open-book exam

The Scrum Guide is considered the source of truth for the Certified Scrum Master exam. Reading it 2–3 times can help build familiarity with its concepts.

If your organization practices Scrum differently, it’s helpful to rely on the Scrum Guide when answering questions on the exam.

Study Focus

• Scrum roles: Who is accountable for what

• Scrum artifacts: What they contain and their commitments

• Scrum events: Purpose, participants, and time-boxes

Agile manifesto: Core values and principles

• What Scrum doesn't allow: rules that can't be ignored

Mock tests can help you:

• Recognize question patterns

• Improve speed

• Identify areas that may need more focus

After each mock test, it can be useful to:

• Review incorrect responses

• Consider why the correct answer aligns with Scrum rules and values

You can try a free practice test here: Simplilearn’s CSM Free Practice Test

Photo by Krismas on Unsplash

Use these simple strategies to make better decisions during the Certified Scrum Master exam:

• Refer to your training notes or worksheets if needed.

• Think of the correct answer before reading the options, then compare it with the choices provided.

• Eliminate incorrect options first, then evaluate the remaining ones.

• Manage your time and flag difficult questions to revisit later.

• Be cautious of words like all, always, none, and never, as they're often misleading.

• Review all answers once before submitting the test.

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

Following these steps can help you feel more prepared and confident going into the Certified Scrum Master exam: