Introduction to Mini GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) recently launched a new product called the Executive Assessment (EA) or mini GMAT, which is designed specifically for Executive MBA courses. It serves a different purpose than the GMAT.

For Indian professionals seeking to enhance their leadership skills and advance their careers through an Executive MBA (EMBA) program, the Executive Assessment (EA) by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) presents a valuable opportunity. Often referred to as the "mini-GMAT," the EA is a streamlined alternative to the traditional GMAT, specifically designed for experienced professionals applying to EMBA programs.

Understanding the Executive Assessment

The EA is a computer-adaptive test that evaluates a candidate's readiness for rigorous academic work in an EMBA program. It assesses critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical writing skills, all essential for success in a demanding business environment. 

Key Features of the Executive Assessment

• The EA is significantly shorter than the GMAT, taking approximately 90 minutes to complete. This makes it a more convenient option for busy professionals.
• The EA concentrates on the fundamental skills required for business school success, such as verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and integrated reasoning.
• The difficulty level of questions adjusts based on the candidate's performance, ensuring a personalized and challenging experience.
• The Integrated Reasoning section is unique and tests the ability to analyze and synthesize information from various sources, a skill highly valued in the modern business world.

Why Take the Executive Assessment

There are four major reasons why you should consider taking the Mini GMAT exam and they are as follows:

• Time Constraints: The shorter duration of the EA aligns well with the busy schedules of working professionals.
• Focus on Practical Skills: The EA emphasizes skills directly applicable to real-world business challenges.
• Reduced Test Anxiety: The streamlined format and shorter duration can help alleviate test anxiety.
• Acceptance by Top EMBA Programs: A growing number of prestigious EMBA programs worldwide accept the EA scores.

Mini GMAT Format

The format of Mini GMAT includes 40 questions in total, which are divided into three sections—Integrated Reasoning, Math and Verbal. All three sections last for 30 minutes each.

The new exam can be taken at the same test centers across the world where the GMAT is also being offered. However, you will have to be careful while taking the Mini GMAT, as you are allowed to take the exam only two times in your lifetime.

Reasons behind the introduction of Mini MBA

Experts in the field, however, have their own speculations about the reason behind the appearance of this new exam. According to John A. Byrne, author at Poets and Quants, GMAC is concerned about losing the market share from business schools since they don’t ask for GMAT scores to get admitted to their Executive MBA courses. Now GMAC has recruited select six business schools for an experimental run of Mini GMAT.

In recent years several b-schools have dumped GMAT scores as an admission requirement to Executive MBA. Many b-schools felt GMAT was not an accurate predictor of success for Executive MBA students. As a result, GMAC is hoping to convince other colleges and to bring back some of those colleges that don’t have GMAT scores as a requirement.

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Preparing for the Executive Assessment

While the EA is designed to be less time-consuming than the GMAT, effective preparation is still crucial. Here are some tips to help you prepare: 

• Understand the structure of the EA, including the number of questions and time allotted for each section.
• Utilize official GMAC practice tests and resources to get a feel for the question types and difficulty levels.
• Brush up on your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills.
• Practice effective time management techniques to ensure you can complete the test within the allotted time.
• Consider enrolling in a reputable test preparation course or working with a qualified tutor to receive personalized guidance and support.

Difference between Mini GMAT and GMAT

The content and syllabus of Mini GMAT are relevant to executives in terms of increased focus on critical thinking, problem-solving and analysis, rather than pure mathematics and grammatical structures. The duration of the exam is also short, lasting only 90 minutes compared to three and a half hours of GMAT.

For more details, check out in detail about what is the difference between Mini GMAT and GMAT Focus? Also, understand which one to choose. 

The Executive Assessment offers a convenient and effective way for Indian professionals to demonstrate their readiness for an Executive MBA program. By understanding the format, preparing diligently, and making informed decisions, you can increase your chances of success in this important step towards your career advancement.