Failed my CFA, what to do next?

chewyoatmeal

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2010
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Hello every one, sorry to make my first post in the community such a selfish one but i have a problem. I didn't really take that much of a look into the cfa and I'm fairly certain I failed it. Is there anything I can do to get a retest or am I just out of luck entirely. I have every thing else done fir my nomination, including a principal nomination and I am not really concerned about anything else. Ill throw my scores up just in case, but after looking at I guess some arbitrary scores, im fairly certain I bombed. I have performed better before, but I was in such a rush to get the packet done ASAP I just didn't really think about the scores.

bball throw: 63
pull ups: 3
shuttle run: 9.3
push ups:45
sit ups:87
mile run: 8:18

you don't have to be nice about it, I just want to know what I failed in and how to fix it.
Thank You
 
although it is green in my candidate portal...... although I don't know if that means anything other than they received it
 
Hello every one, sorry to make my first post in the community such a selfish one but i have a problem. I didn't really take that much of a look into the cfa and I'm fairly certain I failed it. Is there anything I can do to get a retest or am I just out of luck entirely. I have every thing else done fir my nomination, including a principal nomination and I am not really concerned about anything else. Ill throw my scores up just in case, but after looking at I guess some arbitrary scores, im fairly certain I bombed. I have performed better before, but I was in such a rush to get the packet done ASAP I just didn't really think about the scores.

bball throw: 63
pull ups: 3
shuttle run: 9.3
push ups:45
sit ups:87
mile run: 8:18

you don't have to be nice about it, I just want to know what I failed in and how to fix it.
Thank You

Failed: I think pull-ups and mile-run but that's it.
Needs Improvement: shuttle run
How to fix: take practice CFAs at least 1-2 times a week (don't have to be absolutely realistic, but just make sure to do events back to back and have someone timing you); if not already, exercise frequently, run often, and do sports, etc.; "eat right"; set goals (long and short term) for yourself

Really...your scores are pretty good all things considered.
 
thanks, but I already submitted the paperwork, so do you have any insight on what I need to do to get a retest, or does the academy have to request it?
 
and would you have any idea on what rough minimums are for those events?

Thank you for your help
 
I've seen people post here many times that the minimum for the mile is around 8 minutes so you're close. I've also seen people post that 3 pullups was passing, however, I know some of these vary a bit by the academy. Since with a principal nomination you're just trying to pass, I would focus on those two events. If you even do pullups daily for a week (and then take a few days to rest before you take it) you should get at least another one or two. Maybe have someone there when you take the run to call off some splits for you (if your administrator didn't do this last time). If you know what you're shooting for (under 8) and know you need to do it, hopefully the adrenaline can carry you through that improvement. Good luck!
 
The green in your candidate portal merely means they received it.

I have a friend at school who is also applying to West Point, and he had difficulty with his pull-ups as well -- back in September, he couldn't do even one. He did not submit the score from that CFA. Recently, he retook it and was able to complete 3 pull-ups, and he passed.

For your run time, I'm not sure what the max time allowed is, but I would guess this would be your DQ-er. I agree with Marciemi -- I'd definitely shoot for under 8.

If you are a PRINCIPAL nom, you should (I believe, could be wrong) still have a chance. As long as you are strong in academics/leadership/sports, they will most likely ask you to re-take the test and give you a certain amount of time to pass. Good luck!
 
Here is an article on how to improve your PT scores. It has some pretty good tips.

http://www.armytimes.com/offduty/health/offduty_maxtest_050409w/

The only tip I personally can give is don't focus on the "average" requirements too much or you tend to mentally limit yourself. When I was training with my brother for his USNA application, the average pull ups was 8 and thats all we could do. Now, a few months later, I'm looking at going into the Marine corps instead and can do 15. I think a lot of that is because I am forcing myself to aim for 20 pull ups instead of 8.

-Nick
 
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3 pullups is the minimum passing (my brother was stellar in the cfa except for the pullups as he was 6'4'' 230ish, and he managed to get 5, but three was revealed to be the minimum)

8 min mile is the minimum too, at SLS last summer the admissions COL, he was assistant of admissions or soemthing similiar basically spelt it out that 8 min was the minimum passing time.

everything else looks solid, i think the average shuttle run was 9 so you could be just more efficient turn in the shuttle run away from 9 with a 9.3 time.
 
I posted the CFA maximum and averages a couple of months ago but here they are again from Wp site.

