I recently took the EXIN Agile Scrum Master exam (the online proctored version) and did not pass it (43% score). Prior to taking it, I took the Agile Scrum Master training available through Courses P
Andrew WatsonIT Project Analyst| Contractor at Florida BlueJacksonville, Fl, United States
I recently took the EXIN Agile Scrum Master exam (the online proctored version) and did not pass it (43% score). Prior to taking it, I took the Agile Scrum Master training available through Courses Platform (aka Simplilearn). I thought I had enough knowledge and training to pass the test, but it turns out I did not. I also took the Scrum Assessment at scrum.org, but it's not nearly as difficult as the EXIN exam and does not cover the same material. I will therefore have to take the exam again. Can anyone out there recommend any books (Amazon?) or other reading material that I can find to prepare for the retake? Also, any other certification providers I should look into besides EXIN? Thank you! Saving Changes...
Alexandra EvansVirtual Assistant| Evans Small Business Solutions, LLCWilmington, Nc, United States
Mar 23, 2019 3:03 AM
Replying to William Ganness
...
Hi Andrew, Im in the same boat. The material at Simplilearn is very thin, and support from Simplilearn is pretty poor. Scoring high on their tests isnt going to prepare you at all. I saw a few people just like yourself complain and i decided to postpone the exam. There is the Preparation Guide - https://www.exin.com/certifications/exin-agile-scrum-master-exam, On page 13 and 14 there is a detailed table showing the list of topics which the chapters in the books as Conrad implied. The Mike Cohn books are easy to find online and download with a few google searches. The good thing about the Mike Cohn books is that they are easy to read. But i think the exam questions are convoluted and i suspect that it is written poorly (English). What did you think about the Exam? Was the English, framing of the questions reasonable? Which areas you think SImplilearn neglected and came? I think Exin integrates Agile/Scrum with other areas they specialize in like DevOps and ITIL, and this isnt covered too well in any of the referenced material by Exin. I think its important and one of the gaps why the Exin exam is difficult. I too am afraid and wish there was a study group specifically for Exin. Feel free to reply.
Chiming in a year later as I am very discouraged wtih the Simplilearn system and the exam.
I agree with your comments "But i think the exam questions are convoluted and i suspect that it is written poorly (English)."
I think they make the questions harder than they need to. Regardless, I will use the other suggestions and reading lists. Also pursuing the PMI-ACP. Saving Changes...
chin fan soProgram Manager| Galaxy EntertainmentTaipa, Macao
Andrew, although you don't need the following book to past the exam, but I found that Agile although is easy to learn, I encoutered lots of problem while using it. The following book certainly helps a lot.
Andrew WatsonIT Project Analyst| Contractor at Florida BlueJacksonville, Fl, United States
Apr 26, 2020 5:56 PM
Replying to chin fan so
...
Andrew, although you don't need the following book to past the exam, but I found that Agile although is easy to learn, I encoutered lots of problem while using it. The following book certainly helps a lot.
I am planning to take the ASM exam in 2weeks. Can you please guide me how can I get through the exam. I am reading Mike Cohn Succeeding with Agile book.
...
1 reply by Andrew Watson
May 05, 2020 4:15 PM
Andrew Watson
...
Ratna:
Many others in this thread have recommended the Cohn books, so I suggest you continue studying them. If you have not taken any Scrum Master test training, look into the practice tests available through Simplilearn, which works in partnership with Courses Platform (https://coursesplatform.com/). You can only get access to these practice tests if you purchase the Scrum Master Certification training through Courses Platform. If you purchase the training, you get 4 practice tests, each one of which you can take up to 3 times to pass. 40 questions each with a 90 minute time limit; 65% minimum passing score. After I passed all four of the practice tests with scores of 87.5% or higher, I took the EXIN Scrum Master Certification test again and finally passed it. Also, in case you're interested, I recently completed the ITIL 4 Foundation training available through Simplilearn. After passing three of the practice tests for ITIL 4, I took the ITIL 4 Cert test available through PeopleCert and passed it.
