CFA

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DeltaHunter

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May 29, 2015
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Hello I took the CFA yesterday and wanted to know if my scores are good or bad. My mile time was really bad because I had 2 severe spasms in my sides while running.

Basketball throw: 62ft
Pull ups: 12
Push ups: 60
Sit ups: 80
Shuttle run 9.6s
Mile: 9:40
 
DeltaHunter said:
Hello I took the CFA yesterday and wanted to know if my scores are good or bad. My mile time was really bad because I had 2 severe spasms in my sides while running.

Basketball throw: 62ft
Pull ups: 12
Push ups: 60
Sit ups: 80
Shuttle run 9.6s
Mile: 9:40
Click to expand...

http://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/shared documents/cfa_instructions.pdf

See page 1 for max and averages - This is for USMA keep in mind. I do not know if USNA follows the same numbers for averages. Max numbers are the same for both.

Male averages:
BB 67 ft
Pull ups 9
Shuttle 9.1
Sit ups 72
Push ups 54
Mile Run 6:43
 
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I don't think you'll have to retake as your other scores will probably cancel out the poor mile time. The push ups and pull ups are commendable.
 
A few points:

(1) Good/great scores on certain events do not necessarily "cancel" out terrible scores on other events. IOW, you can fail the whole CFA for failing one event while excelling in the others. Have seen it happen.
(2) The mile time will almost certainly be failing; everything else is very good.
(3) Since today is the last day to submit the CFA, retaking the test isn't possible unless you can retake the event and submit the scores today.

Here's my suggestion: Contact your RD today and ask if your scores will pass. If not and if you truly believe your mile time was not at all representative of what you can do (for example, you were doing sub 8:00 miles or better in practice tests), you could contact your RD and explain the situation. It is possible that you might be allowed another week or so to retake the test. I have seen it happen in years past, but that doesn't mean it will happen in 2017.

For juniors reading this, DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO TAKE YOUR CFA!!!

All sorts of bad things can happen: you're sick/have a URI; the weather is terrible; your administrator isn't available; you cramp up; you just have an off day, etc. If you're applying to USNA you have from June until Jan. 31 to take the CFA as many times as you want. Even if you're in lousy shape in June, with dedicated effort, any 17/18-year-old can improve his/her physical conditioning so as to pass the test in the intervening time without having to wait until the very last day.
 
ontothefray22 said:
I don't think you'll have to retake as your other scores will probably cancel out the poor mile time. The push ups and pull ups are commendable.
Click to expand...

Not sure about this. I've read on threads if you fail one component you fail the entire test. Again, hopefully someone with more knowledge on this will comment.
 
usna1985 said:
A few points:

(1) Good/great scores on certain events do not necessarily "cancel" out terrible scores on other events. IOW, you can fail the whole CFA for failing one event while excelling in the others. Have seen it happen.
(2) The mile time will almost certainly be failing; everything else is very good.
(3) Since today is the last day to submit the CFA, retaking the test isn't possible unless you can retake the event and submit the scores today.

Here's my suggestion: Contact your RD today and ask if your scores will pass. If not and if you truly believe your mile time was not at all representative of what you can do (for example, you were doing sub 8:00 miles or better in practice tests), you could contact your RD and explain the situation. It is possible that you might be allowed another week or so to retake the test. I have seen it happen in years past, but that doesn't mean it will happen in 2017.

For juniors reading this, DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO TAKE YOUR CFA!!!

All sorts of bad things can happen: you're sick/have a URI; the weather is terrible; your administrator isn't available; you cramp up; you just have an off day, etc. If you're applying to USNA you have from June until Jan. 31 to take the CFA as many times as you want. Even if you're in lousy shape in June, with dedicated effort, any 17/18-year-old can improve his/her physical conditioning so as to pass the test in the intervening time without having to wait until the very last day.
Click to expand...


JUNIORS . Absolutely, do not wait until the last minute. My DD trained all summer and took the test before her senior year started.

