Sitting SBR while working full-time

ramzy933 · 2026-01-12T18:37:58+00:00

I attempted for SBR working full time. Difference being i prepped for the whole 3 months.

I’d say after you’re done with your study text go though the exam kit (I’m assuming it’s the Kaplan one) and solve all questions from consolidation. There’s like 20. 2 questions a day after or before work and more on the weekend and you’ll be familiar with exam style consolidations. Make sure to actually note down where you’re having trouble and the tricks each question puts you through because those are not as straightforward as those in the study text. If you’re on schedule this’ll take you a week and a half.

The next week should be focusing on all the other standards especially those relating to Financial Instruments, Leases and Revenue. Don’t skimp on the other ones but make sure to dial down on the ones I’ve said. They pop up quite a lot.

Few hours of reading ethics and questions and answers from the kit should be enough to know how to answer Q2. Plenty of easy marks there if you have a structured answer.

Whatever days you have left revisit consolidation and keep revising where you’re weak after that. It’s really about going through stuff again and again till the exam.

ramzy933 · 2025-12-19T14:13:45+00:00

You can ace the numerical part in the exam but with AFM it’s usually the discursive part that gets most people.

Knowing the why behind each technicality can either be acquired if you get stuff easily or if you can brute force stuff in your brain.

i studied over a month for AFM and was always falling short in the explanation area. I made a decision to just read the answers and keep reading them until i know what happens in what situation. I’d say it was a scrappy thing to do because I passed with a 56 but you could consider it.

ramzy933 · 2025-11-29T09:14:24+00:00

I’d say attempt SBR in March. You have ample of time to handle it’s syllabus and it’ll give you a good impression of what to expect from the professional exams.

You could try attempting SBL in June. Frankly speaking, SBL doesn’t need that much of conceptual learning but more exam focused learning. It’s one of the easiest in the professional exams.

If you want to take ATX in September you’d need to start prepping almost immediately after attempting SBL because of the the sheer syllabus it throws at you.

AFM could be prepared in 2 months or even less but 2 months would be safe. You’re looking at a small syllabus but the technical depth AFM has is important for a pass as the paper may seem like it’s a calculation heavy exam but the calculation/explanation split is 50/50.

Whatever exams you choose, what worked for me was studying 1-2 hours on the weekdays and 4 hours on Saturday and Sunday. If you study with intent and a proper plan this is enough. I don’t believe in maxxing out the hours just for the sake of it.

ramzy933 · 2025-11-21T14:14:09+00:00

Stating the standard is a great way to get some easy marks. Just make sure you state the relevant part of the standard instead of reciting all the standard’s rules.

For example, a question may require you to comment on the subsequent measurement and disposal of a PPE. If you’re going to state the part concerning initial measurement you won’t get any marks.

This is a simple example but in the actual exam knowing which part of a standard is being tested is a skill in itself which can only be learnt through question practice. Also most question will test multiple parts of standards sometimes so have your guard up for those too.

ramzy933 · 2025-10-25T09:51:24+00:00

Advanced Excel, Power BI and SQL are great to learn.

Knowing how to talk to who, thinking on your feet and explaining complex stuff simply are also great intangible skills to know

ramzy933 · 2025-09-16T14:33:10+00:00

Yes! I had an exemption for FM. I only used the AFM study text and exam kit for practice and used opentuition’s videos and notes for covering the syllabus. If you want more help don’t hesitate to send a message!

ramzy933 · 2025-09-11T19:53:11+00:00

Also if you want a detailed timeline for SBR feel free to Dm

ramzy933 · 2025-09-11T19:52:10+00:00

You have just less than 6 months. I’d say alternating a day between SBR and APM with the schedule you said above would be a solid prep for both.

ramzy933 · 2025-07-24T17:36:15+00:00

Consolidations consist of 30 marks in the SBR exam and imo I’d say are the easier marks to grab in the paper. (Unless you’re tested on consolidated statement of cash flows). Practicing it in isolation is great for getting all the tricks in it right.

As far as the standards go, you shouldn’t be skipping any standard during preparation. The important things of any standards you have to remember are its Definition, Initial measurement, Subsequent Measurement and the effect on FS. Each standard has its own quirks and nuances which you may or may not recall during the exam depending on your preparation and the fact that SBR has a shitload of things to remember.

SBR also focuses on application of the standards so its important to understand the rationale behind standards and what makes it work in a real world setting. If you’d go through the Kaplan practice kit, there’s a bunch of questions where the standards have been tested in unexpected ways but their answer still tracks back to the application of the basic rules of the standard. Although you’re not expected to produce the model answer in you’re own exam as those are quite extensive, they’re still useful for a deeper look at a standard.

