The GMAT is an entrance exam designed specifically for applicants to business school and has long been the typical exam required by business programs. The Executive Assessment (EA) was introduced in 2016 with Executive MBA programs in mind, but it has recently come to be accepted by a growing number of standard MBA programs.

In terms of structure and content, you might think of the EA as an abbreviated version of the GMAT, comprising shorter versions of both the Verbal and Quantitative sections, and with the Integrated Reasoning section in place of the Data Insights section. At 90 minutes, it is significantly shorter than the GMAT, which clocks in at nearly 4 hours. But the material tested by the exams is almost identical.

All GMAT scores fall within a range from 205 to 805, where the mean score is 546, and a score of 645 or higher places you in the 90th percentile of test takers. A “good” score depends entirely on the programs you have in mind as different programs have different expectations. A wise place to start is by looking at the data: some programs provide the 25th–75th percentile range of GMAT scores for admitted applicants, while others provide only the mean scores. Still others require a minimum score. Knowing this data will help you set a baseline.

Determining a good EA score is a bit trickier. While GMAC claims that all EA scores fall within a range from 100 to 200, they do not release percentiles to test takers – only to MBA programs. However, they do report that a score of 150 is in the 64th percentile. It seems that the actual range of scores is about 125–175. The median score is about 150, while a score of 160 puts you in the 90th percentile.

The sooner the better. The GMAT is a long and complex exam that tests a broad range of skills. Most students will need to spend considerable time reviewing grammar and math concepts, especially for students who graduated high school long ago. We recommend a minimum of two to three months of preparation before your exam. But more important than simply putting in study hours is making an informed and intentional study plan, then sticking to it. If you find yourself hitting a plateau or aren't sure how to effectively study, get in touch with an online GMAT tutor.

The GMAT and EA online are both identical in format and content to the conventional versions of the exams offered at testing centers. So most of your preparation for the GMAT or EA online will be no different from preparing for the ordinary versions of the exam.

However, given that the at-home option allows you to control most aspects of your environment, there are a few precautions to take. First, check your equipment: know the requirements for software, testing space, and scratch paper. (N.B.: Only a whiteboard, not actual paper and pen, is permitted.) Also, anticipate testing conditions by taking a few full-length practice GMAT or EA exams in the same room, using the same equipment, and strictly following all rules. And on test day, be sure your computer is plugged into a power source. Connect to the internet via ethernet, if possible, rather than WiFi, which is slower and more prone to disruptions. Read more about the GMAT online on our exam prep blog.

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