How to Pass the ACCA Strategic Business Leader (SBL) Exam

Download SBL summary, and preseen go through by Clicking Here

by Steve Chen, FCCA, Expert Tutor

This is the part one of the two-part article.

The ACCA SBL exam is the final big one of the ACCA qualification, and while it can be daunting, it definitely does cover a lot. However, if you can learn from the pre-seen material (PSM) very well and can apply what you have learned from the SBL syllabus as a whole to the scenario, you have the chance to pass it. This article will walk you through the steps to ensure you are preparing well and feel confident going into the exam room.

How to Tackle the SBL Exam

Dig into the Pre-Seen Material

Start with the pre-seen case. This will be the basis for your exam questions, so the more you understand it, the easier the exam will seem. Pay attention to the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) – these are typically tested through variance analysis. You need to be able to understand them, and at times you will be asked to suggest a new KPI – see September 2024 BEAGO case exam. Make sure you’re comfortable reading into these details and understand what they mean for the business.

Use Strategic Models to Analyze the Case

To be sure you’re doing well in the pre-seen, try to use different models to analyse the business situation. The ones you must know are:

SWOT Analysis (for understanding strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats)
PESTEL Analysis (covering political, economic, social, tech, environmental, and legal factors)
Porter's Five Forces (for competitive analysis)
Porter's Value Chain (to understand how value is created in the business)

And don’t just focus on what is in the book. Think outside the case. What could go wrong? What are the risks? What are the risky areas? What are the weaknesses? What are the holes? What are the Achilles’ heels? The exam questions will generally target the risky areas or the weak spots. Therefore, if you are prepared for this, you will be prepared to deal with any twists on the day.

Know That Some Topics Are Evolving

The SBL is a test that changes topics often. The syllabus changes on a rotation. So some years ago, change management and project management were the topics that were being tested but now it isn’t like that. It is still being tested, but now you have to know more on corporate reporting stuff like:

Integrated Reporting (basically, showing the overall performance of the company)
Social and Environmental Reports (covering sustainability efforts)
Roles of the Board, Executive, and Non-Executive Directors
Corporate Governance and Internal Controls (The way companies are run and how they control their processes).
The key is to make sure you’re not overly preoccupied with strategy, but are also working on these other things.
Balance Strategy with Governance and Reporting

Don’t fall into the trap that it’s all strategy – there’s another chunk of the syllabus covering corporate governance, internal controls and reporting standards, and they’re just as important as the strategy part. If you’re preparing, give these topics the time they deserve so you don’t miss marks.

Final Tips for Success

Practise Applying What You Learn: The SBL exam is all about putting into practice what you learn so, to feel more comfortable with putting your knowledge to practical use, to practise doing so in different case scenarios.
Think holistically: how everything is related to each other. Strategy could be influenced by governance, or a theme in a SWOT analysis could come back to you in the risk management side of things.
Time Management and Clarity: In the exam, be quick but clear. Write down enough points to make your case, but don’t over-explain. Stick to what’s needed and make sure everything comes back to the pre-seen case.

In other words, know your pre-seen case back to front, grasp and apply your models, and cover off all the major content topics – strategy, governance, controls and reporting – and you’ll be well-equipped for your SBL exam.

Best of luck, but remember – practise, make sense, and bring it back to the case! You can do this!

Categories: : Strategic Business Leader (SBL)