SBL Retake

guide
n Plan  n Prepare  n Pass

Strategic Business Leader (SBL)

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n
Plan n
Prepare n
Pass

PLAN
Welcome to your guide helping Sections
you to retake your Strategic

QUESTION
PRACTICE
Business Leader exam Reflect 03

Stages to
success
Plan 08
Why use this guide? Question practice 13
✓✓ A structured approach to help you succeed in your retake
Final tips 19
✓✓ Signposted resources and how to use them

FINAL TIPS
Appendix – Links21
✓✓ Tips for success to help you pass this time
✓✓ Interactive clickable checklists to keep you on track

This guide applies to exams for September and December 2019

and March and June 2020.

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Understand where
you went wrong

PLAN
Students may fail this exam
because they do not have the
necessary knowledge OR they
do not demonstrate the required
professional skills OR they have
poor exam technique OR a

QUESTION
PRACTICE
combination of all three – the first
step to success in studying for
your retake is to understand the
reason you failed.

In this section we will help you

to understand where you went

FINAL TIPS
wrong and then in the next two
sections we will take you through
what you should do to ensure you
pass your retake exam.

Reflect

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Reflect – Resources to help you understand where you went wrong

The Strategic Business Student quote

Leader exam Conquer the fear of failure

PLAN
Before reflecting on your previous attempt “During my break at work I make sure I read a chapter
at Strategic Business Leader it is worth or solve exercises in my book. All in all, you know
reading, or re-reading, the Examiner's yourself - you know your limits and capabilities, but you
Approach article. This will help you think need to conquer the fear of failure and note something
down somewhere that will give you that motivation and
about your performance in the context of
determination that will keep you going. For me, it was my
how the exam has been designed. family’s sacrifice in helping to fund my studies.”
Audit and Assurance retake student, UAE

QUESTION
PRACTICE

Review the examiner’s reports for ➤ Remember that students often make the same mistakes exam sitting after exam sitting and you will see that the
examining teams talk about the same key knowledge areas and the same issues around exam technique time and
Strategic Business Leader and the exam time again. Really think about whether you have made these mistakes as, once you know what caused you to fail,
you can work on improving that area. We will show you how in the next three sections.
technique article Read the mind of an
SBL marker

FINAL TIPS

Read the article 10 things to learn from ➤ This article was written by the examining team after marking the first session of the SBL exam. It contains some
clear observations on aspects where candidates struggled. Think about your own previous attempt at SBL in the
the September 2018 sitting light of this article and you should find useful tips to help you succeed in your retake.


Read the exam technique article How to ➤ This one-page summary includes quick tips on time management, effective reading and planning and
writing answers.
approach Strategic Business Leader


Watch the video How to plan answers in ➤ This short video shows you how to plan your time and answers when you open the exam question paper in the

APPENDIX
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exam room.
the SBL exam

04
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Reflect – Resources to help you understand where you went wrong

§
Extract from Tips for success
the December 2018 examiner’s report

PLAN
To gain each technical mark, candidates need to make points that: ✓✓ Don’t give up. Use this guide to
help you achieve success in your
✓✓ Address the requirements of the question, considering the scope of answer retake. Start by thinking positively
required and what the question verb indicates should be provided and believing you will pass
this time.
✓✓ Apply to the organisation featured in the case study
✓✓ Are specific to the decision or situation covered in the question requirement

QUESTION
PRACTICE
✓✓ Show the reader why the point being made is significant in the circumstances
Demonstration of technical knowledge or explanation of theory without application
will not score marks in this exam.

§
Extract from examining team article
10 things to learn from the September 2018 sitting

FINAL TIPS
Stating technical knowledge by itself scores no marks in SBL. However, there
were many instances in September of candidates seeing a topic in the question
requirements and writing down what they knew about the topic without applying
their knowledge to the question or to the company. Thus in Question 3(b) candidates
who wrote what a risk committee did scored no marks unless they showed it was an
advantage of a separate risk committee, which was what the question required. In
Question 4 candidates who just presented a detailed theoretical explanation of big

APPENDIX
data scored no marks for it, as their answers did not discuss the opportunities and

– LINKS
costs for the company, which was what its board wanted.

