CFA retake

Let’s say someone wants to redo the CFA. So they contact AC and set up a new test and the scores get deleted from the portal but are stored for possible analysis.

If they retake the test but aren’t happy with the new scores, can they tell the coach not to submit the new scores and retake it with the coach a few days later (within the timeframe of January 31)?

I suspect the few people that do worse are the exception to the rule - Retaking it would almost usually result in a higher score. Most people with good scores aren’t going to retake it for instance.
 
ThePatternisFull said:
Sorry DS scores were removed and his latest scores are on the ones being used according to his BGO/Area Coordinator. His previous scores are no longer valid. As @usnabg asked is there a BGO note on this? I check blackboard and found nothing also nothing has been communicated by USNA admissions. For clarification please help us understand when the change occurred? It could be that USNA does keep track of previously submitted scores as they do with ACT. But with ACT they superstore and to my knowledge they do not superstore CFA. I look forward to your help.
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Source: Regional Director
 
A1Janitor,

A couple of things to note:

1. A package could be held up from going to the Admissions Board if the CFA isn’t complete...so delaying submission could affect review.

2. It is unlikely that a few days will significantly changes CFA scores. Normally 10-14 days is needed for significant changes to be observed.

3. If the retake was due to a fluke (“bad day”), then I don’t see that as an issue since the Navy already has a “bad day” policy. As long as it is done within a few days after, I wouldn’t say there is an issue.

There needs to be an understanding that it is possible to have adverse conditions while performing the USNA PRT and there isn’t always going to be a second chance. Might have a 30 mph head wind for 2/3rds of the PRT run.
 
usnabgo08 said:
A1Janitor,

A couple of things to note:

1. A package could be held up from going to the Admissions Board if the CFA isn’t complete...so delaying submission could affect review.

2. It is unlikely that a few days will significantly changes CFA scores. Normally 10-14 days is needed for significant changes to be observed.

3. If the retake was due to a fluke (“bad day”), then I don’t see that as an issue since the Navy already has a “bad day” policy. As long as it is done within a few days after, I wouldn’t say there is an issue.

There needs to be an understanding that it is possible to have adverse conditions while performing the USNA PRT and there isn’t always going to be a second chance. Might have a 30 mph head wind for 2/3rds of the PRT run.
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My son waited to do his CFA in early December ... lost ten seconds because he has to run in the snow. :)

I brought this up to my son - he said that he didn’t think there was a rule that prohibited redoing the test and contacting admissions after if you were happy with the new score.
 
A1Janitor said:
he didn’t think there was a rule that prohibited redoing the test and contacting admissions after if you were happy with the new score.
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DS was happy with initial scores but was sent an email “recommending “ to take CFA again to max out, which is fine, it’s booked for this Monday w/BGO. 👍

With so many things on the table ( coursework: 4 AP, one dual enrollment), Plans “B-Q” to process, XC winding down, swim ramping up and BGO availability with multiple holidays on the calendar he thought he was “done“ for just one minute, but no....he soldiers on 🤓. Proud of that kid!
 
It will be interesting to see if the new USNA policy is to use the highest CFA attempt. If that’s the case/stance, then I would agree that taking the CFA and not submitting worse scores is inconsequential - but “worse” scores would have to be fairly obvious since we all don’t know the calculation (does 2 more pull-ups outweigh 20 secs slower on the mile run?).

If USNA is going to use the most recent, then I don’t think it can be justified to take the CFA and submit the scores only if they are better. You either commit to retaking the CFA or not. The only reason I was saying that a retake would be permissible is if there was some extenuating circumstance (sickness, safety issue, etc) that impacted the CFA results, but the intent is to retake it within a few days and submit those scores...it isn’t to not submit only “better” scores. Is there a way to enforce this? Would be hard for USNA to do it, but if the CFA administrator does their job, they should hold that standard.

That’s just my take and what I think “right” is...not sure USNA has a specific policy.
 
Hopeful Plebe Mom said:
- sent an email “recommending “ to take CFA again to max out -
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There is absolutely no way (if they really want you) that "maxing out" your CFA is necessary. We've sent 2 to SA's and neither had anything close to max scores across the board. Mind you, they were pretty good scores overall (at least above average posted score in each event), but definitely not "maxed" in all events...
 
When we went to CVW, an admissions counselor said to me that they take all scores and use the highest overall CFA. This is not like super scoring individual events. She said you could take it 10 times if you want. My DD submitted twice and only the most recent shows in the portal. But they have both tests on file. Maybe that is why there is confusion?
 
Recoveringhelicoptermom said:
When we went to CVW, an admissions counselor said to me that they take all scores and use the highest overall CFA. This is not like super scoring individual events. She said you could take it 10 times if you want. My DD submitted twice and only the most recent shows in the portal. But they have both tests on file. Maybe that is why there is confusion?
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This is correct information.
 
made an account to ask for some CFA advice. i took the CFA in late November and yes i passed but i didn't pass by much (i still got an email asking to retake). i got mono in December and i still have it so i think i pretty much lost all of my fitness so if i retook it before january 31 (my deadline) i don't think i'll pass it. any advice?
 
First, agree that if USNA is now taking the highest overall CFA (vs. the most recent), that represents a change in policy based on what BGOs were told at training several years ago.

To be clear, by scores being "erased," I think folks meant that the most recent score was the one that counted regardless of whether it was better or worse; obviously, USNA can retain older scores in its system (nothing is ever "erased" from any computer:)).

