The Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) certification from Scrum.org is an advanced credential that validates your ability to apply Scrum principles in complex, real-world scenarios. Building on the foundational knowledge of PSM I, PSM II focuses on the practical application of Scrum, advanced facilitation, coaching, and leadership skills. This article outlines the PSM II exam details, objectives, goals, and how our expertly crafted practice tests can help you achieve certification success.
What is the PSM II Certification?
The PSM II certification is designed for experienced Scrum Masters who have a deep understanding of the Scrum framework and can effectively apply it to solve complex team and organizational challenges. Unlike PSM I, which tests fundamental knowledge, PSM II emphasizes practical application, servant leadership, and the ability to foster an agile culture. The exam is scenario-based, requiring critical thinking and nuanced decision-making. While no mandatory training is required, candidates typically have PSM I certification and practical Scrum experience.
Exam Details
- Format: 30 multiple-choice questions (including multiple-answer, true/false, and scenario-based questions).
- Time Limit: 90 minutes.
- Passing Score: 85% (approximately 26 correct answers out of 30).
- Cost: $250 USD per attempt (no expiration on purchased test passwords).
- Prerequisites: No formal requirements, but PSM I certification and 1–2 years of Scrum Master experience are strongly recommended.
- Delivery: Online, and open-book (Scrum Guide can be referenced during the exam).
- Language: English (Google Translate is permitted for non-native speakers).
The PSM II exam is challenging due to its focus on situational questions that test your ability to apply Scrum in diverse contexts, making thorough preparation essential.
PSM II Exam Objectives
The PSM II exam aligns with Scrum.org’s Professional Scrum Competencies, focusing on advanced application of the Scrum framework. Key objectives include:
- Advanced Application of the Scrum Framework:
- Apply Scrum roles, events, and artifacts in complex scenarios, such as managing multiple teams or resolving conflicts.
- Understand how to adapt Scrum practices to unique organizational contexts while adhering to the Scrum Guide.
- Servant Leadership and Coaching:
- Master the Scrum Master’s role as a servant leader, coaching the Scrum Team, Product Owner, and organization to embrace Scrum values.
- Develop techniques to facilitate effective collaboration, resolve impediments, and promote self-organization.
- Facilitation and Team Dynamics:
- Facilitate Scrum events (e.g., Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Retrospective) with advanced techniques to maximize value and engagement.
- Address team dysfunctions, such as lack of trust or poor communication, to foster high-performing teams.
- Organizational Change and Agile Culture:
- Drive agile transformation by influencing stakeholders and promoting an agile mindset across the organization.
- Manage resistance to change and align Scrum practices with organizational goals.
- Scaling Scrum:
- Understand frameworks like Nexus or LeSS for scaling Scrum across multiple teams.
- Apply Scrum principles in large-scale environments while maintaining agility and value delivery.
- Maximizing Value Delivery:
- Support the Product Owner in effective Product Backlog management, prioritization, and stakeholder engagement.
- Ensure the Scrum Team delivers maximum value through iterative and incremental development.
These objectives test your ability to go beyond theoretical knowledge, applying Scrum in dynamic, real-world situations.
Goals of PSM II Certification Preparation
Preparing for PSM II is about honing your skills as an advanced Scrum Master and preparing for the exam’s scenario-based challenges. Key preparation goals include:
- Practical Mastery of Scrum: Apply Scrum principles to complex scenarios, such as resolving team conflicts or scaling Scrum across teams.
- Confidence in Scenario-Based Questions: Develop the ability to analyze situational questions and select the best response based on Scrum principles.
- Enhanced Leadership Skills: Strengthen your facilitation, coaching, and servant leadership abilities to lead high-performing Scrum Teams.
- Career Growth: Earn a prestigious credential that demonstrates advanced expertise, opening doors to senior Scrum Master or agile coaching roles.
- Lifelong Learning: Build a foundation for continuous improvement, preparing you for further certifications like PSM III or Professional Agile Leadership (PAL I).
Why Choose Our PSM II Practice Tests?
