Quick Tips

in
Professional Marks
 Quick Tips
in Professional Marks
A super quick guide on how to get professional marks
in ACCA Strategic Professional Exams.

By Tommy
Founder of gotitpass.com

© 2019 Got it Pass eLearning Co

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Thank You

Thanks for downloading this quick guide to help

you effectively preparing ACCA Strategic
Professional Exam Paper SBL, SBR, AFM, APM,
ATX and AAA.

And for more helpful information to help your

exam preparation to pass the exam, please visit
gotitpass.com.
ACCA What is it?

Professional
Marks Is it critical?
ACCA Professional Marks What is it?

• Effective from September 2018, all

ACCA Strategic Professional Level
papers contain professional marks which
are –
• Strategic Business Leader: 20 marks
• Strategic Business Reporting: two
marks in the 'accounting and ethical
implications question' in Section A
and two marks in the 'analysis
questions' in Section B
• Strategic Professional – Options: 4
marks in Question 1, the 'case study
question' in Section A.

• Professional marks are awarded for the

overall quality of answers, and for using
or adopting effective professional
communication skills as required by the
examiner.
ACCA Professional Marks Is it critical?

• In all Strategic Professional papers

(except SBL), a significant proportion of
students score ranging from 45 to 55%
from statistics while 4 additional marks
can make a difference from marginal fail
to pass.

• In SBL exam, in addition to technical

skills, the exam requirement is set to
“help discriminate between candidates
on the basis of their overall
“professionalism” in writing their exam
answers”.

• In other words, you must prepare well to

show “professionalism” in writing your
answers to pass SBL exam.
ACCA SBL Where are the
professional marks

Professional
from?

Marks
Professionalism

Communication in
different “formats”
ACCA SBL Professional Marks Where are the
professional marks
from?

• In addition to technical capabilities, 20%

of ACCA SBL marks are professional
marks which assess your 5 professional
skills –
 Communications (inform,
persuade or clarify);
 Commercial acumen (demonstrate
awareness, use judgement, show
insight);
 Analysis (investigate, enquire,
consider);
 Scepticism (probe, question,
challenge);
 Evaluation (assess, estimate,
appraise)
ACCA SBL Professional Marks Professionalism

• Professionalism is writing to the points

related to requirements, deep
understanding of the issues and ability
to prioritise arguments in logical way;
• It is the key to gain professional marks;
• 9 evidences to support whether the
answers provided can complement
technical skills with “professionalism”
1. Making the most important or crucial points relating
to the requirement;
2. Showing deep or clear understanding of underlying or
causal issues and integrating knowledge from a
number of sources to make points;
3. Only making relevant points and not including
superfluous information;
4. Not repeating points already made;
5. Addressing the requirements as written;
6. Showing an ability to prioritise and make points in
logical and progressive way;
7. Structuring and presenting answers in a professional
manner through faithfully simulating the task as
would be expected of the person being asked to carry
it out;
8. Evidencing sound knowledge from previous learning
(e.g. F1/AB, F5/PM, F8/AA, F9/FM);
9. In addition to being clear, factual and concise,
students should express themselves convincingly,
persuasively and show credibility in what they say.
ACCA SBL Professional Marks Communication in
different “formats

• From September, December 2018 exams

and 2 published Specimen exams, we
come up with 7 types of format that you
have to know –
1. Letters, emails and memos
2. Reports
3. Presentation slides and notes
4. Visual aids, such as grids or heat maps
5. Briefing notes / briefing papers and
working notes
6. Press release
7. Project Initiation Document (PID)

• In each requirement, specific format in

presenting your answers in SBL exam is
asked.
• But remember, no matter what the
format is required, addressing your role
and your audience role is the most
important task before you draft your
answer.
Scoring Where are the

professional professional marks

from?

marks (apart
from SBL) What is being asked
for?

Tips for acquiring

professional marks
Scoring professional marks Where are the
(apart from SBL) professional marks
from?

• Apart from SBL, all other Strategic

Professional exams include four
professional marks –
• Strategic Business Reporting: 2 marks in the
'accounting and ethical implications question' in
Section A and 2 marks in the 'analysis questions'
in Section B
• Strategic Professional – Options: 4 marks in
Question 1, the 'case study question' in Section A.

• Factors determine whether the answers

meet the professional mark requirements:
1. Strength and persuasiveness of
arguments made;
2. Effective use of evidence;
3. Presenting logical conclusions and
recommendations;
4. Showing sensitivity to the intended
target audience;
5. Utilising format, structure and
presentation of communication required,
using proper tone.
Scoring professional marks What is being asked
(apart from SBL) for?

• There are 7 different “formats” to test on

-
1. Speech
2. Statement
3. Report to a committee / board
4. Memo
5. Article or press briefing
6. Justification or argument
7. Ethical dimension to a technical issue
Scoring professional marks Tips for acquiring
(apart from SBL) professional marks

• 6 tips for acquiring professional marks –

1. Plan your answer before start writing

2. Understand your role and audience

3. Choosing correct format

4. Appropriate tone and languages

5. Logical flow

6. Convincing points with counter

arguments
 References

Source Description URL

https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/sa/study-skills/scoring-
ACCA Scoring professional marks professional-marks.html
https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/acca/global/PDF-
ACCA Professional skills marking guide students/acca/SBL/SBL-Professional-Skills-Marking-Guide.pdf
ACCA SBL: Guides on Gaining Professional https://www.gotitpass.com/single-post/2018/06/10/ACCA-SBL-Guides-
Got it Pass Marks by Specimen Papers on-Gaining-Professional-Marks
https://www.gotitpass.com/single-post/2017/11/25/Is-professional-marks-
Got it Pass ACCA Professional Level Exam: Is professional marks
matter
matter?
Here’s to you and your ACCA exam study
journey.

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ACCA exam.

Thanks!

Tommy