05
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Reflect – Other hints to help you understand where you went wrong

Tips for success Why did you fail?

PLAN
Take advantage of any new resources provided Marginal fail?
specifically for you, to help you with your retake  If you scored a marginal fail (between 45% and
✓✓ ACCA is continually producing new resources 49%) last time it is likely that you failed because
developed specifically to help you pass your of poor exam technique and possibly a lack of
exam whether it be the first time or a retake, focus on demonstrating professional skills.
so keep an eye on the study support resources,
and the technical articles on the website Very low mark?

QUESTION
PRACTICE
(where you will find not only specific syllabus  If you scored a very low mark (perhaps under
areas covered but also exam technique articles 25%) last time then it is more likely that your mark
and study support videos). is due to lack of knowledge or failing to apply
your knowledge in a practical way to the tasks.
✓✓ If you haven’t done so already make sure
you have personalised your edition of Student
Did you struggle to come
Accountant to ensure you receive advice
up with answers?
specific to your exam.
 It’s more likely to be a lack of knowledge if you

FINAL TIPS
felt that you were either guessing answers or had
struggled to come up with ideas on how to apply
what you had learned to the tasks in the exam.

Did you run out of time?

 It’s more likely to be poor exam technique if you
ran out of time, perhaps missing out whole tasks
or parts of tasks or not finishing the exam.

APPENDIX
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Reflect – Before you leave this section...

Have you identified where you went

wrong last time? Tips for success

PLAN
Lack of knowledge ✓✓ Discuss your thoughts with colleagues,
Poor professional skills tutors or your peers to see if they
agree with your conclusions.
Poor exam technique
✓✓ Don’t feel alone or fed up because
A combination of the three you failed last time... join the ACCA
Learning Community and find other
students in a similar position to you.

QUESTION
PRACTICE
If you really are not sure, then Share ideas and thoughts, or perhaps
assume it was a combination of find a study buddy to help keep you
the three, and move on to the next motivated.
section where we will help you to ✓✓ Don’t dwell on this stage too long.
plan the time between now and The more time you spend dwelling
on your last attempt, the less time
your retake. you will have to improve ready
for your retake!

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APPENDIX
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Your checklist
Now that you have a better idea

PLAN
of where you went wrong last
time, it’s time to draw up a plan
to help you manage your time
between now and your
retake exam

QUESTION
Consider taking retake

PRACTICE
tuition with an Approved
Learning Partner
Draw up your
retake study plan
Obtain an Approved
Content Provider question

FINAL TIPS
and answer bank
Review the syllabus and study
guide for your retake sitting

Plan

APPENDIX
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Plan – Draw up your study plan

Study plan checklist

Enter for your retake as soon

PLAN
as possible using the exam
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
planner

Calculate the number of weeks
Week 1 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
from now until your exam
Week 2 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
date and draw up a plan – see
the example to the left and a

QUESTION
PRACTICE
Week 3 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday possible proforma for you to
use on the next page
Week 4 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
You may need to add or take
away weeks depending on
Week 5 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
which sitting you have
Week 6 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
chosen for your retake

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Block out days/half days/
evenings already committed
to family/social events
Plan study periods – evenings/
half days/full days

APPENDIX
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Evening study period Daytime study period Other commitments

09
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Plan – Your study plan Print out and fill in when you will study for your retake

PLAN
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Week 1

Week 2

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PRACTICE
Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

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Week 6

APPENDIX
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Evening study period Daytime study period Other commitments Colour boxes in your preferred highlighter colours.

10
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Plan – Populate your plan with questions to practise

Now that you have worked out

when you will study for your retake, v
Tips for success
you need to think about which
questions you are going to practise. If you failed because of a lack of knowledge

PLAN
Although you won’t be able to plan ✓✓ Look through your notes, study text and the syllabus and study guide,
every question in advance it is a and try to identify which areas you feel weakest in.
good idea to decide on some key ✓✓ The Approved Content Provider question and answer banks provide a list of
questions as well as scheduling in questions by topic area. Use these to help you plan the questions you need to
attempt and add them to your plan. Make sure that you choose questions that
some time to attempt several full cover a wide range of syllabus areas, professional skills and answer formats.
mock case study exams.

