- McKinsey, BCG and Bain each use a different online assessment, and the format can also change by office, role and season. Your invitation email is the reliable guide to your test.
- McKinsey Solve is McKinsey's assessment for most consulting roles. Candidates currently report three games and two versions, of about 85 and 95 minutes. McKinsey's FAQ states the rules, and says results are valid for one year and that you can take it once every 12 months.
- BCG uses different tests by office: the Consulting Career Assessment and an online case in the United States, a short numerical test in the United Kingdom, an online case and a numerical test in Australia and New Zealand.
- Bain uses Sova or TestGorilla, about 30 to 40 minutes, with a calculator, pen and paper allowed and AI prohibited. TestGorilla is done in one sitting; Sova can be split across several.
- Technical roles may add or substitute a coding or technical assessment. Prepare for the test you actually received, and start on the interviews early, because they follow quickly.
Consulting online assessments are an early selection stage at McKinsey, BCG and Bain; their position relative to CV screening varies by process. They differ more than most candidates expect: a game-based assessment at McKinsey, a business case delivered online or a numerical test at BCG, and a reasoning test from an external provider at Bain. Preparing well starts with knowing which one you have.
This guide separates official facts, taken from the firms' own careers pages and FAQ and read on 3 November 2026, from candidate reports, which describe what people say they saw. Reports are useful for practice, but formats change, so the guide marks which is which. CasePreparation is independent and is not affiliated with McKinsey & Company, BCG or Bain & Company.
Recognise your assessment
Open your invitation email and look for four things: the name of the test, its length, the deadline and any rules on tools or cameras. Then match the name to the table below. On a phone, each row appears as a card.
| Name in the invitation | Firm | What it is | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey Solve | McKinsey, most consulting roles | Game-based problem-solving assessment, three games (reported) | Stated in the invitation; about 85 or 95 minutes reported |
| Consulting Career Assessment (CCA) | BCG, US applicants | Online assessment; questionnaires and a short numerical section (reported) | About 30 to 35 minutes (official) |
| Online case, often called Casey | BCG, selected candidates in some offices | One business case run by a chatbot, linked questions, often a short video (reported) | About 35 minutes (official, US) |
| Numerical assessment | BCG, for example the UK and Australia and New Zealand | Short timed numerical test; format not published | Not published |
| Sova | Bain, many offices | Reasoning assessment from an external provider | About 30 to 40 minutes (official) |
| TestGorilla | Bain, many offices | Reasoning assessment from an external provider | About 30 to 40 minutes (official) |
| Coding or technical test | Technical roles at several firms | Programming, data analysis or system design | Stated in the invitation |
If you have applied to several firms, you may face two or three different tests within a few weeks. Plan them by deadline, and prepare each one for its own format rather than treating "consulting tests" as one skill.
Generalist and technical assessments
Most consulting candidates take a generalist assessment: McKinsey Solve, one of BCG's tests or Bain's Sova or TestGorilla. Specialist and technical roles can be different.
McKinsey's interviewing page says that technical roles may include a hands-on technical assessment in areas such as programming, data analysis and system design, and that some client-facing roles may involve another test or game depending on the role. BCG's page for BCG X in Australia and New Zealand describes an online coding test for Data Scientist and AI Engineer roles, followed by technical interviews with case studies and live coding.
For a technical role, read the invitation closely: it may name a coding platform, a programming language and the tools you may use. If it is not clear whether you will also take the generalist assessment, ask the recruiter. The rest of this guide covers the generalist tests.
The rules: tools, completion and deadlines
The practical rules matter as much as the content, because breaking them can cost more than a low score. The table summarises what the firms state, with candidate reports marked.
| Assessment | Tools allowed | How you complete it | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey Solve | No applications, websites, AI tools or prepared notes (official); a calculator inside Redrock (reported) | Alone, on a PC or Mac, with untimed tutorials before each game (official); in one session (reported) | In your invitation; about a week is commonly reported |
| BCG CCA | Calculator in the numerical part (reported) | Online, within 48 hours of the invitation (official, US) | 48 hours (official, US) |
| BCG online case | Calculator allowed (reported); camera for the video (reported) | One sitting, no going back (reported) | In your invitation |
| Bain Sova | Calculator, pen and paper; AI prohibited (official) | Can be split across several sittings, all sections before the deadline (official) | In your invitation |
| Bain TestGorilla | Calculator, pen and paper; AI prohibited (official) | In one sitting; Google Chrome recommended (official) | In your invitation |
Two rules apply everywhere. Do the assessment yourself, without help or AI, and report any technical problem while it is happening, through the channel named in your invitation or FAQ. McKinsey's FAQ says support cannot offer a reset if you did not contact it at the time.
