case study boston consulting group

Case Interview Preparation

Perform at your best during your case interview., bcgers share their case study interview tips., follow these dos and don ’ ts to ace your case prep:, test your case interview skills with these interactive quizzes..

Hacking the Case Interview

BCG case interviews are the most difficult part of the interview process. BCG interviews consist of case interviews, behavioral or fit interviews, and a written case interview for some offices. You will need to pass every single BCG case interview in order to land a job offer.

The exact BCG interview process may vary, but the vast majority of candidates will have two rounds of interviews before they receive an offer. Every single round of interview will include a BCG case interview.

• BCG First round interviews : typically consists of two 45-minute interviews. The first 10 to 15 minutes will be spent briefly exploring your background and experiences while the remaining 25 to 30 minutes will be spent on the case interview. You may also be given a BCG online case and chatbot interview instead
• BCG Final round interviews : typically consist of two to three 45-minute interviews. The types of questions will roughly be the same mix of behavioral and fit interview questions and case interviews, with the addition of a potential BCG written case interview

If you have an upcoming BCG interview, we have you covered. We’ll cover in detail:

• 6 steps to solve any BCG case interview
• Examples of BCG case interviews
• BCG case interview tips
• The BCG written case interview
• BCG behavioral and fit interview questions
• Recommended BCG case interview resources

6 Steps to Solve Any BCG Case Interview

For BCG case interviews, you’ll analyze a case study and develop solutions for a hypothetical client. Often times, the cases that you see will be based on real BCG consulting projects. These case interviews are meant to give you insight into what it would be like to work at BCG

There are no right or wrong answers. Instead, BCG assesses you on your thinking process, strategic skills, and ability to make a strong case for your recommendations.

BCG case interviews are candidate-led. While your interviewer will provide you with some facts of the case, it is up to you to frame an approach and work through the case. You will need to engage the interviewer and ask for the information that you need to solve the case. Most of the time, the interviewer will have a passive role unless you engage them.

Compared to other candidate-led styles of case interviews at firms such as Bain, Deloitte, or Accenture, BCG cases tend to give you less direction, but more control. You will be left on your own to fully own the process of solving the case. This means that you will be thinking on your feet a lot.

There are six major steps to solving any BCG case interview.

1. Understand the case

The case will begin with the interviewer giving you the case information. While the interviewer is speaking, make sure that you are taking meticulous notes on the most important pieces of information. Focus on understanding the context of the situation, the company, and the objective of the case.

2. Verify the objective

Understanding the business problem and objective of the case is the most important part of the case interview. Not addressing the right business question is the quickest way to fail a case interview.

Make sure that you ask clarifying questions to better understand the business situation and problem. Then, confirm that you understand the case objective with the interviewer. This ensures that you start the case on the right track.

3. Create a framework

Develop a framework to help you tackle the business problem. A framework is a tool that helps you structure and break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components. With a framework, you’ll be brainstorming different ideas and organizing them into different categories.

Afterwards, walk the interviewer through your framework. They may ask a few questions or provide some feedback to you.

For a complete guide on how to create tailored and unique frameworks for each case, check out our article on case interview frameworks .

4. Develop a hypothesis

After creating a framework, you should develop a hypothesis . A hypothesis is an educated guess on the answer based on the data and information that you have so far.

Your hypothesis does not need to be correct. You’ll be continuously testing and refining your hypothesis throughout the case. The purpose of having a hypothesis is to guide your analysis and ensure that you are spending your time answering the right questions.

5. Test your hypothesis

The majority of the case will be spent testing your hypothesis.

After stating your hypothesis, it is up to you to lead the direction of the case. Depending on the context of the case, you may want to ask for data to do some analysis. You may also want to explore qualitative questions that you have. As you uncover more information, your hypothesis will likely have to change. 

Sometimes, your hypothesis will be completely wrong and you’ll need to develop a completely new hypothesis to test. Other times, your hypothesis may be on the right track, but you’ll need to refine or narrow it down further.

Throughout the rest of the case, you’ll be answering a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions. Make sure that after each question, you explain how your answer impacts your hypothesis or answer to the case.

6. Deliver a recommendation

In the last step of the case interview, you’ll present your recommendation and provide the major reasons that support it. You do not need to recap everything that you have done in the case, so focus on summarizing only the facts that are most important.

It is also good practice to include potential next steps that you would take if you had more time or data. These can be areas of your framework that you did not have time to explore yet or lingering questions that you do not have great answers for.

Afterwards, the interviewer may tell you what actually happened in the case if the case was a real BCG project. Don’t worry if your recommendations do not align with what actually happened. You are assessed on your overall process, not on your answer.

BCG Case Interview Examples

BCG provides only a few practice cases that you can work through to improve your case interview skills:

• Climate Case Challenge
• Driving Revenue Growth at a Healthcare Company (scroll to the middle of the page to find it)
• Crafting a Distribution Strategy (same link as the previous case)

BCG used to have two amazing interactive cases on their website. These were long cases that helped you practice driving the direction of the case in a logical and structured way. 

Although BCG has since taken these interactive cases off their website, we do have full-length videos that cover these cases. You can watch the videos below and use the pause button to practice along.

Airline practice case : A profitability case focused on helping a low-cost carrier airline improve profitability. This is an interactive case that lets you practice leading the direction of a case interview. It takes quite a bit of time to get through, but is highly recommended to go through.

Drug company practice case : A pricing case focused on helping a pharmaceutical company determine the optimal price for a new drug. This is also an interactive case and is highly recommended to go through.

For more practice, check out our article on 23 MBA consulting casebooks with 700+ free practice cases .

BCG Case Interview Tips

Below are twelve BCG case interview tips to help you improve your BCG case interview performance:

Tip #1: Ask questions

Make sure that you ask clarifying questions if there is something you do not fully understand. Your interviewer may provide additional data or hints throughout the case, so it is your benefit to ask relevant questions to get more information.

Tip #2: Understand the problem

Don’t rush into doing analysis without having a solid understanding of the problem. You will not be penalized for asking questions to confirm your understanding of the business problem or objective.

Tip #3: Structure the problem and develop a framework

Developing an outstanding framework helps set you up for success in the case interview. Having a mediocre framework can make solving the case more difficult for you. Therefore, dedicate the time to structure a framework before diving into the analysis.

Tip #4: Focus on high-impact issues

You will not have enough time to answer every question that you have. Time is a limited resource in case interviews, so make sure you spend it wisely. Focus your efforts on tackling the issues that have the greatest potential impact on your ultimate recommendation.

Tip #5: Think before speaking

Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly. Whenever you come across new data or information, take the time to organize your thoughts and consider all possibilities. Taking just a few seconds to think before speaking can make your answer much more coherent and intelligent.

Tip #6: Generate a hypothesis

BCG consultants use a hypothesis-driven approach to find solutions to their clients’ problems. You should do the same thing in your BCG case interviews. Your hypothesis will help you lead the direction of the case and focus on what is relevant and important.

Tip #7: Don’t use memorized frameworks

Interviewers can tell when you are using memorized frameworks from popular case interview prep books. BCG values creativity and intellect. Therefore, make every effort to create a custom, tailored framework for each case that you get.

Tip #8: Demonstrate business judgment

Use your business judgment to make hypotheses, conclusions, or recommendations that are reasonable and pragmatic. Consider the client’s situation to determine what is possible and what is too ambitious. 

Tip #9: Make quick and accurate calculations

You’ll likely be doing math calculations at some point during the case interview. Since BCG does not allow the use of calculators during interviews, you’ll need to make sure that your math skills are sharp. You won’t need to know advanced math topics, but you do need to be able to perform basic calculations quickly and accurately.

Tip #10: Don’t defend your solution at all costs

You need to be open-minded and flexible during the case interview. If your interviewer makes strong points that point out flaws in your solution, you need to be able to take feedback and adapt your solution. Don’t be stubborn and stick with your solution if it is not the best one.

Tip #11: Be transparent about your thought process

The interviewer cannot read your mind and know what you are thinking. Therefore, it is good practice to always be transparent on your thought process. Explicitly communicate what approach you are taking, what you are thinking about, and what questions you have. This makes it easier for the interviewer to give tips or feedback if you get stuck.

Tip #12: Engage your interviewer

Remember that a case interview is meant to be a conversation. You should not be talking to yourself the entire time. Make sure that you engage the interviewer by asking questions or asking for their feedback or input. You’ll find the case interview much more stimulating this way.