QUESTION
✓✓ Look for any technical articles which relate to the area of knowledge you need

PRACTICE
to focus on and add these to your plan.

Ensure you have a Strategic
Business Leader Approved If you failed because of poor professional skills
Content Provider question and ✓✓ Watch the SBL professional skills videos. This series of short videos provide
answer bank as this contains tips on how to demonstrate each of the professional skills in the SBL exam.
some shorter questions to allow ✓✓ Read the article Professional Skills Marking Guide. This shows how the skills
you to target specific areas of are assessed and should help you to assess how well you are demonstrating

FINAL TIPS
professional skills during your question practice.
the syllabus as well as full
mock case study exams to If you failed because of poor exam technique
ensure you are fully prepared ✓✓ Schedule in time to watch the study support videos and review the exam
for your retake. technique articles. These will give you some pointers on how you can improve
your technique.
✓✓ Make sure you work some full length SBL case studies to build confidence in
your exam technique.

APPENDIX
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Plan – Tips for success

Student quote Tips for success

Read the technical articles

PLAN
✓✓ If you are able to, consider including time to attend a retake
“After failing with 40% the first time, for my retake or revision course with an Approved Learning Partner.
I made sure I read the technical articles carefully. These will give you the chance to really understand what you
I can’t stress more about the importance of these need to know for your retake.
technical papers. Examples illustrated in these
articles are so clear that it’s very hard to not ✓✓ Again, if you are able to, schedule in time to attend a
understand them.” mock exam day offered by one of our Approved Learning
Partners or do a mock exam online. These will provide you

QUESTION
Advanced Financial Management retake student,

PRACTICE
with feedback and help you to focus your last few days of
China revision time.
✓✓ SBL is a practical exam, and there is no single right answer
to any question. If you don't have access to tutor feedback,
you could discuss you answers with a study buddy in the
Learning Community.
✓✓ Don’t forget to include time to practise several mock exams
in full to time. These could be mocks from the Approved

FINAL TIPS
Content Provider question bank, the Strategic Business
Leader specimen exams or past exams. If you attempt
Specimen 3 you should view the exam debrief webinar in
the study support resources to learn more about what is
expected in the SBL exam.
✓✓ ACCA has some great resources to help you around exam
technique. Make sure you build some time in to review all the
exam technique and technical articles as well as the webinars.

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Your checklist
Before you start

PLAN
Reading and planning
Key skills

QUESTION
PRACTICE
FINAL TIPS
Question Practice

APPENDIX
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Question practice – Before you start

R
 eview again the examiner’s reports
and read the Examining Team Guidance Tips for success
and 10 things to learn from the September

PLAN
2018 sitting articles so that you have all ✓✓ Remember to think positively
and don’t give up on a question
of the examining team’s comments and before you start. Every question
advice in mind when you start working you practise properly will bring you
through questions closer to a pass in your retake.


Make sure you understand what
knowledge is assumed from the Applied

QUESTION
PRACTICE
Knowledge and Applied Skills exams.
This is set out in the article How Applied
Knowledge and Applied Skills Map to SBL.

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Question practice – Reading and planning

The Strategic Business Leader

exam has a duration of four Tips for success
hours to give you time to read

PLAN
all of the information in the Practice how long you will need to spend reading and planning
case and exhibits and to write ✓✓ The examining team recommends that you should expect to spend at least 40
answers that demonstrate minutes and up to an hour in reading and planning before you start writing out any of
your final answers.
professional skills.
Decide an order for reading the exam
The Examining Team Guidance
1. First read through the background information to understand the context of the case
article suggests a step by step

QUESTION
PRACTICE
2. Then read the list of exhibits
approach to planning your time
and reading the case study. Try 3. Start to annotate the requirements (see key skills on pages 16 and 17)
this out when you attempt a 4. Having understood the requirements and what you need to do in each task, finally
read the exhibits themselves so that you can identify and highlight the information
mock exam. that is relevant to each task.
You may decide to stick to that
Plan your time
approach, or you may want

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✓✓ If you spend 40 minutes for your initial reading and planning, you have 200 minutes
to adapt it a little. Either way, left to spend on the detailed planning and writing of your answers to the tasks.
having a clear plan for how you Allocating this over the 80 technical marks (as the professional skills don’t require any
will use the four hours will boost extra writing) gives you 2.5 minutes per technical mark. Note down how long you
will spend on each task. Adapt these calculations if you want to spend longer on the
your confidence for your retake. reading and planning stage.

