CFA Questions

BenjaminZ

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2011
Messages
64
Hello all.

I have a few questions regarding admissions and the CFA.

1. Is there a deadline to take the test? It's already October and I really don't feel prepared for it so I'd like to have more time to work on this.

2. How decisive is it in the application? I know I can pass, but I don't exactly believe getting a low score will be impressive.

3. I'm nervous about my pushups. My arms tend to lock out after about 25 consecutive, and I've been doing them with a weight vest and almost every day. Any tips on improving these fast?

Thanks!
 
3. I'm nervous about my pushups. My arms tend to lock out after about 25 consecutive, and I've been doing them with a weight vest and almost every day. Any tips on improving these fast?

Don't do them with a weight vest then.

Try to do 5x max effort push-ups (max effort = like you need help to stand up every time you're done with a set) every other day. If you're doing it right, it is gonna be ridiculously sore after you are done.

That's Muscle-Failure training: what you are doing is ripping all your fibers of the muscles you use for doing push-ups. That's where "no pain, no gain" comes from.

Good luck!


EDIT: Don't do MFT training such as this one a week before the CFA.
 
Hello all.

I have a few questions regarding admissions and the CFA.

1. Is there a deadline to take the test? It's already October and I really don't feel prepared for it so I'd like to have more time to work on this.

2. How decisive is it in the application? I know I can pass, but I don't exactly believe getting a low score will be impressive.

3. I'm nervous about my pushups. My arms tend to lock out after about 25 consecutive, and I've been doing them with a weight vest and almost every day. Any tips on improving these fast?

Thanks!

1. There really isn't a dead line per say. Just get it done before the application closes, however if you have not completed the CFA and has received and LOA, then there is a deadline. Mine is Oct 15, 11 days left yikes!

2. Once again, at least from what I understand, this will depend on your status, are you a recruited athlete? Passing is 'enough' but don't settle on that. Sure getting maxed outs look better, but if your in a time crunch, just passing will do.

3. Take a rest after say every ten push ups or so, remember you have 2 WHOLE Minutes to do the push ups. Rest by sticking your but in the air to take off some weight from your arms. I'm a girl thats not amazing at push ups but when I do it this way I can do about 40, give or take, within the two minutes. Learn to pace yourself.

A question of my own, any tips on training for pull ups? Still having some issues with that. :/
 
Bill's advice is basicly how I got to 75. Do them untill failure without the vest. Oh, and I have to disagree with loki, your average will be more because you're a male so you'll need to rest as little as you can handle. I do as many as possible before the rest and really 2 minutes isn't a whole lot of time (I don't think). Good luck
 
Don't do them with a weight vest then.

Try to do 5x max effort push-ups (max effort = like you need help to stand up every time you're done with a set) every other day. If you're doing it right, it is gonna be ridiculously sore after you are done.

That's Muscle-Failure training: what you are doing is ripping all your fibers of the muscles you use for doing push-ups. That's where "no pain, no gain" comes from.

Good luck!


EDIT: Don't do MFT training such as this one a week before the CFA.

Forgot to add: rest NO MORE than 1 minute or 2 between sets. In the last set you should be doing very few push ups and feeling a lot of pain.
 
just dont think about it, just do them. set a goal to get to without stopping or taking a break i.e. my goal is always 50 once i get there ill stop for about 5 seconds catch my breath then knock out 15 more, at that point only 45 seconds have gone by. I do that till about 95 an then the time is out but thats just how i do it an it works for me....I havent taken the CFA yet but this works for a regular Army PT test
 
Bill's advice is basicly how I got to 75. Do them untill failure without the vest. Oh, and I have to disagree with loki, your average will be more because you're a male so you'll need to rest as little as you can handle. I do as many as possible before the rest and really 2 minutes isn't a whole lot of time (I don't think). Good luck

true since he is a guy the max out and average are higher. Two minutes is acutally a lot of time. I do ten then take five seconds for a breather. You could get 50 done in just 70 secs. Either way good luck on the CFA!
 
Thanks for all the advice. I am a varsity wrestler and on an olympic weightlifting team, ironically I am just barely making the cut on pushups.

@BillSL, I will definitely begin this routine, sounds very promising.
 
A question of my own, any tips on training for pull ups? Still having some issues with that. :/

Get a pull up bar and put it in a doorway you go through often. Everytime (EVERYtime) you go under it, do a pullup (even if you can't complete it). Every other day, do 5x max effort pullups, with 2 minutes TOPS of rest between each set.
 
Get a pull up bar and put it in a doorway you go through often. Everytime (EVERYtime) you go under it, do a pullup (even if you can't complete it). Every other day, do 5x max effort pullups, with 2 minutes TOPS of rest between each set.

Great advice on the pullups. I went from not being able to do any to being able to do about 3 just doing this. It was actually addicting because I was always ready to get that number up one more. I then started following a plan, and about one more week later, I am up to 5.
 
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