Which Test is Best? Choosing a Business School Exam with Charles Bibilos, GMAT Ninja
Release Date: 09/10/2025
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In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach sits down with Ashwini Deshpande, a former fashion designer turned MBA candidate whose two-month GMAT sprint transformed her entire career trajectory. Ashwini shares how she went from designing digital fashion at Meta to scoring a 750 on the exam (roughly a 715 on today’s scale), earning admission—and a scholarship—to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She walks through her unconventional path, why she approached GMAT prep like a creative challenge, how the right prep tools accelerated her progress, and why...
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Can you get a good EA score after one week of prep? It turns out you can! In the first week of his Executive Assessment journey, GMAC Zach finally puts his skills to the test — literally. After taking both the EA Question Sampler and his very first full-length practice exam, he sits down with test-prep legend Stacey Koprince of Manhattan Prep to unpack every result. Together, they dig into what went right (and wrong) across Integrated Reasoning, Verbal, and Quant — including Zach’s surprise 150 score and how close that is to being competitive for top programs. Stacey breaks down how to...
info_outline“Sometimes with more choice comes more anxiety. And the decision of which exam to take ends up being part of the process that can be complicated and painful.”
Deciding which exam to take can be tough - but it doesn't have to be!
In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach is joined by Charles Bibilos, founder of GMAT Ninja, to discuss the complexities of choosing between the GMAT, GRE, and Executive Assessment (EA) for MBA admissions. They explore the unique features of each test, the psychological aspects of test-taking, common myths surrounding standardized tests, and effective preparation strategies. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own strengths and weaknesses in relation to the tests, as well as the need for a balanced approach to studying and mental well-being.
Links:
GMAT Ninja: https://gmatninja.com/
Straight Talk with GMAC on YouTube
Take the GMAT: gmat.com/register
Takeaways:
- Choosing the right test can be a source of anxiety for MBA applicants.
- The GMAT, GRE, and EA each serve different purposes and audiences.
- Understanding the structure and content differences is crucial for test-takers.
- Test anxiety can significantly impact performance; managing it is essential.
- Many myths about standardized tests can lead to unnecessary stress.
- The GRE is a general admissions test, while the GMAT and EA are tailored for MBA programs.
- Preparation should include physical and mental well-being for optimal performance.
- Cramming is ineffective; consistent study is key to success.
- Understanding the reasoning behind questions is more important than memorizing formulas.
- Test-takers should focus on their individual strengths when choosing a test.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Standardized Testing Choices
05:03 Choosing the Right Test for Your Goals
07:25 Exploring the Options: GMAT, EA, and GRE
12:06 Content Differences Between GMAT and GRE
18:51 GMAT's Data Insights Section
23:55 The Best Test for Each Type of Student
27:21 EA vs GRE, GMAT
30:21 Improving Your Quant Skills
35:15 Each Exam's Major Myths
42:03 Most Underrated Prep Tip