ADMISSION TEST. for Global Executive MBA Program Candidates

Transcription

1 ADMISSION TEST for Global Executive MBA Program Candidates EADA s admission test is aligned with the school s methodology. It is oriented to problem solving skills and critical thinking and does not aim to replace the GMAT, but rather to provide an accurate prediction of candidates performance in EADA s programmes. The admission test has three parts: quantitative, verbal and written. Candidates have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the entire test. Quantitative part (30 questions / 40 minutes) There are two types of questions in the quantitative part of the test. The first type includes several questions related to a specific graph or chart containing information. The second type includes problems that require candidates to work with percentages, algebra and probabilities. Candidates are permitted calculators in this part of the test. Thirty quantitative questions will be randomly selected from a database each time a candidate takes the test. What does the quantitative part measure? This section reveals how well candidates translate word problems into mathematical terms and measures their ability to understand information presented in graphic form. Candidates also demonstrate their mental agility in relation to basic mathematics. Why is this important at EADA? EADA s approach emphasises the case method, business projects, business simulations and discussion groups. An important part of analysis depends on identifying the relationship between real-world situations and the related graphic material and mathematical equations. Quantitative analysis is key to fully understanding case study material. Verbal part (40 minutes / 28 questions) The verbal part of the test is made up of a series of texts and corresponding comprehension questions. Each text has four corresponding questions. The questions may require candidates to identify the main idea of the text, define terms that appear, analyse and interpret meaning or confirm the author s opinion. The texts vary slightly in length, but are designed to be read in minutes.

2 What does the verbal part measure? The verbal part tests candidates ability to understand a text and answer questions about what is stated and implied in the text. Why is this important at EADA? As EADA s methodology includes many case studies, it is important that participants are able to read and synthesise information from texts rapidly. Written part (10 minutes / 1 essay) The written part of the exam requires candidates to write an essay in 10 minutes. This part of the test can take various forms. Candidates may be: - given a quote and asked to express their opinion about it - given a statement and asked to argue for or against the opinion expressed - asked to respond to a question directly related to the specialisation of the programme they are applying to Candidates should write an essay in response, supporting their views with reasons and examples drawn from their own experiences, observations or reading. What does the written part measure? The written part of the test measures candidates ability to express themselves coherently and concisely. Why is this important at EADA? It is essential that participants can communicate ideas and concepts to their peers, tutors and professors. Participants are constantly called upon to take part in the preparation of presentations and assignments that require them to express themselves in writing. Moreover, in the final project, group members must work together to produce a comprehensive written report.

3 Marking The quantitative and verbal parts of the test will be marked separately and follow the format below. Blank = 0 points Correct answer = +1 point Incorrect answer = - ¼ point The writing part will be marked by hand. Candidates will receive a mark between 1 and 5 (1 = insufficient; 5 = excellent)* in the following areas: For the written evaluation, the following criteria are considered: Structure and development of the answer - Clear and appropriate style - Focused position statement that clearly addresses the question - Logically structured argument Language and grammar - Appropriate use of both specialised and general vocabulary - Accurate sentence structure - Punctuation which correctly conveys meaning and sentence structure - Consistent and appropriate tense choice The quantitative, verbal and writing parts of the test will be averaged to provide each candidate with an overall mark of excellent, above average, average, below average or insufficient. Evaluation * Any candidates found engaging in plagiarism will automatically receive a score of insufficient. Plagiarism is representing someone else's work as your own e.g. all or part of your essay: - is copied directly from a book, a journal or the Internet, or - is copied from a book, a journal or the Internet with some words altered From the academic perspective, plagiarism is considered worse than insufficient. Based on the overall results from the three parts of the test, each candidate will receive a score of insufficient, below average, average, above average, or exceptional. This score will be taken into account by the Admissions Committee along with the other documentation submitted by the candidate.