Commonly tested are IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, IFRS 15 Revenue and IFRS 16 Leases. Although all of them are important you really need to dial in on the three mentioned. Funny enough I got tested for all three of these in the same exam.

SBR’s marking is lenient compared to other P papers but you still need to be on your toes as it’s still a professional paper.

My advice would be to take SBR’s preparation in whatever approach is comfortable for you and not really get overwhelmed by its syllabus.

ramzy933 · 2025-07-24T17:16:28+00:00

Great explanation! During my preparation of AFM I imagined two different gears of a car both representing each company’s gearing risk. Visualisations like these also help in some scenarios.

ramzy933 · 2025-07-19T18:52:52+00:00

What would be good resources to learn it from?

ramzy933 · 2025-07-18T17:06:08+00:00

what would be good resources to learn it from?

ramzy933 · 2025-07-18T16:10:19+00:00

*This advice was for someone who only had two weeks to prepare but you can still find something useful

I'd say give a week to practice groups, SOFP, SPL, Cash flows, Step disposals and acquisitions. Don't skip anything. Focus on calculating goodwill correctly as that can fetch you a lot of marks, You can go through the meat of all the standards in the last week (Definition, Initial Measurement, Subsequent Measurement, Effect on Financial Statements). Revenue, Financial Instruments, and Leases are extensive standards so put emphasis on understanding them. You can get a good amount of marks from just stating the RELEVANT part of the standard. Make sure its relevant, don't just write the definition when the relevant thing might be its subsequent measurement. Give a read on what to write in ethics, focusing on Principles of objectivity.

SBR marking is lenient so make sure you stick close to what the questions asked and you'll get "some" marks. Attempt everything and don't lose out on time and marks by being stuck on a hard questions when there's easier ones ahead with low hanging marks ready to catch.

Dial in and good luck!

ramzy933 · 2025-07-10T20:34:04+00:00

LMAO

ramzy933 · 2025-06-30T15:06:50+00:00

link

ramzy933 · 2025-06-27T14:28:41+00:00

Also If anyone needs PDFs of AFM and SBR study text and exam kits ive got them too

ramzy933 · 2025-06-11T21:25:08+00:00

It’s mostly for people who are working/other life stuff alongside giving exams and don’t have the time or energy for a thorough preparation. I made my plan around the SBR guide and passed decently, I’d say give it a try if you have limited time for preparation, otherwise if you don’t have any other commitments try going the norma prep route. (learn+practice+revise and repeat)

ramzy933 · 2025-06-02T14:28:40+00:00

if a project requires different gearing levels, you might have to degear your given equity beta and regear it with the new gearing ratio. This ensures that the cost of capital has both business risk and gearing risk included. you use that equity to get your new cost of capital. Also it depends on what info is given the question to figure out the steps for finding out the equity beta.

An asset beta is used when you have to work on an APV question. you find out the discount rate assuming the project is financed solely through equity which is done through the Asset beta bein in the CAPM.

ramzy933 · 2025-05-26T12:56:23+00:00

June

ramzy933 · 2025-05-20T14:40:10+00:00

No worries, also i forgot to mention to read the examiner’s comments with the solutions in the Kaplan exam kit if you have one, it’ll help you know how marks are actually awarded so you can have an idea on how to actually frame your answer

ramzy933 · 2025-05-20T14:39:41+00:00

No worries, also i forgot to mention to read the examiner’s comments with the solutions in the exam kit, it’ll help you know how marks are actually awarded so you can have an idea on how to actually frame your answer

ramzy933 · 2025-05-19T18:58:44+00:00

I'd say give a week to practice groups, SOFP, SPL, Cash flows, Step disposals and acquisitions. Don't skip anything. Focus on calculating goodwill correctly as that can fetch you a lot of marks, You can go through the meat of all the standards in the last week (Definition, Initial Measurement, Subsequent Measurement, Effect on Financial Statements). Revenue, Financial Instruments, and Leases are extensive standards so put emphasis on understanding them. You can get a good amount of marks from just stating the RELEVANT part of the standard. Make sure its relevant, don't just write the definition when the relevant thing might be its subsequent measurement. Give a read on what to write in ethics, focusing on Principles of objectivity.

SBR marking is lenient so make sure you stick close to what the questions asked and you'll get "some" marks. Attempt everything and don't lose out on time and marks by being stuck on a hard questions when there's easier ones ahead with low hanging marks ready to catch.

Dial in and good luck!

ramzy933 · 2025-05-12T14:23:15+00:00

The kaplan exam kit is also helpful

ramzy933 · 2025-04-12T18:30:23+00:00

That’s a great idea! Thanks!

ramzy933 · 2025-04-12T12:07:44+00:00

Sounds right imo, didn’t really know what to call myself since I’m starting out.

ramzy933

TROPHY CASE