[Scottso990]

Many of you may be familiar with the famous Elijah Watt Sells Award. It is probably the most sought after and most respected award given in the accounting profession. Last year 39 out of 92,000 candidates or .04% won the Sells Award. The award is so respected that some firms, including mine, give a $20k bonus to any employee winning the award.

The award is bestowed upon candidates who have obtained a cumulative average score ABOVE 95.50 across all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination, completed testing during the 2013 calendar year and passed all four sections of the Examination on their first attempt. What annoys me is many websites including Becker’s website states that the award is given to candidates averaging 95.5% or higher. But obviously this has not merit

Yesterday I received my grade for AUD, my last exam section. I received a 99. A score that I really did not expect and although I was happy about this it’s bittersweet. This brought my cumulative average to EXACTLY 95.5%. In the 99th percentile and borderline EWS award, but close does not mean anything. It’s very discouraging and this is pretty much me venting.

I plan to talk to as many people as I can about this issue. Im curious how common it really is. I am also going to try and see If I can appeal my lowest score BEC. Hoping that a review of my writing section could increase my score. (Please God)

Anyways, I am happy to be done with this journey, took me about 7 months while going to Grad School to complete the exam. Although very time consuming, this beast is doable. Good luck to everyone! Hopefully there will be a miracle and I will somehow win the EWS award. I have always dreamt about winning this award, and not even for the check. Ill keep this thread updated as I took to various people at the AICPA, State Board, and NASBA

REG - 95
FAR - 96
BEC - 92
AUD - 99

DONE

[Scottso990]

@tncincy thank you very much. I will make a post with my strategy for the exam it is extensive and time consuming but it works! It is how I've studied all throughout college

REG - 95
FAR - 96
BEC - 92
AUD - 99

DONE

[Scottso990]

Score review has been submitted! Cross those fingers have less than a 1% chance lol

REG - 95
FAR - 96
BEC - 92
AUD - 99

DONE

[Anonymous]

Scotts0990: I'm hoping they err on the side of caution and find .10 in your writing AND that you are the 1%. Fingers crossed for you! Good luck!

I

[Anonymous]

I think you have better odds of convincing your local state lottery that you had the winning numbers, but you lost the ticket, and they should pay you anyway.

You already did the hard part. Your scores are phenomenal. As far as the grade grubbing goes, I mean, hey, whatever makes you happy. As a CPA, however, I have to look at the expected value of that $150 investment for a potential $20,000 return (assuming BEC is what you had submitted for score review) considering the following quote from the AICPA:

“Score review is a service to candidates offering additional assurance that operational quality controls in the scoring process were complete and the scores are accurate. Score review is NOT a re-grading of the examination, or an opportunity to find additional points, review content, or to have alternate responses considered. It is simply an independent verification of a candidate's Uniform CPA Examination score…………the likelihood of a score change following score review is exceedingly small, or less than 1 percent of all requested score reviews since the inception of the computer based test.”

So, even assuming a .5% chance, to be incredibly optimistic, given that it says it's not an opportunity to find an additional points, EV = (.005 * $19,850) + (.995 * -$150) = -$50. Eh, hey, who knows…could be a great story to tell if it works out for you (although, I wouldn't get your hopes up). Either way, you'll still be a CPA…that alone is still a pretty sweet accolade.

[js929]

DEAL WITH ITTTTTT!!!!!!!! just kidding. Hi Scott!!!!! Drinks on you when you get the 20k yay!

FAR- 80 (10/27/12)
REG- 89 (01/10/13)
BEC- 84 (02/28/13)
AUD- 87 (04/12/13)

DONE!!!

[js929]

p.s- None of you want Scott's study strategy! I sat with him as he was studying and not even I could do what he did. Amazing job Scotty boy!

FAR- 80 (10/27/12)
REG- 89 (01/10/13)
BEC- 84 (02/28/13)
AUD- 87 (04/12/13)

DONE!!!

[Jennifer241]

@BobRossFan71 And yet, the NASBA had to send out multiple letters to candidates on a score answer error to let people know that had actually passed when before they were told they had failed. There is always hope, for 20,000 I would pay the $150 because if I didn't I would ALWAYS be asking myself “what if”.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Anonymous]

Jennifer: I remember that also. It was in REG and it was the same window where I got a 71 Three days before my mom passed away. I prayed for a miracle that week. :(. Maybe Scott should have REG rescored too!

[Scottso990]

@js929 Thanks buddy! Yes, good times in the tax library! I kinda miss it! 20k means I have to bring you and several other people out to dinner! That was the deal lol

@Jennifer241 That is exactly why I had to do it!

@BaxterCPA Thank you! Good luck to you! REG was my first exam that I took back in January I think asking to have them do a score review would be pushing my luck haha.

@BobRossFan71 I have them reviewing my written communications, that is where I hope points will come up, since it was graded by a computer prior

REG - 95
FAR - 96
BEC - 92
AUD - 99

DONE

[txcpa13]

Good luck Scottso990!

I've been a lurker on the boards for a while, you have no idea how much seeing other people go through the same pains has been keeping me sane the past few months.

AUD - 99 (5/2013)
BEC - 93 (5/2013)
FAR - 97 (7/2013)
REG - 94 (8/2013)

[Scottso990]

you're in good shape! I wish I had the BEC or FAR Score! You're set all you need is a 94 Good Luck!

REG - 95
FAR - 96
BEC - 92
AUD - 99

DONE

[txcpa13]

Don't remind me, I'm just hoping I pass the last one! I walked out of each exam (except one) genuinely feeling like I had failed, it was no different for REG!

AUD - 99 (5/2013)
BEC - 93 (5/2013)
FAR - 97 (7/2013)
REG - 94 (8/2013)

[Anonymous]

Yes very curious to hear your study strategy @Scottso990. Congrats on doing so well on the exams!

[js929]

Scott studied daily from 10am-4am no breaks, no sleep. Thats true dedication!

FAR- 80 (10/27/12)
REG- 89 (01/10/13)
BEC- 84 (02/28/13)
AUD- 87 (04/12/13)

DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

That's super human! I think he should get the award and a cape!!

[Author]

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