Ouick CFA Question

smac

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My daughter returned from the second session of NASS indicating that she enjoyed her experience and appears to be firmly committed to attending the academy. We have a quick question: does the fact that a date appears next to the CFA line item on my daughter's CIS profile mean that she passed the test during NASS, or does it simply mean that the scores from NASS were received into the system. If it means that the scores are merely in the system, is contacting her B&G officer the most expedient way to determine whether she passed? Thanks!
 
The BGO wont be able to tell her if she passed or not, and to be honest with you I don't believe there is a "passing" grade anyway.

What you see in the system means that USNA has received her score, the BGO will see the same thing.

If she wasn't happy with her score, she can take it again...If you are wondering what it takes to MAX out then you can read about the entire CFA process to include MAX scores on USNA's CFA link http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/cfainstructions.htm
 
Thanks for your response. I was under the impression that a candidate needed to "pass" the CFA to receive an appointment, and was wondering how to find out about that sooner rather than later. I did see the MAX scores under the instructions. Thanks again.
 
Of course if they have really low CFA score they'll see that as a negative thing. The mids have two physical readiness tests (PRT) a year. The PRT consists of push-ups, sit-ups, and 1.5 mile run. They do have a pass/fail on this test. So, taking that into consideration I would guess that if they can't at least achieve what the minimum score allowed for the those events, which are part of the CFA test (granted it's a mile run not a 1.5mi run) then it's probably a bad thing. The minimum scores on the PRT for women 18 push-ups, 65 sit-ups, and 12:40 on 1.5mi run (which is just around a 8min mile).

Now, I just want to reiterate that this is just MY opinion on how they would look at CFA scores. Take from it what you will. If she thinks she can improve her score significantly or had a really low score in one category I recommend she take it again. If she scores lower than the one the academy has on record then just don't sent the results.
 
The BGO wont be able to tell her if she passed or not, and to be honest with you I don't believe there is a "passing" grade anyway.
Actually there is a passing grade but it is not published because Admissions wants candidates to do their best, not strive for a particular score.

Also, BGOs do have access to the CFA pass/fail results. '02, I have sent you a PM with how to access it from your BGIS system. CGO promulgated this to BGOs a couple of years ago. Probably before your time.
 
The BGO wont be able to tell her if she passed or not,

Look under STUDENT SUMMARY, column 4 - Quals - PAE (Physical Aptitude Exam Status).

It will show Q (Qualified), I (Incomplete), R (Rejected) or blank (Not received).

:cool:
 
Look under STUDENT SUMMARY, column 4 - Quals - PAE (Physical Aptitude Exam Status).

It will show Q (Qualified), I (Incomplete), R (Rejected) or blank (Not received).

:cool:

'02, don't bother calling CGO to see why this is not on your Summary page. PAEs have not existed at USNA for the last seven or so years and the CFA was not added to the summary sheet. You have to print out an Excel spread sheet as I explained in the PM.
 
'02, don't bother calling CGO to see why this is not on your Summary page. PAEs have not existed at USNA for the last seven or so years and the CFA was not added to the summary sheet. You have to print out an Excel spread sheet as I explained in the PM.

OK good because I thought I was blind or something because I couldn't find it in column 4. Thanks for letting me know how to access that info as I didn't know one could. Thanks!
 
My daughter returned from the second session of NASS indicating that she enjoyed her experience and appears to be firmly committed to attending the academy. We have a quick question: does the fact that a date appears next to the CFA line item on my daughter's CIS profile mean that she passed the test during NASS, or does it simply mean that the scores from NASS were received into the system. If it means that the scores are merely in the system, is contacting her B&G officer the most expedient way to determine whether she passed? Thanks!

Let me put it this way. One of my sons (currently a 3/C) went to NASS and did only 2 pull-ups. TWO!

He's 6'4" and skinny as a rail without much upper-body strength. He's was an accomplished varsity baseball pitcher but pull-ups were not his thing. He was fine with all the other CFA stuff, however.

Two pullups! That's pretty sad, isn't it? His twin brother didn't fair much better - but he opted not to go to NASS.

They both got LOAs. What does that tell you about the CFA?

Fortunately (for them), pull-ups are not part of the PRT. Whew!
 
Let me put it this way. One of my sons (currently a 3/C) went to NASS and did only 2 pull-ups. TWO!

He's 6'4" and skinny as a rail without much upper-body strength. He's was an accomplished varsity baseball pitcher but pull-ups were not his thing. He was fine with all the other CFA stuff, however.

