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United States Military Academy Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA)
600 questions
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About this exam
The United States Military Academy Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) is a physical fitness assessment required as part of the West Point application. It helps admissions officials evaluate an applicant’s strength, power, agility, endurance, and potential to meet the physical demands of military training. The CFA is also used by other U.S. service academies, but applicants should check each academy’s current instructions. A candidate’s results are considered alongside academic, leadership, medical, and other application information; the CFA is not, by itself, a guarantee of admission.
The CFA consists of six events completed in a prescribed sequence: basketball throw, pull-ups or the permitted flexed-arm-hang option, shuttle run, modified sit-ups, push-ups, and a one-mile run. Preparation means learning the event standards and practicing sound technique as well as building overall fitness. Candidates should review the official instructions for administration, event order, and scoring, since errors in setup or procedure can affect results. Gradual, consistent training and occasional practice of the full sequence can help identify weaknesses without relying on last-minute workouts.
How to prepare for the Candidate Fitness Assessment
- Read the current official CFA instructions and scoring guidance. Review the event sequence, administration requirements, and the standards for the basketball throw, pull-ups or flexed-arm hang, shuttle run, modified sit-ups, push-ups, and one-mile run.
- Train the events with attention to form and measurement: practice the basketball throw setup and release, learn the required pull-up or hang technique, and use accurate distances and timing for the shuttle run and mile.
- Build fitness progressively, then rehearse the events in the prescribed order so you can manage transitions and effort. Use practice results to target weaker events, allow recovery, and avoid exhausting yourself just before the assessment.
FAQ
Who has to take the West Point Candidate Fitness Assessment?
Applicants to the United States Military Academy are generally required to complete the CFA as part of the admissions process. Other service academies may also use the assessment. Check the current official admissions guidance for the requirements that apply to your application.
What events are on the CFA?
The six events are the basketball throw, pull-ups or an allowed flexed-arm hang, shuttle run, modified sit-ups, push-ups, and a one-mile run. They are completed in a prescribed order under the CFA’s administration rules.
How should I prepare for the CFA?
Review the official event instructions and scoring guidance, practice correct technique, and build strength and endurance over time. Rehearse the full event sequence occasionally, record your results, and focus training on weaker areas while allowing adequate recovery.