McKinsey Solve
McKinsey's interviewing page describes McKinsey Solve as the assessment for most consulting roles: a gamified test of problem-solving abilities. McKinsey also publishes an FAQ, updated in September 2026, with the practical rules.
- The length of your assessment is stated in your invitation email.
- Each task starts with an untimed tutorial that explains the goal and how to navigate it.
- McKinsey Solve runs only on a PC or Mac, not on a tablet or phone. Sound is not needed and a mouse is optional.
- Without an approved accommodation, you may not use applications, websites, AI tools or pre-prepared notes, and you may not record or screenshot the assessment. You must complete it alone.
- Results are valid for one year, and you may take McKinsey Solve once every 12 months, counted from the date you complete it.
- Technical problems must be reported to support while they happen.
- Results are considered with the rest of your application and do not decide it alone. You may be asked at random to explain your reasoning or complete an additional task in person.
- It is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.
McKinsey does not publish the games or their durations. Candidates consistently report three games:
| Game | What you do (reported) | Length (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Redrock Study | Collect data from a research study, calculate and answer analysis questions, then short cases | About 35 minutes |
| The Sea Wolf (also Ocean Cleanup) | Choose microbes that meet a set of conditions at three sites | About 30 minutes |
| Sustainable Futures Lab | Make decisions as a team or project lead, in a 20 or 30-minute format | About 20 or 30 minutes |
The two Lab formats explain the two total lengths that candidates report: about 85 minutes with the 20-minute Lab and about 95 minutes with the 30-minute Lab. Your invitation tells you the length of yours.
How to prepare for McKinsey Solve
McKinsey's FAQ says no preparation is needed, and in a narrow sense that is true: the tutorials teach the rules. In practice, candidates who have already seen the interface and felt the clock can spend their attention on the problem rather than on the controls. Familiarity is the point, not memorising answers, because scenarios vary for every candidate.
- Play each game once under real timing to see where you lose time or points.
- Work on those points specifically: the calculations and journal in Redrock, checking conditions in Sea Wolf, prioritising and reading information in the Lab.
- Play again and compare with the first run. A few reviewed runs are worth more than many rushed ones.
- Prepare the setup: a quiet room, a PC or Mac, a stable connection and a slot well before the deadline.
You can start with the free McKinsey Solve trial: one complete timed scenario of each game, replayable, with no card needed. It shows you the interface, the pace and where you struggle.
McKinsey Solve practice
Practise all three games under real timing
The free trial gives you one timed scenario of each game. Full access adds the variety of scenarios and the detailed report after every run that shows what to change.
- Free trial: one complete timed scenario per game, replayable, no card
- Full access: 15 Redrock Study scenarios, unlimited Sea Wolf runs, 10 Sustainable Futures Lab scenarios in the 20 and 30-minute formats
- Detailed report and PDF after every run; US$149, one payment, 12 months of access
Money-back guarantee if you do not pass McKinsey Solve, subject to conditions. CasePreparation is independent and not affiliated with McKinsey & Company.
The complete McKinsey Solve guide explains each game in depth, and the McKinsey Solve preparation plan sets out a full schedule.
BCG: the CCA, the online case and numerical tests
BCG does not use one assessment everywhere. Its global interview page does not describe an online test, but several office pages do:
United States (Associate)
The Consulting Career Assessment arrives 30 to 90 minutes after you apply, takes about 30 to 35 minutes and must be completed within 48 hours. A select group is then invited to an online case of about 35 minutes.
United Kingdom (Graduate Associate)
After an initial review, candidates take a "short numerical assessment" as part of the application, before a final CV review and first-round interviews.
Australia and New Zealand (Associate)
Eligible candidates take an online case assessment; shortlisted candidates then take an online numerical assessment before first-round interviews.
What candidates report adds detail that BCG does not publish. The CCA is commonly described as questionnaires about how you work plus a short timed numerical section. The online case, which candidates call Casey, is described as one business case run by a chatbot, with eight to ten linked questions based on exhibits, no going back and, in many versions, a short recorded video recommendation at the end. Numerical tests in other offices are described as short and timed. Names such as Pymetrics and the Potential Test also appear in reports from some offices or earlier seasons; prepare for them only if your invitation names them.
How to prepare for BCG's tests
- CCA: plan a quiet slot within the 48 hours, answer the questionnaires honestly and consistently, and practise short timed sets of percentages and ratios.
- Online case: practise reading charts with two axes, writing each formula before calculating, checking units, and giving a spoken recommendation in under a minute: the answer first, two reasons with numbers, then a risk or next step.
- Numerical tests: timed sets of table and chart questions, reviewing every error for its cause.
