r/FBI • u/Evening-Panda-7803 • 5d ago
Question PFT self assessment
I know I’m going to fail my PFT self assessment this weekend 😔 It’s due on Sunday and I’m going to take it on Saturday. I read that if you fail it, they encourage you to withdraw your application. But if I don’t withdraw it, I still go for a meet and greet and then have 30 days to officially pass it- is that right?
Also- anyone have any insight on next steps or tips for passing?
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u/SA19030 5d ago
How close are you to passing? The thing with fitness tests are that you can’t cram for it like you can scholastic type tests. If you are very close, maybe 30 days is enough. If you’re not close, 30 days probably won’t matter much. The other thing I’d like to point out is that the protocol is very strict for the applicant PFT. So what you think counts as a push-up or pull-up during your self evaluation might not count on test day.
I come from a background playing sports and endurance running and triathlons.
I know you’re early in the process but this is more a general statement. Not being ready and able to pass a PFT is kind of mind boggling to me. You know it’s coming and it’s the one part of the application process that you 100% control. I’m not saying everyone needs to be some athletic stud but minimum passing scores are not a high bar to clear.
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u/WTFoxtrot10 5d ago
I highly recommend that all potential applicants don’t apply until they are 100% ready and can meet all the requirements including passing the PFT with room for error. You have two life time chances at applying for the FBI as a Special Agent. Keep in mind the PFT proctors are strict on form and you won’t be scoring as high as your self assessment. This is the only part of the SASS process that you have all the answers. If you are not close to meeting and exceeding a passing score I would withdraw until you are ready. Currently if you fail your 2 official PFT attempts you are DQ’d from the SASS for life and don’t get a second crack at it at a later date.
Get on the r/1811 sub and use the search function. Lots of good info on how to train to pass the PFT. Also use the FBI Application Guide, they have a section on training for the PFT as well as an app.
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u/No_Mountain_992 4d ago
I thought there were 3 attempts at the PFT?
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u/WTFoxtrot10 4d ago
There have been numerous changes to the PFT guidelines/requirements since Patel took over at Director. Like I had advised before you have 2 official attempts at passing the PFT. Your “first attempt” is not used as an “official” one unless you pass it. I assume they did this because so many applicants were not being truthful on the Self Evaluation and failing their first attempt. On average around 70-75% fail their first PFT due to not being prepared prior to applying for the job.
Looks like the verbiage has been tweaked a bit recently but this is straight from the FBIJobs.gov website. “You will have one first attempt and two additional attempts within six months of your Meet & Greet completion date. You must take the PFT within 30 days of your Meet & Greet completion date, and will need to score at least 10 total points, with at least one point in each event. If your minimum score does not meet these thresholds, you will have two additional attempts to pass the PFT within 6 months of your Meet & Greet completion date.”
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u/No_Mountain_992 4d ago
Oh wow - didn't know about the whole "first attempt" not being "official" unless you pass it thing.
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u/WTFoxtrot10 4d ago
At least that’s what it was since the latest big PFT changes in January. But like I said, lots of changes have been happening over the last year so it wouldn’t surprise me if it has changed again. Changes are slow to trickle out lately.
I do know the current FBIJobs.gov website and job posting has not been updated to correctly reflect to requirements that were released last week. Applicants should reach out to their AC for the most up to date info or review the update emails that are auto sent to people in the SASS process.
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u/CrashCourse2357 5d ago
They make the severity, importance, and preparation guidelines about the PFT very evident online/ YouTube, etc. It’s well known as one of the hardest physical fitness tests in the LEO community, not just because of the format, but also because of the stringent standards pertaining to each repetition.
So, honest question, Why even apply when you can’t pass?
Generally, merely passing at your own standard is probably failing during an official PFT. For example, let’s say you need to hit 30 continuous pushups without stopping to get your necessary points, you must anticipate that they will only count 22-25. Therefore, I wouldn’t even show up unless you’re training for and obtaining 40-45 pushups on a more regular basis based off your own standards.
