Introduction

The ACCA Strategic Business Leader exam is not just about knowledge. It also tests how you apply skills in real-world business scenarios. The examiner’s report for the June 2024 sitting shows important insights. It highlights common pitfalls and areas of strength. If you understand these insights, you can avoid costly errors. You can also improve your exam strategy. This blog summarizes 7 key lessons that help you prepare better and aim for better results.

1. Apply, Don’t Copy and Paste

A common issue in the June 2024 report is that many candidates copy text from exhibits or pre-seen materials. They do not explain why that information matters. This leads to lost marks. The examiner notes that repeating text from the case does not add value if you do not analyze it.

Example from the Report

Task 1a asked candidates to assess how a joint venture would affect PVS’s brand. Many candidates mentioned Best4Pets' cost-leadership strategy. Few explained how this differs from PVS’s quality focus or how it might affect brand reputation.

How to Improve - Tips from GlobalAPC

• Use exhibits to show why the information is relevant.
• Discuss the implications, risks, or fit with strategy.
• Practice applying knowledge by working on past papers, and go beyond summaries.

Pro Tip: For each point you take from an exhibit, add at least one sentence of analysis. Show why it matters to the task.

2. Answer the Question Set, Not the One You Wish

The examiner’s report shows that some candidates answer questions they prefer instead of the actual questions asked. This wastes marks. The answers might be correct in a general sense, but they do not address the set requirements.

Example from the Report

Task 2a asked about CSR's impact on stakeholders. Many candidates wrote broad essays on CSR. They did not focus on how CSR affects PVS’s specific stakeholders.

How to Improve - Tips from GlobalAPC

• Read the task. Identify key action words like "assess" or "evaluate."
• Organize answers around the task’s exact requirements.
• Practice breaking down exam questions to stay on target.

Pro Tip: Summarize the question in your own words. Check that you stay on topic.

3. Professional Skills Are Non-Negotiable

ACCA assigns 20% of SBL marks to professional skills. Many candidates focus only on technical knowledge. The report says you must show communication, skepticism, analysis, and commercial awareness in your responses.

Example from the Report

Task 1b asked about new technology and possible drawbacks, including ethical issues. Candidates who left out ethical concerns lost professional skills marks.

How to Improve - Tips from GlobalAPC

• Show professional skills in every part of your answer.
• Use headings, clear structure, and simple language.
• Build skepticism by questioning data and looking for risks or assumptions.

Pro Tip: Practice writing short, structured responses under timed conditions. This develops a professional tone and layout.

4. Time Management Is Key

Good time management can decide your pass or fail. Many candidates finished all three tasks, but their answers got weaker near the end. The examiner saw that poor planning caused rushed answers with little depth.

Example from the Report

Some candidates spent too much time on Task 1. They had less time for Task 3. This caused incomplete work.

How to Improve - Tips from GlobalAPC

• Split your time based on the marks for each task.
• Set clear checkpoints. Aim to finish certain tasks at specific times.
• Do timed mocks to increase speed and accuracy.

Pro Tip: Keep 5–10 minutes at the end to review your answers. That helps you refine clarity and detail.

5. Planning Produces Results

The report shows that well-structured and planned answers often get better marks. Candidates who spent time organizing their thoughts produced more balanced responses.

Example from the Report

Top-scoring answers in Task 1a had a brief outline of key points. They covered all aspects of the joint venture’s impact on PVS’s brand.

How to Improve - Tips from GlobalAPC

• Use 10–15 minutes for planning before you write.
• Organize your response according to the task requirements.
• List main arguments and make sure you address each major issue.

Pro Tip: Copy the task wording into your answer area. Write your response under each part. This keeps you aligned with the question.

6. Use Pre-Seen Effectively, but Don’t Overuse

Pre-seen materials give context, but they should not dominate your answer. Some candidates pasted entire sections of pre-seen text. They missed chances to analyze new exhibit data.

Example from the Report

In Task 1a, some candidates only repeated PVS’s differentiation strategy. They did not connect it with Best4Pets’ operations.

How to Improve - Tips from GlobalAPC

• Use the pre-seen for general context, but focus on exhibits for details.
• Highlight a few key points from the pre-seen. Apply them in a targeted way.

7. Stakeholder Focus – CSR and Ethics Matter

Some candidates wrote broad answers about CSR. They did not connect these ideas to specific stakeholders. Their answers lacked depth.

Example from the Report

Task 2a asked for an analysis of CSR’s impact on different stakeholders. Many candidates gave generic answers. They did not address shareholders, employees, or regulators.

How to Improve - Tips from GlobalAPC

• Use a stakeholder model (like Mendelow) to structure your answer.
• Explain how decisions affect at least four main stakeholders.

Original Report Can be Found HERE