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Question practice – Key skills you need to master

Key Skills Student quote

Importance of exam technique

PLAN
Reading the requirements
“My advice to future sitters of SBL is
This will help to ensure you are answering the question that has been set and not to do lots of exam technique practice
wasting time including irrelevant information. – understand the different answer
formats and the professional skills
✓✓ Identify how many parts there are to the requirement and allocate your time
being tested so that you can structure
across all of the parts according to the marks being awarded.
your answers in the right way. I wish
✓✓ Identify what your role is in the task. Read carefully, as this can change I had done [this] sooner, I was too

QUESTION
PRACTICE
between tasks. focused on learning the content when
the exam is a lot about application.”
✓✓ Check what format of answer is required. The article The importance of
effective communication discusses the main formats likely to be required. Strategic Business Leader candidate,
✓✓ Think about who your audience is. this will help you identify the most relevant September 2018
points, and the tone you should use in your answer.
✓✓ Identify the verb and understand what is required of you. Carefully analysing
the answers provided in the question and answer banks once you have

FINAL TIPS
attempted a question will help you to understand what the different verbs
mean. You can also take a look at the article What is the examiner asking? for
further guidance.
✓✓ Think about the mark allocation and how many points you need to make in
your answer to pass. Generally one mark will be awarded for each point made,
provided that it is related to the scenario in the question. A well-developed
point may earn up to two marks.
✓✓ Check which professional skill is being assessed in the task. Think through the

APPENDIX
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definition of that skill to ensure that you put the correct focus in your answer.

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Question practice – Key skills you need to master

Key Skills Tips for success

PLAN
Application of knowledge ✓✓ Make sure you are answering the
question set and not the question
Strategic Business Leader is a practical exam. The tasks set are you wish you had been set!
designed to reflect the workplace, so your knowledge must be
applied to the specific situation of the case study.
✓✓ Make sure you use the information in the case background and
the exhibits, refer to the organisation, the industry or the people

QUESTION
mentioned in your answer.

PRACTICE
✓✓ Do not regurgitate everything you know about a particular topic
area; your answer needs to be a practical response to the task. Student quote
Technical knowledge only scores marks in this exam if it is clearly
Learn from your mistakes
applied to the case.
Professional skills marks “The only way to pass an exam is to learn from your
mistakes. On my fourth attempt at AA I realised
There are 20 marks available for demonstration of professional skills,
that I was failing because of my lack of knowledge

FINAL TIPS
so this can make the difference between passing and failing.
around audit procedures. Finally I was able
✓✓ Make sure you watch the professional skills webinars in the study to succeed in passing.”
support resources to make sure that you fully understand each
Audit and Assurance retake student, Pakistan
of the skills and how you can demonstrate these in the exam.
✓✓ If you have not completed the Ethics and Professional Skills
module you should do so before attempting your retake as it
provides some effective practical support in building these skills.

APPENDIX
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Question practice – Tips for success

§
Tips for success Extract from
the December 2018
examiner’s report

PLAN
Learn from every question you do
Maximise your time by reviewing what you have learnt from each question you Candidates should remember that they are
practise. Spend time working through the answer for every question you attempt carrying out a professional task that has
and ask yourself the following questions. Did you: a particular purpose for a defined user or
✓✓ Finish your answer in the allocated time? stakeholder. It is vital that candidates read
the technical and professional requirements
✓✓ Include sufficient points in your answer given the marks available? together, as this will assist candidates to

QUESTION
PRACTICE
✓✓ Use the details in the exhibits to make your answers relevant to the case? formulate their answers in the correct, style,
tone and level of professionalism. An example
✓✓ Make points that responded to the verb(s) in the requirement(s)? of where candidates failed to do this was in
✓✓ Present your answer in the right format? Question 3(a). Candidates were required to
discuss the potential challenges and applications
✓✓ Write full sentences and short paragraphs?
of disruptive technologies with 4 professional
✓✓ Demonstrate the professional skill as described in the skills marking grid? skills marks "available for demonstrating
scepticism skills in probing and challenging the
Additional tips: opinions of the board", made in Exhibit 6. Most

