PSM 2 is an advanced Scrum Master certification exam from Scrum.org. PSM I validates your knowledge of the Scrum framework elements, while PSM II tests your understanding and interpretation of Scrum guiding principles.

 

If you're deciding between CSM and PSM, check out how PSM 2 compares to A-CSM, the Scrum Alliance's second-level Scrum Mastery certification.

 

In this article, you'll find practical tips on how to prepare for the PSM II exam and pass it the first time.

 

How to prepare for the  certification exam and pass it successfully the first time?

 

What is the demand for PSM II certification? Is it worth buying?

Only about 5% of those who pass the PSM I assessment go on to take PSM II.

 

Number of Scrum.org Professional Scrum Master certification holders at each of the three levels

 

The second level of PSM is definitely more challenging than the first level. Since the greatest benefit of becoming certified is the knowledge and insight you gain while preparing for the exam, you will benefit greatly from taking the PSM II exam.

 

What are the prerequisites for PSM 2 certification?

The following is recommended for potential PSM 2 test takers:

 

●        Possess PSM I certification

●        Attend courses

●        Approximately one year of Scrum Master experience

However, you do not need to obtain or demonstrate any of the above before attempting the test - you can take PSM 2 directly when you are ready.

 

This is the route I tried and passed for the first time - see my story at the end of the post.

 

Related: Things to Consider Before Assuming the Scrum Master Role.

 

How hard is the PSM2 ? Is it an open book or a proctor?

The PSM II exam is unproctored, like other Scrum.org exams. There are 30 multiple-choice questions, many of which are multiple choice, that you have 90 minutes to answer.

 

The passing score is 85%, so the relative weight of each question and the cost of being wrong are high. You can make up to 4 mistakes before failing the exam.

 

The average question is about 3 minutes, but in practice, if you prepare well, you can answer most of them almost immediately after reading. This will give you plenty of time to consider options for questions you're not sure about.

 

The questions are situational: you're presented with a scenario and asked to choose the best course of action—or multiple appropriate options.

 

It's all about explaining, so you won't get ready-made answers from Scrum guides or articles you find with a quick search.

 

If you're used to doing online research and quickly distilling and parsing search results, you can double-check some key points and feel more confident about which options to remove or keep.

 

But to pass the exam, you'll need an intuitive understanding of the Scrum methodology and an immersion in learning and doing it.

 

PSM II Exam and Preparation Fees

The fee to take the PSM II exam is $250.

 

Scrum.org offers a lot of free material such as their learning paths, blogs, Scrum Pulse webinars, and more. You can drill down and pick and choose all the knowledge without paying a dime.

 

If you prefer to receive information in a more concise and structured manner, you can purchase several books for an average cost of $15-25. However, please read as much additional material as your schedule allows.

 

If you prefer a video format, there are video courses, such as the Advanced Scrum Master course on Udemy. The regular price is $50, but depending on Udemy's regular promotions, the price can be lower than $15.

 

Exam simulators, such as the PSM II Exam Simulator on Udemy, cost $20, but can be less if there are promotional discounts.

 

If you have the funds, taking an on-site training session can be a joy. A 2-day PSM II training course on Scrum.org starts at about $1000 and includes a free exam. Training in different languages is available.

 

Note: All blog posts on Scrum.org are written by professional Scrum trainers.

 

By reading these articles, you can learn about the knowledge and experience of many Scrum trainers. That's a ton of information worth tens of thousands of dollars, all for free.

 

Steps to prepare for the PSM 2 exam

1. Revisiting the PSM I Topics

First, you must have a solid understanding of all topics in PSM Level 1. Revisit topics in PSM I exam prep.

 

The PSM II exam does not focus on software development topics, but as a professional working with developers, you should be familiar with the Scrum developer vocabulary.

 

2. Leverage Scrum Learning Paths and Blogs

If you haven't already done so, explore the full Scrum Master learning path on Scrum.org. It would be beneficial to go through the product owner learning path, and examine the path for software developers and agile leaders.

 

But Learning Path material is just the tip of the iceberg. Layers are stripped using the Mapping the Catacombs method. Click on the link in the article. Click on the authors of the articles you like to see what else they have.

 

3. See how Scrum scales across multiple teams

The Scrum Guide only talks about a single team. When there are multiple teams working on the same project, the way they interact is open to interpretation.

 

There are several versions of Scaled Scrum. The most famous one is the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). Scrum.org introduces the Nexus framework. Get familiar with it and study the free Nexus guide.

 

There is also a book written by professional Scrum trainers at Scrum.org that discusses various nuances and practical examples of implementing the Nexus framework.

 

4. Study evidence-based management (EBM)

Read the EBM guide here. Pay special attention to Key Value Areas (KVA): Current Value (CV), Unrealized Value (UV), Ability to Innovate (A2I), Time to Market (T2M). Study the appendices carefully and give examples of how to measure each area.