Two pullups! That's pretty sad, isn't it? His twin brother didn't fair much better - but he opted not to go to NASS.

They both got LOAs. What does that tell you about the CFA?

In the recent past, each Academy administered a different physical test. The CFA was a coordinated effort at standardization so high school PE teachers would not have to administer four tests to a candidate applying to four academies. However, they all do look at the results differently. USNA, in particular, evaluates some items more closely than others. Just because a candidate only did two pushups for USNA does not mean that the CFA is not important.

.
 
OK good because I thought I was blind or something because I couldn't find it in column 4. Thanks for letting me know how to access that info as I didn't know one could. Thanks!

Yeah, I have no idea where Luigi dreamed that one up. Or why.
 
Yeah, I have no idea where Luigi dreamed that one up. Or why.

It was incorrect information given to me by a BGO.,

He sent me his old BGIS training slides, they were out of date (from 2002, I believe).
 
In the recent past, each Academy administered a different physical test. The CFA was a coordinated effort at standardization so high school PE teachers would not have to administer four tests to a candidate applying to four academies. However, they all do look at the results differently. USNA, in particular, evaluates some items more closely than others. Just because a candidate only did two pushups for USNA does not mean that the CFA is not important.

.

No, but it means you can pass the CFA with 2 pullups.

I know that for a fact, I have seen 4 candidates who have received academy appointments with 2 or less pullups (3 were USNA and 1 was USAFA).
 
He sent me his old BGIS training slides, they were out of date (from 2002, I believe).

LOL. The ones that state in the BGIS system "Not to be released to the public"?
Do you mind sharing his name?
 
No, but it means you can pass the CFA with 2 pullups.

I know that for a fact, I have seen 4 candidates who have received academy appointments with 2 or less pullups (3 were USNA and 1 was USAFA).

Is this supposed to mean something???
290 candidates received appointments to the Coast Guard Academy this year without a single pullup.
 
It's not required, why would they need to do ANY? :confused:

Luigi, JAM, thanks for confirming my point that different academies view different portions of the physical entrance requirements differently than others. Again, the pushup emphasis at USNA does not indicate that the remaining portions of the CFA is unimportant.
 
Luigi, JAM, thanks for confirming my point that different academies view different portions of the physical entrance requirements differently than others. Again, the pushup emphasis at USNA does not indicate that the remaining portions of the CFA is unimportant.

Never said they were. I believe the physical examinations are an important part of the entrance requirements for all of the academies.

I also believe that there are no minimums for any of the events in the CFA, as I can produce evidence of candidates doing 1 pullup and receiving an appointments.

I also believe that the PFE used by USCGA is not the best test available for determining physical fitness. :eek:
 
I also believe that there are no minimums for any of the events in the CFA, as I can produce evidence of candidates doing 1 pullup and receiving an appointments.

This is where you are leading candidates incorrectly. Just because for a particular SA there is a minimum of 1 or 2 (male or female?), does not indicate that there are no minimums nor that there are no minimums on the other events. As I stated earlier, USNA does not view all events equally. They do not post the minimums because they want to each candidate to strive for his best on all events. They are in a particular sequence for a specific reason. If they were to announce that the first or second event was not graded or less important, don't you think that would inflate their performance on subsequent events.
 
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This is where you are leading candidates incorrectly. Just because for a particular SA there is a minimum of 1 or 2 (male or female?), does not indicate that there are no minimums nor that there are no minimums on the other events. As I stated earlier, USNA does not view all events equally. They do not post the minimums because they want to each candidate to strive for his best on all events. They are in a particular sequence for a specific reason. If they were to announce that the first or second event was not graded or less important, don't you think that would inflate their performance on subsequent events.

I see no reason as to not post the minimum. State it clearly - you must score x points to pass. Making it a competitive part of the selection process will lead to higher scores, I believe, not the lower scores that you predict.

For example - USCGA states clearly you must have 130+ to gain an appointment, 165+ at the end of swab summer or be disenrolled, and 200+ to graduate.

They even show you the grades for the scoring system:

000-164 = F
165-199 = D
200-221 = C
222-257 = B
258-284 = A
284-300 = Max Club

In no way does knowing the minimums prevent any candidate from striving to do his/her best. In fact, I believe the competitiveness in a candidate will lead them to strive for the highest grade possible, rather than settling for the minimum.
 
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