Executive Assessment
Also called EA · GMAC Executive Assessment
The Executive Assessment (EA) is GMAC’s 90-minute readiness exam for experienced professionals applying to executive, part-time, and some full-time MBA programs. Use it only when every school on the list accepts EA. It is not a universal GMAT substitute, and you cannot cancel a sitting (mba.com).
The Executive Assessment (EA) is GMAC’s 90-minute readiness exam for experienced professionals applying to executive, part-time, and some full-time MBA programs. Use it only when every school on the list accepts EA. It is not a universal GMAT substitute, and you cannot cancel a sitting (mba.com).
Is the EA a shorter GMAT?
No. Forty questions, 90 minutes, three sections: Integrated Reasoning, Verbal, Quantitative. GMAC designed it as a readiness check for people already in management jobs, with less expected prep than the GMAT. Full-time two-year programs vary: some now list EA; many flagship MBAs still want GMAT or GRE. An EMBA that “accepts EA” does not bind the same school’s full-time round.
How is the EA scored?
| Result | Scale | Notes | Source / date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each section (IR, Quant, Verbal) | 0–20 | Equal weight in the total | mba.com |
| Total | 100–200 | Derived from the three sections | mba.com |
| Validity | 5 years | Reportable up to 10 years | mba.com |
Test-center results typically appear within about eight hours; online sittings can take up to seven business days. GMAC does not put a GMAT-style percentile table on the candidate report. A mid-150s total is the range several top EMBAs have published; that is not a GMAT 655. Leave school selections empty until you have seen the score. Once a program is attached to the account, that sitting travels.
Example: you have 12 years in operations and a Booth EMBA on the list that accepts EA. Sit EA. If you also need Stanford’s full-time MBA, you still need GMAT or GRE. One 90-minute sitting does not cover both files.
Common errors
- Registering because it is shorter, then finding two target schools do not accept it
- Selecting schools in the account before the sitting
- Converting an EA 155 to a GMAT 655 on a blog chart
- Treating EA as a test waiver; a waiver is a school grant, EA is still a score
FAQ
Who should take the EA instead of the GMAT?
Experienced professionals applying to programs that list EA, especially executive and part-time MBAs. College seniors and early-career candidates aiming at a full-time two-year MBA that still requires GMAT or GRE should not sit EA because a friend used it for an EMBA. Check the exact degree page, not the school brand.
Can I cancel an EA score?
No. GMAC does not allow cancellation. Official results go to schools already on the account. Keep the school list empty until you decide to send. Once a program is selected, that sitting is part of the file and cannot be pulled back.
How long are EA scores valid?
Five years from the test date for ordinary MBA use, with reporting possible for up to ten years per GMAC. Match the date against the school’s application deadline. An EA taken for a 2021 EMBA round is expired for a 2027 full-time file even if the mba.com account still shows the PDF.
Related terms
Sources
- Understanding Your Results Section scales 0–20; total 100–200; equal weights; five-year validity; scores cannot be cancelled
- Executive Assessment FAQs 90-minute readiness exam for experienced professionals; not a GMAT clone
