

ACCA SBL Roadmap 2025 is a structured plan for students who are engaged in preparation for the Strategic Business Leader paper. Unlike other ACCA exams, SBL is based on a single case study that tests the technical knowledge and professional skills of the candidates. Here, students are required to link theory with practical scenarios while showing skills in leadership, strategy, governance, and commercial awareness.
Students can divide their preparation into theory, short question practice, long question exercises, technical article review, and professional skills application. Further, students can increase their confidence and exam readiness by following a step-by-step approach for the ACCA SBL exam.
Before starting preparation, students should understand the main features of ACCA SBL. The table given below summarises the paper type, marks allocation, skills tested, and ACCA exam focus. Further, ACCA SBL 2025 complete roadmap can help students plan their preparation and focus on areas requiring more attention.
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ACCA SBL Roadmap 2025 Highlights |
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Feature |
Details |
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Paper Name |
Strategic Business Leader (SBL) |
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Level |
Professional Level |
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Exam Type |
Case study based on pre-seen material |
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Total Marks |
100 |
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Technical Skills Marks |
80 |
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Professional Skills Marks |
20 |
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Duration |
3 hours 15 minutes (including reading and planning) |
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Skills Tested |
Leadership, Strategy, Governance, Risk, Technology, Data Analysis, Finance, Project Management, Professional Skills |
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Exam Focus |
Applying theory to real business problems |
Understanding the syllabus should be the first step for the students as per the ACCA SBL 2025 preparation guide. The syllabus includes leadership, governance, sustainability, strategy, risk, organisational control, finance, project management, and professional skills. Candidates should learn theory and practise applying it to scenarios of the real life as a part of the ACCA Strategic Business Leadership roadmap.
Students are advised to make simple notes for each topic. Reviewing technical articles can help students understand new developments in business. Candidates should note difficult areas and include professional skills guidance in their summaries.
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ACCA SBL 2025 Preparation Guide Syllabus |
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Main Topic |
Subtopics |
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Leadership & Professional Ethics |
Ethical leadership, corporate culture, team motivation, decision-making ethics |
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Governance & Stakeholder Responsibilities |
Corporate governance frameworks, stakeholder analysis, accountability, reporting |
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Sustainability & Social Responsibility |
ESG factors, CSR initiatives, sustainable strategy |
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Strategic Position & Analysis |
Internal analysis, external environment, competitive forces, market trends |
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Risk Management & Strategic Options |
Risk identification, assessment, mitigation, evaluation of options |
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Technology & Data Analytics |
Digital transformation, business intelligence, data-driven decisions |
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Organisational Control & Audit |
Internal controls, compliance, auditing, performance measurement |
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Financial Management in Strategy |
Investment appraisal, financial planning, budgeting, performance evaluation |
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Project Management & Change |
Project planning, execution, monitoring, innovation, change management |
Knowing the key topics helps candidates focus their preparation as per the ACCA SBL Roadmap 2025 for success. Students should plan study sessions based on the topic weightage to save time and increase efficiency. Candidates can focus on the following topics to prepare for the SBL paper:
Leadership and professional ethics
Governance and stakeholder responsibilities
Sustainability and social responsibility
Strategic position analysis (internal and external)
Risk management and strategic options
Technology and data analytics in business decisions
Organisational control and audit processes
Financial management in strategy and decision-making
Project management, change management, and innovation
ACCA SBL follows the 80–20 rule. Here, 80 marks are for technical skills, and 20 marks are for professional skills. Candidates should understand that professional skills can affect technical marks. In addition, ignoring professional skills can lower total scores even with strong technical knowledge.
Students should focus on communication, leadership, analysis, evaluation, and commercial awareness. They should note that practising under exam conditions improves confidence and skill application. Linking answers to the scenarios in the past can ensure both technical and professional skills are observed.
Preparation for ACCA SBL paper requires a clear and organised approach. Students should combine theory, short question practice, and long question exercises. Further, working professionals may rely on summarised notes for faster revision. Here are a few important tips for ACCA SBL preparation:
Students should read pre-seen material and make a brief summary.
Candidates are recommended to understand key concepts in leadership, strategy, risk, finance, and project management.
They should review technical articles to find new topics linked to the syllabus.
They are advised to practise short questions to improve writing and application skills.
They should attempt long questions and check marking guidelines.
They should apply professional skills while practising all questions.
A structured study plan helps students prepare efficiently for ACCA SBL in a limited time. This ACCA SBL exam strategy 2025 balances syllabus coverage, short and long question practice, and professional skills. Candidates should adjust the plan to their pace but maintain regular study sessions to cover the syllabus in 40 to 45 days. Further, candidates can use the following ACCA SBL step-by-step preparation plan to prepare in 1 or 2 months.
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Sample ACCA SBL Study Plan for 2025 |
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Days |
Focus Area |
Activity |
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1–10 |
Syllabus Overview |
Read all syllabus topics, make notes, understand pre-seen material. |
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11–15 |
Short Questions |
Practise 10–15 short questions from all topics, link answers to scenarios. |
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16–20 |
Technical Articles |
Read articles for new topics and update notes with key points. |
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21–25 |
Long Questions |
Attempt 4–5 long questions, review marking guidelines, note scenario links. |
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26–30 |
Revision |
Revise notes, short questions, and pre-seen summary; focus on weak areas. |
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31–35 |
Full Question Practice |
Attempt 3–4 full question sets under timed conditions. |
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36–40 |
Professional Skills |
Apply communication, analysis, and evaluation skills in all answers. |
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41–45 |
Final Revision |
Review all notes, pre-seen summary, and practise scenario-based answers. |
Note: Following this plan helps students cover all topics and practise professional skills in real exam conditions. Also, candidates can change their study plan according to their efficiency and potential.