As for the above poster . . . I suggest you contact your RD and indicate that you have a medical condition that prevents you from retaking the CFA prior to Jan. 31. Ignoring USNA's request that you retake (i.e., not providing any response) would not be a good thing. As an aside, you probably need to report your mono to DODMERB, if you've not already done so. Doubt it will have any impact on your medical qualification, but it likely represents a change in status.
 
Good to know. Thanks for obtaining info directly from the source.
 
We have two BGOs with completely different answers on this. I have my opinion on which one is correct, but I have concerns for candidates and parents of candidates reading this thread. They are using this forum (like I am as a plebe parent) for information and advice. This thread is causing nothing but confusion. This is yet another example why people should take all things on the internet with a grain of salt. If my son was in a situation last year where he was borderline on his CFA, he would have contacted admissions and gotten an answer directly from the source.
 
^^^^

First of all, the BGOs on this site are giving advice consistent with what we are being told by USNA Admissions. The apparent differences in answers could be due to any number of things, including exactly how the question was phrased, to whom the question was posed and when the question was asked (policies and practices do change).

Second, one should never assume that any electronic information is "erased." Of course USNA can retain/access prior CFA scores, or even prior SAT scores. The question is what is used in terms of admissions decisions.

Third, if you think about it logically, it makes sense to use the most recent CFA. The CFA is a measure of fitness at a point of time. Which point of time would be of greater importance to USNA in terms of your current fitness and your likely fitness come July -- the test taken last June or the one taken last week?

In the end, does the answer really matter? If you're in good shape and generally maintain a high level of fitness, you should do reasonably well on the CFA whenever you take it. If you do better now, it helps if only the current scores count. If you do worse on retake . . . well, you should have worked out more and done better.

It's all within your control.
 
usna1985 said:
^^^^

First of all, the BGOs on this site are giving advice consistent with what we are being told by USNA Admissions. The apparent differences in answers could be due to any number of things, including exactly how the question was phrased, to whom the question was posed and when the question was asked (policies and practices do change).

Second, one should never assume that any electronic information is "erased." Of course USNA can retain/access prior CFA scores, or even prior SAT scores. The question is what is used in terms of admissions decisions.

Third, if you think about it logically, it makes sense to use the most recent CFA. The CFA is a measure of fitness at a point of time. Which point of time would be of greater importance to USNA in terms of your current fitness and your likely fitness come July -- the test taken last June or the one taken last week?

In the end, does the answer really matter? If you're in good shape and generally maintain a high level of fitness, you should do reasonably well on the CFA whenever you take it. If you do better now, it helps if only the current scores count. If you do worse on retake . . . well, you should have worked out more and done better.

It's all within your control.
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Procedurally ...

1. Can a candidate who already did the CFA, retake it with a coach and if they like the new results, contact the SA they want to redo the CFA? When portal is cleaned, Coach can resubmit new results. Is there anything prohibiting this?

2. If the above is specifically disallowed by SA, when the CFA is cleared on portal, and candidate retakes the test ... can’t they tell the coach to throw away the results and retake it until they are satisfied?

I suspect most people improve so it is not really an issue.
 
hopeful2024usna said:
made an account to ask for some CFA advice. i took the CFA in late November and yes i passed but i didn't pass by much (i still got an email asking to retake). i got mono in December and i still have it so i think i pretty much lost all of my fitness so if i retook it before january 31 (my deadline) i don't think i'll pass it. any advice?
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I wonder if this is something that could be noted in your file? That’s so unfortunate for you because you are not your best version of your self. I would advise my own to email their counselor to see if it could be noted.
 
for what it's worth, my understanding from BGO training, and review of all the docs available to us, is that only the most recent scores count. that is consistent with PatternIsFull, but not consistent with Norfolk. The doc re: CFA states only "Recommendations: refer to maximums, and, take multiple times"

according to PatternIsFull, admissions is confirming as of yesterday, that only the most recent score counts? would be nice for them to post a definitive answer in Blackboard or BGOIS

regarding the question from above:
A1Janitor said:
Procedurally ...

1. Can a candidate who already did the CFA, retake it with a coach and if they like the new results, contact the SA they want to redo the CFA? When portal is cleaned, Coach can resubmit new results. Is there anything prohibiting this?

2. If the above is specifically disallowed by SA, when the CFA is cleared on portal, and candidate retakes the test ... can’t they tell the coach to throw away the results and retake it until they are satisfied?

I suspect most people improve so it is not really an issue.
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to the best of my knowledge:
for 1. if candidate wants to retake, then candidate contacts admissions and requests it. Admissions clears the scores and sends a new link to the coach. After the test, the coach enters the new scores. You are not supposed to do the CFA ahead of time, and only request the retake from admissions if you like the scores. there is nothing to prevent this, but i think the instructions to the person doing the scoring makes it clear.

for 2. the answer is that as soon as you request the retake, the old scores are cleared, awaiting the new scores. technically, the coach needs to submit the new scores, whatever they are. if candidate doesn't like them, the candidate can retake as many times as he/she would like.

there is nothing to prevent the coach from gaming the system. likewise, there is nothing to prevent the coach from bending the rules - ie. giving more rest time between events, or letting the candidate re-do the run later, or try the bball through again. like most things, it's based on the honor system.

i think that there have been enough abuses of this at USMA that they now require video evidence of CFA in a lot of cases, and i wouldn't be surprised if USNA were to move in that direction at some point.
 
I haven’t seen the instructions to the scorer ... that makes sense for 1.

I don’t think 2 is gaming the system ... but if the instructions say all results must be entered, ok.

My son only took it once fwiw. We discussed a second time to max a few items to strengthen his application because he was looking for the colorblind waiver. But in the end his scores were good enough.
 
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