SBLJune 2026 ACCA SBL Exam - Instant Poll and Comments

Hi Could you say question 1 answer?

Hi. What were the questions? Thanks.

Hello, Anybody can say what he selected of the strategic options the acquisition or the purchase of salons. why for both options the investment amount is much bigger than the profit in the two options. Thanks.

Anyone get this paper? Task 1: Scepticism on Junior Analyst's appraisal; Risks, implications and reccommendations of the product launch Task 2: Sources of Finance; E-Marketing Task 3: Responsible Leadership

That's the version I had

This DKK SBL paper really threw some curve balls! I was anticipating a question on technology and sustainability, and neither came up! Felt like the pre-seen added little to the scenerio's actually provided. I got the following questions: Section 1: Report evaluating DKK's performance using financials and KPIs and linking to strategic goals. Just one note on global inflationary pressure, and the rest was a spreadsheet with numbers. (24 marks I think). Found this actually quite difficult to structure, given so much information. Felt very broad and quite hard to link all the info to the strategic goals. Hopefully did enough under the time pressures. 18 Marks I think ... But I can't remember what this was at all! Any clue anyone? I know it wasn't on technology!! Section 2: Report assessing two proposals - one for acquiring a premium salon chain, and another for operating within premium gyms. A lot of pre-seen material, quite financial heavy info again. A lot of breadth for discussion, but very difficult to structure and get everything in within the time frame. Time management is SO key to SBL. Found this one easy to write about and challenged assumptions on both proposals, but difficult to structure/do to time. I think this was 24 marks again. Advising the CEO on the different leadership styles that could be adopted in the face of change for Salon managers rumuneration. 14 marks I think. Very little case scenerio for this one to link back to. Mainly knowledge based and hard to apply to DKK - felt a bit of a rogue question given the pre-seen material. Section 3: Analyse of the independence of the internal auditor. Ethical based question. Found this the easiest question of them all. 20 Marks in total.

I had the exact same problem, it through me off, and I lost a lot of time trying to find what was I missing... Instead, I should have just carried on with the pros and cons.

The version i had didn't have much financial in it at all Q1a) we were given an investment proposal email with a small financial appraisal (literally revenue, cost, profit and payback time) with a few notes complete by a junior. We had to show sceptism over the figure and advise how to correct. 20 marks 1b) was analysis of 4 risk relating to the investment by internal auditors. 20 marks Q2a) meeting minutes where they discussed 6 sources of raising finance, overdraft, loan etc and had to say issues and then recommend an option (no figures really) 22 marks 2b) split into 2 requirements. Why e marketing is beneficial and then given a document detailing 8 other methods of marketing and had to recommend 4 to still keep doing with reasons why. 20 marks 3) leadership. Given 5 different issues and had to link it to leadership. Linked back to values of DKK here also. 18 marks

Same , i recommended not to invest to in any of them as even after 5 years it doesn't even breakeven .... I know my answer is wrong but that's the conclusion i came into ?

How did you find it?

I had this version as well

I wish recommended neither of them, so hopefully you're not wrong! High investment and I think the DKK operating margin would actually be diluted based on their estimates.

Sorry, I also recommended neither*

Yesssss ... I was hoping atleast one person would agree with me ??

Yes I recommended neither sure where would they get the money?? Definitely not from their own back pockets...

Yes I got stuck in that as well as profit was so little. But as questions mentioned recommend “either” it means we had to choose one. I choose acquisition of salon chain swirls as it would come with hairdress ( already industry shortage) and also it will also provide related equipment and new client base. Gym we would need to find staff and make capital investment in equipments. I questioned how they will finance it. As cost of finance can also be a deciding factor. I believe questions did not give required information to assess the benefits of any the options. Overall paper was ok but this question did threw me off.

"...if any" if remember it clearly and correctly, so neither of option was an option as well. Erosion of Profit margin, funding issues as well as other constraints...

To the leadership style question I used the Ashridge college model of Tells vs Sells vs Joins. I know its wrong, maybe should have gone with transformational vs transactional. But can it be leveraged still?