Your senior year will be extremely busy. You'll be taking high end courses, participating in fall / winter sports, writing essays for plans B-Z, taking standardized tests, and trying to have some fun in between all that. Get it done early. SA admission people, ROOS, and others stress this over and over.
 
usna1985 said:
A few points:

(1) Good/great scores on certain events do not necessarily "cancel" out terrible scores on other events. IOW, you can fail the whole CFA for failing one event while excelling in the others. Have seen it happen.
(2) The mile time will almost certainly be failing; everything else is very good.
(3) Since today is the last day to submit the CFA, retaking the test isn't possible unless you can retake the event and submit the scores today.

Here's my suggestion: Contact your RD today and ask if your scores will pass. If not and if you truly believe your mile time was not at all representative of what you can do (for example, you were doing sub 8:00 miles or better in practice tests), you could contact your RD and explain the situation. It is possible that you might be allowed another week or so to retake the test. I have seen it happen in years past, but that doesn't mean it will happen in 2017.

For juniors reading this, DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO TAKE YOUR CFA!!!

All sorts of bad things can happen: you're sick/have a URI; the weather is terrible; your administrator isn't available; you cramp up; you just have an off day, etc. If you're applying to USNA you have from June until Jan. 31 to take the CFA as many times as you want. Even if you're in lousy shape in June, with dedicated effort, any 17/18-year-old can improve his/her physical conditioning so as to pass the test in the intervening time without having to wait until the very last day.
Click to expand...

Thank you for clarifying this for me. I actually just recovered from a stress fracture. That is why I was forced to take it late. I hope that I can take it again if it is failing. When I am in good shape and not injured, I can run a mile in 7:30. The stress fracture made me sedentary, preventing me from practicing for the mile.
 
^^^^

As noted, contact your RD and explain the situation. It's up to USNA how to proceed, not anyone here.

A couple of other points, if you run a mile in 7:30 by itself (no other events), that means you'll almost certainly run slower in the CFA where the other events tire you out. Also, if you're a male, you need to be able to run consistent 6:30 miles if you're going to do well during PS and pass your PFT where the 1..5 mile time for males is around 10:30. So, if you're appointed, definitely contact a coach, etc. and get a program to improve.
 
usna1985 said:
^^^^

As noted, contact your RD and explain the situation. It's up to USNA how to proceed, not anyone here.

A couple of other points, if you run a mile in 7:30 by itself (no other events), that means you'll almost certainly run slower in the CFA where the other events tire you out. Also, if you're a male, you need to be able to run consistent 6:30 miles if you're going to do well during PS and pass your PFT where the 1..5 mile time for males is around 10:30. So, if you're appointed, definitely contact a coach, etc. and get a program to improve.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I will keep training and let my RD know right away.
 
I would say you need to retake your CFA. You want to do your very best on this test, because it will add points to your application if you do very well. You want every test to be the best representation of your physical ability. If you know thats not your fastest mile, then you 100% need to retake it. Put your best foot forward and have every exercise be the best you can do. Just for reference I normally run 5:30 miles and my very best on the CFA was 6:09, so you can expect to have about 30 seconds added to your mile because of exhaustion.
Good luck! Hard work will pay off.
 
DeltaHunter said:
Thank you for clarifying this for me. I actually just recovered from a stress fracture. That is why I was forced to take it late. I hope that I can take it again if it is failing. When I am in good shape and not injured, I can run a mile in 7:30. The stress fracture made me sedentary, preventing me from practicing for the mile.
Click to expand...

I hate to sound overly negative, but how did you quickly get past DoDMERB with a recent stress fracture?
 
Navy92 said:
I hate to sound overly negative, but how did you quickly get past DoDMERB with a recent stress fracture?
Click to expand...

It was a pre stress fracture. It actually wasn't a full blown stress fracture. I healed with crutches and rest.
 
fearthegoat17 said:
I would say you need to retake your CFA. You want to do your very best on this test, because it will add points to your application if you do very well. You want every test to be the best representation of your physical ability. If you know thats not your fastest mile, then you 100% need to retake it. Put your best foot forward and have every exercise be the best you can do. Just for reference I normally run 5:30 miles and my very best on the CFA was 6:09, so you can expect to have about 30 seconds added to your mile because of exhaustion.
Good luck! Hard work will pay off.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much! I hope that I can retake it then. I will keep practicing running.
 
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