FINAL TIPS
candidates completely ignored this and failed to
✓✓ It is better to attempt fewer questions really well rather than lots of
demonstrate any scepticism skills.
questions badly.
✓✓ Read the technical article Read the mind of an SBL marker to help you
critique and assess your answers when reviewing your attempts.
✓✓ If you find you are still struggling with the technical knowledge you need
to answer the question, refer back to your notes or study text and remind
yourself of the key points.

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18
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Your checklist
Make sure you are ready to

PLAN
walk into your retake exam

QUESTION
PRACTICE
FINAL TIPS
Final Tips

APPENDIX
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19
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Final Tips – Tips for success

Tips for success

PLAN
Very few students enjoy the exam (black pens, ✓✓ Try not to get into
taking exams but there calculator etc). discussions with fellow
are things you can do students just before the
✓✓ Don’t forget to take exam about what might
to make the experience your exam docket with come up. Again this will
less stressful! you as well as your only cause you stress.
student identification.
✓✓ Identify where the

QUESTION
exam hall is.

PRACTICE
✓✓ Eat properly before you
leave for the exam.
✓✓ Plan your route to the
exam hall, considering ✓✓ Sleep properly! Don’t
the time of day you will spend the last night
be travelling and any before your exam doing
potential issues. last minute revision,
Once the exam is over:
as you will perform so
✓✓ Have in place a back-up
much better if you are ✓✓ Relax.
plan in case of traffic

FINAL TIPS
alert and well rested
problems or public ✓✓ Don’t over
(and in any case, last
transport delays. analyse – you
minute revision will only
✓✓ Ensure you have all the cause you to panic!). cannot change
equipment you need for anything now!

Good

APPENDIX
Luck!

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 QUESTION APPENDIX
REFLECT PLAN FINAL TIPS
PRACTICE – LINKS
Appendix – Links
 REFLECT
Appendix – Links

Page No. Link URL

https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/examiners-
04 Examiner's Approach article
reports.html
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/examiners-
04, 14 Examiner’s reports
reports.html

PLAN
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/technical-
04 Read the mind of an SBL marker
articles.html
10 things to learn from the https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/examiners-
04, 14
September 2018 sitting reports.html
How to approach Strategic https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/technical-
04
Business Leader articles.html
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/preparing-for-
04 How to plan answers in the SBL exam
strategic-business-leader.html

QUESTION
06, 12, 17 Study support resources https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader.html

PRACTICE
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/technical-
06, 11, 12 Technical articles
articles.html

06 Student Accountant http://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/sa.html

07 ACCA Learning Community https://learningcommunity.accaglobal.com

09 Exam planner http://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-entry-and-administration/enter-an-exam/exam-planner.html

11, 12 Approved Content Provider http://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/your-study-options/alp-content.html

FINAL TIPS
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/syllabus-
11 Syllabus and study guide
study-guide.html
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/preparing-for-
11 SBL professional skills videos
strategic-business-leader.html
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/technical-
11 Professional Skills Marking Guide
articles.html

12 Approved Learning Partner https://learningcommunity.accaglobal.com/#discover/1

12 Learning Community https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/sa/features/learning-community.html

https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/specimen-
12 Specimen exams

APPENDIX
exams.html

– LINKS
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/past-exam-
12 Past exams
papers.html

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Appendix – Links

Page No. Link URL

https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/technical-
12 Exam technique
articles.html

12 Webinars https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader.html

PLAN
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/examiners-
14, 15 Examining Team Guidance
reports.html
How Applied Knowledge and https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/syllabus-
14
Applied Skills Map to SBL study-guide.html
The importance of effective https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/technical-
16
communication articles.html

16 What is the examiner asking? http://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/sa/study-skills/questions.html

17 Ethics and Professional Skills module https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/ethics.html

QUESTION
PRACTICE
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/strategic-business-leader/technical-
18 Read the mind of an SBL marker
articles.html

FINAL TIPS
APPENDIX
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SBL Retake – April 2019 update
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