Saving Changes...
Andrew WatsonIT Project Analyst| Contractor at Florida BlueJacksonville, Fl, United States
May 05, 2020 1:09 AM
Replying to Ratna Manikyam Atloori
...
I am planning to take the ASM exam in 2weeks. Can you please guide me how can I get through the exam. I am reading Mike Cohn Succeeding with Agile book.
Ratna:
Many others in this thread have recommended the Cohn books, so I suggest you continue studying them. If you have not taken any Scrum Master test training, look into the practice tests available through Simplilearn, which works in partnership with Courses Platform (https://coursesplatform.com/). You can only get access to these practice tests if you purchase the Scrum Master Certification training through Courses Platform. If you purchase the training, you get 4 practice tests, each one of which you can take up to 3 times to pass. 40 questions each with a 90 minute time limit; 65% minimum passing score. After I passed all four of the practice tests with scores of 87.5% or higher, I took the EXIN Scrum Master Certification test again and finally passed it. Also, in case you're interested, I recently completed the ITIL 4 Foundation training available through Simplilearn. After passing three of the practice tests for ITIL 4, I took the ITIL 4 Cert test available through PeopleCert and passed it.
...
1 reply by Ratna Manikyam Atloori
May 19, 2020 5:54 AM
Ratna Manikyam Atloori
...
I have passed ASM exam yesterday. Thanks alot for the suggestions.
I have read both Mike Cohn books and practice Simplilearn simulation tests.
And thoroughly went through preparation guide by EXIN with the contents and basic concepts. This really helped to cover all the points.
Now I am planning for ITIL 4 as well. Any suggestions for it?
Andrew,
Thanks for quick reply.
I have taken the course from Simplilearn as well.
And I have been reading Mike Cohn book.
Yet to start with the simulation tests. Saving Changes...
Phil AkinwaleProject Management & Leadership Speaker, Coach, Trainer & Author| PRAIZIONMesa, Az, United States
Andrew, sorry to hear about your hardship on this test. I was wondering "why ASM?" Why not CSM or ACP or PSM and concurred with Juan's comments.
As I was reading through I got inspired to revisit an exam discussed in this thread (PSM). because of this post I decided to go for the PSM while I was reading this and passed some minutes ago, an hour plus after this post inspired me. My Agile coach had mentioned how hard it was but this inspired me to do it.
I am very grateful you started this post. If I can help give advice in any of the PMI exams I have taken, just let me know! Saving Changes...
Phil AkinwaleProject Management & Leadership Speaker, Coach, Trainer & Author| PRAIZIONMesa, Az, United States
I just noticed I have been under a rock Andrew! Very glad you aced it. Congratulations. What makes the ASM so hard?
...
1 reply by Andrew Watson
May 19, 2020 8:14 AM
Andrew Watson
...
Phil:
Apologies for the delay in replying to you. I just found the ASM exam to be challenging because the exam I took did not fully align with the SimpliLearn training I took to prepare. Thanks.
I just took the Exin ASM exam today after having spent 3 weekends of Saturday/Sunday (4 hours per day) in classes at SimpliLearn and then 2 weeks studying and taking all 4 practice exams 3 times each. Out of the 4 exams, my last pass on 3 was a 100% and one was a 95%. I found that some of the questions and answers on the practice exams don't match up to the actual correct answers for the ASM exam. For instance, it asks who should facilitate Sprint Planning and according to SimpliLearn it is a Scrum Master yet that is not the answer on the exam. The exam answer is the PO.
I really felt that I was prepared for the Exam so I took it only to fail with a 53%. Some of the questions on the exam, I had no clue so I guessed. I really appreciate the feedback on reading the MIke Cohn books as I don't want to have to pay for a 3rd time to take the exam!
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Saving Changes...
Community Champion