Our PSM II Practice Tests are designed to replicate the complexity and nuance of the real exam, helping you refine your skills and boost your confidence. Here’s why they’re a game-changer for your preparation:
- Realistic Scenario-Based Questions: Our tests feature 30 questions that mirror the PSM II’s format, difficulty, and focus on real-world scenarios, aligned with the Scrum Guide (November 2020).
- In-Depth Explanations: Each question includes detailed explanations referencing the Scrum Guide, Professional Scrum Competencies, and practical insights to enhance your understanding.
- Progress Tracking System: Our platform tracks your performance, highlights areas for improvement, and provides personalized feedback to optimize your study plan.
- Expertly Crafted Content: Developed by agile professionals, our tests align with Scrum.org’s standards, ensuring relevance and accuracy.
- Flexible and Accessible: Practice anytime, anywhere, with no software installation required. Our tests are compatible with all major browsers and devices.
Sample Practice Question
Question: A Scrum Team is struggling with low morale due to frequent interruptions from stakeholders during the Sprint. As the Scrum Master, what should you do?
A) Cancel the Sprint and restart with clearer boundaries.
B) Coach the Product Owner to manage stakeholder interactions and protect the team.
C) Allow stakeholders to join the Daily Scrum to address their concerns.
D) Escalate the issue to senior management for resolution.
Answer: B) Coach the Product Owner to manage stakeholder interactions and protect the team.
Explanation: The Scrum Guide emphasizes that the Product Owner is responsible for stakeholder engagement. The Scrum Master should coach the Product Owner to set clear boundaries and manage interruptions, ensuring the Development Team can focus on the Sprint Goal.
Tips for PSM II Exam Success
- Revisit the Scrum Guide: Review the Scrum Guide (November 2020) to solidify your understanding of Scrum’s core principles. Pay attention to nuances in roles, events, and artifacts.
- Master Scenario-Based Thinking: Practice analyzing complex scenarios by reframing questions in different contexts (e.g., non-software projects). Focus on applying Scrum principles over rigid rules.
- Use High-Quality Practice Tests: Our practice tests, along with scrum.org, simulate the exam’s complexity. Avoid rote memorization; aim to understand the reasoning behind answers.
- Time Management: Practice answering 30 questions in 60–70 minutes to leave time for reviewing 3–5 challenging questions. The 90-minute limit is generous, but pacing is key.
- Deepen Your Knowledge: Supplement your study with books like Mastering Professional Scrum by Stephanie Ockerman and Simon Reindl or The Professional Scrum Team by Peter Götz and Uwe Schirmer.
- Engage with the Community: Join Scrum.org forums, Reddit’s r/scrum, or LinkedIn groups to discuss scenarios, share insights, and learn from experienced Scrum Masters.
- Reflect on Experience: Draw on your real-world Scrum experience to contextualize exam scenarios. If you lack experience, consider case studies or role-playing exercises.
Why PSM II Certification Matters
The PSM II certification sets you apart as an advanced Scrum Master capable of navigating complex team dynamics, driving organizational change, and maximizing value delivery. With a passing score of 85%, it’s a challenging yet rewarding milestone that enhances your credibility and opens opportunities in industries like technology, finance, and healthcare. Certified PSM II professionals are well-positioned for senior roles, such as Lead Scrum Master or Agile Coach.
Get Started with Our Practice Tests
Ready to conquer the PSM II exam? Our PSM II Practice Tests provide a comprehensive, realistic, and effective preparation tool. With scenario-based questions, detailed explanations, and a progress-tracking system, you’ll be equipped to pass the exam with confidence—potentially achieving a near-perfect score! Enroll today for lifetime access to our course and simulator, and take your Scrum Master skills to the next level.
Note: Our practice tests are not affiliated with or endorsed by Scrum.org. All content related to the Scrum Guide is sourced from scrumguides.org under the Attribution ShareAlike license of Creative Commons.
Start your PSM II journey today! Try our free practice test or explore our full preparation package to ensure you’re ready to excel on your first attempt.
