PracticeStudy GuidesBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

200+ Free PSM I Practice Questions

Pass your Professional Scrum Master I exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
~70-75% Pass Rate
200+ Questions
100% Free
1 / 10
Question 1
Score: 0/0

According to the Scrum Guide, which three pillars uphold empirical process control in Scrum?

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PSM I Exam

85%

Passing Score

Scrum.org

80 Qs

Exam Questions

Scrum.org

$150

Exam Fee

Scrum.org

60 min

Time Limit

Scrum.org

Lifetime

Certification Validity

Scrum.org

None

Prerequisites

Scrum.org

PSM I is a 60-minute, 80-question exam from Scrum.org requiring 85% to pass ($150). No prerequisites or training required. Questions cover all aspects of the Scrum Guide 2020: empiricism, Scrum values, three accountabilities (Product Owner, Scrum Master, Developers), five events (Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective), three artifacts (Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment), and three commitments (Product Goal, Sprint Goal, Definition of Done). The certification is lifetime — no renewal required. About 5-10% of exam questions closely resemble the free Scrum Open Assessment on Scrum.org.

Sample PSM I Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PSM I exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1According to the Scrum Guide, which three pillars uphold empirical process control in Scrum?
A.Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation
B.Commitment, Focus, and Respect
C.Planning, Execution, and Review
D.Collaboration, Communication, and Accountability
Explanation: The Scrum Guide explicitly states that Scrum is founded on empiricism and lean thinking, upheld by the three pillars: Transparency (making work and progress visible to everyone), Inspection (timely examination of artifacts and progress toward goals), and Adaptation (adjusting processes or artifacts when deviations are detected). Without all three pillars, empiricism breaks down.
2How many accountabilities (roles) are defined in the Scrum Guide?
A.Three — Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers
B.Four — Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team, and Stakeholders
C.Two — Product Owner and Development Team
D.Five — Product Owner, Scrum Master, Developers, Testers, and Business Analysts
Explanation: The Scrum Guide 2020 defines exactly three accountabilities within the Scrum Team: the Product Owner (maximizes product value), the Scrum Master (promotes and supports Scrum), and the Developers (create the Increment each Sprint). Stakeholders, testers, and business analysts are not separate accountabilities in Scrum — testers and BAs are simply Developers if they work on the Increment.
3What is the maximum recommended size of a Scrum Team according to the Scrum Guide?
A.10 people
B.12 people
C.15 people
D.9 people
Explanation: The Scrum Guide recommends that a Scrum Team should be small enough to remain nimble and large enough to complete significant work within a Sprint — typically 10 or fewer people. Teams larger than 10 should consider reorganizing into multiple cohesive Scrum Teams, each focused on the same product with the same Product Goal and Product Backlog.
4What are the five Scrum values listed in the Scrum Guide?
A.Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, and Courage
B.Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation, Simplicity, and Trust
C.Honesty, Integrity, Accountability, Courage, and Communication
D.Collaboration, Iteration, Delivery, Improvement, and Empowerment
Explanation: The Scrum Guide lists five Scrum values: Commitment (to goals and to each other), Focus (on Sprint work and Scrum Team goals), Openness (about work and challenges), Respect (for teammates as capable people), and Courage (to do the right thing and work on tough problems). These values give direction to the Scrum Team's work, actions, and behavior.
5Which Scrum event has a maximum timebox of 15 minutes?
A.Daily Scrum
B.Sprint Planning
C.Sprint Review
D.Sprint Retrospective
Explanation: The Daily Scrum is a 15-minute event held every day of the Sprint. It is for the Developers to inspect their progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary. The 15-minute timebox applies regardless of team size. Sprint Planning, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective all have longer timeboxes proportional to Sprint length.
6What are the three Scrum artifacts defined in the Scrum Guide?
A.Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment
B.Product Backlog, Release Plan, and Increment
C.Vision, Roadmap, and Sprint Backlog
D.User Stories, Sprint Backlog, and Done Increment
Explanation: The Scrum Guide defines three artifacts: the Product Backlog (an ordered list of everything needed in the product), the Sprint Backlog (the Sprint Goal + selected Product Backlog items + a plan to deliver), and the Increment (the concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal, meeting the Definition of Done). Each artifact has a corresponding commitment: Product Goal, Sprint Goal, and Definition of Done.
7Who is responsible for ordering the Product Backlog?
A.The Product Owner
B.The Scrum Master
C.The Developers
D.The Scrum Team by consensus
Explanation: The Product Owner is solely accountable for managing the Product Backlog, which includes ordering items to best achieve goals and missions. While the Product Owner may delegate Product Backlog management work, they remain accountable for the results. The ordering reflects priority and value — not just urgency — and is a key product ownership responsibility.
8What is the commitment associated with the Sprint Backlog?
A.The Sprint Goal
B.The Product Goal
C.The Definition of Done
D.The Sprint Review agenda
Explanation: Each Scrum artifact has a corresponding commitment to reinforce transparency and focus. The Sprint Backlog's commitment is the Sprint Goal — the single objective of the Sprint. The Product Backlog's commitment is the Product Goal, and the Increment's commitment is the Definition of Done. These commitments make progress measurable and accountable.
9What is the maximum length of a Sprint according to the Scrum Guide?
A.One month
B.Two weeks
C.Four weeks
D.Six weeks
Explanation: The Scrum Guide states that Sprints are fixed-length events of one month or less. When a Sprint's horizon is too long, the Sprint Goal may become invalid, complexity may rise, and risk may increase. Using shorter Sprints generates more learning cycles and limits risk to a shorter time horizon. There is no minimum Sprint length specified in the guide.
10During a Sprint, the Developers realize they will not complete all Sprint Backlog items before the Sprint ends. What should they do?
A.Negotiate the scope with the Product Owner while protecting the Sprint Goal
B.Extend the Sprint until all items are complete
C.Cancel the Sprint and start a new Sprint Planning
D.Add more Developers to finish the remaining work
Explanation: The Scrum Guide makes clear that the Sprint Goal is fixed, but the scope of the Sprint Backlog is not — it can be negotiated with the Product Owner. Developers should collaborate with the Product Owner to clarify what can realistically be done without jeopardizing the Sprint Goal. Extending a Sprint violates the timebox principle. Canceling a Sprint is only appropriate when the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete, which incomplete items alone do not cause.

