[sjhruby]

Anyone have any idea if the criteria for the award for 2012 will be the same as it was for 2011?

I know it used to be the top 10, but last year they lowered the criteria to a cumulative average of higher than a 95.5, resulting in 30 winners.

I ask because I was fortunate enough to have the entire summer free to devote to CPA exam studying and I managed to average a 96.25 cumulative average (99, 96, 96, 94). My employer gives a $20,000 bonus for winning the award, which makes the wait to see the winners even harder.

Also, anyone know when the winners are announced?

[Anonymous]

Hey there, I just had a question as I plan to sit for the exams in 2 months time for all of them together. What do you suggest as your scores sound great. What review material do you use?

I am using Becker currently

[mla1169]

I haven't a clue in the world but I've got my fingers crossed for you! Thats one heck of an incentive!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Roxwella]

95.5%..I think your in as long as those are all first try scores. https://www.aicpa.org/BECOMEACPA/CPAEXAM/EXAMOVERVIEW/EWSELLSAWARD/Pages/EW_Sells_Awards.aspx

Also..google is your friend. This was the third link down with a search for “Elijah watts sells”. This is the second time in a week this has been asked.

[mla1169]

Roxwella it is clear from the OP that he/she understood the 2011 criteria and the number of winners. The OP is specifically asking if the 2012 criteria will be the same as 2011, which your link does not address. It mentions that the criteria changed for the 2011 awards but doesn't clearly spell out that criteria will be carried forward to subsequent years.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Roxwella]

“Between 1923 and 1935, only one Sells Award was given after each examination administration to the candidate who received the highest combined scores in passing all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination. Between 1935 and 1977, gold and silver medals were awarded to the two highest scorers and, beginning in May 1978, a bronze medal was also awarded to the third highest scorer at each examination administration. The current award criteria were established following the introduction of a revised Uniform CPA Examination in 2011.”

Seeing as the award is almost 90 years old, and they have changed it only a number of times in that period (one of them being for the revised test in 2011) I seriously doubt they will change it again this year. But, Ive been wrong before!

[mla1169]

Oh I agree with your assumption, don't get me wrong. But if I personally had $20k riding on this I'd want a gold embossed letter from the AICPA saying “if your average is 95.5 or better you are getting this award”

Actually, if I had 20k riding on this, I'd be asking the AICPA too 🙂

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I didn't find anything regarding the 2012 criteria but the 2011 winners were announced in April 2012, so one would could guess that it'd be announced sometime around then, next year. Good luck!

[Roxwella]

Too true! That's a pretty hefty one time bonus for a few test scores. (By the way, Im jealous of your scores, I thought my piddling 88 avg was good 😉

[sjhruby]

Thanks guys….yeah they're all 1st time scores. I honestly was just worried about passing all 4 my first time through – being in contention for this was an afterthought.

Bakodah….I got my undergrad degree in May and started studying the day after graduation using Becker, which my firm paid for. I didn't start working until end of August, so I was literally in the library every day all summer. I also used Wiley 2011 test bank. Best advice I can give is to not only understand why each and every Becker HW problem is right, but also why every other answer is wrong.

Yeah I've asked a lot of people within my firm and other contacts I have and no one seems to know if the criteria will be the same for 2012 or not….obviously I'm hoping so.

[RARCPA]

Sjhruby – Awsome Scores! I am pretty sure you will get the award. We are rooting for you. You definitely deserved the 20K bonus. Wish you all the best!

FAR 7/10/2012 - 93
AUD 08/28/2012 - 93
REG 10/16/2012 - 93
BEC 11/26/2012 - 88
ETHICS 12/01/2012 - 93
Done!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

sjhruby, i'm in the same boat. I averaged 96.25 on my four tests (also all first time taken and all in calendar year 2012-R97,A99, F97, B92). My firm also gives out a hefty bonus, so I actually reached out to the AICPA, I couldn't really help myself. From the email I received:

“Thank you for your patience regarding the criteria for the 2012 Elijah Watt Sells award.

The criteria will remain the same as was established for the winners of the 2011 Awards. The current award criteria were established following the introduction of the revised Uniform CPA Examination in 2011 and will remain the same for future years. You may find additional information at the following link:”

So I've been cautiously optimistic that I (and you as well) will be winners this year. I'm still kind of telling myself that something might change and I might not get it so I don't get to jacked up about it, but it was a great email to receive, haha.

Congrats!

[sjhruby]

BradO913 – awesome news! Any chance you can forward this email from the AICPA to me at sj.hruby@yahoo.com ?

And congrats to you too!

[Author]

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