Conquering the SPS Certification: Exam Guide and Practice Tests
The Scaled Professional Scrum (SPS) certification from Scrum.org is a prestigious credential that validates your expertise in scaling Scrum across multiple teams using the Nexus framework. Designed for agile practitioners, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and other professionals working in complex, multi-team environments, the SPS certification demonstrates your ability to address scaling challenges while maintaining Scrum’s core principles. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the SPS exam, its objectives, goals, and how our expertly crafted practice tests can help you achieve certification success.
What is the SPS Certification?
The SPS certification assesses your knowledge of the Nexus framework, as outlined in the Nexus Guide, and your ability to apply Scrum principles in large-scale environments. It focuses on enabling multiple Scrum Teams to work collaboratively from a single Product Backlog to deliver an Integrated Increment. Unlike foundational certifications like PSM I, SPS is scenario-based, testing your ability to navigate complex dependencies, foster cross-team collaboration, and optimize value delivery. While no mandatory training is required, Scrum.org recommends attending the Scaled Professional Scrum course and having prior Scrum experience, ideally with PSM I or PSM II certification.
Exam Details
Format: 40 multiple-choice questions (including multiple-answer, true/false, and scenario-based questions).
Time Limit: 60 minutes.
Passing Score: 85% (approximately 34 correct answers out of 40).
Cost: $250 USD per attempt (no expiration on purchased test passwords).
Prerequisites: No formal requirements, but PSM I or PSM II certification and experience in scaled Scrum environments are recommended.
Delivery: Online, and open-book (Scrum Guide and Nexus Guide can be referenced).
Language: English (Google Translate Plugin is permitted for non-native speakers, following Scrum.org’s guidelines).
The SPS exam is rigorous, with scenario-based questions requiring critical thinking and practical application of the Nexus framework in real-world contexts.
SPS Exam Objectives
The SPS exam aligns with Scrum.org’s Professional Scrum Competencies, focusing on scaling Scrum using the Nexus framework. Key objectives include:
Understanding the Nexus Framework:
Master the rules, roles (e.g., Nexus Integration Team, Product Owner, Scrum Master), events (e.g., Nexus Sprint Planning, Nexus Daily Scrum, Nexus Sprint Review, Nexus Sprint Retrospective), and artifacts (e.g., Product Backlog, Nexus Sprint Backlog, Integrated Increment).
Understand how Nexus builds on Scrum to address cross-team dependencies and ensure a cohesive product increment.
Scaling Scrum Effectively:
Apply Scrum principles, values, and empirical process control (transparency, inspection, adaptation) in large-scale environments.
Ensure technical excellence and a shared Definition of Done across multiple teams.
Managing Dependencies:
Identify and resolve cross-team dependencies to minimize bottlenecks and ensure smooth collaboration.
Use Nexus practices, such as Product Backlog refinement, to align teams toward a common goal.
Application in Complex Scenarios:
Address real-world challenges, such as conflicting priorities, team dysfunctions, or stakeholder misalignment, in a scaled Scrum context.
Apply Nexus events and roles to optimize value delivery and maintain accountability.
Fostering Collaboration and Transparency:
Facilitate cross-team communication and collaboration through Nexus events and artifacts.
Promote transparency through a shared Product Backlog and Integrated Increment.
Approximately 20% of the exam consists of case studies, requiring you to analyze scenarios and select the best approach based on Nexus and Scrum principles.
Goals of SPS Certification Preparation
Preparing for the SPS exam equips you to excel in scaling Scrum and enhances your professional capabilities. Key preparation goals include:
Mastery of Nexus and Scrum: Gain a deep understanding of the Nexus framework and its integration with Scrum to manage large-scale projects effectively.
Confidence in Scenario-Based Questions: Develop the ability to analyze complex scenarios and apply Nexus practices to solve real-world challenges.
Enhanced Collaboration Skills: Strengthen your ability to foster cross-team collaboration, manage dependencies, and drive organizational agility.
Career Advancement: Earn a globally recognized credential that showcases your expertise in scaling Scrum, opening doors to roles like Lead Scrum Master, Agile Coach, or Program Manager.
Foundation for Growth: Build a strong foundation for further certifications, such as PSM III or Professional Agile Leadership (PAL I).
Why Choose Our SPS Practice Tests?
