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SBR - Strategic Business Reporting

September 2020 Exam Sitting

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 SBR – Paper Overview
There are 6 sections in SBR syllabus including:
A Fundamental ethical and professional principles
Apply fundamental ethical and professional principles to ethical dilemmas and
discuss the consequences of unethical behavior.
B The financial reporting framework
Evaluate the appropriateness of the financial reporting framework and critically
discuss changes in accounting regulation.
C Reporting the financial performance of a range of entries
Apply professional judgement in the reporting of the financial performance of a
range of entities
D Financial statements of groups of entities
Prepare the financial statements of groups of entities
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 SBR – Paper Overview
E Interpreting financial statements for different stakeholders
Interpret financial statements for different stakeholders
F The impact of changes in accounting regulation
Communicate the impact of changes and potential changes in accounting
regulation on financial reporting

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 SBR – Understanding Paper

SBR paper constitute two section including 2 question per section

All questions are compulsory. The 3 hours and 15 minutes exam will assess
professional competences within the business reporting environment.

Section A comprises two scenario based questions that will total 50 marks.
The first question will be on group financial statements from Syllabus area D but is
also likely some consideration of financial reporting issues from Syllabus area C can be
found.
The second question mainly asks for ethical implications and reporting implications of
specific events in a given scenario.

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 SBR – Paper Overview

Section B comprises two questions, which may be scenario or case-study or essay

based and will contain both discursive and computational elements.

First question in Section B is based on a modern business scenario and will require
the application of accounting standards to those scenarios.

Second question in Section B contains any element of the syllabus but is likely to be
scenario based and mainly focused on current issues, investor issues or interpretation.
Usually area E and F is considered to be part of this question.

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 SBR – Exam Tips
Consider following important for Securing good marks in SBR:
Time Management
Marks allocation between computation and discursive answer is around 50:50 or
discursive answer shares more scores than computation. Hence important is to
concentrate on descriptive portion along with computation.
Consider while answering a question
Students cannot pass SBR exam by only working well in computation part. I find
examiner put a lot of comments on the following areas in the past exams –
Many students were able to produce consolidated financial statements but not in explanatory note;
Ethical questions were fairly attempted;
Performance on applying accounting standards and conceptual framework were generally poor;
Another concern is not many students are able to discuss current issues and interpretation.

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 SBR – Exam Tips
‘Linkage’ is one of many features in SBR exam
What I mention ‘linkage’ is the sub-requirement in the questions. For example, an
accounting issue is asked in Question 3a. Then, more information is given to you for
Question 3b and it asks you to extend your discussion about the accounting issues in
Question 3a.
In this case, this ‘sub-requirement’ is better to be answered after the first question you
answered. You are advised to plan your time before answering all the requirements in a
question.
As the exam structure is disclosed, I suggest you to plan how to answer in your final
preparation. Probably answering Question 1 first and then Question 2, followed by
Question 3 and Question 4 is most suitable to your study buddy but it’s not for you.
You need to practice mock exam before so that you know which approach is the best to
you.

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 SBR – Common Question Verbs
Some common question verbs used in exams:
Analyse
Actual meaning: Break into separate parts and discuss, examine, or interpret each part
Key tips: Give reasons for the current situation or what has happened.
Apply
Actual meaning: To put into action pertinently and/or relevantly
Key tips: Properly apply the scenario/case.
Assess
Actual meaning: To judge the worth, importance, evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent, or
significance
Key tips: Determine the strengths/weaknesses/importance/ significance/ability to contribute.
Calculate
Actual meaning: To ascertain by computation, to make an estimate of; evaluate, to perform a mathematical process
Key tips: Provide description along with numerical calculations.
Comment
Actual meaning: To remark or express an opinion
Key tips: Your answer should include an explanation, illustration or criticism.
Compare
Actual meaning: Examine two or more things to identify similarities and differences.
Key tips: Clearly explain the resemblances or differences.
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 SBR – Common Question Verbs
Conclusion
Actual meaning: The result or outcome of an act or process or event, final arrangement or settlement Key tips: End
your answer well, with a clear decision.
Criticise
Actual meaning: Present the weaknesses/problems; evaluate comparative worth. Don’t explain the situation. Instead,
analyse it
Key tips: Criticism often involves analysis.
Define
Actual meaning: Give the meaning; usually a meaning specific to the course or subject
Key tips: Explain the exact meaning because usually definitions are short.
Describe
Actual meaning: Give a detailed account or key features. List characteristics, qualities and parts
Key tips: Make a picture with words; identification is not sufficient.
Discuss
Actual meaning: Consider and debate/argue about the pros and cons of an issue. Examine in detail by using
arguments in favour or against
Key tips: Write about any conflict, compare and contrast.
Evaluate
Actual meaning: Determine the scenario in the light of the arguments for and against
Key tips: Mention evidence/case/point/issue to support evaluation.

