UPDATE ON THE LATEST SERVICE OPTION HAS TO OFFER TO ASPIRANTS TO EMBA PROGRAMS.
The GMAC has, with effect from March 2016, conceived and executed a new test platform for aspirants to EMBA programs. Initially five schools offering EMBA programs approved the test, called the Executive Assessment Test, and applicants to the executive MBA programs at these schools could select to write the GMAT or the Executive Assessment text in fulfilment of the admission requirement of submitting standardized test scores as part of the application documents.
The initial 5 schools were heavy weights:
- COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL
- LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL
- HKU BUSINESS SCHOOL
- CHICAGO BOOTH UNIVERSITY
- CHINA EUROPEAN INTERNATIONL BUSINESS SCHOOL
It was not surprising then that thereafter more schools have given thumbs up to the ‘new’ test and the test has gained popularity.
What instigated the need to offer an alternative to the GMAT? Probably the inherently cumbersome nature of the GMAT. Yes, on an average, students writing the GMAT study and /or are trained for anything between 8-12 weeks, a training regimen that requires working on piles of material and also on killing the clock! As such, the GMAT eludes many of those who take it on; test takers are either not able to cope with a regular schedule of preparation over 8-12 weeks due to other commitments and so drop out of the rat race half way or find the level of proficiency required in both Math and English very hard to achieve. And finally, for those who do complete the training/study and do end up at the test centre, the length of the test (close to 4 hours!!!) is a major dampener.
The Executive Assessment Test is shorter (1 hour and 30 minutes!) and is so constructed that it simply evaluates, in a short time and across much fewer questions, the analytical skills of professionals who have had a long innings on the field and hence are well qualified to attend a business program. Below is a chart taken from the GMAC website that illustrates the content/duration of the new test.
SECTION 1: 30 minutes
Integrated Reasoning Sample Questions / 19 questions
- Graphics Interpretation | 4 questions
- Two-Part Analysis | 5 questions
- Table Analysis | 3 questions
- Multi-Source Reasoning | 7 questions
SECTION 2: 30 minutes
Verbal Reasoning Sample Questions | 15 questions
- Reading Comprehension | 4 questions
- Critical Reasoning | 5 questions
- Sentence Correction | 6 questions
Section 3: 30 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning Sample Questions | 15 questions
- Problem Solving | 7 questions
- Data Sufficiency | 8 questions
Option welcomes GMAC’s initiative to make the selection criterion for Executive MBA programs more relevant to the candidates applying. The new test is a manifestation of changing times in education and Option, an intelligent participant in the education sector, toasts the change by launching its one-to-one training course for Executive Assessment Test preparation.