4 EXAMPLES Quantitative part 6.5 minutes (5 questions) The questions below will provide examples of the format of the quantitative part of EADA s test. For each question, there is only one correct answer. The answers can be found on the last page. FORESTRY DATA BY ZONE (Thousands of trees) Pyrenees Cantabria Altitud (m.) Pines Cottonwoods Pines Cottonwoods ,000-1, ,400-1, ,800-2, Totales Use the information in the table above to answer this question. At which altitude is the difference between thousands of pines in the Pyrenees and in Cantabria greatest? A B C. 1,000-1,399 D. 1,400-1,799 E. 1,800-2,500

5 2. Use the information in the table above to answer this question. Which altitude of Cantabria includes approximately 40% of the total cottonwoods in the total area of Cantabria? A B C. 1,000-1,399 D. 1,400-1,799 E. 1,800-2, A company car park has 20 available spaces for employees to park. There are 50 employees working at the company of which 80% drive to work. Assuming no absences, what is the probability that an individual employee will be able to park in the company car park on 4 consecutive days of the week? a) 1/2 b) 1/16 c) 1/8 d) None of the above 4. A local electronics store has organised the following promotion for December 26 to kick off after Christmas sales: Every 10 th customer will receive an external hard drive and every 15 th customer will receive a coupon for half off a smart phone. If 400 customers come in on opening day, how many will get an external hard drive and coupon for half off a smart phone? A. 40 B. 15 C. 13 D The treasury department of a large international company places 25% of their cash in a deposit account paying 4% and 75% into a 1 year government bond paying 6%. If the total annual income is 16,000 how much did the company invest in government bonds?

6 A. 13,090 B. 12,909 C. 9,600 D. 12,000 EXAMPLES Verbal part 6 minutes (4 questions) The questions below will provide examples of the format of the verbal part of EADA s test. For each question, there is only one correct answer. The answers can be found on the last page. The truth is that creative people are different from other people special, for better or for worse...believing that everyone has the capacity to be just as creative as the next person is as ludicrous as believing that everyone has the capacity to be as intelligent as the next person, yet it has become almost universally accepted as a truism. It s also relatively new, taking root only in the last 30 or 40 years, coinciding much too precisely to be accidental with the popularization of creativity as an essential element of social and business success... [W]e cling so fiercely to the belief that we are just as creative as one another, or at least just as creative... if only we were given the opportunity, the training... [T]he word creative has no socially acceptable antonym. If you are not creative, you can only be uncreative, which is possibly even more taboo in today s politically correct climate than calling someone fat, short, ugly, old or stupid. (14-15) Source: Torr, Gordon. Managing Creative People, Lessons in Leadership for the Ideas Economy. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Print. 1. What is the main idea of the text? a. We can all be creative, given the right resources b. Creativity has recently become the key to social and business success c. Creativity should not and cannot be measured d. The popular myth that we all have the same capacity to be creative is not true 2. According to the author, what two ideas appeared around the same time? a. Creativity is attainable for everyone / creativity is the key to success b. Creative people are different / creativity is the key to success c. Saying that someone lacks creativity is taboo / opportunities allow people to demonstrate their creativity d. None of the above

7 3. Which strongly held belief about creativity is criticised in the text? a. That we can all be creative b. That uncreative people are also stupid c. That creativity is not related to success d. Both b and c 4. The author suggests that the label uncreative is: a. Meaningless, as everyone has the same creative capacities b. Politically incorrect in today s society c. At least as taboo as other terms such as stupid and ugly d. Both b and c EXAMPLES Written part 10 minutes (1 question) The question below is an example of the format of the written part of EADA s test. Choose ONE of the questions below to answer in an essay. To what extent to do you agree with the opinion expressed in the text? Support your views with reasons and examples drawn from your own experiences, observations or reading. You have 10 minutes for this portion of the test and a limit of 500 words. Option 1: Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations. - Steve Jobs Option 2: There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else. - Sam Walton

8 ANSWERS TO EXAMPLES Quantitative part 1. d 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. a Verbal part 1. d 2. a 3. a 4. d Written part The written part of the test will be marked using the criteria described.