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Introduction

The CSM or the Certified Scrum Master exam is the stepping stone to become a Scrum practitioner. It is a foundation-level certification offered by Scrum Alliance institute, a non-profitable organization. A CSM is one who is trained in the empirical process control of Scrum. He/she knows the pillars of Scrum framework, understands the events, roles, artifacts. And is well-versed to implement Scrum practices in an enterprise so that the Scrum team performs to deliver optimized value to clients.

A Certified Scrum Master is important in an Agile organization that uses the Scrum framework for the projects. The certification is the way for Scrum Masters to prove their knowledge and skills in the domain. There is a growing requirement for Scrum Masters across enterprises as more and more Agile enterprises are now adopting Scrum as their preferred framework. The certification opens the doors for Scrum Masters to grow professionally in their careers with enhanced earnings.  

The question, how to pass the Scrum Master exam can occur to many participants. Is it easy or tough? Is it enough to attend the two-day course or do I need preparatory time? What preparations do I need? These and many such queries keep occuring to  candidates before the course and the exam. It is important to know that CSM is not a proctored exam. The training that is offered during the two-day course is typically more than enough for most participants to clear the exam with flying colors. This is because the CSM training is practical-oriented where only such principles, terminologies, and practices are taught that get used in your daily work.

Tips to crack the CSM Exam

Cracking the CSM exam is not that tough if you attend the training workshop diligently because the exam tests all that is taught during the workshop. Then how to pass the Certified Scrum Master exam and become CSM certified? Let's discuss the top ten tips and tricks to crack the test and get awarded the CSM certification.

Tip 1 -Ensure that you are thorough with the Scrum guide 

The Scrum guide is the official document or the course material offered by the Scrum Alliance, which is the certifying body for CSM. The Scrum concepts, principles, and rules are all detailed out in the official handbook. Once you read it thoroughly, you may not need any more material for the preparation. This guide from Scrum covers everything under the Scrum Framework that you need to know to become a CSM. All questions in the exam are based on the official materials. The official online Scrum Guide should be referred to as it is the updated and the latest version. 

Tip 2- Complete the mandatory two-day course from a certified & registered training institute

The second tip on how to pass the CSM exam is that you must enroll for the two-day training from a reputed institute with a proven track record. It is imperative to first check the credentials of the trainer and assess their experience in coaching for CSM. Also you may want to check what kind of materials they provide to support for the exam preparation.

Tip 3 - Make your preparations sound and foolproof by taking mock or practice tests

Leading institutes ensure that they hold mock or practice tests so that candidates are not only able to test their level of preparations, but also get acquainted with the format of the exam. The other advantage of taking mock tests is that one gets to know the topics that they face issues with during the test. This way they can work harder on the said topics and gain confidence for the actual exam.

Tip 4 -Get your basics clear

This is undoubtedly one of the fundamental answers to the question- How to pass the Certified Scrum Master exam? You must be one-hundred percent sure of these topics and know them as clearly as the back of your hand:

• Rules in Scrum
• Roles in Scrum
• Artifacts in Scrum
• Events in Scrum
• Multiple scenarios of working with Scrum teams, and more.

Tip 5 -Refresh your knowledge about the Agile Manifesto

Remember, the Agile Manifesto has 12 principles and 4 foundational values. For the CSM exam, your understanding of the Manifesto has to be flawless. It helps you comprehend the Scrum interactions and principles better and thus clear the exam with better marks.

Tip 6 - If possible, be a part of an online CSM community

This is where you will meet people who are either working as CSM or have knowledge of CSM as also people who are preparing for CSM. The open discussions on the forum help clear many doubts and queries; besides offering you links and resources to help prepare better for the exam.

Tip 7 -Flag the topics that make you uncomfortable and seek clarity before the exam.

While reading the Scrum guide, or during the mock tests or the open assessment, you will come across certain topics that may seem difficult and make you uncomfortable. Make sure that you get your doubts cleared from the Certified Scrum Trainer or the online boot camp community or from other sources before the exam.

Tip 8 -Exam related tips

Since the CSM exam is a multiple-choice exam and open book test, you need to ensure certain points during the exam:

• Read the question and the presented choices carefully. 
• It is a good idea to eliminate the clearly wrong answers first and then review the remaining choices.
• Always, make sure to review all the answers before submitting the test.

Now, that you have the tips on how to pass the CSM exam, here are some important details about the CSM exam. 

Preparing for the CSM Exam

Workshop: It is mandatory to attend the two-day training workshop offered by a Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Trainer. 

Cost: The exam cost depends on the training institute you choose and the exam fee is included in the training course fee. 

Exam format: This is a multiple-choice exam. There are a total of 50 questions and is an open-book format. 

Passing Score: You need to get 37 questions correct out of 50. This is 74% or higher for getting the CSM certification.

Time: You get 60 minutes to appear for all the 50 questions. Once the exam starts there is no way to pause or stop it. 

Other details-  One needs to take the test only after successful completion of the 2-day training. The link for the exam will be sent to your email id by Scrum Alliance. On passing the exam, you will need to accept the license from Scrum Alliance for the certification. If you fail, you can re-attempt the exam within 90 days. The CSM certification is valid for 2 years after which you need to renew the same by earning 20 SEUs and paying a fee of 100$.

Conclusion

The CSM certification is in great demand. This is because more than 80% of Agile teams today use the Scrum framework. Also, CSMs earn more compared to non-certified professionals. Remember, as a certified SM you are a big asset to the enterprise with an online badge of honor from Scrum Alliance proving your worth and mettle to your employers.

Reference

1. https://medium.com/@chintan4u/how-to-pass-csm-test-with-flying-colors-Scrumalliance-ea8529ab9c50

Useful Links:

Leading SAFe Course Little Rock, Advanced Certified Scrum Master Course Thiruvananthapuram, Scrum Master Certification Minneapolis, Leading SAFe Virtual Certification Training Anchorage, Certified Scrum Master Online Course Chiang Mai, Certified Scrum Master Online Certification Shenzhen, CSPO Virtual Training Course New Delhi, Advanced Scrum Master Certification Course Indonesia, Advanced-CSM Certification Antwerp, A-CSM Online Course Charleston