 

5. Understand the version changes of Scrum Guide

See how the Scrum Guide has changed from one version to another and the reasons behind the changes.

 

6. Know Scrum Antipatterns

At least one year of working experience as a Scrum Master is recommended, using the framework in practice really helps to better understand the nuances.

 

However, if you have missed or misused certain Scrum elements in your practice, your work experience may actually cloud your judgment as you think about answering the test questions correctly.

 

Know the anti-pattern:

 

●        Scrum Myths

●        Who is not a Scrum Master

●        Zombie Scrum

●        And other ways Scrum can break through in real-life scenarios.

7. Participate and discuss advanced Scrum topics with peers

You can use the Scrum.org forums and other platforms to discuss nuances with other Scrum practitioners and professional trainers.

 

Consider forming a study group with some other people who are preparing for the exam or who are just interested in the subject.

 

Practical Tips and Guidelines for Preparing for Professional Scrum Master Level 2

 

PSM 2 Exam Simulator

Remember: Exam simulators quickly lose their effectiveness when you poll with them and start memorizing questions. Here are my tips on how to get the most out of your test simulator.

 

Scrum.org has many open assessments - Scrum Master, Product Owner, Evidence-Based Management, etc. Take all of these away to get the fuller picture and aim for a high score on each.

 

Scrum.org only conducts public assessments for Level 1 of its certification. There is no official emulator for PSM II, but there are third-party options.

 

For example, this PSM II exam simulator. It has 6 practice tests, each containing 30 questions similar to the PSM 2 exam questions, with explanations.

 

As you weigh your options for test questions, here are some "good" keywords to look out for: guide, facilitate, mentor, support, communicate, help, ensure.

 

Suspect:

●        A "canonical" option for your management team to clearly organize their work

●        Option to portray team members as fragile creatures that need to avoid conflict or change

 

Book recommendations to prepare for the PSM2 Exam:

●        Mastering Professional Scrum: _A Practitioner's Guide to Overching Challenges and Maximizing the Benefits of Agility_by Stephanie Ockerman and Simon Reindl. This book is for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and developers who are already practicing Scrum and looking to improve. It provides an in-depth look at implementing Scrum principles, creating a strong team foundation, delivering value, and improving teams and organizations. Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

●        Fix Your Scrum: Practical Solutions to Common Scrum Problems, by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller. It discusses the various ways that things can go wrong using the Scrum framework—mishandled responsibilities, problems with product backlogs, and Scrum incidents—and how to fix them. There are many real world examples. Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

●        Agile Leadership Toolkit: Learning to Grow with Self-Managing Teams by Peter Koning. The book provides methods and tools for leading large-scale agile teams and improving the internal environment of the organization. In particular, the book discusses key value metrics and other agile metrics relevant to evidence-based management. Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

●        The Nexus Framework for Scaling Scrum, by Kurt Bittner, Patricia Kong, and Dave West. Scrum.org showcased their version of scaling Scrum across multiple Scrum teams - the Nexus framework. It provides an integrated approach between Scrum teams and non-Scrum teams working on the same project. Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

●        Agile Conversations: Change Your Conversations, Change Your Culture, Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick. The book shares stories and offers tips for handling different conversations and improving communication within teams and companies. Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

 

My Experience Preparing for and Passing the PSM II Exam

Imagine someone waking up at 7am, running errands all day, feeling pain signals from the body and mind, but too focused on being consistent instead of burning out.

 

But when they finally get their first bite at 5pm, they realize how hungry they actually are.

 

Using large amounts of data is how I usually learn to achieve an intuitive understanding of the topic at hand.

 

In that case, however, juggling tons of study material isn't just a way to get certified, it's not just for fun or exercise -- something my heart desperately desires.

 

So I did 100% of the Scrum Master and Product Owner learning paths, and most of the Scrum Developer and Agile Leader learning paths. Along the way, I:

●        read all articles

●        Listened to all webinars, short and long (12 full webinars listed here for convenience)

●        Read or at least checked out all recommended books

●        All public evaluations are conducted on Scrum.org

●        Using the PSM I and PSM II Exam Simulators

 

I'm preparing for Professional Scrum and PSM II with Kanban certification. After about a month of deep immersion, they separated for a few days. Passed both exams on the first attempt with a score of about 90%.

 

Will it make me a good Scrum Master?

 

The more I learn, the more I realize that the pure form of Scrum Master accountability, as the Scrum Guide would hope, doesn't quite resonate with me. I like organizing workflow (but not micromanaging), exposure, and risk reduction. A Scrum Master is not an Agile Project Manager.

 

But, like I said at the beginning, getting certified is about the journey and what you learn along the way.

 

I do know the Scrum framework well enough to be aware of the nuances and be able to explain, implement and facilitate it. I learned insightful and useful things. This immersion in agile thinking provides an excellent foundation for passing the PMP and IIBA-AAC exams with high scores not long after.

 

in conclusion

Good luck!

Preparing for the exam, and ultimately getting certified, can be a very rewarding experience.

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