The BCG Written Case Interview

The BCG written case interview is a completely different variant of the traditional case interview. 

In a written case interview, you’ll be solving the case by working independently rather than by collaborating with the interviewer. Here’s how BCG’s written case interview is structured:

• BCG will provide you with 40 PowerPoint slides that contain data, graphs, charts, and press articles
• BCG will provide 3 to 4 key questions for you to answer
• You will have 2 hours to review the material and make 3 to 5 presentation slides
• You will have 40 minutes to present and discuss your recommendations with the interviewer, who may challenge your analysis and findings

Follow these eight steps to ace your BCG written case interview.

1. Understand the business problem

To efficiently complete a written case interview, the first step is to understand what the overall business problem is. What is the overall question you are trying to answer with the data and information provided?

2. Read the list of key questions

BCG will provide you with a list of 3 – 4 key questions that you will be expected to address or answer. Read through these questions carefully. Knowing what these questions are will help you prioritize your time.

3. Flip through the materials

Afterwards, skim through all of the different slides of information that is provided. If you notice that some information matches the type of information you need to answer a key question, write down the slide number next to the key question.

The goal in this step is not to read and analyze every slide in detail. This would take too much time. The goal is to identify what data you have and what data you do not have.

4. Read and analyze the material 

Afterwards, you’ll start answering the key questions of the case. Start with the question that you think will be the easiest or most straightforward. Save the harder questions for the end.

You’ll likely need to do math at some point during the written case interview, so make sure that you crunch the numbers if it helps you answer a key question.

After answering a key question, write a couple of sentences to summarize your key takeaways or findings. This will help you decide on a recommendation and put together your slides much quicker later on. 

5. Decide on a recommendation

Review the list of key takeaways that you have summarized from answering all of the key questions. If the written case asks for a single recommendation, decide on what recommendation your findings collectively support.

Remember that there is typically no right or wrong recommendation. As long as your recommendation is supported by data and evidence, you will be in great shape.

6. Outline your slides

Once you have a recommendation, it is time to start making your slides. Before you make any individual slide, it is helpful to create a structure for your presentation to make it clear and concise.

We recommend using the following structure for your presentation slides:

• Slide 1: Present your recommendation and the three reasons that support it
• Slide 2: Present your first reason and the data that supports it
• Slide 3: Present your second reason and the data that supports it
• Slide 4: Present your third reason and the data that supports it
• Slide 5: Summarize everything that you’ve covered so far
• Slide 6: Propose potential next steps

Each of your answers to the key questions should be summarized on one slide. These answers will likely support the overall recommendation that you are making.

For each slide, write the title of the slide first. The titles of your slides should be action-oriented and summarize the entire slide. If your interviewer were to just read the titles of your slides, they should be able to understand your entire presentation.

7. Fill in your slides

Once you have your slide outline and slide titles, it is time to fill in the body of the slides. Decide what format of content is most helpful for each slide.

For example, summaries are best illustrated using concise bullet points. Data-driven slides are best illustrated with tables, graphs, or charts. Complex analyses or processes are best illustrated with diagrams or frameworks.

Make sure that the content of the slide supports the title of each slide. However, do not overdue how much content you put on each slide. In general, each slide should have one key message.

8. Prepare for potential questions

If you still have time remaining after you finish your slides, brainstorm potential questions your interviewer could ask you. For example, they may want to know how you performed your analysis or how you reached your conclusions.

Preparing for these potential questions will help your presentation go much more smoothly. In addition, you’ll also feel much more confident while presenting.

For a full guide on written case interviews, check out our consulting written case interview step-by-step guide .

BCG Behavioral and Fit Interview Questions

These are the 10 most common BCG behavioral and fit interview questions you’ll likely be asked:

1.  Why BCG?

How to answer: Provide your three biggest reasons why you’re interested in working at BCG. You could mention that you loved the people that you have met from BCG so far. You can talk about BCG’s thought leadership and innovation, professional development opportunities, or expertise in nearly any industry or function.

2. Why consulting?

How to answer: Again, provide three reasons for why you’re interested in consulting. You could mention the rapid career progression, the opportunity to make a large impact on an organization, or the learning opportunities to develop soft and hard skills that are transferrable to nearly any business role.

3. Walk me through your resume

How to answer: Summarize your work experience, starting with the most recent. Do not cover every single thing that you have done. Instead, focus on highlighting your most impressive and unique accomplishments. At the end, connect your work experiences to why you are interested in consulting.

4. What accomplishment are you most proud of? 

How to answer: Choose your most impressive, unique, or memorable accomplishment. Structure your answer by providing information on the situation, the task, the actions you took, and the results of your work. Explain why the accomplishment is so meaningful to you.

5. Tell me about something that is not on your resume

How to answer: This is an opportunity to highlight an accomplishment that is not related to your professional work experience. You could mention a non-profit that you volunteer at, a side project or business that you work on, or a hobby that you have pursued for many years. Select an accomplishment that is impressive and interesting. Avoid mentioning experiences that don’t have quantifiable results or impact.

6. Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team.

How to answer: For these behavioral interview questions, make sure you prepare at least 3 to 5 stories beforehand. This way, no matter what type of experience questioned is asked, you’ll always have an experience that you can share. 

For this question, choose a time when you directly managed a person or a team. Structure your answer by providing information on the situation, the task, the actions you took, and the results of your work. This is known as the STAR method and is a common way of answering behavioral or fit interview questions efficiently.

7. Describe a time when you faced conflict or disagreement.

How to answer: When answering this question, focus on emphasizing the steps you took to resolve a conflict or disagreement. Speak about the interpersonal skills you had to use in order to mediate the situation. 

Did you have to be patient, persuasive, or decisive? Interviewers want to know that you can handle conflict in a constructive way.

8. Give an example of a time when you successfully persuaded someone.

How to answer: Choose a time when you were able to change someone’s mind. Focus on emphasizing the steps that you took to persuade that person and what impact this had on the organization. Interviewers want to know that you are a great communicator and have good people skills.

9. Tell me about a time when you failed.

How to answer: Choose a time when you failed to meet a deadline or did not meet expectations. However, don’t pick a failure that is too big or embarrassing. This may raise a red flag to the interviewer.

Focus on emphasizing what you learned from the experience and how you used that experience to improve yourself. Interviewers want to see that you can learn from your past failures and are the type of person that constantly works on improving themself.

10. Are there any questions that you have for me?

How to answer: Make sure that you  prepare questions to ask  beforehand. BCG looks at this question as a way to assess your interest in consulting and the firm. Therefore, ask follow-up questions about the case that you just solved to demonstrate your interest in consulting cases. Ask the interviewer what their favorite project has been so far or what they enjoy most about the job to demonstrate interest in their career.

For a step-by-step guide on how to best answer all of these questions and more, check out our complete guide on consulting behavioral interview questions .

Recommended BCG Case Interview Resources

Bcg case interview books.

After free resources, the next cheapest option to preparing for BCG case interviews are case interview prep books.

Case interview prep books are great resources to use because they are fairly inexpensive, only costing $20 to $30. They contain a tremendous amount of information that you can read, digest, and re-read at your own pace.

Based on our comprehensive review of the 12 popular case interview prep books , we ranked nearly all of the case prep books in the market.

The three case interview prep books we recommend using are:

• Hacking the Case Interview (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
• Case Interview Secrets (available on Amazon): This book provides great explanations of essential case interview concepts and fundamentals. The stories and anecdotes that the author provides are entertaining and help paint a clear picture of what to expect in a case interview, what interviewers are looking for, and how to solve a case interview.

BCG Case Interview Online Courses

Case interview courses are more expensive to use than case interview prep books, but offer more efficient and effective learning. 

You’ll learn much more quickly from watching someone teach you the material, provide examples, and then walk through practice problems than from reading a book by yourself.

Courses typically cost anywhere between $200 to $400.

If you are looking for a single resource to learn the best BCG case interview strategies in the most efficient way possible, enroll in our case interview course .

Through 70+ concise video lessons and 20 full-length practice cases based on real interviews from top-tier consulting firms, you’ll learn step-by-step how to crush your BCG case interview.

We’ve had students pass their BCG first round interview with just a week of preparation, but know that your success depends on the amount of effort you put in and your starting capabilities.

BCG Case Interview Coaching

With case interview coaching, you’ll pay anywhere between $100 to $300 for a one-hour mock case interview session with a case coach. Typically, case coaches are former consultants or interviewers that have worked at top-tier consulting firms.

