Go to the CFA section in the "Instructions to Candidates". The process is described there. However, before he uses his USNA score, he may want to evaluate whether he really wants to submit those scores or practice and submit new scores to USAFA. If he submits his USNA scores, that will be his score with no chance for improvement. If the USNA scores are disqualifying, then he gets a second shot, but it is then just pass fail and it is noted that he failed the first CFA.
In reading the packet he received this morning I found exactly what you just said - Instructions! "Note: Candidates who have taken the CFA as an applicant for the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, or during a Summer Seminar program can ask them to email the results of the exam to
USAFA_RRS.ORGMAIL@USAFA.EDU or fax us a copy of the exam. Our fax number is (719) 333-4200/3012. Please make sure you did well on the assessment by checking to see if your scores are close to the goals posted on page 9 before you have them sent. If you fail the first CFA, you will automatically be rescheduled for a second CFA. Please note that failure of the first CFA will be taken into account when your file is reviewed. If you fail the second CFA your file will be closed."
We will read the whole packet before posting additional topic questions. However, that said, I guess we are not clear on the CFA if you have a concern about NOT submitting these scores to the USAFA. There seems to be some ambiguity to it? Its pass/fail yes (you indicate it is above and is what we've been led to believe)? There are goal and max numbers but we've not located actual required numbers to "PASS". We thought that if the candidate passes then that box is checked off and its not something you are looking to improve - unlike an ACT/SAT score. At NASS when comparing his results to others and to the midshipman working the camp his scores were better than some of the guys who received appointments. He was basically told that his CFA results were good enough and he didn't need to do it again. And the BGO, in reviewing his packet during the interview, quickly said something like the CFA is complete, and moved on to things he needed to get done. I guess I would like for you to elaborate on your concern. Is it just that these scores are possibly passing for USNA but not passing for USAFA? Or is it actually something competitive and not pass fail such that he should strive to do better on the test? Thanks for the help!
The CFA is scored, however, a candidate must "pass" in order to receive an appointment. In the big scheme of things, the CFA may not account for a lot of points in their whole candidate scoring system. If he doesn't retake it and he doesn't get an appointment, then he may always wonder if that was the area where he gave up points. If he doesn't retake it and gets in then he knows it was good enough. It simply comes down to the strength of his total application package in comparison to his direct competition and it's hard to know what that really looks like. Each academy does have it's own "passing" standards and one may score it as a pass, while at another it could be a fail. Personally, I don't fear his scores would not pass at any of the academies.
A few questions you/he should ask yourself/himself are: 1) Will he really continue to work out and practice for the CFA than he has done so already in order to improve his score? 2) Is he highly involved in other competitive sports where he stands out? 3) Will the extra time he would spend on working out, be better spent studying for the ACT/SAT to improve his scores which could dramatically change his score? 4) What is the strength of the rest of his packet in regards to leadership, etc.? 5) Has your DS asked the BGO or the regional admissions rep what they they of his total packet and what they may recommend for improvement or where he may stand in comparison to peers? t may be too early in the cycle for the BGO, etc. to have a true picture, as some highly competitive candidates may not have identified themselves, yet. 6) Is he an underrepresented minority? 7) Is he being recruited for D1 sports? 8) If he does decide he wants to take it again to improve his score, at what point, will he feel his score is "good enough" to submit and stop stressing about it.
I would bet the vast majority of currently enrolled cadets and midshipmen here only took the CFA one time (maybe multiple if they attended multiple summer programs) and didn't keep busting their rumps to try to improve it, as they were doing the rest of the things they needed to do in life: apply for the ROTC scholarships, take their required fitness assessment, apply to all the civilian schools, apply for civilian scholarships, go on family summer vacation, have their 2-a-day summer sports practices, study for their school tests, study for the ACT/SAT tests and take them multiple times, work at their summer jobs, go to their homecoming dances............