Our SPS Practice Tests are meticulously designed to mirror the real exam, helping you build confidence and master the Nexus framework. Here’s why they’re essential for your preparation:
Realistic Exam Simulation: Our tests include 40 scenario-based questions that reflect the SPS exam’s format, difficulty, and focus areas, aligned with the Scrum Guide and Nexus Guide (November 2020).
Detailed Explanations: Each question includes comprehensive explanations referencing the Scrum Guide, Nexus Guide, and practical scaling insights to deepen your understanding.
Progress Tracking System: Our platform tracks your performance, identifies weak areas, and provides personalized feedback to optimize your study plan.
Aligned with Scrum.org Standards: Crafted by agile experts, our tests adhere to Scrum.org’s learning objectives, ensuring relevance and accuracy.
Flexible and Accessible: Practice anytime, anywhere, with no software installation required. Our tests are compatible with all major browsers and devices.
Sample Practice Question
Question: A Nexus consisting of five Scrum Teams is struggling to deliver an Integrated Increment due to dependencies between Teams A and B. As a Scrum Master in the Nexus Integration Team, what should you do?A) Cancel the Sprint and restart with a new Sprint Goal.B) Facilitate a cross-team refinement session to identify and address dependencies.C) Assign Team A’s work to Team B to reduce dependencies.D) Escalate the issue to senior management for resolution.
Answer: B) Facilitate a cross-team refinement session to identify and address dependencies.Explanation: The Nexus Guide emphasizes that Product Backlog refinement is a key practice for identifying and minimizing cross-team dependencies. The Nexus Integration Team, including Scrum Masters, facilitates this process to ensure alignment and transparency across teams, enabling delivery of an Integrated Increment.
Tips for SPS Exam Success
Master the Scrum and Nexus Guides: Read the Scrum Guide (17 pages) and Nexus Guide (10 pages) multiple times, focusing on roles, events, artifacts, and dependency management. Study them in English to align with exam terminology.
Practice with Nexus Open Assessment: Use Scrum.org’s free Nexus Open Assessment to test your knowledge. Aim to score 100% consistently in under 10 minutes, as it mirrors SPS question styles but is less complex.
Leverage Quality Practice Tests: Use our practice tests to simulate the exam’s scenario-based questions. Focus on understanding the reasoning behind answers, not memorizing them.
Time Management: Practice answering 40 questions in 40–50 minutes to leave time for reviewing 3–5 challenging questions. The 60-minute limit requires efficient pacing.
Apply Real-World Experience: Draw on your experience in scaled Scrum environments to contextualize scenarios. If you lack experience, study case studies in resources like The Nexus Framework for Scaling Scrum by Kurt Bittner.
Join Scrum Communities: Engage with Scrum.org forums, Reddit’s r/scrum, or LinkedIn groups to discuss scenarios and learn from experienced practitioners.
Focus on Scenario-Based Thinking: Practice reframing complex questions in different contexts (e.g., non-software projects) to clarify Nexus principles. Pay attention to strategic words like “must,” “never,” or “all” in questions and answers.
Why SPS Certification Matters
The SPS certification demonstrates your ability to scale Scrum effectively, making you a valuable asset in organizations with complex, multi-team projects. With a passing score of 85%, it’s a challenging yet achievable credential that enhances your credibility and career prospects. Certified SPS professionals are in demand across industries like technology, finance, and healthcare, often securing roles with higher earning potential and leadership opportunities. The certification is valid for life, with no renewal required, though continuous learning is recommended to stay current.
Get Started with Our Practice Tests
Ready to ace the SPS exam? Our SPS Practice Tests offer a comprehensive, realistic, and effective preparation tool. With scenario-based questions, detailed explanations, and a progress-tracking system, you’ll be equipped to pass the exam with confidence—potentially scoring above 95%! Enroll today for lifetime access to our course and simulator, and take the first step toward mastering scaled Scrum.
Note: Our practice tests are not affiliated with or endorsed by Scrum.org. All content related to the Scrum Guide and Nexus Guide is sourced from scrumguides.org under the Attribution ShareAlike license of Creative Commons.
Start your SPS journey today! Try our free practice test or explore our full preparation package to ensure you’re ready to excel on your first attempt.