Although very expensive, case interview coaching can provide you with high quality feedback that can significantly improve your case interview performance. 

By working with a case coach, you will be practicing high quality cases with an expert. You’ll get detailed feedback that ordinary case interview partners are not able to provide.

Know that you do not need to purchase case interview coaching to receive a consulting job offer. 

The vast majority of candidates that receive offers from top firms did not purchase case interview coaching. By purchasing case interview coaching, you are essentially purchasing convenience and learning efficiency.

Case interview coaching is best for those that have already learned as much as they can about case interviews on their own and feel that they have reached a plateau in their learning. 

For case interview beginners and intermediates, it may be a better use of their money to first purchase a case interview course or case interview prep book before purchasing expensive coaching sessions.

If you do decide to eventually use a case interview coach, consider using our case interview coaching service .

There is a wide range of quality among coaches, so ensure that you are working with someone that is invested in your development and success. 

If possible, ask for reviews from previous candidates that your coach has worked with.

Summary of Best BCG Case Interview Resources

Here are the resources we recommend to learn the most robust, effective case interview strategies in the least time-consuming way:

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.
• Hacking the Case Interview Book   (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.
• Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with former consulting interviewers
• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course : Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer
• Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple interviews

Land Multiple Consulting Offers

Complete, step-by-step case interview course. 30,000+ happy customers.

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The BCG Online Case & Chatbot Interview - How to Prepare

• Last Updated January, 2024

What Is the BCG Online Case?

What Skills Does It Assess?

What Does the Online Case Look Like?

6 Steps to Prepare for the Online Case

The BCG Chatbot Interview

Links to Preparation Resources

If you’ve applied to the Boston Consulting Group, you might get an invitation to interview that mentions not only live case interviews but an online case interview or chatbot interview as well. 

Are you wondering what BCG’s online case interview looks like and how you should prepare? 

Don’t worry! We’ve got all the details here to make sure you pass. 

If you’re applying to BCG New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, London, or an office in Southeast Asia , be sure to see our section about differences in those versions of the test. In fact, we suggest everyone take a look at this section because BCG is preparing to roll out the chatbot interview more broadly .

Let’s get started!

What is the BCG Online Case?

The BCG online case is a business problem you’re asked to solve on a computer rather than in a one-on-one discussion with an interviewer. 

Via the computer, BCG candidates are given an overview of a client, their business problem, and data relevant to the client’s business and the overall market (revenues, costs, business lines, market size, etc.) 

They’re asked questions with multiple-choice answers. Many of the questions in the online test are quantitative.

There are several different formats of the online case being used in different offices. We have specifics on several offices below.

What Skills Does the BCG Online Assessment Test?

BCG is using the online test to give candidates an in-depth example of the types of problems they help their clients to solve. 

This means you should consider whether you’d enjoy solving problems like this.

They’re also using the online case questions to assess the following skills:

• Business judgment; 
• Logical reasoning; and
• Quantitative aptitude.

What Does the BCG Online Case Look Like?

Above is a screenshot of a practice BCG online test question. While this format represents only one of several versions BCG uses, it is helpful for understanding the types of questions you’ll face.

If you have taken or prepared for the GMAT test, you might notice the similarities in appearance and also skills tested.

The screen is split into 2 windows. The left window has a question as well as multiple-choice answers. 

In the right window, there is data you can use to answer the question.

During the actual test, you’ll have more than 20 questions to answer and 45 minutes to complete the test.

During this time, you’ll be able to move forward and backward through the case to review data. You may also change your answers.

The online case is conducted as part of a round of interviews. 

In the round, you’ll interview one-on-one with 2 BCG interviewers as well.

What Types of Questions Are Being Asked in the BCG Online Test?

Many of the questions on the BCG online case are quantitative. The sample cases we’ve seen include:

• A gasoline pricing strategy for a fuel retailer in a country that has recently deregulated gas prices and
• A revenue growth study for a ferry line serving islands with a tourism-based economy.

Quantitative questions included:

• Gross margin calculation,
• Determining the price that would maximize sales (using a supply and demand graph),
• Determining the price that would maximize profit (using a supply and demand graph and other data), and
• GDP growth rate calculation.

In addition to the quantitative questions, there are also logical reasoning questions.

In these questions, you’ll be asked things like explain trends in the data based on the information provided.

During the test, you’re not allowed to use a spreadsheet program on the computer to calculate answers. 

You will be allowed to use a simple calculator. 

You can also use a pen and paper to take notes.

BCG’s Online Case Tests Similar Concepts to the GMAT

Our team of former McKinsey, Bain, and BCG consultants includes consultants who were also former GMAT tutors. 

We had our team evaluate the BCG online case and here is what we found…

Common types of questions include:

Mathematical reasoning questions:

• Percentages,
• Ratios, and 
• Weighted averages.

Verbal reasoning questions:

• Drawing inferences and
• Strengthening and weakening arguments.
• Supply and demand,
• Maximizing revenue, and
• Maximizing profit.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

Differences in the BCG Online Assessment Used in Various Offices

The BCG online case study simulation assessment and interviewing process are different for candidates in several US offices, London, and Southeast Asia. As we find out more about the formats other offices are using, we’ll provide that information here.

Here are the differences:

BCG Online Case Study (AKA the BCG chatbot interview)

• Offices using the chatbot interview: New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Mexico. We are hearing about the chatbot interview getting rolled out in more offices.
• The recruiting process is: In the first round of interviews, candidates have 1 interview with an interviewer and 1 chatbot interview.
• The chatbot case is conducted by “Casey” the chatbot. Where live BCG cases are interviewee-led, the chatbot case is interviewer-led.
• Candidates are given 25 minutes to answer 12 questions . There is a short introductory video in which Casey the chatbot introduces a business problem. The chatbot interview asks multiple-choice and short answer/fill-in questions. The last question is on structuring the problem, then there is a 1-minute video recording at the end in which you provide your recommendation for the client.
• People report that the chatbot interview is harder than a normal case. The questions heavily use exhibits and there is a good bit of math, though it’s pretty straighforward. All answers are final. You can not change previous answers later in the test. The time limit for your answers is tight. BCG’s instructions say each question is independent so that if you get one wrong, you still have a good shot on subsequent questions, but candidates who’ve taken the test report that’s not true. 
• You will have 1 minute to prepare and 1 minute to record your video at the end, your recommendation to the client. You will not be able to re-record your recommendation. (Be sure to complete the case on a laptop with a webcam.)
• K eep note of relevant case details as you would during a live interview because you will not be able to go back to review exhibits.

Sample Case Questions:

• Our client is a furniture manufacturer who could offer a promotion for a sports game. Should they do this?
• Our client is the 2nd largest player in its industry. The 3rd & 4th largest players plan to merge. How should our client respond?
• Our client wants to acquire a downstream player in their market and integrate vertically. What factors should they consider?
• Our client has 2 manufacturing plants, Plant A and Plant B. They face rising costs due to labor issues in plant A. How will you help our client?
• Our client is an insurance company. They want to assess whether they should offer a fitness watch to clients to help them to live healthier lives and reduce insurance premiums.

Examples of Quantitative Questions:

• Calculate post-merger profitability for 2 merging companies factoring in economies of scale gained from the merger. This calculation involves weighing the current margins of each company by its share of post-merger revenue and adding additional margins gained from economies of scale.
• Should our client vertically integrate?  Determine whether this makes financial sense by calculating current profitability and comparing that to the future profitability if the client acquires raw material at cost.

Examples of Qualitative Questions:

• For a business problem, choose the factors the client should consider from a list of options. There may be a free-response follow-up question asking why the candidate chose those factors.

BCG Online Behavioral Questions

• After the chatbot interview, there is a separate 25-minute video interview with fit questions.
• This includes 5 fit questions.
• You don’t need to take the entire time to answer each question. Short, structured answers will serve you better than long, rambling answers.
• See our article on Consulting Behavioral Interviews for tips on acing these questions.

BCG London Online Case Study Simulation Assessment

• The recruiting process is:  1) first round: the online case study simulation + one 45-minute video conference case interview, 2) second round: video conference interviews, 3) final round: video conference interviews.
• 1-hour interview preparation webinars are provided in advance of interviews,
• The online case study simulation will be sent to you. You’ll have 24 hours to complete it .

