GMAT vs Executive Assessment
The Executive Assessment (EA) and the GMAT are both admissions exams designed for MBA or EMBA programs. Both are accepted among most MBA programs, with the GMAT being the gold standard of MBA admissions since its release in 1953. In 2016 GMAC, the company that created the GMAT, released the EA. The EA is specifically tailored towards those applying for Executive MBA (EMBA) programs and those who have spent around a decade in the professional business world. Even though the EA is specifically tailored towards EMBA programs it is being more widely used for MBA program admissions.
Who takes the EA?
The EA is an exam specifically tailored towards experienced professionals. The EA is shorter, with stringent math sections, and is often considered an easier test. It is meant for those who do not have the time to prepare for the standardized tests for MBA programs. In fact, the GMAC specifies that extensive preparation is not meant for the EA and that the EA is meant for those who have acquired skills and knowledge through work experience. This differs from the GMAT in which we recommend a three-month study plan.
GMAT vs EA: Test Structure
The structure of the EA is simpler than the GMAT, with only three sections instead of four. Both tests have Quantitative, Verbal, and Integrated reasoning sections, but the GMAT has an additional section, the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). The EA also only has 40 questions, compared to the GMAT’s 80. But both have different times with the GMAT taking 2 hours and 15 minutes and the EA taking only 90 minutes.
Number of Questions: The EA has 40 questions: 12 Integrated Reasoning, 14 Verbal, and 14 Quantitative. On the other hand, the GMAT has 64 questions: 20 Data Insights, 23 Verbal, 21 Quantitative questions.
Timing: In the Executive Assessment, you have 30 minutes to complete each section, while in the GMAT, you have 45 minutes to complete each section.
Types of Questions: The two exams have the same types of questions for every section.
- Integrated Reasoning (EA)/ Data Insights (GMAT): Graphics and Table Analysis, Two-Part Analysis, Multi-Source Reasoning
- Verbal: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correlation (not part of GMAT 2025)
- Quantitative: Data Sufficiency (in the GMAT, this is part of the Data Insights section), Problem Solving
GMAT vs EA: Scoring
The EA and GMAT score differently. With the GMAT being a more rigorous test, the scoring ranges from 205-805 while the EA ranges from 100 to 200. In the EA you can score up to a 20 on each section, while GMAT scoring is broken down as follows:
GMAT SCORING
Quant: 60-90
Verbal: 60-90
Data Insights: 60-90
When it comes to the scores of the EA and GMAT remember that a good EA score is about 150 or above, while a good GMAT score is 600 or above. In the EA all the sections are weighted equally, while in the GMAT that is not the case. In the GMAT your AWA score is not weighted as heavily as your Quant or Verbal score. So when studying for both tests you must decide your study habits. In the GMAT you may focus on the Integrative Reasoning section less than the Quantitative for example. It is important to keep in mind where your strengths and weaknesses lie.
Cost
The Executive Assessment cost is $350 and the GMAT costs $275.
To Review
The EA and GMAT are both exams that can help you get into an MBA or EMBA, so it can be difficult to choose between them. However, the GMAC designed the two exams differently for a reason. Understanding why they did so is helpful in choosing which one you would like to take. Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses within testing and your goals within admissions can help you determine which one to take.