How to Use the ACCA CBE Spreadsheet and Word Tools

ACCA exams are sat on a computer-based exam (CBE) platform, where you type written answers into a word-processor area and build calculations in a spreadsheet area. Students who only ever practise on paper lose time on exam day fumbling with the tools. Getting comfortable with the CBE interface is a genuine source of marks.

Using the spreadsheet response area

• Use formulas rather than typing final figures — the spreadsheet can add, multiply and reference cells, which speeds up calculations and reduces arithmetic slips.
• Reference cells so that if you change an input, dependent figures update — helpful when you spot an error late.
• Label rows and columns so your workings are easy for a marker to follow.
• Keep separate workings in separate areas rather than one crowded block.

Using the word-processor response area

• Use headings and spacing so your answer maps clearly to the requirement.
• Use bullet points or short paragraphs to keep one point per idea.
• Learn the basic formatting and navigation shortcuts so you're not hunting for buttons under time pressure.

Practise in the real environment

ACCA provides a specimen CBE and practice platform — use it so the interface feels familiar before exam day. Confirm the current tools and layout on the official ACCA website, as the platform is updated periodically.

Whatever you type into that response area still has to score against the marking scheme. The 50% Club marks your practice answers against the official ACCA scheme, so you can practise writing exam-ready answers and know they'd earn marks — not just that they look tidy on screen.