‘Non-achiever’ student unexpectedly ranks ninth in the CPA licensure exam

• Jimwell I. Sitoy got the ninth spot of the top notchers in the Certified Public Accountants Licensure Examination
• He hadn’t received any honors since elementary
• He plans to find a good job from a big company before taking up law

It is expected that consistent honor students would also excel on their board exams, but sometimes the most unlikely of students could pull off a surprise no one saw coming.

Jimwell I. Sitoy landed in the ninth spot of the top notchers in the Certified Public Accountants Licensure Examination (CPALE) held last May 12, 19, and 20, 2019. Only 1,699 managed to pass the exam.

Jimwell hadn’t received any honors since elementary, but managed to rank ninth in one of the Professional Regulations Commission’s (PRC) most difficult licensure exams.

“Since elementary never have I received honor recognition. But I’m proud that I was a school writer, a debater, and a quiz bowler. All because I wanted to be someone,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Jimwell is the youngest in a family from Cordova town in Cebu. He wanted to be a scholar but because his father was a municipal employee, he was not accepted in the scholarship he applied for. His father Norgelito had to take out loans to send him to college.

“I wanted to be a scholar but was never worthy. Papa has a stable job, which does not fit in the ‘low-income family household’ I guess. But Papa had to pull tons of loans to push me through college,” the young man shared.

After graduating college taking Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM), he felt that he was not ready to take the October 2018 exams so he delayed in taking up the licensure test.

“I did self-review. But while reviewing, there really was no pressure at all, or at least I did not feel it. I wanted it (to pass) so bad to be honest,” he admitted.

All he dreamed was passing the board exam and become a Certified Public Accountant, but getting ninth place has been a nice bonus. Now, he plans to find a good job from a big company before taking up law.