The BCG online assessment guide explains each test in detail, with a worked online-case exercise and examples of a weak and a strong video recommendation.
Specialist technical applications need different preparation; the BCG X interview guide separates coding, technical cases and the business case.
Bain: Sova or TestGorilla
Bain publishes the rules of its digital assessment on a dedicated page. Candidates applying for intern or full-time consulting roles may be asked to take it, depending on role and office, and when it is required, it is mandatory: Bain says applications are not considered if the assessment is not completed by the deadline.
- An email after you apply tells you whether you take Sova or TestGorilla.
- The assessment takes about 30 to 40 minutes; timing varies by office and region.
- A calculator, pen and paper are allowed, for this test only and not in later interviews.
- AI tools are strictly prohibited, including recording, screenshots and software that transcribes or gives feedback during the test.
- TestGorilla must be completed in one sitting. Bain says no preparation is needed and recommends Google Chrome.
- Sova does not have to be completed in one sitting, as long as every section is finished before the deadline. Bain recommends the sample questions in Sova's candidate preparation area.
- Candidates can expect to hear back within 60 days of taking the assessment, and those who have already completed it generally do not need to retake it.
Candidate reports describe both tests as mixing numerical, logical and verbal reasoning, sometimes with a questionnaire about how you work. Use the provider named in your email to choose your preparation.
How to prepare for Bain's assessment
For Sova, start with the official sample questions, as Bain suggests, and decide in advance whether you will split the sections across sittings; finishing them on one quiet evening is often simpler than spreading them over the deadline. For TestGorilla, block one uninterrupted slot in Chrome. For either test, practise short timed numerical questions with a calculator. The main difficulty is choosing the right data quickly rather than the arithmetic, so read each chart's title and units before calculating, and do not let one hard question cost you several easier ones.
The Bain interview preparation guide covers the assessment and the interviews that follow, with a worked case.
How the three firms compare
Seen side by side, the three firms test overlapping skills in different ways. The table is a practical summary, not a statement of how the firms score.
| Aspect | McKinsey Solve | BCG online case | Bain Sova or TestGorilla |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Three games (reported) | One business case, linked questions (reported) | Reasoning sections (reported) |
| Business knowledge needed | None | Basic business sense | None |
| Main pressure | Process and time across long games | Time, precision and a final recommendation | Time per question |
| Most useful practice | Timed runs of each game, reviewed | Timed mini-cases with charts and a spoken recommendation | Timed numerical and logical sets |
Two points follow. First, practising one firm's test only partly prepares you for another's: Redrock and the BCG online case both reward careful data reading, but Sea Wolf and the Lab have no equivalent at BCG or Bain. Second, the common thread is precision under time. Writing what you are calculating before you calculate it, and checking units, helps in all three.
One and two-week preparation plans
The plans below are practical references, not guarantees. Adapt them to your starting point, to the number of tests you face and to your deadlines. If you have several tests, do the earliest deadline first.
If you have about one week
| Days | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read your invitation and the official rules; one timed attempt at your test type to find weak points |
| 2 to 4 | Work only on those weak points: specific games, chart reading, units, timed numerical sets |
| 5 to 6 | One or two full timed runs in realistic conditions; review each error by cause |
| 7 | Check your setup, rest, and take the test well before the deadline |
If you have about two weeks
| Days | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Read the invitation and rules; one timed diagnostic attempt |
| 3 to 6 | Daily short drills on your weakest skill; untimed practice on the formats you find hardest |
| 7 to 10 | Timed practice; for McKinsey Solve, a reviewed run of each game; for BCG, mini-cases and recorded videos |
| 11 to 12 | Full timed runs; compare with your first attempt |
| 13 to 14 | Review recurring errors, check your setup and rest |
In both plans, spend some time on case interviews before your result arrives. Interviews often follow within a few weeks, and starting afterwards leaves little time.
Common mistakes
- Preparing for the wrong test because a forum described another office, role or season.
- Using tools the rules prohibit, such as AI, spreadsheets, solvers or prepared notes.
- Underestimating the time: starting on the last evening, or on a laptop that fails the technical check.
- Not reporting a technical problem while it is happening.
- Practising only speed and neglecting accurate reading of data and units.
- Waiting for the result before starting interview preparation.
After the assessment: the interviews
Assessment results inform interview invitations alongside the rest of your application. The interviews then test your case and personal skills in depth. All three firms run case interviews, in which you structure a business problem aloud, do maths without a calculator and give a recommendation, and all three assess your experiences and motivation. The styles differ: McKinsey cases are often led by the interviewer and its Personal Experience Interview goes deep on a few stories; BCG cases are more often led by the candidate, with "why BCG" asked explicitly; Bain asks all candidates for a role the same questions and frequently includes market sizing.
