What Is the Executive Assessment?

The Executive Assessment (EA) is a standardised entrance exam designed for applicants interested in attending an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) programme.

Graduate business school programmes require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), which tests your reasoning, quantitative, and analytical abilities. The EA assesses those skills but goes one step further, factoring in your professional experience. When you take the EA, it can replace your need to take either of those tests provided the school and programme you're applying to accept it and if you meet the experience requirements.

Read on to learn more about what the EA entails, how it’s scored, and how you can decide whether it’s the best entrance test for you. 

What is the Executive Assessment?

The Executive Assessment is an entrance exam to gauge your readiness to begin an executive MBA or a graduate-level business programme focused on executive management and training for experienced professionals. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) created the EA and designed it for “experienced leaders” who want to apply to graduate school but don’t necessarily have the time to prepare for the GMAT.

The EA considers your professional skills and evaluates you in several other areas, including reasoning, critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving. 

Executive Assessment: Format, scores, and cost

You can take the EA on a computer in person at an approved testing facility or online at home. Your score possibilities range from 100 to 200, and a solid EA score is often considered 150 or above. The EA costs 350 USD; your scores are valid for five years.

What’s on the Executive Assessment?

Three sections comprise the EA: Integrated reasoning, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. In that way, the test is similar to the GMAT, including each section. Unlike the GMAT, however, it t takes much less time to complete. The EA is 90 minutes compared to the GMAT’s two hours and 15 minutes. The EA also consists of a total of 40 questions, while the GMAT has a total of 64 questions. Take a closer look at each section to prepare for this entry exam. 

Integrated reasoning: In this section, you will have 30 minutes to complete 12 questions that evaluate your ability to interpret graphics and tables, analyse complex problems, and answer multiple-choice questions. This section emphasises logic and reasoning, presenting you with questions designed to see how well you evaluate information based on multiple sources and formats. 

Verbal reasoning: In this section, you will have 30 minutes to complete 14 questions that test your ability to read comprehensive sections, evaluate arguments, and correct sentences. It assesses your ability to read, interpret, and edit.

Quantitative reasoning: In this section, you will have 30 minutes to complete 14 questions that assess your ability to interpret data and solve problems. It's designed to see how you draw conclusions and analyse data using your maths and reasoning skills. In maths, you can expect to use basic arithmetic and some algebra. 

Business school exams: GMAT, GRE, EA

If you’re applying for an EMBA programme, you will likely need to submit standardised test scores. Depending on the individual programme’s requirements, you can choose to take the EA, GMAT, or GRE.

Each of these entrance exams is unique—and not every school accepts each option. Ultimately, it’s essential to research the schools you intend to apply to and learn more about which entrance exam they prefer to figure out the best one to take. 

GMAT

The GMAT is the most common entrance exam for graduate business programmes. It comprises three sections: Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and data insight. You'll have two hours and 15 minutes to complete the test. The GMAT is computer-adaptive, so as you progress through the test and answer questions correctly, subsequent questions may grow more complex.

The GMAT typically contains more challenging maths questions than the Executive Assessment. Additionally, if you compare it with the GRE, the GMAT places a greater focus on grammar, while the GRE places a greater focus on vocabulary.

GRE

It comprises three sections: Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The computer-based test takes approximately two hours to complete. 

The GRE’s analytical writing section challenges you to “analyse an issue,” while the other sections have 54 questions to answer.

Executive Assessment

Although the content of the EA is fairly similar to the GMAT, the GMAT's questions become more challenging or easier on a question-by-question basis; the difficulty level for the Executive Assessment changes after you complete a section or block of questions. 

Compared with the GMAT and GRE, the Executive Assessment is shorter and takes less time to complete, which doesn’t mean it’s easier. It’s also explicitly intended for applicants applying to Executive MBA programmes. 

Is the Executive Assessment right for you?

Although no formal restrictions can keep you from taking the EA, it's not for everyone applying to a graduate business programme. Each programme has unique requirements, which typically dictate the type of test they'll accept and the experience you should have when applying for specific programmes. It’s essential to research these stipulations before you begin planning which entrance exam to take. 

Three key questions you should ask when trying to determine whether the EA is the best entrance exam for you include: 

Does the school you’re applying to accept the Executive Assessment?

Although the number of schools that accept the Executive Assessment continues to grow, it's not universally accepted. Before deciding which entrance exam to take, make sure the schools you plan to apply to will accept the results. 

What programme are you applying for?

You should only consider taking it if you're applying to an Executive MBA programme, as the EA is appropriate for just one type of MBA. If you’re interested in any other graduate business programme, one of the other tests would likely be a better fit, but this also varies from school to school. 

Do you meet the experience requirement?

Many graduate business programmes, particularly Executive MBA programmes, have experience requirements. EMBA programmes are designed for professionals with at least five years of experience and at least some of that experience in management. Research the eligibility requirements with the schools and programmes you intend to apply to before you sign up for your entrance exam because some universities require extensive experience. For example, the London Business School reports that successful candidates typically have as much as 15 years of work experience before they pursue an EMBA.

How to prepare for the Executive Assessment

Although the Executive Assessment is shorter than the other graduate entrance exams and designed for professionals who can’t dedicate as much time to preparation, you still need to study for it. The GMAC says the exam is designed to require less than four weeks of preparation. 

For an exam as complex and vital as the Executive Assessment, thorough preparation is a large part of achieving your desired score. With that being said, how can you best prepare? Check out four suggestions to ready yourself for the exam: 

• Review the EA questions sampler: This free resource from GMAC empowers you by offering sample questions similar to what you'll see on the Executive Assessment. By taking this sample test, which gives you an instant score and feedback, you can become more familiar with the structure and nature of the questions you might see on the day of your test. 

• Take a prep course: Because many EA sections overlap with the GMAT, you can take prep courses designed to help strengthen your skills in critical areas. The Pre-MBA Quantitative Skills Specialisation, available on Coursera, can help you strengthen your finance and accounting skills to prepare you to succeed in the quantitative reasoning section.

• Listen to Inside the GMAT podcast: If you want insights into what the EA is and how it can benefit you, the makers of the GMAT have a podcast resource worth listening to. 

• Talk to current EMBA students or alumni: If you can connect with others who have taken the EA, you'll glean valuable tips for preparing and approaching test day. You might also get some firsthand knowledge that'll help you better prepare for your EMBA experience.

Explore the Executive Assessment and business options further on Coursera

The Executive Assessment is an exam used for entrance into Executive MBA programmes across the UK. You can find graduate business degree programmes available on Coursera from well-established universities. For example, you could pursue an iMBA from the University of Illinois. If you’d like to explore some specific aspects of the business world, you can take a course like Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand, and Behaviour from the University of London.