ACCA SBR exam-day guide
ACCA SBR · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission notice / exam confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your exam, date, time and centre. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is accepted.
Valid photo ID
Bring the exact ID type named in your admission details (typically a passport or national photo ID). The name must match your exam registration. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Approved calculator
Bring a calculator that meets the provider's rules on model and functions. Check the current approved list on the official site before the exam.
Stationery
Bring black/blue pens and a pencil; confirm with the provider whether stationery is supplied at a computer-based centre.
Exam centre address and route plan
Note the full address, travel time, and a backup route. Arrive with margin; confirm the reporting time and lateness policy with the provider.
Review the exam format and timing
Know the section structure, marks per question, and total time so you can allocate time per mark on the day.
Practice writing under timed conditions
Complete at least one full timed mock in the final week, ideally on the same delivery mode (computer-based or paper) you will sit.
Know the technical article / syllabus areas
Re-read the provider's technical articles and syllabus weighting for SBR; use them to prioritise revision, not as a prediction of questions.
Water and a snack for before/after
Check the centre's rules on bringing food and drink into the exam room; some centres restrict this.
Personal medication / accessibility arrangements
If you have approved access arrangements, confirm them in writing with the provider in advance and bring any confirmation.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Do one full timed mock, mark it honestly, and list your two or three weakest syllabus areas.
Build a one-page summary of key standards, definitions and proforma layouts you keep forgetting. Revise only from this and your notes.
Confirm travel, ID, calculator and admission details. Re-check the centre address and reporting time.
Light review of your one-page summary and two timed question plans. Do not attempt a full mock.
Pack your bag: ID, admission details, calculator, pens. Lay out clothes. Set two alarms.
Eat normally, avoid heavy cramming late at night, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive early, and do a short 15-20 minute skim of your summary only. No new material.
Read the whole paper first, note the marks per requirement, and budget roughly 1.8 minutes per mark, leaving time to review.
Answer the requirement asked: identify the issue, apply the relevant standard, then conclude. Use headings and short paragraphs for readability.
If stuck, write a structured plan and move on; return later. Never leave a requirement blank if you can make a relevant point.
Check you have attempted every requirement, that calculations are labelled, and that your conclusions answer the question.
Rules to check
Bring the ID specified in your admission details; the name must match your registration exactly. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Follow the centre's rules on what may be taken into the exam room; phones and smart devices are normally not permitted. Confirm with the provider.
Confirm the provider's policy on breaks and leaving the room during the exam; do not assume breaks are allowed.
Confirm the lateness and no-show policy with the provider before exam day.
Marks are awarded for applying knowledge to the scenario, not for reproducing rote text; address each requirement explicitly.
Show workings for calculations; method marks may be available even where the final figure is wrong.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam or attempt to access unauthorised material; this is misconduct.
Confirm the provider's rules on what happens if you are unwell or need to leave early, and who to contact.