ACCA SBL study plan
ACCA SBL · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Leadership, governance and strategy
Map the ACCA SBL exam structure and section weighting against your own strengths
Explain how leadership styles and governance structures interact in a case scenario
Draft a one-page governance-and-leadership framework you can apply to any case
Practise identifying the governing body, stakeholders and agency issues in a short case extract
Your checkpoint
A one-page governance-and-leadership framework plus a completed stakeholder/agency analysis of one practice case extract
Leadership, governance and strategy
Apply strategic analysis tools (PESTEL, Porter's, SWOT) to a case and justify which to use
Evaluate strategy options against stakeholder expectations and ethical constraints
Construct a reasoned recommendation with supporting evidence from a case
Time yourself writing a 25-mark-style answer under exam conditions
Your checkpoint
One timed 25-mark-style written answer with a self-marked feedback sheet listing three improvement actions
Risk, control and ethics
Distinguish the components of a risk management framework and apply them to a scenario
Identify internal control weaknesses and recommend proportionate controls
Analyse an ethical dilemma using a recognised framework and reach a defensible position
Explain the roles of the board, audit committee and internal audit in risk oversight
Your checkpoint
A risk register with at least eight risks scored and mitigated, plus a written ethical-dilemma analysis of one case
Risk, control and ethics & Financial and non-financial analysis, planning and decision support
Interpret financial statements to diagnose performance and financial risk in a case
Calculate and interpret key ratios and explain their limitations
Link control weaknesses to financial consequences and recommend remediation
Draft concise conclusions that connect analysis to recommendations
Your checkpoint
A financial analysis appendix with calculated ratios, interpretation and three linked recommendations
Financial and non-financial analysis, planning and decision support
Apply costing and relevant-cost techniques to a short decision scenario
Evaluate investment appraisal options including qualitative factors
Prepare a budget or variance analysis and explain the behavioural implications
Justify a decision recommendation using both financial and non-financial evidence
Your checkpoint
One decision-support memo covering a costing or investment choice with a clear justified recommendation
Innovation, technology and data
Assess how digital transformation and emerging technologies affect business models and risk
Evaluate data quality, analytics and cybersecurity issues in a case
Recommend technology-enabled improvements with implementation considerations
Explain the governance of data and IT within an organisation
Your checkpoint
A technology and data assessment of one case, including three recommendations with risks and success measures
Professional skills and communication & Leadership, governance and strategy
Structure answers using a professional report format with headings and conclusions
Demonstrate professional scepticism and balanced judgement in written responses
Practise concise, audience-appropriate communication under time pressure
Integrate leadership and governance points into a full-length case answer
Your checkpoint
One full mock case attempted in exam time, marked against the professional-skills criteria with a written reflection
Risk, control and ethics & Financial and non-financial analysis, planning and decision support & Innovation, technology and data & Professional skills and communication
Consolidate weak areas identified from the mock and targeted practice
Rehearse time allocation across a multi-part case
Refine a personal answer-structuring template for each command verb
Complete a final timed mock and review every error
Your checkpoint
A final timed mock with a completed error log and a prioritised revision checklist for the exam week
Milestones
Week 2: Can produce a structured, evidence-based 25-mark-style answer within time without notes
Week 4: Can score and mitigate a full risk register and link at least three control weaknesses to financial consequences
Week 6: Can evaluate a technology scenario and justify recommendations with risks and measures
Week 8: Final mock completed in exam time with a written error log and all identified gaps addressed or scheduled