Is the Executive Assessment Harder than Practice Tests?

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The Executive Assessment is designed to be very similar in difficulty to Official Executive Assessment practice tests, but many test takers find that the real exam feels harder due to time pressure, adaptive scoring, and test-day stress. Keep reading to learn how the Executive Assessment compares to practice tests and how to prepare with confidence.

Here are the topics we’ll cover:

• Are the Official EA Practice Tests Easier Than the Real EA?
• Are the Official EA Practice Tests Harder Than the Real EA?
• Official EA Practice Tests Use the Real Scoring Algorithm
• Why Do People Feel a Difference Between Practice Tests and the Real Exam?
  • Each EA Is a Little Different
  • Unforeseen Issues Can Disrupt Test Day
  • Following a Study Plan Solely Based on Official EA Practice Exams
• Key Takeaways
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • Is the Executive Assessment harder than practice tests?
  • How accurate are official Executive Assessment practice tests?
  • Why does the real Executive Assessment feel harder than practice tests?
  • How can I use practice tests to prepare effectively for the Executive Assessment?
  • How hard is the Executive Assessment compared to the GMAT?
• What’s Next?

We’ll begin by comparing the Executive Assessment difficulty with the difficulty of EA practice exams.

Are the Official EA Practice Tests Easier Than the Real EA?

When people ask about differences in difficulty between Executive Assessment practice tests vs. the real exam, they’re usually referring to the official practice tests sold on mba.com.

A common belief is that the practice versions are easier than the real exam. However, reports from test takers tell a different story. Other factors, such as nerves on test day, unfamiliarity with the testing center environment, or issues with time management under pressure, usually explain score variations between practice tests and the actual EA.

In other words, when we compare results, there is no consistent evidence that the practice exams are easier than the real thing.

Of course, some test takers wonder whether the official practice tests are actually harder than the actual EA. That’s worth examining as well.

Are the Official EA Practice Tests Harder Than the Real EA?

So, are the official EA practice exams tougher than the real thing? The evidence says no.

Here’s why:

Many people who take the official EA practice tests and then sit for the actual EA end up with very similar scores. In fact, the practice exams are designed to be highly predictive of real test outcomes. Moreover, EA experts who have experienced both the practice tests and the real exam consistently note that the difficulty level is comparable.

In other words, if you’re asking yourself, “Do the official EA practice tests reflect the actual exam’s difficulty?” you can be confident that they do. These practice tests are designed to closely mirror the real experience.

And if you’re still skeptical, there’s another reason to trust the alignment between practice test and real exam difficulty. Let’s explore this next.

Official EA Practice Tests Use the Real Scoring Algorithm

Most people know that the structure and Executive Assessment practice questions on the official practice exams mirror those of the real Executive Assessment. What’s less obvious is that these practice tests also rely on the same adaptive testing system and scoring algorithm used on the actual exam.

Just like the actual Executive Assessment, the official practice exams consist of 3 sections, each with 2 modules that are all section-adaptive. When completing the practice test, you receive section scores as well as an overall score, just as you will on the actual exam.

Because of this, there’s no basis to assume that official practice exams are easier or harder than the actual EA.

So why do some test takers still feel there’s a difference? Let’s dig into that next.

Why Do People Feel a Difference Between Practice Tests and the Real Exam?

Some EA test takers walk away convinced that the real exam felt harder or easier than the official practice tests. Yet the data shows that the difficulty level is essentially the same. So why the different perceptions?

There are several possible explanations. The most common are:

1. minor variations from one EA to another
2. unexpected challenges on test day
3. following a study plan based on content from the official practice exams

Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors.

Each EA Is a Little Different

No 2 Executive Assessments are exactly the same. You’ll never encounter an identical set of questions, whether you’re taking an official practice test or the real exam. So, after taking the EA, if you find yourself asking, “Is the Executive Assessment hard?” your answer may change, based on the batch of questions you were given on your exam. Does this mean you have to adjust your Executive Assessment test-day strategy? No, of course not. It just means that you should not expect all exams to follow the same pattern of question types.

Because of this, the mix of questions can make one EA feel slightly easier and another feel more difficult. A test that leans into your strengths may seem manageable, while another that emphasizes areas where you’re less comfortable can feel tougher.

So, when someone says the real EA felt easier or harder than practice, they may be right, but only in the sense that their particular version of the exam included a question mix that worked for or against them. There’s always a bit of “luck of the draw” involved.

This is why it’s risky to base your prep only on what you’ve heard shows up most often or on the topics you saw in past practice sets. The best approach is to prepare broadly and be ready for anything that could appear on test day.

Unforeseen Issues Can Disrupt Test Day

Sometimes, challenges arise during the real Executive Assessment that students never encounter in practice. For example, the stress of the official test setting can feel heavier than expected, making it harder to concentrate or remember information. Even with careful practice, mock exams rarely carry the same pressure as the real thing.

Other times, outside factors can interfere. A noisy testing environment, poor sleep the night before, or even minor distractions can throw a test taker off balance. While it is useful to simulate test conditions during practice, no preparation fully captures the unpredictability of test day.

As a result, when things do not go smoothly, people may conclude that the EA itself was more difficult than the practice tests.

Following a Study Plan Solely Based on Official EA Practice Exams

If your Executive Assessment prep relies only on official practice exams, your study plan may help you perform well on those practice tests, but it will likely be too limited to position you for success on the actual exam.

Yes, the content presented on practice exams is important; however, do you think GMAC, the makers of the EA, would really base the real EA solely on what is tested in their practice exams? I think you know the answer!

Practice exams are valuable for gauging your progress, but they don’t provide the comprehensive coverage needed for you to master every topic that could appear on the real test. By focusing only on those exams, you might miss entire areas of content or types of questions that are less common on practice tests but still fair game on test day.

As a result, when you encounter unfamiliar material on the actual EA, the test can feel much harder than you expected. A balanced prep approach that combines practice tests with structured study across all topics ensures you’re not blindsided by question types or concepts you didn’t spend enough time practicing.

Key Takeaways

• Only official EA practice tests use the same adaptive system and scoring as the real exam.
• Test-day stress, lack of sleep, or distractions at the test center can make the actual EA feel tougher.
• If you rely only on data from official EA practice exams to build your study plan, the real EA may feel harder than the practice tests, since that approach doesn’t provide thorough enough preparation.
• No 2 Executive Assessments are the same, whether they’re official practice tests or the real exam. From one EA to the next, test takers may notice differences in difficulty, depending on their individual strengths and weaknesses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Executive Assessment harder than practice tests?

Not really. Practice tests are designed to match the difficulty of the real EA, though test-day nerves or distractions can make it feel tougher.

How accurate are official Executive Assessment practice tests?

Very accurate. They use the same computer-adaptive system and scoring algorithm as the real exam.

Why does the real Executive Assessment feel harder than practice tests?

Factors such as test anxiety, fatigue, or unexpected test-center conditions can make the real exam feel more challenging.

How can I use practice tests to prepare effectively for the Executive Assessment?

Practice tests are great to use toward the end of your preparation to gauge your readiness for test day. Don’t take EA practice tests until you have completed the learning phase of your preparation.

How hard is the Executive Assessment compared to the GMAT?

Generally, the EA is shorter and tends to have a more favorable algorithm, making it easier to score in a higher percentile bracket than the GMAT.

What’s Next?

Just starting out with your EA and looking for Executive Assessment preparation tips? Check out our blog on how to get started with your EA prep.