BCG Southeast Asia Online Case

• The recruiting process is:  1) the online case, 2) 2R (or 2nd round) – 2 in-person interviews assessing case and behavioral skills, and 3) DR (or decision round) – 2 in-person interviews with partners assessing case and behavioral skills. 
• The online case comes before any in-person interviews as a separate interview round,
• The test takes under 1 hour to complete,
• It includes 2 sections, one with questions and then one with a video recording ,
• In the recording, candidates will explain their analytic process and provide recommendations to the “client.”
• This online case is used for both experienced hire applicants and those graduating from degree programs.

Differences in the Online Case Format Between Offices

We wanted to highlight these differences in the recruiting process and online cases between different BCG offices because if you are planning on just answering questions on a computer and then are given a simulation or asked to record your answers on video, this would be a big surprise.

But don’t worry. Really, your task is not that different.

As we get more information on offices using the online case, we’ll update that information here.

6 Steps to Prepare for the BCG Online Assessment

Based on the similarity between the online case questions and the GMAT questions, here is how our team recommends preparing  before your interview:

1. Study the sample online case questions and answers provided by BCG and/or attend their interview prep webinar (for offices that offer it).

These cases are your best guide to what the online test will look like. Recent candidates have noted, however, that the practice case was easier than the actual online case.

The BCG interactive case library is also a good resource.

2. Study using practice questions for the GMAT test.

The online case does not cover exactly the same material as the GMAT so this isn’t a perfect study guide, but it’s quite good. 

Pay particular attention to questions in the quantitative and integrated reasoning sections (especially ratios, percentages, linear and simultaneous equation word problems.) See our resource section below for recommended test-prep guides.

3. Review your GMAT test practice questions for trends in the types of questions you missed.

If your mistakes were careless errors , ask yourself what habits you can develop to limit those types of mistakes in the future. 

If your mistakes were based on a gap in your understanding of a concept , spend more time studying that concept.

Most people simply do practice questions without reviewing their results for how they can study smarter. Don’t do this. 

Focus on the types of problems you struggle with until you can consistently get them right.

4. Reviewing Economics 101 principles could help your score if you’re weak in this area.

The online case expects you to have more in-depth knowledge of economics principles such as supply and demand and profit maximization than the GMAT does.

5. If you’re short on time before your test, focus effort on the types of questions most likely to come up on the BCG online case . 

Integrated reasoning, multi-source reasoning, table analysis, and graphic interpretation are the types of questions that come up most frequently. Focusing on these areas will improve your score the most.

6. Know the optimal strategy for maximizing your score on this test. 

BCG’s practice test is graded by giving 3 points for a question answered correctly, 0 points for a skipped question, and taking 1 point away for an incorrect answer. 

From this, we can infer that guessing is not a good idea unless you can narrow a question down to 2 potential choices. If you can’t eliminate at least 2 answers, then skip.

7. Manage your time during the test. 

Candidates who’ve taken the test report being pressed for time. Make sure you don’t get bogged down on one difficult question, taking no more than about 1.5 minutes/question.

Skipping a difficult question can ensure you have time to complete simpler questions you haven’t yet gotten to. If you have extra time at the end of the test, you can return to difficult questions.

Example of BCG’s Online Case

The screenshot above is an example of a practice question that requires the candidate to interpret text and graphical data.

Links to Resources for Prepping for the BCG Online Assessment

The best resources to practice with are the 2 BCG practice online cases. If you need more practice materials to feel confident with your preparation, we recommend the following:

• A GMAT test-prep book . The book we recommend using to practice for the online case is this book.  Do keep in mind that the BCG test is similar, but not the same .
• A GMAT test-prep book focused on quantitative questions. This is the best resource to use if you’re having problems with the quantitative questions. We recommend this book . 

In particular, look at chapters 4, 7, 13, 17, and 18. You’ll want to work on the word problems and problem-solving, but filter out for ONLY the questions related to business problems and not, for example, the geometry and symbolic algebra.

• If you haven’t taken an Economics 101 course, you’ll need to learn some basic principles. Khan Academy has a great series on microeconomics  here .
• If you’re running short on time, focus on integrated resource questions. Specifically, this will help with multi-source reasoning, table analysis, and graphics interpretation questions.

Want to study even more??

• If you’re having trouble with integrated reasoning questions,  use this . 
• If you’re struggling with the math questions, we recommend  this book .
• For another integrated reasoning test-prep book we like ,  click here .

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about BCG’s online case, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them.

Other people preparing for the BCG online case found the following pages helpful:

• The BCG Case Interview: Preparation Advice from a Former-BCG Consultant
• BCG One Way Interview
• BCG Pymetrics Test
• Case Interview Prep

Schedule a Mock Practice Before Your BCG online case.

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How to Prepare for Boston Consulting Group Management Consulting Case Interviews?

If you're preparing for a Boston Consulting Group management consulting case interview, this article is a must-read.

Posted August 17, 2023

Featuring Ben L.

Mastering the Case: Frameworks & Structuring

Wednesday, april 17.

6:00 PM UTC · 60 minutes

Table of Contents

If you're applying for a management consulting role at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), you're likely aware that the case interview is a critical component of the hiring process. While interviews can be nerve-wracking, preparation and practice can alleviate some anxiety and help you put your best foot forward. This article will cover everything you need to know about how to prepare for Boston Consulting Group management consulting case interviews.

Understanding the Boston Consulting Group case interview process

Before you start preparing, it's important to understand the Boston Consulting Group case interview process. BCG case interviews aim to assess your problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills. The interviews typically last around 45 minutes and are composed of two parts: a case study and a behavioral interview.

The case study is designed to test your analytical skills and your ability to think critically. You'll be presented with a hypothetical business problem or situation, and you'll need to provide recommendations and solutions based on the information provided. The interviewer will evaluate your ability to communicate your thought process effectively and logically.

The behavioral interview aims to assess your fit for the role. You'll be asked about your previous experiences and achievements, and you'll need to demonstrate your ability to work in a team and your leadership potential.

It's important to note that BCG case interviews are highly competitive, and the firm receives thousands of applications each year. Therefore, it's crucial to prepare thoroughly and practice as much as possible. You can find sample case studies and behavioral interview questions online, and it's recommended to practice with a partner or a coach to receive feedback and improve your performance.

Additionally, BCG values diversity and inclusivity, and the firm is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all candidates. If you have any specific needs or requirements, such as accommodations for a disability or religious observance, you can inform the recruiter in advance, and they will do their best to accommodate your needs.

Top tips for acing your Boston Consulting Group case interview

Now that you know what to expect, let's dive into some tips to help you ace your interview:

1. Practice! The more case studies you complete, the more comfortable you'll feel during the interview. There are numerous resources available online that provide case studies for practice.

2. Listen carefully to the interviewer's instructions. Pay close attention to the problem statement and make sure you understand the objective of the case.

3. Structure your approach. A structured approach will help you stay organized and focused during the interview. Start with the problem statement, clarify objectives, gather information, develop options, make recommendations.

4. Communicate effectively. It's important to articulate your thought process clearly and logically. Make sure to explain your assumptions, and ask questions if you're unsure about anything.

5. Be confident and calm. Remember that the interviewer is not trying to trick you, but rather assess your problem-solving skills. Take a deep breath and approach the case with a clear mind.

6. Use real-life examples. Whenever possible, use real-life examples to support your recommendations. This will demonstrate your ability to apply your knowledge to real-world situations.

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Practice makes perfect: how to hone your case interview skills

As mentioned earlier, practice is key to preparing for your BCG case interview. Here are some additional tips to help you effectively hone your skills:

1. Work with a partner. Practice with a friend or mentor who has experience in consulting. You'll get valuable feedback and be able to practice your communication skills.

2. Time yourself. The time restriction in the case interview can be challenging, so it's important to practice under timed conditions.

3. Analyze feedback. After completing a case study, analyze the feedback you received and identify areas for improvement.

4. Research the company. Before your interview, research the company and its values. This will help you tailor your approach and show that you are invested in the company's success. Check out this article to learn how to answer the "Why BCG?" question!

The importance of research and preparation for a successful BCG interview

Research and preparation are key components to success in a BCG interview. Here are some tips:

1. Research BCG. Learn about the company's culture, values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your responses to the firm's expectations.

2. Read case studies. Reading case studies will provide you with a good understanding of the types of problems a management consultant may encounter.

3. Familiarize yourself with frameworks. Familiarize yourself with different frameworks used in consulting, such as SWOT analysis and Porter's Five Forces.

