First, there was the SAT. Then, there was the GRE. And now, a new exam is available to help undergraduate students prove their worth beyond their GPA.

The Certified Business Laureate (CBL) exam tests basic business skills for undergraduate employment candidates, said Guy Friedman, founder and CEO of www.cblexam.com.

“It’s a standardized test similar to the SAT, but it’s designed for students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in business to employers,” Friedman said.

Friedman, a 2010 Wharton Business School graduate, developed the exam when he noticed that graduates applied to jobs based only on the region they live in, the school they attended and their GPAs. He recruited top business professors from Wharton, the University of Chicago and the University of Florida, as well as input from business advisors from a variety of firms to write the test questions.

“It’s a great vehicle for students to get their foot in the door at a company,” said Eddie Earnest, director of university sales and marketing for CBL.

Friedman said the exam includes sections in financial proficiency, basic accounting, general marketing, writing and Microsoft Office.

“The exam covers typical subject matter for introductory business courses that undergraduate business students complete,” Friedman said. “But non-business majors can take the exam too.”

Students who score well on the exam will benefit the most.

“Just like you would send your SAT score out to colleges, you can put your score on your resume to show that you understand basic business skills,” he said. “While only top-scorers (scoring at least 70 percent) get certain benefits, but anyone can use the score to put on their resume.”

Friedman said once students register for the exam, which costs $199 for an introductory fee, practice materials and study guides are available for free.

Students also get a connection to more than 80,000 recruiters and receive one-on-one mentoring to improve their chances of scoring well on the exam.

Friedman said taking the exam can help undergraduate students transition to entry-level positions.

“Because of the state the economy is in, now is the worst time for students to get entry-level jobs,” Friedman said. “There’s a lot of competition between students vying for the same job, so by taking the exam, you can distinguish yourself above others.”

In general, Friedman said it is beneficial to know the basics of business.

“The exam can show an employer that there’s thousands of people applying for the job and may have a higher GPA, but they might not have that top score from the exam,” he said. “That score can help you get to the corporate world.”

While there is no specific date to take the exam, students may want to start early and take the exam before applying to a firm.

“Anyone who wants to get a good job or internship should take it right away,” he said.“Even if you are a freshman or sophomore, you can benefit from the exam when you apply for internships.”

Students have the option of taking the test online at home via a webcam or at one of the 230 testing centers across the United States.

Friedman said students are given three hours to finish the exam, but it usually takes most students about two.

It is also beneficial for those who have graduated and want to make a career change, said Earnest.

“The education value is high for non-business students, but for business students, the exam is a way to assess what you’ve learned,” he said. “Even if you have a 4.0 GPA, it’s something to add to your resume to compare yourself to others.”

However, at the University, the exam is still building its credibility.

Katie Flint, assistant director of marketing and communications at the Career Center, said while this exam may be beneficial for all students, she has not heard of it herself.

“I do think that this type of exam can lead students to a variety of careers in the corporate world,” Flint said. “But since I don’t know much about it, and I don’t know how many students have taken it, I can’t make any assumptions about the exam itself.”

Jeff Loewenstein, professor in Business Administration, also said the exam is still a new concept and will require more validity before he considers it a valuable measure of aptitude.

Jim Ruther, senior in LAS, said that while he still does not know a lot about it, he is hopeful that it might develop into a useful tool.

“I do think that someone in a different college (other than business) would find it helpful to take in the future,” he said.