ACCA SBR Exam: How to Answer the Spreadsheet Question (Question 1 Technique)

ACCA SBR Exam: How to Answer the Spreadsheet Question

The ACCA SBR exam Question 1 requires candidates to adjust a pre-populated spreadsheet containing draft consolidated financial statements. According to examiner reports from both the Mar/Jun 2025 and Sep/Dec 2024 sittings, poor spreadsheet technique is one of the most significant reasons candidates lose marks — even when their technical knowledge is correct. This guide from Eduyush faculty explains exactly how to structure your Q1 spreadsheet answer using the column approach recommended by the examiner.

1. Understanding SBR Question 1 Structure

Question 1 in the ACCA SBR exam is worth 50 marks (split with Question 2 across Section A) and always involves group accounting. The question typically has three parts:

The pre-populated spreadsheet will contain a draft consolidated statement of financial position (CSOFP), consolidated statement of profit or loss (CSOPL), or consolidated statement of cash flows. You must correct it based on your answers to parts (a) and (b).

For a full overview of the SBR syllabus structure, see our guide to ACCA Strategic Business Reporting.

2. What the Examiners Actually Say

The SBR examiner feedback from recent sittings has been remarkably consistent about spreadsheet technique. Here are the key points from the official reports:

The message is clear: the examiner wants to see your thought process, not just your final numbers. Your spreadsheet is an audit trail, and each adjustment column is evidence of your work.

3. The Column Approach: Step-by-Step

The column approach is the single most important technique for Question 1. Here is how to implement it:

Step 1: Read All Parts Before Touching the Spreadsheet

Read parts (a), (b), and (c) completely before making any adjustments. This helps you understand which items in the draft financial statements need correcting and prevents wasted time.

Step 2: Label Your Adjustment Columns

For each adjustment identified in parts (a) and (b), insert a new column to the right of the draft figures. Label each column clearly with a short description of the adjustment.

Step 3: Enter Adjustments as Simple Numbers

Enter each adjustment as a plain number in the relevant cell. Do not use formulae like =500-100. The examiner has explicitly warned against this. Type the adjustment amount directly — for example, type -100 for a reduction, not a formula.

Step 4: Add Workings Below

Below the spreadsheet, show your calculations. Number each working to match your adjustment column. For example, if Adjustment 1 is goodwill impairment, Working 1 below should show the full impairment calculation.

Step 5: Complete the Corrected Total Column

Your final column should show the corrected figures. This can use a simple SUM formula across the row, as long as each individual adjustment column contains only plain typed numbers.

4. Worked Example: Adjusting a Draft CSOFP

Let us walk through a simplified example based on common SBR Question 1 scenarios. Suppose you are given a draft consolidated statement of financial position for the Gamma Group, and your analysis in parts (a) and (b) identifies these three issues:

1. Goodwill impairment — Goodwill of $500,000 needs to be impaired by $100,000 under IAS 36
2. Right-of-use asset recognition — A lease previously classified as operating needs to recognise a right-of-use asset of $250,000 and lease liability of $250,000 under IFRS 16
3. Deferred tax adjustment — An additional deferred tax liability of $25,000 arises from the lease adjustment under IAS 12

Your Spreadsheet Should Look Like This:

Notice how each adjustment has its own column, the column heading references a working number, and the corrected total simply adds across. This is exactly what the examiner wants to see.

5. How to Present Workings

Workings are where you earn most of your marks. The spreadsheet itself shows the impact of each adjustment, but workings prove your understanding. Present them below the main spreadsheet in a clearly numbered format.

Workings Format

Each working should include:

• A clear reference number matching the adjustment column
• The relevant accounting standard (e.g., IAS 36, IFRS 16)
• The numerical calculation showing how you arrived at the figure
• Brief narrative explaining the accounting treatment where appropriate

6. Plus and Minus Signs in Spreadsheets

One of the trickiest aspects of the SBR spreadsheet is handling signs correctly. Unlike a traditional word-processed answer, spreadsheets cannot display brackets to indicate negative numbers. You must use plus and minus signs instead.

Sign Convention Rules

For more on how consolidated financial statements work and the double-entry implications of adjustments, review our detailed consolidation guide.

7. Common Errors That Lose Marks

Based on examiner reports and Eduyush faculty experience coaching SBR candidates, these are the most frequent spreadsheet mistakes:

Many of these errors relate to poor understanding of SBR exam technique rather than technical knowledge. Candidates who know the accounting standards well still lose marks because they do not present their spreadsheet answers in the way the examiner expects.

8. Time Management for Question 1

The SBR exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes for 100 marks. Question 1 typically carries around 50 marks (shared with Question 2 in Section A). Effective time allocation is critical, especially for the spreadsheet component.

Recommended Time Split

For a broader look at how to manage your time across all four SBR questions, see our guide to how to pass ACCA SBR.

9. Pre-Submission Checklist

Before you move on from Question 1, run through this checklist to maximise your marks:

1. Draft column untouched? — The original figures must not be overwritten
2. Each adjustment in its own column? — One column per adjustment, clearly labelled
3. Column headings include working references? — e.g., "Adj 1: Impairment (W1)"
4. Workings shown below the spreadsheet? — Numbered to match adjustment columns
5. Corrected total column present? — Final column showing corrected figures
6. Signs correct? — Check each adjustment column nets to zero for CSOFP
7. Statement balances? — Total assets = Total equity + Total liabilities in corrected column
8. No formulae in adjustment cells? — Plain numbers only; calculations in workings
9. All adjustments from parts (a) and (b) reflected? — Cross-check against your written answers
10. Time check? — Do not spend more than allocated time; move to Question 2

This checklist aligns with the approach recommended in our comprehensive SBR pass rate analysis, which identifies spreadsheet technique as a key differentiator between passing and failing candidates.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use formulae in the SBR spreadsheet?

You can use a simple SUM formula in the corrected total column to add across the row. However, you should not use formulae within individual adjustment cells. The examiner has explicitly stated that formulae hide the adjustment logic and risk errors. Type plain numbers in each adjustment cell and show your calculations in workings below the spreadsheet.

What happens if my spreadsheet does not balance?

If your corrected CSOFP does not balance, you will still earn marks for individual adjustments that are correct. However, a balancing statement demonstrates that you understand the double-entry impact of each adjustment. Always check that each adjustment column nets to zero and that total assets equal total equity and liabilities in the corrected column.

Should I complete the spreadsheet during part (c) or as I go?

Build the spreadsheet progressively as you work through parts (a) and (b). Add each adjustment column immediately after analysing the issue. Part (c) should be a finalisation step where you complete the corrected total column and verify the statement balances. This approach is faster and more accurate than reconstructing all adjustments at the end.

How many adjustment columns should I have?

You should have one column for each separate adjustment identified in parts (a) and (b). Typically, SBR Question 1 involves 4–6 distinct adjustments. Do not combine multiple adjustments into a single column — the examiner wants to see each one separately so they can award marks for individual adjustments even if others are incorrect.

What if I run out of time on the spreadsheet?

If time is running short, prioritise entering as many individual adjustment columns as possible rather than trying to perfect the corrected total column. Markers award marks for each correct adjustment, so partial completion is better than a polished but incomplete answer. You can also leave the corrected total column with a simple note indicating it would be the sum across.

How is the SBR spreadsheet question different from paper-based exams?

The key difference is that spreadsheets cannot display brackets for negative numbers, so you must use minus signs instead. Also, the pre-populated data means you cannot rearrange the format — you must work with the layout provided. The column approach works particularly well in spreadsheet format because it creates a clear visual progression from draft to corrected figures.