<p>During the CFA at SLS i passed all of the catagories except the basketball throw, (49 ft) - I've improved it to about 56 ft. - I wanted to know if this is about what an acceptable score would be or do I really need to push it before I have the test readministered. I realize that the DOD doesn't publish the minimum scores, but the cadre never complained when we discussed our scores and we weren't advised against doing it - so I dont think discussing is against the rules</p>
<p>Discussing is definitely not against the rules.</p>
<p>You may want to speak with your Admissions Rep about this. He should be able to let you know if the score is acceptable or if you should keep working on it before taking the test "for real".</p>
<p>These were some numbers provided by an Area Admissions Coordinator on prospective-net. He strongly cautioned that these are not official, but were based on his observations from the 24 Admissions LNOs who work for him in five congressional districts. Remember ... these are his numbers, NOT USMA's!</p>
<p>Basketball Throw: Men average 66 ft, and minimum 55 ft.
Women average 38 ft and minimum 31 ft.</p>
<p>Pull-Ups: Men average 8, minimum 2.
Women average 2, minimum 22 seconds flex arm hang</p>
<p>Suttle Run: Men average 10 seconds, minimum 11 seconds.
Women average 10.8 seconds and minimum 12 seconds</p>
<p>Sit-ups: Men/Women average 62, minimum 47</p>
<p>Push-ups: Men average 54, minimum 41.
Women average 29, minimum 18.</p>
<p>1 Mile run: Men average 7.2 minutes, minimum 8.8 minutes.
Women average 8.2 minutes, minimum 9.6 minutes.</p>
<p>Badbeatpoker: In past years to qualify for admission to the United States Military Academy you had to pass the Physical Aptitude Exam (PAE) which has now been replaced by the CFA. The PAE and CFA appear to be the same except that the standing long jump was dropped and replaced by the 1 mile run and situps.</p>
<p>Previously, a passing score on the PAE would result if you scored above a given value on the PAE chart. If you scored below the passing value in one event, a passing score could still result if you obtained a score above the passing value in another. I expect that the same standard applies to the CFA. Similar to you, during SLS my son passed all events but the basketball throw and passed the overall PAE without a problem. He was told not to bother taking the test again since he had passed it, and that's all that mattered. He received an appointment and is currently at USMA.</p>
<p>Therefore, if you passed all but one test, you would almost certainly pass the overall test. Finally, remember that the CFA is a pass/fail test. Although your ego will like doing better than other candidates, I don't think the actual score on the CFA impacts your chances for an appointment- only if you pass or fail.</p>
<p>If someone knows something to the contrary, please pipe in.</p>
<p>Aspen - on the CFA score report given at SLS this year candidates were given their scores and a risk assessment of: At Risk, or No Risk. If an assessment of At Risk was given the candidate has to take the test again as part of the fall admissions process.
Badbeatpoker - what was your risk assessment - do you need to take the test again? If you do, practice as much as you can. Try different techniques and find one that is comfortable that enables you to throw long rather than high. Advice to my son was to try and aim for at least 60 feet for the basketball throw.</p>
<p>the basketball throw is probably the weirdest of the exercises. I was averaging about 55 feet when I practiced. When I got to West Point my three were 48, 52, and 65. I deff made that last one count. So dont lose hope, youll be surprised what you can do when its crunch time and everything will work out for the best. </p>
<p>BTW: As a varsity track runner, that sls cfa mile was probably the hardest one I have ever ran. It was at least 100 with high humidity and we were already exhausted. So if you didnt do well on that...that can be easily improved</p>
<p>My son passed the CFA and did horribly on the basketball throw. He said that it was embarrasing. However, he did the most pull ups in the battalion and did the max in pushups and situps. So I guess they take good performance in to account and give allowance if there might be a weak area.</p>
<p>10 pullups, basketball throw somethin about 70ft, sprint was 9somethin, 56 p/u, 66s/u, and 6:00 mile. </p>
<p>i like the tests overall standard for fitness compared to the apft. I would cut the basketball throw out though. I like a 1 mile run a lot more than 2. I think that the situp standard should change to match the army behind the head. My usual APFT is between 250-270.</p>
<p>Now I wonder, once you're at WP are you graded on the CFA or the APFT? I think it would make a little more sense to use the APFT. good luck to everyone else. </p>
<p>How accurate do you think those averages for last classes CFA are. I doubt the average p/u would be 54 if they were measured to Army standard. Think coaches administering the test might fluff the score a little? I think any good coach should ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback - great scores!<br>
It would be interesting to compare the CFA scores from SLS versus the ones administered by coaches back home. I know the conditions were very hot and humid at SLS (first session) this year, and the my son said they were held to the army standard.
Maybe one of the plebe parents will share if the CFA is used for cadets - I don't think it is.</p>
<p>And during Beast they toss grenades rather than basketballs. :) </p>
<p>Actually, I recall hearing that the basketball throw is part of the CFA because it is a skill that is likely not practiced. Therefore, it needs to be practiced to be able to pass the exam. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but it makes sense to me. It was the toughest part for my daughter, so once she got some tips and practiced she was easily able to improve the score.</p>
<p>For the super acheivers at USMA, for internal uses only, they have an extended range of scoring for each of the three events that allows a cadet to score up to 125 points in each event for a max score of 375. For example, the APFT awards 100 points for running the 2 miles in 13 minutes or less. I believe 125 points are awarded if you run them under 12 minutes.</p>
<p>However, to get the "bonus" points the cadet must score at least 100 in each of the 3 events. That is, if you scored below 100 in one event, you wouldn't get any bonus points for the other 2 events even though you had scored high enough on the chart to earn them.</p>
<p>As you might expect, being a member of the 375 Club is pretty special.</p>
<p>the army has the same extended scale. weather definently plays a part on your run time. I ran a 12:54 2 mile in missouri and a 14:30 1 week later in san antonio, tx (july.... ughhh)</p>
<p>OK group, here is the question. Is this good enough to send in.
My son took the CFA during the SLS and got was at risk on a couple of areas. He was given a practice test today by his coach and scored the following. SLS/today.
Pull ups 0/4, Crunches 55/83, BBall throw 72/75, Push ups 21/29, Shuttle run 9.5/9.41, Mile run 7.51/7.16.</p>
<p>He is 6'-3 @ 220 lbs and a 4 yr varsity basketball player. He is working out every day and will plans to take another practice test next week.
What do you think. As always, the help is appreciated</p>
<p>pushups and run need to be worked on the most. </p>
<p>improving pushups...</p>
<p>when watching tv whenever a commercial comes on do certain number of pushups. practice form. do a 2 minute test everyday and try and do one more pushup than you did the previous day.</p>
<p>when you start the test keep pushing until you absolutely cant. then take a little break. while doing pushups your muscles are too tense to allow lactic acid in so you're able to do more.. If you take a break early, your arms will feel weak sooner. include wide, mid, and close hand pushups will being tested to use different muscles. </p>
<p>to help my run I rotate long run endurance days with sprints and short run on the other days. on sprints do 30/60 and 60/120 second sprint walk intervals.</p>
<p>tell your son hes doing a great job on improvement and keep working hard. The more in shape he gets now, the easier next summer will be for him.</p>