How to approach the Strategic How to Tackling

prepare the exam

Business Reporting (SBR) exam
SBR has a wide ranging syllabus, which includes many accounting standards,
some introduced in Financial Reporting and others examined only in SBR. Most frequently used SBR exam verbs:
Advice from an
Current issues, exposure drafts and narrative reporting frameworks also
feature. Questions are set in the context of single entities, groups, private or
expert tutor
public sector, for-profit, or not-for-profit organisations. n Make use of ACCA resources
To study SBR effectively you need to understand the nature of the exam and n Real life reading – eg real
what you will be asked to do. company financial statements DISCUSS EXPLAIN ADVISE
Read this article for more about exam verbs
n Cover the syllabus widely –
breadth rather than depth
Question approach:
SBR – The Big Picture n Practice questions, and take
time to review your answers ✓ Analyse the requirements
n Written aspects are very ✓ Read the scenario carefully to understand
Stakeholders important – don’t just issues and any stakeholder perspective
practice numbers
In SBR, as in the workplace, ✓ Identify relevant technical knowledge
you need to consider the n Get used to planning and n Remember – more than one standard
point of view of investors writing clear answers.
and other stakeholders.
Professionalism is may be relevant, and consider the
more than calculating
This means analysing and Ethics numbers. It means principles from the Conceptual Framework.
interpreting information, applying ethics
explaining how transactions and judgement to ✓ Apply this to the scenario
Judgement add value, taking n Don’t simply regurgitate everything
affect the financial
statements and other a holistic view and Links to support you can remember. Select relevant points
communicating
reports or explaining
accounting treatments
Professionalism professionally. resources and explain how they apply to the facts in
and disclosures. the scenario
REPORTING n SBR Study support guide n You may need to produce some
• financial and non-financial calculations as part of an explanation
• single entities, groups, for-profit, not-for-profit n Examiner’s approach article
but numbers alone will not earn enough
n Examples of a change in approach marks to pass.
Knowledge Detailed New detailed
gained in knowledge knowledge n Recommended approach to section
previous
• standards B of the SBR exam
exams
• current development
n How to earn professional marks Writing a good answer
Conceptual Framework – how to demonstrate
n Ethics and Professional Skills module
professionalism:
The Conceptual Framework underpins the whole syllabus. The better you know the n Exam techniques for success
Framework, the easier it is to learn the principles of each individual standard. n Plan your answer
n Examiner’s reports
n Use headings and short paragraphs
n Read the mind of the marker n 
Consider the stakeholders – relevant
n September and December 2018 content and appropriate tone.
exam question debrief videos.