*** December 2023 ACCA SBL exam – Instant Poll and comments ***

Evening session 1. a) analyse culture and factors which restrict growth potential b ) benefits of organisational learning and workforce management 2. a) Strategic position analysis and risks from PESTEL analysis given b) Benefits and drawbacks of AI , ML for clients and NCTech 3. a) Benefits and problems of internet audit function b ) use of performance excellence model to enhance performance

I felt the same way. Some of the questions were too generic, not applicable to NCTech directly.

These were your questions?

1a. Impact of data breach on reputation
1b. Evaluate Security controls
2a. Board diversity
2b. Talent Management program
3a. Stakeholder analysis
3b. Integrated reporting

Honestly think they have changed the format due to it now being preseen, the preseen does not really count for anything and it was purely syllabus whereas in the past its always been application (from what Ive heard)
This is my last exam (all others I passed first time) and I can say the way they say to study it and how the paper was is not consistent. Learn the syllabus and learn the names of everything

I had also the variant with” Talent Management Program”.

In my experience, the SBL exam, which centered on the company example of NCTech, didn’t seem to offer opportunities to apply the SBL models effectively. The questions were quite broad and didn’t quite align with the SBL models. It almost felt like dedicating time to an English grammar course might have been more beneficial than solely focusing on the ACCA study text and exam practice.

Moreover, there’s a perception that the exam may have provided an advantage to native English speakers rather than to those for whom English is a second language, despite the latter potentially possessing a more profound understanding of the models being tested.

due to technicalities I am taking rebook exam on Friday – do you think it is possible to get one of these two sets of questions?

It was the Baldrige performance excellence model

Greetings. Disclaimer: I did not study from open tuitions for SBL, but I have studied in the past for many other subjects, so thus I visited this forum. There is always something useful from this good website.

I got the talent management, diversified board version question paper.
Thankgoodness I did not get the other version. Seems tough looking at those questions. Saved ! (if I get a pass God willing).

I found most of the questions easy to understand, which is very important, otherwise this part messes many people up. However, as stated by some above, I didn’t find much use of models and frameworks to apply upon the questions, in order to answer them. But models and frameworks are just a tool to help you answer questions quicker. They are never compulsory to use.

Like always, I was never able to finish the required amount of points needed as per total marks alloted. However, to compensate – I tried my best to integrate with the preseen, etc (NCTech’s vision, mission and values were my main resort always) to produce quality points , and working on a good professional answer layout (obtained from mock feedbacks) and trying to apply relevant professional skills like skepticism to bridge the score card, and gain those bonus marks. To the one who asked if the skepticism was to be applied on the disadvantages listed of talent management – I thought the same as well.

Advise to all: practice as many Mocks (especially personally marked by a professional marker) as possible. For SBL, this really will help fix your weaknesses. So invest in it. Only upon attempting my 5th mock I finally passed by a few marks.

Let’s hope we all past the actual exam.
Regards,
Well wisher.