{"id":18471,"date":"2020-01-14T04:39:44","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T04:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/?p=18471"},"modified":"2020-01-14T15:18:40","modified_gmt":"2020-01-14T15:18:40","slug":"how-to-study-for-the-executive-assessment-ea-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/blog\/how-to-study-for-the-executive-assessment-ea-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Study for the Executive Assessment (EA) – Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"study<\/p>\n

Are you preparing for the Executive Assessment exam? In part 1<\/a> of this series, we talked about the major study materials you\u2019ll want to use and some guidelines for planning the length of your studies. In part 2<\/a>, we dove more deeply into the question types and content areas for the Integrated Reasoning and Verbal sections of the Executive Assessment (EA).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, we\u2019re going to do the same for the Quant section; we\u2019re also going to talk a bit more about study planning.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Executive Assessment (EA): Quantitative Reasoning<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Quant section will consist of the same two question types (Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency) that appear on the Quant section of the GMAT, but you\u2019ll only have to answer 14 of them. You\u2019ll be given 30 minutes or just over 2 minutes per question; this is about the same as on the GMAT.<\/span><\/p>\n

The single biggest difference is that geometry* has been removed from the EA. But, yes, I had to add an asterisk there. Did you know that, among mathematicians, coordinate plane is considered algebra, not geometry? (I learned this in high school\u2026but I completely forgot until it came up again for the EA.) So it\u2019s true that geometry is not on the EA\u2026but since coordinate plane is <\/span>really<\/span><\/i> algebra, it can show up on the EA.<\/span><\/p>\n

I find that a little annoying, but I was heartened to see that, of the 100 quant questions in the EA official tool, exactly one is a geometry problem. So I went into my EA just assuming that I would ignore any coordinate plane questions I might see\u2014and I didn’t see any at all. (I do, of course, know geometry, since I also teach the GMAT, but I wanted to take the EA in the way that I\u2019m advising my students to take it.) I have had students see a geometry problem, but I haven\u2019t (yet) had anyone tell me that they\u2019ve seen more than one.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, best guess, you\u2019ll see either 0 or 1 coordinate plane problem\u2026so decide whether that is worth any of your precious study time. I personally would not study it and would just make that one of my bail questions (more about this in part 2<\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve studied for the GMAT and are familiar with the strategies Choose Smart Numbers, Work Backwards, and Test Cases, you can definitely use these strategies on the EA, too. You also can (and should!) estimate\u2014I found I was able to do this even more than on the GMAT.<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as the rest of the quant material, the EA appears to test everything else that the GMAT tests. If you\u2019re using our books to study, I would emphasize the following:<\/span><\/p>\n

GMAT Foundations of Math<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

Nearly everything! <\/span>We use this book heavily<\/span><\/a> in our <\/span>EA live course<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can skip geometry entirely or look just at coordinate plane, if you want. Otherwise, do learn the rest of this guide. (Although the title says GMAT, everything in this guide applies to the EA with the exception of most of the geometry topics.)<\/span><\/p>\n

All the Quant<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

This book<\/span><\/a> is split into 5 units by major content area. Within each unit, there are also strategy chapters\u2014how to do Data Sufficiency, for example, or a series on Arithmetic vs. Algebra. Do <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> of the strategy chapters in every unit except for geometry.<\/span><\/p>\n

For math topics, I\u2019ll list the specific areas within each unit that are most likely to show up on the EA.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unit 1: Fractions, Decimals, Percents, and Ratios<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2013 Fractions<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 Percents<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 Ratios<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 For an extra-high quant score: Digits and decimals<\/span><\/p>\n

Unit 2: Algebra<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2013 Exponents<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 Roots<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 Linear equations and combos<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 The basics of inequalities and max\/min<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 For an extra-high quant score: Quadratics and formulas<\/span><\/p>\n

Unit 3: Word Problems<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2013 Translations<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 Statistics (average, median, weighted average)<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 Rates<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 For an extra-high quant score: Work and overlapping sets<\/span><\/p>\n

Unit 4: Number Properties<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2013 Divisibility and prime<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 Odd, Even, Positive, Negative<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2013 For an extra-high quant score: Probability and\/or combinatorics\u2014but only if you like these topics<\/span><\/p>\n

Unit 5: Geometry<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2013 Nothing, unless you like coordinate plane (but nothing more than that!)<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>All the Quant<\/span><\/i> guide comes with an accompanying ebook containing advanced math topics\u2014no need to study any of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Setting up your studies<\/b><\/h3>\n

Big picture, most people will need to do more work on quant than on verbal or IR to start\u2014just remember that you are going to have to build those skills, too. I\u2019m going to recommend the same general structure that we use in our courses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Begin by gaining a good grounding in the foundational-level material, particularly math topics that you learned when you were 11. Does PEMDAS, aka order of operations, ring a vague bell? Do you remember how to add fractions or solve an equation? It\u2019s deep in your brain somewhere\u2014you just have to remind yourself and do some practice to get the skills back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Give yourself a couple of weeks for this level. (If you take one of our courses, we do build this into the program\u2014but I would recommend signing up for a course that doesn\u2019t start for ~2-3 weeks and then working through as much of the Foundations of Math material as you can before the course starts.)<\/span><\/p>\n

