Should I apply to full-time MBA programs using the Executive Assessment (EA) Test?

For MBA applicants, the GMAT or the GRE test is an important step in their MBA application. Business schools use these tests to assess the academic readiness of their applicant pool, and clearly state their GMAT/GRE score averages in their class profiles, which also play a role in how they’re ranked globally. 

While MBA programs accept both the GMAT or the GRE, only a handful accept the shorter Executive Assessment test for their full-time MBA programs. It’s likely you won’t find the class score averages for the EA test either; the EA is typically designed for and taken by applicants to Executive MBA programs. 

But we’re seeing more full-time MBA applicants apply to top programs using the EA. Like Arno, who got into Duke Fuqua’s MBA program with a $40k merit scholarship. He performed much better on the EA than he did on the GMAT, and chose to submit that score to Duke Fuqua. 

Check out our interview with Arno here:

So, can you use the Executive Assessment test to apply to full-time MBA programs? And should you use it? Let’s discuss.

What is the Executive Assessment test?

The Executive Assessment is a 90-minute, computer-adaptive test designed for experienced professionals. Like the GMAT, it also evaluates the skills that matter most for business school success. It focuses on three core sections:

• Integrated Reasoning (IR): Measures your ability to analyze and synthesize data from multiple sources.

• Verbal Reasoning (VR): Assesses critical reading and evaluation of arguments.

• Quantitative Reasoning (QR): Tests problem-solving abilities using basic mathematical concepts.

The scoring ranges from 100 to 200, with equal weight given to each section. A “good” EA score lies between 150-155, and a score of over 155 will help you stand out as a strong candidate. 

As compared to the longer GMAT test (135 minutes), the EA is shorter at 90 minutes. It also requires less prep work, as it is designed by busy professionals who don’t really have time to study for the GMAT. For this reason, the EA focuses on core skills that applicants have likely honed through work experience.

Learn more about the Executive Assessment test here. 

Which full-time MBA programs accept the EA? 

While most Executive MBA programs accept the EA, it is not the preferred test for full-time MBA programs, which prioritize the GMAT and the GRE, like MIT Sloan below. If you’re considering the EA for your MBA application, make sure your target school accepts the EA. 

If your target school does accept the EA, they’re doing so because they believe your EA score will be a valid indicator of your academic strengths and test-taking ability.

Top business schools that accept the EA test for their full-time MBA programs include:

Columbia Business School

University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Duke University Fuqua School of Business

NYU Stern School of Business (test administered by Pearson VUE)

UCLA Anderson School of Management

Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business*

University of Texas McCombs School of Business

Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business

Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business

University of Rochester Simon Business School

Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management

The Consortium Fellowship

EDHEC Business School

ESMT Berlin

HEC Paris

IE Business School

*Note that Carnegie Mellon Tepper’s requirements for candidates submitting the EA are conditional: “Successful candidates submitting an EA score will have extensive quantitative academic coursework and/or will have professional experience in a STEM-related field”.

Why should you take the EA test?

Some MBA applicants may find that they perform poorly on the GMAT or the GRE tests. Some put off writing their applications till they have a satisfactory score, which jeopardizes their written application. In our interview, Arno advises, “It's important to not try to keep improving your test scores during your application. Because you’re going to then fall behind with applying to different schools in terms of working on essays”.

So if you’re chasing a higher GMAT or GRE score instead of focusing on other application components, you’re not going to be able to manage your time well. You may even have to postpone applications to the next round.

If you’re struggling with the GMAT or the GRE, it might make sense to take the Executive Assessment instead. Because it requires less prep time, you can then focus on strengthening other areas of your application, like your essays, Kira talent video essays, resume, recommendations, and interview prep. You’re up against older millennials who haven’t done math in ages, so chances are your percentile ranking will be significantly higher. 

Some applicants pivot to the EA after deciding that they don’t like the GMAT, or feel that it doesn’t demonstrate their academic readiness. Last year, we had a client who decided after three attempts that the GMAT to switch to the EA. He went from scoring around the 60th percentile on the GMAT to scoring in the 95th percentile on the EA. That’s a meaningful difference and allowed him to apply to other highly-rated MBA programs.

Should I submit both the Executive Assessment and the GMAT?

The GMAT and the GRE are your safest bets for a full-time MBA program. But if you find that you aren’t able to achieve an optimal score on the GMAT/GRE, consider taking the EA. It’s better to submit a good EA score than a low GMAT score!

Do your research on if your target school accepts the EA, and take a practice test to see if it’s a better fit for you. If your GMAT score is around the class average, but not exceptional – submit both your GMAT and EA scores. Let the school decide. You may want to explain this briefly in the optional essay in your application. 

The bottom line: no matter which test you take, if your application isn’t strong enough, the test score will be the least of your concerns. So choose one that is best suited to your strengths, and give yourself enough time to create a test strategy and also focus on other aspects of your application. 

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