4. Practice your communication skills. In addition to having a strong understanding of consulting frameworks and case studies, it's important to be able to effectively communicate your ideas and solutions. Practice presenting your ideas to friends or family members and ask for feedback on your communication style.

How to analyze and approach a case study during a BCG interview

Here are some tips for analyzing and approaching a case study:

1. Break the case study down. Identify the key issues and prioritize them.

2. Gather information. Ask relevant questions to gather information that will help you solve the problem.

3. Develop hypotheses. Based on the information you've gathered, develop hypotheses to test.

4. Use frameworks. Utilize frameworks such as SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Forces, and the 4 Ps of marketing to organize your thoughts and approach the problem systematically.

Examples of common case questions asked during a Boston Consulting Group interview

Here are a few examples of common case questions:

1. Should a company enter a new market?

2. Should a company pursue a new product line?

3. How can a company improve its profitability?

4. How can a company reduce costs?

5. How can a company improve its customer satisfaction?

One approach could be to conduct customer surveys to identify pain points and areas for improvement. Another approach could be to invest in customer service training for employees to ensure they are equipped to handle customer inquiries and complaints.

6. How can a company stay competitive in a rapidly changing industry?

One strategy could be to invest in research and development to stay ahead of industry trends and innovations. Another strategy could be to form strategic partnerships or mergers with other companies to increase market share and resources.

Behavioral interviews: what to expect and how to prepare

Behavioral interviews aim to assess your fit for the role. Here are some tips:

1. Prepare examples of your previous experiences that demonstrate your problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills.

2. Be honest and authentic. Behavioral interviews are designed to test your character and work style, so be yourself.

3. Research the company and the role you are applying for. This will help you understand the company culture and the specific skills and qualities they are looking for in a candidate.

4. Practice your responses to common behavioral interview questions. This will help you feel more confident and prepared during the actual interview.

5. Remember to listen carefully to the interviewer's questions and answer them directly. Avoid going off on tangents or providing irrelevant information.

6. Finally, don't be afraid to ask questions of your own. This shows that you are genuinely interested in the role and the company, and can help you gain a better understanding of what is expected of you if you are offered the job.

Navigating the group case discussion portion of the BCG interview

The group case discussion is designed to test your teamwork and leadership skills. Here are some tips:

1. Listen to others. It's important to actively listen to your group members and build on their ideas.

2. Encourage participation. Encourage all members to contribute to the discussion and make sure everyone feels heard.

3. Manage time effectively. Keep an eye on the time and make sure the group stays on track. If the discussion is going off-topic, gently steer it back to the main point.

What to wear and bring to your Boston Consulting Group interview

It's important to dress professionally for your interview. For men, a suit and tie are appropriate. For women, a suit or professional dress is appropriate. You should also bring a pen, notepad, and a copy of your resume.

In addition to dressing professionally and bringing necessary materials, it's also important to research the company and the position you are interviewing for. This will show your interest and preparation for the interview. You can also prepare by practicing common interview questions and thinking about your own experiences and skills that relate to the job.

During the interview, it's important to listen carefully to the interviewer's questions and answer them thoughtfully and honestly. You should also ask questions about the company and the position to show your interest and engagement.

Follow-up & conclusion

After the interview, it's important to follow-up with a thank-you email to your interviewer. The email should thank them for their time and reiterate your interest in the position. You should also be prepared to answer any additional questions and provide any additional information requested by the interviewee.

Another important step after the BCG interview process is to reflect on your performance and identify areas for improvement. Take note of any questions you struggled with or areas where you felt unprepared. Use this feedback to adjust your preparation strategy for future interviews.

It's also a good idea to continue networking with BCG employees and attending company events. This can help you stay up-to-date on the company culture and values, as well as potentially lead to future job opportunities.

Preparing for the Boston Consulting Group management consulting case interview process can seem daunting, but the key to success is practice and preparation. Use these tips to prepare effectively for your interview, and remember to stay calm, collected, and confident. Good luck

For expert tips on how to prepare for interviews at other top-tier consulting firms, check out these resources:

• How to prepare for Deloitte management consulting case interviews?
• How to prepare for Accenture management consulting case interviews
• How to prepare for PwC management consulting case interviews?
• How to prepare for EY management consulting case interviews?

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BCG Online Case Chatbot: Reports, Examples, Guide (2024)

BCG recently developed a new iteration of Online Case aptitude test called BCG Casey - a chatbot simulating a traditional case interview. This tool is being used more by BCG as it is still proving effective and is gradually becoming a mandatory test when applying to BCG in almost every office at present.

There are a lot of uncertainties around it since this online assessment is a novel experience for prospective BCG consultants. Hence, this paper will provide you with more details regarding the format, interface, and nature of the content so that you can comprehend and become accustomed to this online chatbot interview.

Please remember that all images of the chatbot interface in the article are taken from the BCG Casey Simulation tool of MConsultingPrep

What is BCG Online Case Experience (BCG Casey)?

You will be interviewed by a chatbot named casey.

BCG Online Case Experience or “Casey” is a business case under a conversation format including a set of questions regarding interactive chatting environment . It is an online test that was developed in 2020 and used more frequently in 2021. Candidates can do it from any location where they feel most comfortable.

Time limit is 25-30 minutes with 6-8 questions

The duration of the BCG Casey test ranges from 25 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of questions involved (normally 6-8 questions). It is important to note that once the assessment begins, you will not have the option to pause it, and you will experience tremendous time pressure.

The BCG Casey test lasts 25-30 minutes, with 6-8 questions. You cannot pause during the test. Every five minutes, the bot notifies you of the remaining time (e.g. “15 minutes left”); this adds to the already-stressful time pressure.

Video record section at the end

After finishing your conversation with the chatbot, you will receive a prompt to record yourself on camera and present your final pitch for the entire case. You will be given 60 seconds for preparation and an additional 60 seconds to deliver your presentation . It is important to note that this time allocation is separate from the 30 minutes provided in the previous section.

The case context provided is typically concise and uncomplicated, usually involving a client who is facing emerging concerns or news. You will be provided with the necessary information regarding the context before you do anything further.

There are four answer formats

Eventually, there will be four types of answer format that will appear when you take the test including: multiple-select multiple choice, single-select multiple choice, long-text freeform, short-text freeform. Each answer format will typically have different material and approach methods, which I will elaborate on later in the article.

BCG Casey Simulation

Pass the BCG Online Case Experience (also known as the Casey / Chatbot Interview) with a comprehensive, interactive mock test and practice environment

Interface & answer format

Multiple-select multiple choice.

This is the most popular question format in the BCG Online Case Experience accounting for 40% to 60% of all questions. This type of format is displayed like the below image. After reading the question, click on see options to pop up all the choices. Some questions like the example below can have up to 10 choices so it is going to take up the whole screen.

In terms of strategy, notice that in every question of the multiple-select multiple choice format the question always gives you a clue as to how many choices to select. Sometimes it gives you an exact number like select three best, but sometimes it is just a hint. 

Single-select multiple choice

This particular format closely resembles the multiple-select multiple choice format, with the key distinction being that there is only one correct choice. Unlike the previous multiple-select type, all available options will be displayed directly within the answer box. It is essential to note that there is a single correct option, and once you click on any choice, your answer will be immediately submitted without the option to revise it.

Long-text freeform 

The user interface for this answer format is relatively simple. It features a message box reminiscent of messaging applications, with a send icon located on the right-hand side, allowing for submission by pressing the enter key. 

It is important to note that special text formatting options are not available, thus the use of hyphens and capitalizations serves as the preferred means of emphasizing ideas. BCG explicitly emphasizes that the optimal answers should be concise and adhere to a limit of no more than four to six lines.

Short-text freeform 

On the other hand, the short text answer format only allows you to enter in numbers. It often comes with math questions and the question will always clearly instruct you on rounding or how many decimal places to include. Hence, be careful when pressing the enter key into this answer format as it will submit the answer and there is no undo.

Final pitch (video answer)

Once you finish chatting with the AI, your final assignment entails recording yourself on camera and delivering your ultimate recommendation in the form of a pitch for the entire case. You will be granted 60 seconds for preparation and an additional 60 seconds for the actual presentation. 

It is essential to note that this timeframe is separate from the 30 minutes allocated for the preceding section.The time limit here is very strict as candidates have reported instances of automatic cutoffs when exceeding the allotted duration.