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 SBR – Common Question Verbs
Explain
Actual meaning: Make an idea clear. Show logically how a concept is developed. Give the reason for an event
Key tips: Don’t just provide a list of points, add in some explanation of the points you’re discussing.
Illustrate
Actual meaning: Give concrete examples. Explain clearly by using comparisons or examples
Key tips: Add in some description.
Interpret
Actual meaning: Comment on, give examples, describe relationships
Key tips: Include explanation and evaluation.
List
Actual meaning: List several ideas, aspects, events, things, qualities, reasons, etc
Key tips: Don’t discuss, just make a list.
Outline
Actual meaning: Describe main ideas, characteristics, or events
Key tips: Briefly explain the highlighted points.
Prepare
Actual meaning: Set out a response using an appropriate format
Key tips: The format of your answer should suit the document you’re preparing.

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 SBR – Common Question Verbs
Recommend
Actual meaning: Advise the appropriate actions to pursue in terms the recipient will understand
Key tips: Give advice or counsel.
Relate
Actual meaning: Show the connections between ideas or events
Key tips: Relate to real time examples.
State
Actual meaning: Explain precisely
Key tips: Focus on the exact point.
Summarise
Actual meaning: Give a brief, condensed account. Include conclusions. Avoid unnecessary details
Key tips: Remember to conclude your explanation.

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 SBR – Useful links
Following are the links of important resources required for SBR Exam:
Examiners approach article
Examiner's report - July 2020
SBR Examinable documents - September 2020 to June 2021
Strategic Professional CBE platform guidance document
SBR CBE Question Practice
SBR CBE Question Practice
CBE platform support
SBR (INT) CBE graphical representations March 2020

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 SBR – Important Technical Articles
Links to important Articles:
Fundamental ethical and professional principles (A)
Accounting ethics in the digital age
The financial reporting framework (B)
Concepts of profit or loss and other comprehensive income
The Conceptual Framework
Reporting the financial performance of a range of entities (C)
Deferred tax
IFRS 2, Share-based Payment
IFRS 9, Financial Instruments
IFRS 13, Fair Value Measurement
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 SBR – Important Technical Articles
Impairment of financial assets
Measurement
Revenue revisited
When does debt seem to be equity?
Cryptocurrencies
Financial statements of groups of entities (D)
Business Combinations – IFRS 3 (Revised)
Impairment of goodwill
Interpret financial statements for different stakeholders (E)
Additional performance measures
Giving investors what they need
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 SBR – Important Technical Articles
The integrated report framework
Using the business model of a company to help analyse its performance
The impact of changes and potential changes in accounting regulation (F)
Bin the clutter
IAS 21 – does it need amending?
The definition and disclosure of capital
The Sustainable Development Goals

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 SBR – Pass Rate

SBR - Pass Rate

52%

51%

50%

49%

48%

47%

46%

45%

44%
Ma r-20 Dec-19 Sep-19 Jun-19 Ma r-19 Dec-18 Sep-18

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 Spend sufficient time reading and
assimilating the case study material before
If planning to sit exams even contemplating answering the
questions.
in Sep-2020
Need to focus on • Spend sufficient time planning their
important Aspects answers to ensure they are structured
logically, covering most important points,
balanced in terms of depth and breadth of
discussions, not padded out with
superfluous waffle and avoiding
unnecessary overlap and duplication

• It is recommended to answer the

requirements in order especially examiner
considers future exams may follow a
timeline or have question requirements
that progress in other ways.
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 SBR – Day 2
Question 1
We will go through a consolidation related question from Dec 2018 Attempt.
Mainly focus on area’s including:
1/- Understand examiner expectation from student
2/- Understand Scores assigned to each part of question
3/- Understanding the main areas of scenario
4/- How to develop answer to secure maximum marks
5/-Linkage between different requirement
6/- Attempt Question

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 SBR – Day 3
Question 2
We will go through an ethical and reporting implications related question from
March/June 2019 Attempt.
Mainly focus on area’s including:
1/- Understand examiner expectation from student
2/- Understand Scores assigned to each part of question
3/- Understanding the main areas of scenario
4/- How to develop answer to secure maximum marks
5/-Linkage between different requirement
6/- Attempt Question

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 SBR – Day 4
Question 3
We will go through application of accounting standards to a modern business
scenario, question from March 2020 Attempt.
Mainly focus on area’s including:
1/- Understand examiner expectation from student
2/- Understand Scores assigned to each part of question
3/- Understanding the main areas of scenario
4/- How to develop answer to secure maximum marks
5/-Linkage between different requirement
6/- Attempt Question

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 SBR – Day 5
Question 4
We will go through current issues, investor issues or interpretation related
question from September 2018 Attempt.
Mainly focus on area’s including:
1/- Understand examiner expectation from student
2/- Understand Scores assigned to each part of question
3/- Understanding the main areas of scenario
4/- How to develop answer to secure maximum marks
5/-Linkage between different requirement
6/- Attempt Question

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