The online tests train useful habits, such as reading data and synthesising, but they cannot replace practice with someone who interrupts, challenges and asks follow-up questions. That is what 1:1 coaching with Franco is for. Franco spent ten years at BCG, from intern to Principal, interviewing and selecting candidates as a global lead recruiter, and he still coaches BCG's new hires as an official BCG coach in the Consulting Foundation Training. Each session is a realistic case and fit interview, followed by a debrief and a written report with your priorities.
"Happy to share that I got offers from McKinsey and BCG! Thank you so much for your guidance and support throughout this process."
J., McKinsey and BCG offers. One candidate's experience; results depend on each candidate and process.
1:1 coaching for McKinsey, BCG and Bain interviews
Prepare the interviews that follow your assessment
Franco Borgonovo has conducted more than 1,500 interviews, over 800 of them for MBB firms. Every session is with him and is followed by a written report.
- Realistic case and fit interviews adapted to the firm, office and round
- Start with one session for a diagnosis and a plan; packages of 3, 5 or 10 sessions add email support between sessions
- Money-back guarantee if the coaching does not meet your expectations
Use the free call to tell Franco which firms you are applying to, your test and interview dates, and where you feel stuck.
Frequently asked questions
Which online assessment will I get?
Your invitation email names it. As a rule, McKinsey uses McKinsey Solve for most consulting roles, BCG uses different tests by office, and Bain uses Sova or TestGorilla. Technical roles may have a coding or technical test instead or as well.
Can I use a calculator?
At Bain, yes: a calculator, pen and paper are allowed. At BCG, candidates report a calculator is allowed in the online case and the CCA's numerical part; check your invitation. McKinsey's Assessment Integrity Expectations allow pen and paper for notes and calculations and prohibit external calculators and apps; and candidates report a calculator built into Redrock.
Can I split the assessment across several sessions?
Bain explicitly allows Sova sections to be completed in several sittings before the deadline; TestGorilla must be done in one sitting. McKinsey Solve and BCG's online case are generally reported as single-session tests. Follow your own invitation, including any approved accommodation.
How long are McKinsey Solve results valid?
McKinsey's September 2026 FAQ says results are valid for one year and that you can take McKinsey Solve once every 12 months, counted from the date you complete it.
Do I need to prepare?
McKinsey says no preparation is needed for McKinsey Solve, and Bain says the same for TestGorilla. Familiarity with the format and the clock still helps you use your time well, and Bain recommends Sova's sample questions. Prepare to understand the format, not to memorise answers.
Can I use AI to help during the test?
For the general consulting assessments covered here, do not use outside AI assistance. McKinsey and Bain prohibit it; BCG's guidance about AI in applications and preparation does not itself authorise AI during a test. For specialist technical exercises, use only tools expressly permitted in that exercise's instructions.
Final checklist
Your next step
If McKinsey Solve is your test, start with one timed run of each game to see where you stand. Whatever your firm, begin the interview preparation now, because it decides the offer and the time after the test is short.
Start here
McKinsey Solve trial or interview coaching
Try one timed scenario of each McKinsey Solve game for free, or book a coaching session for a realistic interview and a written plan.
About Franco
Franco Borgonovo
Former BCG Principal · 10-year tenure · Official BCG coachFranco spent ten years at BCG, from intern to Principal, interviewing and selecting candidates as a global lead recruiter. He is still an official BCG coach for new hires, and today works one to one with candidates on applications, McKinsey Solve and interviews.
More about Franco →- McKinsey: Assessment Integrity Expectations · pen and paper for notes and calculations; restrictions on outside tools; checked 3 November 2026
- McKinsey Solve FAQ (September 2026) · length in the invitation, untimed tutorials, PC or Mac, prohibited tools, validity and retake interval, support, accommodations, languages; read 3 November 2026
- McKinsey: Interviewing (careers page) · McKinsey Solve for most consulting roles; technical assessments for technical roles; AI rules; read 3 November 2026
- BCG: US Associate recruiting (careers page) · Consulting Career Assessment and online case; read 3 November 2026
- BCG: Graduate Associate recruitment in the United Kingdom (careers page) · short numerical assessment; read 3 November 2026
- BCG: Associate recruitment in Australia and New Zealand (careers page) · online case, then numerical assessment; read 3 November 2026
- BCG X: Associate recruitment in Australia and New Zealand (careers page) · online coding test, then technical interviews with live coding; read 3 November 2026
- Bain & Company: Digital assessment (careers page) · Sova or TestGorilla, duration, tools, AI rules, sittings, results; read 3 November 2026