Male

MAX AVG
BB throw102 ft 67
pull-ups 18 9
Shuttle 7.8 9.1
Sit-ups 95 72
Push-ups 75 54
1 Mile Run 5.20 6.43

Female
BB throw 68 FT 41 ft
Pull-Ups 7 3
Shuttle 8.6 10.0
Sit-ups 95 68
Push-Ups 50 33
Mile Run 6.00 8.06

Everyone keeps talking about the MIN to get in. There is a reason WP does not post or give MINS. They want at least average or above. That does not mean they won't take less, but figure it out. You have two candidates, one does MIN or maybe average in some of the CFA and the other candidate does above average in all of the CFA requirements. Which candidate do you think they will take first with all other things being equal. Now if the above average CFA is also better in the SAT or ACT which one will get the appointment first?

All of the academies want the best candidates they can get and want you to strive to be the best both physically and mentally.
 
Everyone keeps talking about the MIN to get in. There is a reason WP does not post or give MINS. They want at least average or above. That does not mean they won't take less, but figure it out. You have two candidates, one does MIN or maybe average in some of the CFA and the other candidate does above average in all of the CFA requirements. Which candidate do you think they will take first with all other things being equal. Now if the above average CFA is also better in the SAT or ACT which one will get the appointment first?

All of the academies want the best candidates they can get and want you to strive to be the best both physically and mentally.

I agree with you 100%.... MOST of the time. For underclassmen who will be applying in future years, OF COURSE they need to strive for the maximum goals. For applicants who have middle-of-the-road or slightly above average applications, OF COURSE you want to strive to be the best you can be. HOWEVER, there ARE exceptions:

-- You are the principle nominee, academically and medically qualified, and your appointment is contingent upon PASSING the CFA.
-- You have a LOA contingent upon PASSING the CFA.

Sometimes, there is a time limit on how long you have to train. Perhaps someone has until February 15th to pass the CFA, as deemed by his/her CFA, and s/he has a somewhat low (but passing!) push-up score, but failed on his/her mile. Should s/he be putting all of his/her time into raising the mile score or the push-ups? OF COURSE you want to focus on what is not passing, and with the way waiting goes, I'm sure that candidate would like to send in a passing CFA score in order to secure his/her appointment. By knowing those minimums, it does not mean that s/he will slack, it's just a measurement of knowing which scores will accomplish your goals. If the applicant is at ALL serious about attending, OF COURSE s/he should continue training in order to prepare for Beast.

Now, the part where I agree with you: juniors who are applying next year should not look at this information and think, "okay, I run a 7:50 mile, I'll be just fine." But, that is because they don't know how well their other scores match up, and they should strive to be as competitive as possible, in order to give themselves the best possible chance at admission. But, if you have everything else finished, and you KNOW without a doubt that you will get in as long as you can run a mile in under eight minutes, why wait until you're over average when you could send it in now, pass, and be offered an appointment the next month?

It all depends on your position in the application process. The times when one should look at minimums are rarities.
 
Doc I get what your saying, but I am one fo the candidates who my passing in based on the CFA and I just wanted to know what I was deficient in so I could fix it. Im still working just as hard at my sit-ups and push ups, events I did fine on, I just want to know the time I have to shoot for for the events, such as pull ups and the run, so I have a goal to work for.

and for the record I m not going to start working out after the test, because I want beast to be fun and as long as I'm in excellent shape I think it will be.
 
alright so here are my new scores:

basketball: 63.2
Pull ups: 3 (almost 4, but im im proving)
Shuttle Run: 9.46
Sit Ups: 87
Push Ups: 50
Mile Run 7:35

I think this is now a passing score, any thoughts?
 
Good improvement, but are you a guy or a girl?

I am a girl, and I did 60 ft. on the basketball throw, 8.8 shuttle, 89 situps, 50 pushups, and 6:55 mile. I can't do a pullup to save my life, so I did the flexed arm hang.

I think everything is passing except for maybe the shuttle. Definitely get your mile time down as well, and try to crank out some more pullups and pushups!
 
I am a guy, but the shuttle is passing, the average score is .2 off from that one. For sure im going to do more though. Swim season just startes, so hopefully ill be able to max sit ups and improve push ups by at least ten and pull ups as well, im not going to work on the time for the run per se, im going to start running distances, hills ect. to get ready for the academy. But yeah the plan at least is to be in good enough shape I can semi enjoy myself at beast, if that is at all possible :shake:
 
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