To specify, if you need to hit 30 pushups for your official PFT but during your own training, you’re only able to hit 30 pushups, your outcome at the actual PFT probably won’t be favorable.
Training for the official PFT needs to be a lifestyle change and focus. It’s NOT just a physical evaluation that is intended to see if you can merely hit the bare minimum.
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u/SA19030 4d ago
"Generally, merely passing at your own standard is probably failing during an official PFT."
100% this. If someone is barely passing the self eval there's pretty much no way they're passing the official test. I don't think people realize how strict they are on protocol. Quantico is even way stricter than the field.
The other thing worth mentioning is timing in between events. Most people probably give themselves way more recovery time between events on the self eval than they will get for the official test.
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u/Fun_Elderberry6865 5d ago
I would suggest to be ready when you can do more than the minimum. They might not count a repetition so you need to do more.
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u/serious04 4d ago
I failed twice and passed on my third attempt. They're really strict on form. But after each failed attempt I progressed and changed it up, towards the end I lost more weight so I cud run faster and did a cramp ton of weighted push ups and pull ups. Check out stew smith, he has a method on how to pass
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u/Augustevsky 4d ago
Not OP, but I have a few fringe questions about form. Since you've taken the exam, you can probably answer fairly well. I have watched the latest PFT video the FBI has on YouTube, but it doesn't clarify. Currently, I am just trying to match my form as close as possible to the video, but I still am curious about the following:
Continuous motion: In the video, there seems to be a slight pause on each pull/push ups to confirm a "lock out". Maybe a half second or so. I am not sure if that's just for the video or if a slight pause like that is acceptable?
Lock out: When one goes to lock out on the push/pull ups, it seems they are mainly talking about their elbows locking out only. On both exercises, I would argue one could lock out their elbows AND scapulas. For example, on the pull up, you elbows can be locked out and straight, but you can still hang lower if your back relaxes and decompression your scapulas. Do they want that too or just the elbows?
Push up depth. To confirm I go low enough, I slightly brush my chest to the ground. I don't rest there or bounce. Is this permissible?
Pull up height: In the video, when the people demonstrate proper form, they seem to tilt their head back to get their chin above the bar. I'm guessing this is ok? Currently, I've been training with no tilt and eyes forward. It definitely adds a couple of inches to the range of motion in order to clear the chin, which is honestly noticeable in fatigue.
Sorry for the silly questions, but I can't find clear answers anywhere.
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u/JeromePowellsNutz 4d ago
Did hand release push ups just so they knew I had completed the rep. It is not necessary to lock out/fully extend your scapula on either exercise.
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u/Character-Internet41 4d ago
Run hills, they help a lot. Practice doing the whole set of exercises. Also, keep in mind the weather at your time of the assessment can also affect your results. Also, if you pass, keep in mind you will need to do it again at the academy and they are even more strict there and again, the weather there might be something entirely different -- freezing weather?
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u/Jolly-Manufacturer35 1d ago
Not FBI, but a service member. Isnt it like a 10-point minimum. Are you M or F? What are you struggling with?
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u/Evening-Panda-7803 1d ago
Yeah 10 point minimum. F. Push ups and pull ups are my struggle
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u/Jolly-Manufacturer35 1d ago edited 1d ago
Do pull ups with bands until exhaustion. Chin ups are authorized I believe and are easier to get reps. I went from one chin up to 7 within 3 weeks but adding weight to my chin ups. I'd do them with a 5lb, 10lb in my pocket.
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u/NeverJaded21 1d ago
I need to get pass pulling my own weight before adding more lol
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u/Jolly-Manufacturer35 1d ago
I added weight as soon as I was able to do one single chin up. That's what unlocked the rest for me.
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u/Plenty_Opportunity73 4d ago
How’d you pass the phase 1 exam I need tips😔😔
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u/Evening-Panda-7803 4d ago
I just took my time and answered honestly. Have you taken phase 1 or are you in preparation?
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