Short answer
McKinsey, BCG and Bain email the online test soon after you apply, and the window to finish is short. Prep sites report about 3 to 7 days for McKinsey Solve, and BCG Mexico sets its test the weekend after the deadline. Once you apply it is late to start, so prepare three to four weeks ahead.
Key takeaways
- The test arrives soon after you apply, so preparation has to happen before the application, not after.
- Completion windows are short and set by the invitation; take the test early in the window.
- Start three to four weeks before your first deadline and order firm-specific practice by deadline.
In this article
Part ofConsulting Online Assessments: Which Test Will McKinsey, BCG or Bain Send You?
McKinsey, BCG and Bain all put an online test between your application and your first interview, and all three send it soon after you apply. The window to finish is short. This article sets out what each firm says about timing, what candidates report, and how far ahead to start preparing.
What each firm says about timing
| Firm | When the test arrives | Time to complete | When you hear back |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey | By email after you apply (reported) | Window of about 3 to 7 days (reported) | About 1 to 14 days (reported) |
| BCG | Mexico, Associates: "the weekend immediately after the application deadline" (BCG) | About 30 minutes (BCG Mexico); 35 for the case, about 40 in all (BCG's 2024 guide) | Mexico: interview news "a few days later" (BCG) |
| Bain | By email after you apply, naming Sova or TestGorilla (Bain) | About 30 to 40 minutes of test time (Bain) | "Within 60 days" (Bain) |
The three firms publish very little about dates, and they vary by office and year. Recruiting calendars for campus hiring are set office by office and school by school, so your school's career service and the office's own careers page are the sources to trust for deadlines.
What the timing means for you
By the time your application is in, it is late to start preparing. BCG's Mexico timeline puts the test days after the deadline, and prep sites report McKinsey windows of under a week. If you wait for the invitation, you get days, not weeks.
- Campus candidates: find each target office's application deadline, then count back three to four weeks.
- Experienced hires: roles open when offices need people, so an invitation can follow quickly. Finish your preparation before you apply.
- Several firms: order firm-specific practice by deadline, not by which test seems hardest.
A four-week plan working back from your first deadline
| Week | Focus | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks out | Shared skills: percentages, ratios, chart reading, timed sets | Free math and chart drills |
| 3 weeks out | Shared skills, plus read the guide for your earliest test | MBB online assessments guide |
| 2 weeks out | Format practice for the earliest test, timed | Free demos: Casey-style case, Solve-style scenario, Bain-style verbal set |
| Final week | Full-length timed runs and error review; set up your equipment | The firm's own samples and your practice tool of choice |
Which test each firm sends
| Firm | Test | Length | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey | Solve: Redrock and Sea Wolf, sometimes the Sustainable Futures Lab | Set by the invitation | McKinsey Solve guide |
| BCG | Casey chatbot case; in some processes the CCA or another test | 35-minute case, about 40 in all (Casey, BCG's 2024 guide) | BCG online case guide |
| Bain | Sova or TestGorilla | About 30 to 40 minutes | Bain online test guide |
Frequently asked questions
When do consulting firms send online assessments?
After your application passes the first screen, by email. None of the three firms publishes a fixed delay. BCG's Mexico page says Associate candidates take their assessments the weekend immediately after the application deadline. McKinsey and Bain send the link by email after you apply, and prep sites report it can arrive within days.
How long do I have to complete a consulting online assessment?
It depends on the invitation. Prep sites report a window of about 3 to 7 days for McKinsey Solve and a similar window for BCG's online case. Bain's page gives the test length (about 30 to 40 minutes) and says you will hear back within 60 days, but not a fixed window. Take the test early in the window so a technical problem does not cost you the attempt.
When do you get the result?
BCG's Mexico page says candidates hear about interviews a few days after the assessment. Bain says applicants hear within 60 days. For McKinsey Solve, prep sites report anywhere from about 1 to 14 days. Most firms give a pass or fail rather than a score.
Is the timeline different for experienced hires?
Usually it is less predictable. Experienced-hire roles open when offices need people rather than on a campus calendar, so an invitation can follow an application quickly. Finish your test preparation before you apply, not after.
When should I start preparing for consulting assessments?
Three to four weeks before your first application deadline is a sensible minimum. Spend the first weeks on skills all three tests share, such as percentages and chart reading, then practice the format of the test with the earliest deadline. If you apply to several firms, order the firm-specific practice by deadline.
FreePick your test
Your invitation already names your test. Prepare for that one.
McKinsey, BCG and Bain each screen with a different test on a different clock. Practice for the wrong format and test day is the first time you see the real one. Open the free check for yours: it reads what your invitation says, then sends a plan to your date if you want one.
- If it saysMcKinsey SolveYour invitation's length tells you which games you'll play and on what clock.Decode my Solve invite
- If it saysBCG CaseyCasey or the CCA: see which test BCG named and how its clock runs.Decode my BCG invite
- If it saysBain online testSova or TestGorilla: the clock, the sittings, and whether you can go back.Check my Bain platform
Practice what you just read
Applying to more than one firm? Practice all three formats
Each firm tests something different, so each needs its own practice. DrillCase has a simulator per format and a free case library for the skills they share.
- simulations across 3 firms
- 75
- practice questions
- 1,333
- free library cases
- 63
- 29 BCG Casey-style cases, 21 McKinsey Solve-style scenarios, 476 Bain-style questions
- 63 free library cases and 582 drill questions (math, charts, market sizing)
- The All-Access Pass unlocks every firm product for one payment; the top tier of each bought separately comes to $457
The All-Access Pass ($250) carries a 7-day money-back guarantee. Refund policy. DrillCase is independent practice material and is not affiliated with McKinsey, BCG or Bain.
Sources
- BCG, Online Case Assessment: User reference guide for candidates (2024)
- BCG Careers, Mexico: recruiting process, Online Case Experience and CCA
- Bain & Company: Digital assessment (hiring process)
- Bain & Company: Interviewing
- McKinsey & Company: Interviewing at McKinsey
- StrategyCase: McKinsey Solve guide
- Hacking the Case Interview: BCG online case (chatbot) interview