PECB Certified PSM Basic study guide
PECB Certified PSM Basic · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The PECB Certified PSM Basic is an entry-level Scrum credential offered by PECB (Professional Evaluation and Certification Board) under its Professional Scrum Master programme. It is aimed at people who are new to Scrum or who work alongside Scrum Teams - developers, business analysts, project coordinators, product owners in the making, and managers who want a shared vocabulary before moving to more advanced PECB Scrum certifications. The exam tests four broad areas: Scrum theory and principles (empiricism, the values, iterative and incremental delivery); the Scrum framework itself (accountabilities, events, and artifacts, and the rules that bind them); the Scrum Master role and servant leadership (coaching, facilitation, removing impediments, teaching and mentoring); and applying Scrum in practice (handling real team situations, scaling conversations, and common anti-patterns). Preparation should combine a careful reading of the current Scrum Guide with hands-on practice: take sample questions under time pressure, then review every wrong answer against the framework rules rather than memorising question wording, because scenario items reward reasoning about the rules, not recall of definitions. The PECB Certified PSM Basic study guide has 4 sections and about 1,497 words.
01Scrum Theory and Principles
This domain, Scrum Theory and Principles, tests whether you can explain why Scrum works, not just list its parts. Questions probe complexity, empiricism, the three pillars, the five Scrum values, and how iterative-incremental delivery supports inspection and adaptation.
341 words, about 2 min02The Scrum Framework: Roles, Events, and Artifacts
This domain, The Scrum Framework: Roles, Events, and Artifacts, tests precise mechanics. You must know the accountabilities, event purposes and timeboxes, artifact commitments, and the rules that keep the framework coherent.
381 words, about 2 min03Scrum Master Role and Servant Leadership
This domain, Scrum Master Role and Servant Leadership, tests how the Scrum Master serves the team, Product Owner, and organization without becoming a command-and-control manager. Expect scenario questions about coaching, facilitation, impediments, and authority.
363 words, about 2 min04Applying Scrum in Practice
This domain, Applying Scrum in Practice, tests whether you can use the framework in realistic situations: planning under uncertainty, managing the Product Backlog, protecting the Sprint Goal, improving quality, and collaborating with stakeholders. It rewards empirical decisions over rigid plans.
412 words, about 2 min