How to tell if I passed the CFA?

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20avva

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Aug 20, 2019
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I completed the CFA and uploaded the scores. On the portal next to the CFA block is the date I took the CFA. How do I know if I passed the CFA? Or will I never know?
 
That was what I was going to do, but wasn't sure if I was "allowed" to know. Thanks!
 
You can also ask your BGO. He/she will know if you've passed but does not know your scores or how well you did.
 
Respectfully suggest viewing the CFA from a slightly different perspective... instead of focusing on "passing" the CFA, suggest asking yourself, "Can I do better?" If so, then do it. IMHO the CFA is very much akin to the SAT/ACT... it is a measure of raw guts, determination, and a drive to push oneself to do better. Just as the Academy expects a candidate to take the SAT/ACT multiple times, so is the case with the CFA.
 
If you don't hear anything back within two weeks, you passed. Or, as someone suggested above, just email your admissions counselor listed on your portal.
 
Norfolk63 said:
Just as the Academy expects a candidate to take the SAT/ACT multiple times, so is the case with the CFA.
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????????????

I have NEVER, repeat NEVER heard this from any USNA source. Who in admissions is saying this? Is it on Blackboard/BGIS?

In my experience it is pretty rare for a candidate to retake the CFA and I don't think I've ever seen more than one retake. On the other hand, I've known very few candidates who did not take the SAT two or more times.
 
My advice would be not to do the official CFA unless you have practiced it multiple times and know that you can crush it, the first time.
You should know if you passed or not. Max scores are not impossible (except for basketball throw, I would wager. No one throws a basketball 102'-0") and even if you get around 80% of those max scores, you can stand back and say, "hey, that wasn't bad!".

The deal is; if you turn in your scores, they post the date received in the CIS, and you don't hear anything from them - you passed.
Move on to the next thing.
 
Norfolk63 said:
Just as the Academy expects a candidate to take the SAT/ACT multiple times, so is the case with the CFA.
Click to expand...

Huh ? I don't believe I've ever had a Candidate do a retake , at least I've never administered it.

Like the LOA, the CFA gets an inordinate amount of attention on this Forum. It's probably the easiest part of the Application process - 100% objective standard known well it advance. Train for it, then knock it out the first time, and don't look back.

I think there is some misperception here that a stellar CFA is necessary to get into USNA. Yes, I have heard that NOMS and APPOINTMENTS may go back and look at CFA results to determine the best candidate, but that is after all other factors are essentially equal.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
Huh ? I don't believe I've ever had a Candidate do a retake , at least I've never administered it.

Like the LOA, the CFA gets an inordinate amount of attention on this Forum. It's probably the easiest part of the Application process - 100% objective standard known well it advance. Train for it, then knock it out the first time, and don't look back.

I think there is some misperception here that a stellar CFA is necessary to get into USNA. Yes, I have heard that NOMS and APPOINTMENTS may go back and look at CFA results to determine the best candidate, but that is after all other factors are essentially equal.
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Interesting. Every one of my Candidates has taken the CFA more than once, particularly those who attended NASS. And each time they improved quite a bit. My 2/C son did the same.
 
OldRetSWO said:
????????????

I have NEVER, repeat NEVER heard this from any USNA source. Who in admissions is saying this? Is it on Blackboard/BGIS?

In my experience it is pretty rare for a candidate to retake the CFA and I don't think I've ever seen more than one retake. On the other hand, I've known very few candidates who did not take the SAT two or more times.
Click to expand...
 
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Our son submitted a score he viewed as competitive but then asked his counselor if he was willing to train and improve could he resubmit. She said yes, so he trained for 6 weeks and improved his scores (marked improvement in mile). All of his scores were above the average on 1st test, with the exception of the mile. One category was maxed. Submitted the 2nd test yesterday. He feels it was worth the training time and sweat to drop his time on the mile.
 
OldRetSWO said:
????????????

I have NEVER, repeat NEVER heard this from any USNA source. Who in admissions is saying this? Is it on Blackboard/BGIS?

In my experience it is pretty rare for a candidate to retake the CFA and I don't think I've ever seen more than one retake. On the other hand, I've known very few candidates who did not take the SAT two or more times.
Click to expand...
Excerpt from BGO Training Manual:
"Actively encourage candidates to take SAT/ACT tests early and
often. Graded tests along with correct answers can be obtained from
the testing agency for a small fee to enable self-critique by the
candidate. The last SAT/ ACT administered prior to the 31 January
deadline is the latest test a candidate may take to be included in
their application."
 
Norfolk63 said:
Excerpt from BGO Training Manual:
"Actively encourage candidates to take SAT/ACT tests early and
often. Graded tests along with correct answers can be obtained from
the testing agency for a small fee to enable self-critique by the
candidate. The last SAT/ ACT administered prior to the 31 January
deadline is the latest test a candidate may take to be included in
their application."
Click to expand...
Are you disagreeing with what I said? I think that I'm in full agreement regarding retake of the SAT.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
Huh ? I don't believe I've ever had a Candidate do a retake , at least I've never administered it.

Like the LOA, the CFA gets an inordinate amount of attention on this Forum. It's probably the easiest part of the Application process - 100% objective standard known well it advance. Train for it, then knock it out the first time, and don't look back.

I think there is some misperception here that a stellar CFA is necessary to get into USNA. Yes, I have heard that NOMS and APPOINTMENTS may go back and look at CFA results to determine the best candidate, but that is after all other factors are essentially equal.
Click to expand...
This matches very closely with my experience.
 
I agree re overthinking the CFA. Practice before you take it for real. If you take it and do okay, leave it be.

Retaking makes sense for two groups of candidates. First, those who take it without practicing or at a time when they’re out of shape and believe their score is bad and/or does not reflect their athleticism. That can occur if folks take it at NASS without practicing or just if someone needs to improve their fitness. The second reason is that the candidate has no/minimal sports and doesn’t do well on the CFA. The CFA is very important for such candidates because it’s really the only measure of their fitness.

Absent the above, their are far better things to do senior year.
 
Agree with 85. There are some reasons to retake the CFA, but no reason to take and retake multiple times like the ACT/SAT.

My girls (2016 and 2019) both re-took the CFA. They both originally took it at NASS but couldn't do a pull up and one had a pretty slow, mile time. So they trained over the summer and ended up getting multiple pull ups and dropping mile time significantly. They submitted new scores to their admissions counselors without a problem.
 
falconchic88 said:
Agree with 85. There are some reasons to retake the CFA, but no reason to take and retake multiple times like the ACT/SAT.

My girls (2016 and 2019) both re-took the CFA. They both originally took it at NASS but couldn't do a pull up and one had a pretty slow, mile time. So they trained over the summer and ended up getting multiple pull ups and dropping mile time significantly. They submitted new scores to their admissions counselors without a problem.
Click to expand...
Complete agreement. Per original post.
 
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