The ACCA SBL professional skills are worth 20 of the 100 marks. There are five: communication, commercial acumen, analysis, scepticism and evaluation. Each task states which skill it tests, and markers judge how well your answer shows that skill, separately from the 80 technical marks.
The five professional skills
Summarised from ACCA's SBL Professional Skills Marking Guide:
Communication
What ACCA looks for: Inform concisely and objectively; persuade with logical arguments; simplify complex issues for the intended reader.
How to earn it:
- Use the exact format asked for: report, briefing note, email, slides, press release.
- Write for the named reader: a board wants conclusions, a press release needs plain language.
- Short paragraphs, clear headings, no waffle.
Commercial acumen
What ACCA looks for: Show awareness of organisational and external factors; use judgement to identify key issues; show insight into practical solutions.
How to earn it:
- Make points that are realistic for this business, its budget and its people.
- Use the case numbers and industry context.
- Recommend actions a manager could actually take.
Analysis
What ACCA looks for: Investigate relevant information using analytical techniques; corroborate or dispute beliefs with evidence; reflect on implications.
How to earn it:
- Use the data in the exhibits: calculate, compare, spot trends.
- Explain the cause, not just the symptom.
- Use models only where they help.
Scepticism
What ACCA looks for: Probe beyond the obvious; question facts, opinions and assertions; challenge information or decisions professionally where justified.
How to earn it:
- Question numbers that look too good, forecasts with no basis and self-interested opinions.
- Say what extra evidence you would need.
- Challenge politely and professionally.
Evaluation
What ACCA looks for: Use professional judgement; estimate trends and implications; appraise costs, risks, benefits and opportunities before recommending.
How to earn it:
- Weigh up both sides, then decide.
- Give a clear recommendation with reasons.
- Consider the risks of your own recommendation.
How to tell which skill a task is testing
Each task states the professional skill it is testing, and the requirement's verb is a strong clue:
| Task wording | Skill usually tested |
|---|---|
| Prepare a report / briefing note / slides / email for... | Communication |
| Advise, recommend practical actions, consider the business context | Commercial acumen |
| Analyse, investigate, explain the reasons | Analysis |
| Challenge, question, assess the reliability of a claim or forecast | Scepticism |
| Evaluate, assess the options, recommend with justification | Evaluation |
Common mistakes that lose professional skills marks
- Ignoring the format: writing an essay when slides or an email were asked for.
- Generic theory with no link to the case.
- No recommendation, or a recommendation with no reasons.
- Accepting a director's claim or forecast at face value when the case hints it is unreliable.
- Running out of time so the last task is rushed. Plan your time across all tasks.
Practise the skills, not just the content
When you mark a mock, score the professional skills separately from the technical marks. See our past papers guide for a marking checklist and a six-week practice plan, and the SBL models guide for the technical side.
FAQs
How many marks are professional skills worth in SBL?
20 of the 100 marks. The other 80 are technical marks.
What are the five SBL professional skills?
Communication, commercial acumen, analysis, scepticism and evaluation.
How are SBL professional skills marked?
Each task tells you which professional skill is being tested. Markers judge how well your answer shows that skill using ACCA's professional skills marking guide, separately from the technical marks.
Can I pass SBL without the professional skills marks?
In theory, but it is very hard. Professional skills marks are often the difference between 45 and 55, and they are earned through how you answer, not extra content.
Further reading: ACCA: the SBL examining team's approach.