The Strategic Business Leader (SBL) exam is a defining part of the ACCA qualification. It tests students’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world business context. It requires not just technical knowledge, but also the ability to apply that knowledge in a business context, using professional judgment, strategic thinking, and effective communication.
Yet, many students fall short because of avoidable exam-day errors. If you’re preparing for the SBL exam, here are the most common mistakes that you need to steer clear of.
1. Misreading the Requirements
The Mistake: Jumping straight into writing without fully understanding what the task requires.
Best Practice: Take your time to read every requirement twice. Highlight key action verbs (e.g., evaluate, advise, recommend) and important details that guide your response. Misinterpreting a task could cost valuable marks even if your content is technically correct.
2. Knowledge Dumping
The Mistake: Sharing a knowledge dump rather than a focused response.
Best Practice: The SBL exam rewards application, not theory. Always ask yourself: How does this relate to the scenario? Tailor your answer to the specific context given. Relevance is key; avoid generic textbook content.
3. Poor Time Management
The Mistake: Spending too much time on one part of the exam and rushing through others.
Best Practice: Manage your time strategically. Allocate roughly 1.8 minutes per mark, and stick to it. Use this structure to pace your writing and ensure you address all parts of the task equally.
4. Lack of Structure and Presentation
The Mistake: Writing long, unstructured responses with no logical flow.
Best Practice: Think like a professional. Use the required format: report, memo, email, depending on the task. Break your answers into headings, subheadings, and bullet points to improve readability and clarity.
5. Ignoring the ‘Professional Skills’ Marks
The Mistake: Overlooking key marks allocated for professional skills such as communication, scepticism, and commercial awareness.
Best Practice: Treat the paper as a real-world business case. Be balanced, logical, and practical in your tone. Demonstrate the ability to think like a business leader, not just an accountant.
6. Neglecting to Plan Answers
The Mistake: Rushing into writing without an outline.
Best Practice: Spend the first 10–15 minutes planning your response. Jot down the main points you want to cover for each requirement. A clear plan helps ensure a coherent and complete answer under exam pressure.
7. Skipping the Pre-Seen Material
The Mistake: Not reviewing the business scenario ahead of time.
Best Practice: The SBL exam includes pre-seen material, which is critical for contextual understanding. Familiarize yourself with the organisation, its industry, and its challenges so you can connect this insight to the question themes on exam day.
8. Lack of Practice with Mock Exams
The Mistake: Focusing too much on reading and not enough on timed practice.
Best Practice: SBL is a skills-based exam. Practice full mock exams under timed conditions. If possible, get feedback from a tutor to understand where you can improve. Realistic practice builds both speed and confidence.
Own Your Accounting Future With Kaplan
The SBL exam is your opportunity to showcase not only what you know but also how well you can think, communicate, and lead in a professional setting. By avoiding these common mistakes and preparing strategically, you can approach the exam with clarity and confidence.
At Kaplan, we don’t just help you get through the syllabus, we prepare you to lead. Our expert tutors, practical resources, and mock assessments are designed to help you think, write, and act like a strategic business leader.
Ready to rise above the common mistakes and aim higher?
Let Kaplan guide your ACCA journey. Learn more about our program here.