EA
The Executive Assessment (EA) is designed for working professionals, primarily targeting Executive MBA programs but are accepted at many full and part time MBA programs, https://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment/about/accepting-schools. Unlike the GMAT, the EA was created to function as a readiness assessment, which is an assessment of whether you are ready to perform the level of work needed during grad school. The EA is a test of your business ability and decision-making skills. As this is a relatively new test, there isn’t a standard goal score for the EA but if you look online, 150+ appears to be what most schools are saying they would prefer.
The EA is administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and you can register for it on the website https://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment for a fee of $350. The test may not be taken more than two times and has more flexibility to reschedule than the GMAT. The time to take the EA is only 90 minutes, with no official breaks, compared to 3.5 hours for the GMAT. You are allowed to take a break, but your time will keep running. Your score will be valid for five years from the test date.
As a working professional, this test is less time consuming to prepare for than the GMAT. GMAC has official study material you may purchase to prepare and take practice tests prior to scheduling for the actual test https://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment/prepare/official-prep.
The test preparation materials are from $25 for the Official Practice IR Questions to $150 for the Official Practice Premium Collection. I purchased the Official Practice Premium Collection and took a week off during the holiday season and completed the practice tests prior to taking the test. From the first practice test, I improved my score 4 points and received my highest score on the actual test. I found the practice tests to be slightly more difficult than the actual test. I recommend that you complete the practice tests in a similar environment in which you would take the official test. Until 31 December 2020, the EA Online is an online and remote proctored version of the EA to support candidates during COVID-19, and appointments are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The online version of the EA is set up in the same structure as the center-based version.
It consists of three sections: Integrated Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. The scoring translates to one score, per section, in 20 point increments on a 100-200 point scale. The highest practical score for each section, though, appears to be an 18 (If you get every single question correct on one of the official EA practice tests, you’ll score 18 in each section. Why? I’m not sure, but maybe they’re giving themselves room to expand the scoring range in future, if needed).
Each section is given in two panels. The first panel will consist of mixed difficulty, mostly at a medium level. Once you submit the first panel, you will go to the second panel. The difficulty level will depend upon your performance in the first panel. If you get all the questions in the first panel correct, your second panel will be quite a bit more difficult. If you miss every questions in the first panel, your second panel will be less difficult. Within each panel, you may jump around and answer the questions in any order you’d like. There is no penalty for incorrect answers so you should answer them all.
The score is displayed shortly after test completion. Because you can only take the EA a limited number of times, GMAC does not allow you to cancel your scores. If you do not want your scores sent right after your completed appointment, it is recommended not to select any schools/programs prior to your appointment. The assessment allows you 30 minutes per section, for a complete length of 90 minutes.
Integrated Reasoning (IR)
The IR section consists of 12 questions, six questions per panel, with a 30-minute time limit. This section tests quant and verbal skills together. These questions come in four problem types: multi-source reasoning, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis and table analysis. Each type of question involves interpreting multiple sources of data such as graphs and spreadsheets to reach a conclusion which comes in the form of a fill-in-the-blank statement, yes or no statement, or a table. IR scores range from 0 to 18.
Verbal Reasoning (VR)
The VR section consists of 14 questions, seven questions per panel, with a 30-minute time limit. This section tests grammar and meanings as well as logical reasoning and comprehension. There are three problem types: reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction in a five-option, multiple-choice format. A calculator will be available during this section only. Reading comprehension consists of analyzing a short piece of writing. Critical reasoning requires a test-taker to synthesize the main points of a particular passage. Sentence correction involves choosing if or how to rewrite a sentence to be both succinct and grammatically correct. The level of difficulty in your first panel will be determined by your performance in the IR section, and your second panel difficulty level will be determined by your performance in the first VR panel. VR scores range from 0 to 18.
Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
The QR section consists of 14 questions, seven questions per panel, with a 30-minute time limit. This section tests math as well as your ability to reason or think logically about quant topics. There are two problem types: data sufficiency and problem solving. Problem solving questions are designed to test an individual’s ability to work through a variety of mathematical problems. Calculators are not allowed during the QR section. The only tools that are permitted are a note board and markers they will be provide for you to work out the calculations.
The QR section does not test most geometry topics (unlike the GMAT and GRE), though it does test coordinate plane topics that are technically considered algebra. The difficulty of your first QR panel is determined by your performance in your first IR panel and the second panel is determined by your performance in the first QR panel. QR scores range from 0 to 18.
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