About the PSM I Exam

The PSM I (Professional Scrum Master I) from Scrum.org is the industry's most rigorous Scrum Master certification, requiring an 85% passing score on 80 questions in 60 minutes. Unlike CSM, PSM I has no mandatory training requirement — it tests deep knowledge of the Scrum Guide 2020 across three focus areas: Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework, Developing People and Teams, and Managing Products with Agility. The certification never expires.

Questions

80 scored questions

Time Limit

60 minutes

Passing Score

85% or higher

Exam Fee

$150 (Scrum.org)

PSM I Exam Content Outline

~60%

Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework

Empiricism, Scrum Values, Scrum Team accountabilities, all 5 events, all 3 artifacts, commitments, Definition of Done

~20%

Developing People and Teams

Self-managing teams, facilitation techniques, Scrum Master coaching stances, psychological safety, servant leadership

~20%

Managing Products with Agility

Product Goal, Product Backlog management, forecasting & release planning, stakeholder engagement, product value

How to Pass the PSM I Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 85% or higher
  • Exam length: 80 questions
  • Time limit: 60 minutes
  • Exam fee: $150

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PSM I Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read the Scrum Guide 2020 at least three times — many PSM I questions test exact wording, so precise knowledge matters
2Take the free Scrum Open Assessment on Scrum.org repeatedly until you score 100% consistently — it mirrors the exam style
3Know all five Scrum events, their timeboxes for a one-month Sprint (Sprint Planning: 8h, Daily Scrum: 15min, Sprint Review: 4h, Retrospective: 3h), and their purpose
4Understand the 2020 changes: 'self-managing' (not 'self-organizing'), Developers (not 'Development Team'), three commitments (Product Goal, Sprint Goal, Definition of Done)
5Focus on scenario-based questions: 'What should the Scrum Master do when...' — always choose the servant-leadership, empirical, and team-empowering answer
6Know what ONLY the Product Owner can do (cancel Sprint, order backlog), what ONLY Developers do (create Sprint Backlog, change Sprint Backlog), and what belongs to all

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PSM I passing score?

The PSM I exam requires 85% or higher to pass — that means at least 68 correct answers out of 80 questions. This is significantly higher than the CSM exam (74%) and makes PSM I one of the most challenging Scrum certifications. The exam is 60 minutes long with no scheduled breaks.

Do I need training to take the PSM I exam?

No. PSM I has no prerequisites or mandatory training requirements. You can purchase the $150 assessment directly on Scrum.org and take it immediately. However, most successful candidates study the Scrum Guide 2020 thoroughly (many read it 3+ times), complete the free Scrum Open Assessment on Scrum.org until scoring consistently above 95%, and use practice exams.

How long does PSM I certification last?

PSM I certification from Scrum.org is lifetime — it never expires and requires no renewal fees or continuing education. This differs significantly from CSM (Scrum Alliance), which requires renewal every two years. PSM I holders can optionally pursue PSM II ($250) and PSM III ($500) for advanced levels.

What is the difference between PSM I and CSM?

PSM I (Scrum.org, $150) requires no training, has an 85% passing threshold, tests deeper Scrum knowledge, and never expires. CSM (Scrum Alliance) requires a 2-day training course (~$1,000+), has a 74% threshold, and must be renewed every 2 years. PSM I is widely considered the more rigorous credential; CSM is more widely held due to the training requirement making it mandatory for many corporate programs.

What topics are on the PSM I exam?

PSM I tests all topics in the Scrum Guide 2020 across three focus areas: (1) Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework (~60%) — empiricism, Scrum Values, three accountabilities, five events with timeboxes, three artifacts with commitments, Definition of Done; (2) Developing People and Teams (~20%) — self-managing teams, facilitation, coaching; (3) Managing Products with Agility (~20%) — Product Goal, backlog management, forecasting, stakeholders.