Advise the board
Evaluate an expansion or acquisition using financial and non-financial evidence from several exhibits.
RY STUDIES · ACCA SBL
ACCA SBLStrategic Business Leader
Prepare for ACCA SBL by advising a business through a realistic case: assess its strategy, challenge the evidence and recommend practical action. Shape each answer for its audience and the decision they need to make.
The syllabus, connected
What SBL asks you to do.
What the exam looks like
3 hours 15 minutes, one integrated case with three main tasks. Eighty technical marks and twenty professional-skills marks. Expect reports, briefing notes or presentation material built from the case evidence.
Recommend practical change
Turn identified risks into feasible actions for people, processes and technology.
Communicate in the requested role
Produce briefing notes, a report or slide notes tailored to the recipient and requirement.
Syllabus updates and the 2027 transition
No syllabus content change for September 2026–June 2027. The September 2027 qualification and its SBL requirements need a separate course review.
Learn from examiner observations
Turn exam feedback into a preparation habit.
March/June 2026
Not answering the task that has been asked
- Read the task before selecting evidence: more than one exhibit may be relevant. Explain the business implication of each fact instead of copying it.
- Practise the full exam with time for reading and planning. The report illustrates a 30-minute reading/planning allowance, then time allocation across all tasks.
September/December 2025
Focusing more on the underlying risks, rather than how to…
- When asked to mitigate acquisition risk, recommend actions for the specific integration problem; identifying risks again does not fulfil the task.
- Do not recommend a model or cloud computing by default. Explain how the action works for this organisation and its constraints.
Prepare for SBL with a feedback loop.
Learn the topic
Study SBL video theory, then apply it to practice tasks.
Check your answer
Written practice uses AI marking and feedback. Discuss the question or your draft with Asya.
Choose what comes next
Your results inform the knowledge map and personal practice priorities.
- Connect figures from different exhibits to a business consequence. A ratio in the spreadsheet needs interpretation in the written answer.
- For each important risk, propose a practical response with responsibility and a way to monitor whether it works.
- Write for the specified reader and decision: a board briefing should prioritise evidence, implications and an actionable recommendation.
Official ACCA sources used for this guide
Choose the support you need
Try the format, then choose your plan.
Prepare for one paper or use a subscription for several. The free account lets you try the practice platform before paying.
Free practice
€0
Try the platform
- 50 objective questions
- 10 AI-marked written answers
- 25 Asya messages in total
- Theory and mocks are not included
One Paper · Lite
€19
One payment · 12 months
- Theory and question bank for one paper
- 1 AI-marked mock exam
- 300 Asya messages per month
One Paper · Full
€45
One payment · 12 months
- Theory and question bank for one paper
- Unlimited AI-marked mock exams
- Asya: fair use about 1,500 messages/month
All Papers
€19/ month
Or €179 per year
- Practice and English theory across 15 papers
- Unlimited AI-marked mock exams
- Asya: fair use about 1,500 messages/month
Prices are in EUR. Free allowances are shared across papers. Theory access is opened within 24 hours of purchase; check the language and availability for your chosen course. Payment availability depends on your country and the provider.
For the first 30 founding members
Help shape the next chapter of RY Studies.
Get the All Papers plan at the founding-member rate. Use the platform for your exam preparation and tell us what helps and what needs to improve.
You can try the free practice allowance before subscribing.
€99 per year
Standard annual plan: €179. Save €80 a year.
Check founding availability ↗Billed annually; renews each year. The rate stays fixed while you remain subscribed. Current availability, included materials and cancellation terms are shown before payment.
The current participation terms include an honest review after eight weeks and permission to share your first name and exam result. Read the offer terms.
What do I get when I register?
Free practice includes 50 objective questions, 10 AI-marked written answers and 25 Asya messages. These allowances are shared across your account. No card is required.
When can I access the theory?
The complete English theory set is prepared. Some materials are not yet published; access to purchased course materials is opened within 24 hours of payment.
Are courses with Russian explanations available?
Yes. Adapted courses keep theory and model answers in English and add Russian commentary. AA, AFM, SBR and SBL adaptations are prepared. Other papers have English theory.
How should I use AI marking?
Use it as learning feedback that may contain mistakes. Check it against course materials and model answers. It is not an official ACCA assessment or a guarantee of an exam result.
Can you help me choose a course?
Email [email protected] with your paper, preferred commentary language and planned exam sitting. Purchase and refund terms are available before payment.
A–B · Leadership and governance
Assess leadership, ethics, stakeholder interests, boards and sustainability in a business context.
C–D · Strategy and risk
Evaluate strategic choices and recommend practical responses to the organisation's risks.
E–F · Technology, control and audit
Use data and technology intelligently, assess controls and explain the role of internal audit.
G–H · Finance, change and delivery
Connect financial analysis with organisational change, projects and implementation choices.
I–J · Professional communication
Answer in the requested format for the intended recipient, using the pre-seen and new exhibits.