When you need a break from the Quant stuff, familiarize yourself with the different verbal and IR question types and how they work. When you feel okay about your ability to do math on paper again (you don\u2019t have to feel great\u2014just okay), start diving in earnest into the three main strategy guides (IR & Essay, All the Quant, and All the Verbal). Use my earlier guidelines to decide what to prioritize and in what order you want to do things.<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t recommend doing all of one section of the exam and only then moving on to another section. Your brain actually learns better when you\u2019re moving among topics. (It feels harder that way\u2014but that\u2019s a sign that your brain is actually learning better. It\u2019s like physical activity\u2014you know it was a good workout or game when it actually tires you out a bit.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Plan to study multiple days a week (ideally 4 to 6 days)\u2014it\u2019s far better to do a little every day than to do nothing all week and then try to cram in 6 hours of study on Sunday. Your brain can only learn so much in a day; then it needs to go to sleep and make good memories of everything you learned before you can start to layer more on top.<\/span><\/p>\n

Set up a study calendar that goes something like this:<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 1<\/b>: Quant (Fractions and Ratios); Verbal (SC)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Day 2<\/b>: Quant (Data Sufficiency); IR (Tables)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Day 3<\/b>: Quant (Percents); Verbal (CR)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Day 4<\/b>: Break<\/span>
\n<\/span>Day 5<\/b>: Quant (review and practice problems); IR (Tables)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Day 6<\/b>: IR and Verbal review and practice problems<\/span>
\n<\/span>Day 7<\/b>: What went well and what needs more work? Set up next week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plan out specific study appointments (with assignments \/ topics) for the upcoming week. Have an idea of what you want to do the week after that, but don\u2019t actually plan out the day-to-day until you see how this week goes. You may have to go back over a certain area again\u2014or you may discover that you\u2019re already good at something and can go faster or reallocate some time to a different area.<\/span><\/p>\n

After about a week or two, take a practice test (<\/span>GMAC sells 4 official practice tests<\/span><\/a>). Spend a couple of days analyzing it after. Pay more attention to the areas you\u2019ve already studied\u2014how did they go? What stuck and what needs a review?<\/span><\/p>\n

For the areas you haven\u2019t studied yet, does your test performance indicate any areas you should prioritize\u2014or de-prioritize? (There are two areas to de-prioritize: The things you\u2019re already good at and the things that you\u2019re <\/span>really<\/span><\/i> not good at. Don\u2019t spend time learning the hardest material\u2014first, learn the material that\u2019s not as hard for you. You may discover that that gets you to your goal score and you never have to learn the hardest-for-you stuff!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, go set up next week\u2019s study plan taking that practice test analysis into account. As you go, continue to take a practice test every couple of weeks\u2014both to gauge how you\u2019re progressing and to help you diagnose your strengths and weaknesses so you can set up an effective study plan for the coming couple of weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Practice under timed conditions<\/b><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s critically important to do practice problems under test-like conditions, including timing. At heart, the EA is an executive reasoning \/ decision-making test, even while it tests you on math, logic, and grammar. As you do every day at work, you\u2019re going to have to distinguish between good, mediocre, and bad opportunities and decide how to spend your limited time and mental energy accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can study problems as long as you want after you\u2019re done trying them\u2014but when you first try them, time yourself and hold yourself to standard timing conditions. Also use your studies to figure out what you <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span><\/i> want to do, so you know when to bail on the test.<\/span><\/p>\n

And that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re going to dive into next time<\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n

NEXT: <\/b>How to Study for the Executive Assessment (Part 4)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

For information about our Executive Assessment Complete Course <\/b>click here<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

\"stacey-koprince\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Stacey Koprince<\/a>\u00a0is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Montreal, Canada and Los Angeles, California.<\/strong>\u00a0Stacey has been teaching the GMAT, GRE, and LSAT \u00a0for more than 15 years and is one of the most well-known instructors in the industry. Stacey loves to teach and is absolutely fascinated by standardized tests.\u00a0Check out Stacey\u2019s upcoming GMAT courses here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Are you preparing for the Executive Assessment exam? In part 1 of this series, we talked about the major study materials you\u2019ll want to use and some guidelines for planning the length of your studies. In part 2, we dove more deeply into the question types and content areas for the Integrated Reasoning and Verbal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53128],"tags":[53099,52823,52788,57166],"yst_prominent_words":[57167,54184,55988,55475,55564,57174,57172,57106,57169,53635,55565,53644,54088,54076,53795,53866,57177,57176,57173,54116],"class_list":["post-18471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-executive-assessment","tag-ea","tag-executive-assessment","tag-executive-assessment-exam","tag-study-for-the-ea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18471"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18482,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18471\/revisions\/18482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18471"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=18471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}