Question types by content logic

Structuring/Information question

These questions often present a scenario or problem and ask candidates to identify the most helpful option or the type of information that should be gathered . While they may appear to be data-focused questions on the surface, they actually require candidates to employ structuring techniques and create an issue tree.

Every BCG online case starts with a structuring or information question, for instance:

• Which of the following would be most helpful
• What statistics about ABC should the team gather
• Which piece of information would help ECG move forward with the project and Etc

When approaching these questions, it is advisable to carefully read through the provided options and mentally construct an issue tree based on the available choices. The issue tree helps in organizing the different aspects of the problem and identifying the most comprehensive and relevant options among the choices.

Candidates should aim to select options that collectively cover the issue tree and address the various components of the problem. This demonstrates their ability to think critically, analyze complex situations, and identify the most relevant information or factors to consider when structuring a case.

Quantitative question

Each case typically includes approximately two quantitative/mathematical questions. These questions are usually presented in a short text answer format, with occasional instances of single select multiple choice. 

The majority of quantitative questions are accompanied by an exhibit, providing around 20 data points, of which approximately half may be extraneous information.

It is not necessary to possess knowledge in accounting or finance, as the calculations and formulas involved are generally straightforward. Common mathematical concepts revolve around weighted averages, probabilities, and compound percentages . Familiarizing yourself with these types of mathematical problems through practice can greatly enhance your performance.

In these quantitative questions, you can typically determine whether your answer is correct or incorrect based on the follow-up question. If you are asked to provide further elaboration on how you arrived at the answer, it indicates that your response is correct. However, if the chatbot prompts you to address specific calculations or smaller steps, there is a possibility that your initial attempt was incorrect.

Critical thinking & logical question

The critical thinking and logical questions in the BCG Casey chatbot test assess your ability to analyze a given scenario, apply logical reasoning, and make informed judgments. 

These questions often involve evaluating different courses of action, determining cause-and-effect relationships, or identifying the most logical conclusion based on the provided information.

An example of critical thinking & logical questions is: which of the following course of action would likely make you more rich? However, you need to pay attention to the wording and notice if there is any “qualifier”, which is how airtight the logic has to be? The example question can be asked with several different qualifiers from weak to strong: 

• Which of the following courses of action would LIKELY MAKE you more rich?
• Which of the following courses of action would MAKE you more rich?
• Which of the following courses of action would CERTAINLY MAKE you more rich? 

This is important because we would grade each of the answer choices on the following scale. 

In some cases, the context of the scenario may influence the logic and reasoning behind your answer choices. Take into account relevant factors, constraints, or specific conditions mentioned in the question when evaluating the options.

Intuition/Insight question

The final category of questions in the assessment consists of intuition or insights questions. These particular questions are highly popular but also the most challenging to master. There is no predefined formula or universal strategy to approach them, and improving in this area requires diligent practice. 

As the name implies, these questions require you to generate or select a range of insights, elements, factors, and so on, based on a given context . The specific insights, elements, or factors can vary significantly, encompassing root causes, effects, solutions, and more.

For instance, in the aforementioned example of how to become rich, some examples of Intuition or Insights questions include:

• What are some personal expenses that tend to increase after getting married
• How can one become more disciplined in saving money?
• What are effective talking points to persuade a life partner to reduce spending on clothing?
• What are potential reasons for the underperformance of the stock market in the past six months?
• In what situations would one need to utilize an emergency fund?

These questions highlight the nature of intuition or insights questions, which demand thoughtful analysis and the ability to derive meaningful conclusions based on given scenarios

Scoring and criteria 

Other BCG online assessment tools utilized a negative scoring system for incorrect answers. Consequently, it was advisable to abstain from guessing when encountering a question for which one lacked any relevant knowledge, as incorrect responses would directly result in point deductions from the final score.

However, this aspect is no longer a factor in Casey, the current iteration of the online case format. In Casey, the selection of candidates is not solely based on the accuracy of their answers, but also on their approach to problem-solving and their ability to break down complex issues. 

Candidates are obligated to provide an answer for each question in order to progress to the subsequent one, leaving no alternative but to make an educated guess even when uncertain of the correct response.

Regarding the evaluation criteria, while BCG does not disclose official information, insights can be gleaned from the BCG Interactive Case Library. The majority of criteria focus on the problem-solving aspect of the consulting role:

Problem-structuring

In the BCG Casey chatbot, candidates are evaluated based on their problem-structuring skills. This involves approaching problems in a structured and mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive (MECE) manner.

Additionally, the test evaluates the candidate's capability to gather data and test hypotheses during the problem-solving process . This is one of the most visible criteria in this test that highlights its importance in demonstrating strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, a crucial skill for management consultants. 

Qualitative and quantitative processing

In the BCG Casey chatbot Test, candidates' math and analytical skills are evaluated, specifically their ability to analyze and process both qualitative and quantitative information within the case.

This assessment tests their proficiency in performing relevant mathematical calculations, with an emphasis on common business-world calculations such as percentages, averages, and working with large numbers. The test aims to determine how effectively candidates can apply these processing skills to the given scenarios and derive meaningful insights.

Business intuition 

Another trait that also falls into the grading criteria of the BCG Casey chatbot is candidates' business intuition. The test focuses on their capacity to evaluate potential costs and benefits, make informed decisions, and provide sound conclusions and recommendations based on their business knowledge and experience.

The objective is to determine how well candidates can apply their business intuition toward complex scenarios and provide relevant insights and directions tailored to the specific business context presented in the case.

Data synthesis & interpretation

Last but not least, candidates' aptitudes for data synthesis and interpretation are also a criteria assessed in the BCG Casey chatbot. This entails their proficiency in summarizing and synthesizing all relevant information to derive viable solutions for the client. Hence,  it measures their ability to draw meaningful conclusions from data, adopting a hypothesis-driven mindset. 

Candidates are expected to either incorporate their conclusions into existing hypotheses or generate new hypotheses that are relevant to the case at hand. The test aims to assess candidates' ability to analyze and interpret data effectively to make informed decisions and provide valuable insights to the client (in the case).

Casey vs actual case interview

“How similar is this compared to an actual case interview?" is always one of the most asked questions by candidates. Initially, this assessment uses the case structure and flow quite similar to an actual case interview, it even utilizes a chatbot to create a feeling of two-way communication like in the case interviews.

However, in reality, there are still clear distinctions between it and a real case interview . A few of these distinctions are as follows:

More time pressure

Case interviews are typically characterized by time constraints, but candidates frequently express that Casey, in particular, intensifies this pressure. Unlike the McKinsey Solve assessment, which allows for sufficient time and avoids rushing candidates excessively, Casey adds to the sense of urgency. 

Throughout the assessment, there are constant reminders displaying the remaining time, and candidates are abruptly stopped if they fail to complete the recording of their final video recommendation within the allocated time frame.

There is no interviewer feedback

In a conventional case interview, the interviewer has the ability to guide and support the candidate to navigate through a question. This is not only about supporting, but it also allows the interviewer to gain a comprehensive understanding of the candidate's thought process at each stage of the problem, rather than stopping the assessment immediately after one mistake is made. 

However, in the case of Casey, this supportive element is absent, which means that initial calculation errors or mistakes in structuring the problem can significantly disrupt the candidate's approach to a question or even impact the overall performance in the entire test.

Calculators are allowed

One notable distinction from a traditional case interview is the allowance of calculators and other similar tools in the Casey test. Similar to the McKinsey Solve assessment, BCG does not impose any restrictions on the resources you have at your disposal while taking the Casey test from the comfort of your own home. 

This may initially appear as a glimmer of hope for candidates with limited quantitative backgrounds. However, it is important to note that this provision actually introduces additional difficulties  when you take a real-life case interview.

Heightened demands on Mathematical Skills 

The heightened emphasis on mathematical proficiency in Casey compared to a traditional case interview is a direct consequence of the previous factors. With basic arithmetic being facilitated by the calculator, Casey has the freedom to assess your mathematical abilities in other aspects. 

The true challenge lies in your ability to devise a well-structured approach to the question and the specific path you navigate through the calculations, rather than solely focusing on number manipulation. This particular aspect may be advantageous for individuals with a background in "academic math" compared to a standard interview.

Interpret Text Fast

Last but not least, even though a case interview is verbal, Casey demands you to swiftly read, comprehend, and grasp fairly lengthy amounts of text. Combined with the above time pressure factor, this might be seen as a significant obstacle for the contenders of this online assessment since it requires more in terms of soft skills in computing.

