There are three main advantages to taking the EA instead of the GMAT:
1. You avoid the GMAT score “arms race”
The EA does not play a role in school rankings, so MBA programs aren’t searching for ridiculously high scores. Instead, they are just looking for a “good enough” score showing that you’ll succeed if you’re accepted to the program.
For most programs, it’s reasonable to aim for a score above 150 on the EA to show that you’ll be able to handle graduate-level business coursework.
2. The EA is better for students with test anxiety
Several features make the EA a less stress-inducing experience than the GMAT. First, the EA a shorter test and won’t require as much stamina as the GMAT. Also, you can go back to review questions that you’ve skipped earlier in an EA test section.
Finally, many students have built up a lot of anxiety around achieving a particular GMAT or GRE score. Partly because it’s a relatively new exam, the EA can be a less intimidating way to get into the test room.
3. The EA is more convenient than the GMAT
The EA is much shorter than the GMAT. In addition, EA rescheduling fees are lower and more flexible than GMAT rescheduling fees.
While the EA has its advantages, there are also some not-so-great aspects about this particular test:
1. A “great” EA score won’t help you as much as a great GMAT score
Schools love to admit students with awesome GMAT scores – these scores indicate that a student will succeed in the program, and they also help the program climb MBA rankings lists.
The same can’t be said for awesome EA scores, which don’t factor into MBA program rankings. So, even a “great” EA score will be a pretty neutral part of your application.
If the rest of your application – undergraduate GPA, work experience, etc. – is strong, then this is totally fine. But if you really need to give a program a compelling reason to admit you, a great EA score will probably not do much to accomplish that goal.
2. The EA is not accepted by every MBA program
Check with your specific target schools to ensure that they will accept the EA.
3. You might have to study just as much for the EA as for the GMAT
GMAC claims that the EA is designed to be taken with “minimal preparation.” However, the question types and content are exactly the same, other than the fact that the EA doesn’t include geometry or AWA. The questions are literally identical: all of the official EA practice resources consist entirely of previously-published GMAT questions.
So if you’re trying to maximize your EA score, you might have to put nearly as much work into studying for the EA as you would into taking the GMAT.
