From September 2023, changes were introduced to the Strategic Business Leader (SBL) exam. Students now receive pre-seen material two weeks before the exam. These changes aim to align the exam with the professional skills that future employers are looking for.
What we cover in the exam preparation sessions
The pre-seen content will be available to students two weeks before the exam. Therefore, the aim of these sessions is to help students understand the activities of the fictional organisation and industry they will write about in the exam. The exam preparation webinar will walk you through the pre-seen information for the specific exam sitting you’re studying towards.
Each webinar session will run 1 week before the exam, at 6pm for 45 minutes. At the end of the webinar there’ll be a 15 minute Q&A session with the tutor for you to ask any questions you have.
When do the webinars take place?
| Exam sitting | Webinar Session | Sign-up link |
| December 2023 | 28/11/2023 | Register Now |
| March 2024 | TBC | TBC |
How to register for a live session
To register for the webinar session, click the sign-up link for your exam sitting in the table above and fill in a few simple details.
ACCA SBL Exam – What’s changed and what does it mean for me?
ACCA SBL pre-seen material
The pre-seen material will offer you important contextual information about the case study organisation ahead of the exam. This will help you to understand and apply the additional information presented on the exam day. The exam will allow you to showcase your strategic thinking and professional abilities, as opposed to relying on exam content alone.
A shorter exam
The exam is now shorter at 3 hours 15 mins. Fear not – this doesn’t mean you’ll be rushed! Receiving the pre-seen material in advance means you’ll have time to examine the scenario thoroughly, without the pressure of the clock ticking during the exam.
Other ACCA SBL exam changes
Other changes to the SBL exam include:
- Fewer exam exhibits
- Compulsory tasks
- More of a focus on professional skills
The exam format is still an integrated case study with a role-playing element. This will emphasise the application of knowledge, strategic thinking, business direction, and problem-solving.
Looking for an SBL course? Book ACCA SBL with First Intuition now