BCG Casey chatbot vs others online assessments

It will be challenging to judge whether an assessment is difficult or easy because it is based on each person's subjective perspective. Thus, this section will place more emphasis on clarifying the difference of BCG Casey chatbot from other online assessments of MBB consulting firms.

Logic & Structuring and Business intuition are the two criteria that BCG Casey chatbot requires candidates to meet at the highest level . This is consistent given that the BCG Casey seeks to imitate an interviewer-led case and that the two criteria are the two major traits in the consultant case interview.

The BCG Casey chatbot places a stronger priority on testing these two areas than the majority of other online tests from McKinsey or Bain, as well as their own product - potential tests. 

However, it is also comparable to other online assessments in that they put a strong emphasis on time management, frequently setting a time limit that is tightly associated with the amount of queries . This is a difficult point of BCG Casey chatbot that candidates are often frightened.

On the contrary, the 2 criteria that are said to be the easiest of BCG Online Case Experience are numerical and verbal reasoning. This tool is less focused on accuracy or presentation as well as more on business than math compared to other tests like BCG potential test or McKinsey PST.

Finally, interface complexity of Casey chatbot is also reported as being on the more difficult side of the spectrum . The majority of candidates are concerned since they do not know which button will actually submit their answer while there is no reverse button.

Nevertheless, this issue can be solve by practicing the BCG Casey simulation to get used to the interface before doing the real test

BCG Online Case Experience vs BCG Potential test

I have to separate a part about the BCG potential test because there are similarities and confusion between these 2 assessments.

Although the BCG Casey chatbot takes the place of the BCG Potential Test, they are fundamentally different – the Online Case Experience, as the name suggests, is a virtual, chatbot-based interview, while the Potential Test is a standardized test similar to GMAT, GRE or PST.

The biggest implication of this information is that the candidate must prepare for case interviews sooner than before – however, this should be viewed as good news, since instead of having to spread the time and effort between case interview and test practice, the candidate can focus on the case interview side only and still pass through the whole recruitment process.

Additionally, the chatbot interview seems to have a more dynamic time constraint – good judgment and good luck will lead to lower numbers of questions (since there’s no need for “redirection”).

Some useful tips! 

Prepare everything within reach.

One of the most basic things that many candidates overlook and neglect to adequately prepare for is to ensure that you have all the necessary tools and resources readily available during the BCG Online Case Experience. Before starting the test, make sure you have your calculator, paper, pen, and any other materials that you may require. 

Although this is only at a basic level, being well-prepared will ensure that you perform your best on the assessment. Having all relevant tools at hand will save you valuable time and enable you to navigate through the test seamlessly.

Find a comfortable seat

Secondly, creating a conducive environment is essential for optimizing your performance during the BCG Casey chatbot. Remember you are at your house, find a comfortable seat that provides proper back support and ensures ergonomic comfort. 

Additionally, try to select a bright place where it will not interfere with your work process. Also, a strong and stable internet connection is also crucial to avoid any disruptions during the test. By selecting a suitable seat, you can eliminate unnecessary distractions and maintain your focus on the assessment.

Take Notes After Each Question

As you progress through the BCG Casey chatbot, it is advisable to take notes after completing each question. This practice is particularly important because some questions may require insights or data from previous questions within the same case. By jotting down key points, important calculations, or relevant information, you can quickly refer back to them when needed. 

In addition, taking notes helps you maintain a logical flow of thought and ensures that you provide accurate and well-structured answers. It also allows you to keep track of your progress and easily review your responses before submitting them.

Do Not Be Distracted by the Time Limit

Maintaining concentration and avoiding getting distracted by the time limit of the BCG Casey chatbot is indeed significant but it is challenging to execute. The reminders about the remaining time can create a sense of urgency, but it is important to maintain a steady pace and not rush your decisions. 

Prioritize accuracy and thoughtful analysis, taking time to understand each question and approach it strategically. Effective time management is key - allocate sufficient time to each question while keeping the overall time limit in mind.

Stay composed, think critically, and deliver well-structured responses. By staying focused and managing your time effectively, you can optimize your performance in the test.

Professionalism

Although the BCG Casey Chatbot is conducted online, it is crucial to maintain a certain level of professionalism throughout the assessment. Remember that at the end of the test, you will be required to record a video presenting your final pitch for the entire case. 

Dress appropriately and ensure that your background is clean, tidy, and free from any distractions. Creating a professional appearance and setting reflects your dedication and commitment to the assessment. It also contributes to a positive first impression, which can make a difference in how your responses are perceived.

Scoring in the McKinsey PSG/Digital Assessment

The scoring mechanism in the McKinsey Digital Assessment

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The BCG Online Case (also known as the Casey Chatbot) is a challenging, 20-30 minute test with 6-8 questions of the case interview and GMAT types

The BCG Pymetrics Test has 12 mini-games to measure 9 key traits (risk-taking, emotional intelligence, fairness, etc.) reflective of a BCG consultant.

Case interview is the last round of BCG hiring process with 3 phases: resume, online tests and interviews. Candidates will have 4-6 interviews in 4-8 weeks.

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Now in its 8th edition, the   True-Luxury Global Consumer Insights research, carried out by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in collaboration with Fondazione Altagamma and Phronesis Partners, is the most complete and innovative research on True-Luxury consumers.

After the disruption caused by the pandemic, the Global Luxury Market is now recovering and is expected to get back to pre-Covid levels by 2022. The renewed optimism of US consumers for both domestic and abroad spending, given their incidence on the overall market, is a very good omen for the future. Such a positive outlook is further reinforced by Chinese consumers, but their consumptions patterns are steering towards domestic spending and this repatriation could pose strong implications for luxury brands in the future, that could be called to strengthen their presence in China not to miss out on important market opportunities.

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• Size and relevance of the sample: more than 12,000 respondents with an average spend on luxury goods of about 33,000 euros per year, whose decrease is in line with 2020 market loss due to Covid
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Are multinationals prepared for the pillar two tax shift.

• True-Luxury Global Consumer Insights July 2023
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• Capgemini: World Retail Banking Report 2022

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• A new global BCG study reveals that during the past two decades, only 26% of corporate transformations successfully created value in both the short and long terms.
• We highlight five truths about corporate transformation—and refute one lie that executives like to tell themselves.

BCG Henderson Institute Newsletter: Insights that are shaping business thinking.

Business Transformation

/ article, five truths (and one lie) about corporate transformation.

By  Martin Reeves ,  Christian Gruß ,  Kristy Ellmer ,  Adam Job ,  Gabe Bouslov , and  Paul Catchlove

Key Takeaways

In an era of technological advancements, geopolitical tensions, and economic turmoil, standing still is akin to moving backward. As the durability of competitive advantage has dwindled , the average tenure of companies on the S&P 500 index has more than halved since the late 1970s. 1 1 S. Patrick Viguerie, Ned Calder, and Brian Hindo, 2021 Corporate Longevity Forecast , May 2021, Innosight website. Notes: 1 S. Patrick Viguerie, Ned Calder, and Brian Hindo, 2021 Corporate Longevity Forecast , May 2021, Innosight website.

But changing with the times is difficult: A new global BCG study reveals that during the past two decades, only 26% of corporate transformations successfully created value in both the short and long terms. (See “ About Our Research .”)

So how can change leaders beat the odds? We use our empirical insights to highlight five truths about corporate transformation —and refute one lie that executives like to tell themselves.

Truth #1: You Can (and Should) Fix Things Before They Break

In transformations, timing matters: Pre-emptive transformations are initiated while total shareholder return (TSR) is in line with or ahead of industry averages. These transformations create significantly more value in the medium and long run (+2.7 percentage point TSR over a three-year horizon) than reactive transformations (initiated after TSR has already dipped below the peer group).

Transforming preemptively—before a performance gap has opened up—means transforming from a position of strength, subject to less pressure and scrutiny: leaders are empowered to focus on identifying options for future advantage , rather than on purely defensive moves, such as divestments.

