*** ACCA Paper SBL September 2018 Exam was.. Instant Poll and comments ***

No I did not use PESTEL

Absolute disaster 🙁
Definite fail

🙁

The exam questions were different from what I practiced using the 3 specimen papers and other mock exams by bpp. You can hardly use any models to answer the questions although I did try to apply but managed to use only 1.

Same like everyone else, the PID outline was among the hardest. PID only came out in the 3rd specimen exam if I am not mistaken but the question asks to prepare the PID and not to comment about the PID.

I was having trouble trying to establish the link between the points and it was pretty hard especially on financial part. I was expecting to be given at least a set or extract of financial statements but no avail. Only project cost foreacast was given. Keeping my fingers crossed and hopefully my “assumed” logic answers will be considered as logical and sensible by the examiner T_T

Question 1 – Used SAF. Focused more on the non-financials because I couldn’t get more than 3 points from financials, which are profitability of the project and co.

Question 2 – Tried to criticize the PID but I’m not satisfied with what I wrote in this section.

Question 3 – Very practical. I just picked the internal control problems and recommend solutions. The b part has to do with reputation…

Question 4- benefits of big data- I used advantages of IT in a company for this. The cost to the company should be cost of antivirus, business lost from reputation if there is a collapse in IT system and so on.

Hopefully, I can scale through with my answers. Best of luck to everyone.

The exam paper is available on the Acca website under past exam. You can find your answers there

There were alot of traps. When you subtract the projected cost from the projected revenue straight without deep thinking you fall for the trap. There is a reason for the different periods and dates for the projected revenue and cost

The analysis question gave as projected contract revenue and cost. If you are familiar with contact accounting you will realised that as a road contractor you will raise what we called certificate for work. Done in a particular period. That’s is why CC projected revenue had specific dates.it shows they expected to be paid for that period work done. The trick is the cost expected to be incurred had different dates not corresponding to the projected revenue dates.some of the project cost dates span between more than one contract certificate dates. So in the analysis u assume cost is accrued evenlly throughout the period and you prorate it. For exams a cost of $1000 span between two periods 7 months in the first period and 5 months In the second period.so how do u get the cost for the first period is 7/12*$1000.the remaining 5months can be found in the other period cost before the 1000 to get total projected cost to be matched against total projected revenue for the period to determine profit or loss.
When u do the u realised cc makes loss in some of the periods but made a huge profit at themed of the contract.the different dates for the projected revenue and cost was meant for something.if it happens like that cc will face cashflow problems In those years cashoutflow exceeded cash inflow.it won’t be able to pay dividends which it triple in the last contract of $10billion.

Also how do cc finance the Betal $20 billion contract.no problem,the ministers promised to guarantee the debt that the CC will use to finance the project

Hi,

May I have the link to acca to see the question?

@raoul7370 said:
At the tutor events for SBL I asked the examining team about their expectations for the pass rate. They said they had an open mind but were expecting similar to P1 and P3, so around 50% seems likely. I would be surprised if it is less than 45%.

Given the newness of this exam, surely students have done all the specimen papers, which if anything should mean the first sitting standard is a tough higher than the long term average that emerges, but we’ll see.

Thanks sir.I read your post at AAA forum and some students didn’t understand you.I think you will be usefull to us here.please why is it that ACCA essential papers pass rate is higher than the optional paper’s. Also you said at tutors forum the examining team said they will aim at 50% pass rate.please are you sure with the trickist PID question and trickish SBL exams.ACCA will get the 50% pass rate.thanks

@danny07 said:
What would be ideal advise for someone planning to sit in December … in terms of materials and questions to focus on ?

The notes and lectures on Opentuition work perfectly. But you should get a revision kit to practice the kind of questions that might come on the exam.

I spent the last two weeks before the exam just practicing questions which helped a lot getting familiar with the style and type of questions that might come on the exam.

The questions in the exam mix topics from the whole syllabus, but at least make sure you are familiar with the different models for strategic planning, risk etc. Then you can refer to them and apply in your answer.