Why Your ECQs Didn’t Pass QRB and How to Fix Them

The following post explores Why Your ECQs Didn’t Pass QRB and How to Fix Them.

Preparing and submitting well-written ECQs to QRB is a time consuming and challenging process for SES applicants. When your ECQs are returned for rewrite it can be very frustrating situation.

Read: Understanding the New ECQs

Related: Tips for Selecting Your ECQ Stories

Having your ECQs turned back by QRB isn’t game over. In many cases, you’re given an opportunity to fix the misalignment between what the board is evaluating and how it’s presented on paper.

Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

Submitting your ECQs is a significant professional milestone for SES candidates. When you receive a non-certification notice, it can feel like a major setback. But, there’s no need to panic.

It simply means the qualifications review board (QRB) did not find clear and sufficient evidence that you have already demonstrated executive leadership at the enterprise level required for SES.

In practical terms, this usually is because of one of two things.

Either the example you selected did not fully demonstrate executive scope, or the way the story was written did not make your executive actions and results unmistakably clear.

QRB is only able to evaluate you based on what is written. They’re not allowed to make inferences or assumptions about your experience and qualifications. If you’ve been asked to rewrite your ECQs, don’t overreact. It’s likely that you have the experience and qualifications, but the way it was presented did not provide unmistakable evidence of executive-level performance at the enterprise level.

You Didn’t Follow the CCAR Model

Writing your ECQs in the CCAR format is a non-negotiable aspect of the ECQ writing process.

CCAR is not a stylistic preference. It is the required framework for presenting executive experience. If your narrative does not clearly follow this structure, the board may struggle to evaluate it .

CCAR exists for a reason. It allows the board to understand what problem you faced, the environment in which you were operating, the specific actions you took as the executive decision-maker, and the tangible results that followed. When those components are not clearly delineated, it becomes difficult for reviewers to determine whether the executive standard has been met.

If your ECQs were returned, review them strictly through the CCAR lens. Make sure the Challenge is clearly defined, the Context establishes scope without overwhelming the narrative, the Action section reflects your personal executive authority, and the Results demonstrate measurable impact. 

Your Writeup Doesn’t Reflect the Sub Competencies

There are five ECQs, each comprised of multiple sub-competencies. Your narratives must clearly demonstrate evidence of both the overarching ECQ and its associated sub-competencies.

For example, ‘Driving Efficiency’ is ECQ #2. It has three sub competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, and Leveraging Technology.

At a high level, your ECQ #2 needs to speak to driving efficiency. However, it also needs to factor in the sub competencies. So, it should demonstrate not just that you drove efficiency, but also how you made fiscally responsible decisions, allocated resources effectively, and used technology strategically.

If you’re not sure how to do this, I recommend outlining your narrative before you start writing it. Outlining your narrative means breaking it into clear sections (Challenge, Context, Actions, and Results) and then intentionally identifying which specific actions and outcomes demonstrate each sub-competency so you can confirm everything is covered before drafting the full narrative.

Your Example Doesn’t Speak to the ECQ Topic

ECQs are returned when the example selected does not actually demonstrate the ECQ topic.

For instance, under ECQ 3: Merit and Competence, a candidate might describe a major operational achievement, a team reorganization, or a process improvement. These are all impactful examples of your leadership qualities, but are they actually speaking to the topic of Merit and Competence?

In other words, the example you chose is off topic from the ECQ focus.

When revising, it’s critical to step back and evaluate whether the story truly addresses the focus of the ECQ. Ask yourself: Does this example clearly illustrate the leadership behaviors the ECQ is meant to capture? If the answer is “not fully,” it may be necessary to choose a different example from your career.

A well-chosen example should directly reflect the ECQ’s core intent and allow QRB to see your executive decisions and actions as they relate specifically to that competency. If the board cannot make that connection easily, the ECQ is at high risk of being returned for rewrite.

Your Results Are Not Quantified or Connected

Another frequent reason ECQs are returned is that results are vague or not clearly tied to your actions.

Phrases like “improved efficiency” or “strengthened accountability” do not provide QRB members with enough information to evaluate impact. The board needs to see measurable outcomes that directly resulted from your executive decisions.

For example, instead of saying “we improved service delivery,” a stronger narrative would specify that “my office redesigned the customer intake process, reducing processing time by 35%, saving $250,000 annually, and improving performance ratings by 18% within six months.” The outcome is tied to the candidate’s actions and provides concrete measures of cost savings and performance improvement.

When revising, quantify results wherever possible — using percentages, dollar amounts, timelines, workforce numbers, or performance metrics. Most importantly, ensure that every result can be traced back to a specific decision or action you took as the executive. This makes your impact undeniable and clearly attributable to your leadership rather than to general organizational improvements.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope this article is helpful for understanding Why Your ECQs Didn’t Pass QRB and How to Fix Them. By identifying common issues—such as unclear CCAR structure, incomplete demonstration of sub competencies, off-target examples, or unquantified results—you can approach a rewrite strategically, select stronger examples, and clearly showcase your executive leadership to the board.

If you need help navigating this process or if you’d like professional assistance building your ECQs, my team and I are here to support you. Please use the Contact Us or Submit Your ECQs for a risk-free evaluation. We look forward to hearing from you!