Consider, for example, Microsoft’s remarkable trajectory over the past decade: After stagnating performance from 2009 to 2012, the company managed to achieve some momentum between 2012 and 2014 (achieving 36% annualized TSR). Not content with this recovery, Microsoft’s then-incoming CEO Satya Nadella made changes to lay the groundwork for future success: He oriented the company toward the new dominance of cloud , even though this trend had not yet damaged the bottom line. This move set Microsoft up to nearly triple its stock price in the first four years of Nadella’s tenure. Nevertheless, he announced yet another restructuring in 2018, setting up an AI division, which was soon bolstered by Microsoft’s early $1 billion investment in OpenAI. 2 2 Don Reisinger, “Microsoft Is About to Undergo a Major Reorganization: Here’s How It Breaks Down,” Fortune website, March 29, 2018. Notes: 2 Don Reisinger, “Microsoft Is About to Undergo a Major Reorganization: Here’s How It Breaks Down,” Fortune website, March 29, 2018. Today, Microsoft is the most valuable company in the world—illustrating how preemptive transformation with heavy investment allows sustaining performance in an evolving competitive environment and amid significant technology changes.

Truth #2: Leadership Will Make or Break Your Transformation

Microsoft’s story also highlights the importance of leadership. The firm’s successful transformations were not only driven by Nadella’s anticipation of future trends, but also his willingness to question and change the mental models and organizational structures that underlay the company’s historic success. For example, since the 2018 restructuring, Microsoft no longer has a division dedicated to its Windows operating system. Contrast this with Blockbuster’s leadership rejecting the opportunity to acquire a fledging Netflix, Swissair continuing to invest in its failing airline, or Kodak not embracing the digital photography technology it pioneered—and the importance of leadership commitment to change becomes crystal clear.

When leaders present an obstacle to change, their removal can improve transformation outcomes.

• Our data shows that a leadership change during a transformation is associated with a 4.1 percentage points higher TSR performance over the five-year time horizon (compared to the previous downturn period).
• The positive TSR impact is even higher (an additional 3.7 percentage points over the five-year period) if the new leadership comes from outside of the company.

However, a change in leadership is not a guaranteed success driver; it is also associated with a high variance in TSR outcomes. As such, this effect is less driven by the leader per se than by their willingness and commitment to making a change—particularly at a time when leadership engagement in transformations is on the decline . Consistent with this, we find that preemptive transformations—in which leaders act to fix things before they break, demonstrating their initiative and commitment—are associated with higher leadership stability than reactive ones (4.7 percentage point lower frequency of CEO change during the transformation period). Moreover, we know from other research that stability in leadership teams can also drive a company’s long-term growth potential.

Truth #3: You Cannot Cut Your Way to Greatness

Our analysis shows that, in the short term, investor expectations are the most significant driver of value creation in a transformation contributing more than two thirds of TSR outperformance over industry peers in the first year after a transformation is initiated. (See Exhibit 1). Efficiency improvements drive 13% of the outperformance, while the remaining factors (revenue growth and margin improvements) play even smaller roles.

As such, it is crucial for companies to craft a compelling transformation plan and narrative at the outset of their journey, and to define a clear communication agenda toward their shareholders. Moreover, firms must signal discipline and momentum by executing on quick wins for cost reductions.

In the long term (five years), value creation drivers are flipped, such that the lion’s share of TSR outperformance is driven by successful cost reductions (32%) and revenue growth (43%), while investor expectations play a smaller role (25%). This indicates that, in the long-term, execution is key, as investors will keep executives to their promises. Moreover, it shows that you cannot cut your way to greatness: differential growth is critical to sustained value creation .

Truth #4: Transformations Require a Long-Term Orientation

Achieving sustainable growth and a future-proof operating model requires entering transformations with a long-term orientation, rather than merely focusing on addressing performance woes or catching up to peers in terms of technology stack or organizational best practices.

Our data shows that having a long-term strategic orientation exhibits a strong positive impact on transformation performance, being associated with a 12.5 percentage points higher TSR impact over a five-year horizon. 3 3 Measured leveraging a proprietary algorithm that quantifies the strategic orientation of companies based on semantic patterns in 10-K filings. Notes: 3 Measured leveraging a proprietary algorithm that quantifies the strategic orientation of companies based on semantic patterns in 10-K filings. A long-term orientation can be achieved by creating an entrepreneurial culture, in which new ideas are constantly developed and leaders are willing to take chances on unproven models. To support a forward-orientation, companies need to complement traditional, backward-looking performance metrics with future-oriented ones. For example, 3M pioneered the New Product Vitality Index (NPVI), a metric that tracks the share of sales from products that didn’t exist five years ago.

Beyond mindset, culture, and metrics, a long-term orientation also means investing in the exploration of new ideas that could be the basis of future advantage: above industry-average R&D spending is associated with a 2.9 percentage point improvement in TSR performance over the course of a transformation.

Above industry-average capital expenditures are also linked to better transformation outcomes—to the tune of 3.7 percentage point TSR over a five-year horizon. This indicates that leaders must find the right balance between identifying new sources of growth and improving their existing model, for example, by upgrading production machinery. It also underlines that operational effectiveness needs to be tied not only to cuts, but also to selective investments.

Truth #5: You Cannot Make Things Up as You Go

Transformations are complex and require simultaneously delivering on several objectives—usually under immense pressure from the outside and inside. As a result, companies cannot make transformation up as they go.

Putting a formal transformation program in place—which we identify based on a combined analysis of corporate announcements and restructuring spend—has a positive impact (5.9 percentage points) on long-run TSR during transformation periods. Moreover, the scale of the program and the willingness to invest in change matter, with our results further showing a strong, positive correlation between above industry-average restructuring spend and TSR outcomes (+5.7 percentage points over five years).

Formalizing the transformation entails defining a clear governance and process—or setting up a dedicated transformation office—for coordinating and tracking progress on change initiatives, as well as regularly communicating it to the executive leadership team so that roadblocks can be addressed promptly. Moreover, it may mean putting in place a chief transformation officer to helm an ambitious change effort, which our prior research shows can improve transformation odds significantly. However, simply having a CTO on staff is not a panacea. The role must be designed appropriately and filled by someone who is persistent, vigilant, and flexible —and who is trained for the job.

A Lie: You Are Special—and These Insights Don’t Apply to You

The empirical patterns of transformation are quite stable: At any point in the past 20 years, roughly 30% of companies significantly underperformed their sector for a period of multiple years, making transformation a necessity for performance reasons. 4 4 Underperformance is identified as an annualized deterioration in TSR, relative to the company’s industry average, of 10 p.p. or more over a two-year period. Notes: 4 Underperformance is identified as an annualized deterioration in TSR, relative to the company’s industry average, of 10 p.p. or more over a two-year period. (See Exhibit 2.) However, successful transformations are the exception, rather than the norm, even when measured on very modest criteria. More than 70% of companies fail to outperform their industry peer group average in both the short (one year) and long term (five years), after a previous performance downturn period. These number are quite similar to the findings in our 2018 report—showing that while the world has changed significantly in the last few years, the challenges of keeping up with that change have remained remarkably persistent.

Just as crucially, these patterns are remarkably universal, with our data showing that no region, sector, or size group is an outlier on transformation need and success rates. The success factors of transformations discussed throughout this article also have directionally similar effects across all subgroups of our sample.

Put briefly: When it comes to transformations, no one is special. Change leaders have no reason to be overconfident, given that only half of the companies we studied employed more than two of the key success factors we identified. Sustainable value creation through transformation remains so rare. 5 5 This includes: above-industry average R&D spending, CapEx investments, or restructuring costs (each scaled by sales); a long-term strategic orientation; setting up a formalized change program; bringing in a new CEO, or even a new external CEO. Notes: 5 This includes: above-industry average R&D spending, CapEx investments, or restructuring costs (each scaled by sales); a long-term strategic orientation; setting up a formalized change program; bringing in a new CEO, or even a new external CEO.

About Our Research

This study is an extension of BCG’s earlier work, “ The Truth About Corporate Transformation ,” published in MIT Sloan Management Review . Here, we broadened the research to a global scope, updated to cover the recent period of enormous turbulence, and deepened the analysis of factors and segments. Our empirical study covers the period 2001 to 2022, with the sample including nearly 2,000 public companies from around the globe that generated at least $10 billion in revenue in 2022 or had a market capitalization of $10 billion at the end of that year. To identify transformations, we assess firms’ total shareholder returns (TSR) relative to their industry peers, as transformations are regularly initiated in reaction to performance downturns. We combine this with a predictive model, which leverages information from corporate announcements and data on restructuring spend to identify whether a formal transformation program has been set up. Depending on data availability across variables in a given analysis, our study covers between 1,000 and 2,000 transformations.

In an increasingly turbulent world, changing with the times is crucial—but the odds of success are slim. To beat them, change leaders must heed these truths about corporate transformations.

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