This CSM plan is built around the required course, not weeks of self-study. The 16-hour course from a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) is mandatory and does most of the teaching; your job is to arrive prepared and to lock the material in afterwards. The exam is open book, 50 questions in 60 minutes, with a 74% pass mark. Confirm the current format and requirements on the Scrum Alliance certification page.
Step 1 - Before the course
Read the free Scrum Guide once. Get familiar with the three roles, the five events and the three artifacts so the course builds on a foundation rather than starting from zero. No prior Scrum experience is required, so do not worry if it is all new - just aim for familiarity.
Step 2 - During the course (16 hours)
Attend actively. The CST course covers Scrum theory and values, the roles, the events, the artifacts and the Scrum Master as a servant leader. Take clear notes organised by roles, events and artifacts - these become your open-book reference for the exam.
Step 3 - Right after the course
Re-read the Scrum Guide and your notes while everything is fresh. Make sure you can name each role, event and artifact and explain it in a sentence, and that you know who facilitates which event.
Step 4 - The exam
Sit the 50-question exam (60 minutes, open book, online, non-proctored) soon after the course. Use your notes to confirm answers, not to learn from scratch - with a 74% pass mark and limited time, you need to understand Scrum, not look up every question. The course usually includes two attempts.
Tips
- Read the Scrum Guide; it is free and is the source for the exam.
- Book the exam promptly - many candidates pass within days while the course is fresh.
- “Open book” does not mean “no study” - fluency matters under time.
- Avoid “exam dump” sites - they breach Scrum Alliance policy and are pointless for an open-book test.