Short answer
Most consulting firms send online assessment invitations one to three weeks after an application deadline and give you about 5-14 days to finish. For fall full-time recruiting that usually means October or November, and for internships January or February. Experienced hires can be invited at any time, so start preparing well before you apply.
Key takeaways
- Assessments arrive soon after applications close, leaving little time to start preparing then.
- Completion windows are short; finish early in the window to leave room for technical problems.
- Start preparing four to six weeks before your expected assessment date.
In this article
Part ofConsulting Online Assessments: Which Test Will McKinsey, BCG or Bain Send You?
The consulting assessment timeline is the sequence of application deadlines, online assessment windows, interview rounds, and offer dates that consulting firms follow during each recruiting cycle. Understanding this timeline is essential for planning your preparation — starting too late means facing an assessment you are not ready for, while starting too early without a target date leads to unfocused preparation.
This guide maps out the 2026 consulting recruiting timeline for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Kearney, and Oliver Wyman — covering both campus and experienced hire tracks. The DrillCase team compiled this from official firm communications, university career services data, and candidate debriefs. We update this guide each recruiting cycle as firms publish their schedules.
2026 Campus Recruiting Timeline — Full-Time
Campus full-time recruiting follows the most predictable timeline. Most activity concentrates in the fall semester for January start dates.
| Firm | Application Deadline | Online Assessment | Interview Rounds | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey | Sep 1-15 | Sep 15 - Oct 15 (Solve) | Oct - Nov (2 rounds) | Nov - Dec |
| BCG | Sep 1-15 | Sep 20 - Oct 20 (Casey/CCA) | Oct - Nov (2 rounds) | Nov - Dec |
| Bain | Sep 1-15 | Sep 15 - Oct 15 (SOVA) | Oct - Nov (2 rounds) | Nov - Dec |
| Deloitte | Aug 15 - Sep 30 | Sep - Oct (SHL/Custom) | Oct - Nov (2-3 rounds) | Nov - Dec |
| Kearney | Sep 1 - Oct 1 | Oct (Proprietary) | Nov (2 rounds) | Nov - Dec |
| Oliver Wyman | Sep 1 - Oct 1 | Oct (Proprietary) | Nov (2 rounds) | Nov - Dec |
2026 Campus Recruiting Timeline — Internships
Internship recruiting typically runs in the winter/spring for the following summer.
| Firm | Application Deadline | Online Assessment | Interview Rounds | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey | Dec 1 - Jan 15 | Jan - Feb (Solve) | Feb - Mar (2 rounds) | Mar - Apr |
| BCG | Dec 1 - Jan 15 | Jan - Feb (Casey/CCA) | Feb - Mar (2 rounds) | Mar - Apr |
| Bain | Dec 1 - Jan 15 | Jan - Feb (SOVA) | Feb - Mar (2 rounds) | Mar - Apr |
| Deloitte | Nov 15 - Jan 31 | Dec - Feb (SHL/Custom) | Feb - Mar (2-3 rounds) | Mar - Apr |
| Kearney | Jan 1 - Feb 1 | Feb (Proprietary) | Mar (2 rounds) | Mar - Apr |
| Oliver Wyman | Jan 1 - Feb 1 | Feb (Proprietary) | Mar (2 rounds) | Mar - Apr |
Experienced Hire Timeline
Experienced hire recruiting operates differently from campus recruiting. There are no fixed application deadlines — firms hire on a rolling basis throughout the year as business needs arise.
| Stage | Typical Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application submitted | Any time (rolling) | Apply when you are ready — there is no fixed deadline |
| Assessment invitation | 3-14 days after application | Faster than campus — often within one week |
| Assessment completion | 5-14 day window from invitation | Same format as campus (Solve, Casey, or SOVA) |
| First interview | 1-3 weeks after assessment | Often scheduled within days of passing |
| Final round | 1-2 weeks after first round | Compressed timeline compared to campus |
| Offer | 1-2 weeks after final round | Some firms offer on the spot after final round |
Assessment Formats by Firm
Each firm uses a different online assessment format. Understanding which format you will face determines what preparation you need.
| Firm | Assessment Format | Duration | DrillCase Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey | Solve (Redrock + Ecosystem Game) | 60-70 min | 20+ McKinsey Solve-style scenarios |
| BCG | Casey (chatbot) or CCA (written) | 25-60 min | 25+ Casey-style cases |
| Bain | SOVA (4-module aptitude test) | 45-60 min | 450+ questions in 23 timed sets |
| Deloitte | SHL / Custom aptitude | 45-60 min | Transferable from SOVA prep |
| Kearney | Proprietary assessment | Varies | Foundational skill drills apply |
| Oliver Wyman | Proprietary assessment | Varies | Foundational skill drills apply |
When to Start Preparing
Working backwards from typical assessment dates, here is when to start your preparation:
| Recruiting Track | Application Deadline | Start Prep By | Prep Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall full-time (campus) | September | July | 6-8 weeks before deadline |
| Winter internship (campus) | December-January | October | 6-8 weeks before deadline |
| Experienced hire | Rolling (any time) | Before applying | Complete prep before submission |
| Off-cycle / spring | Varies by office | 6 weeks before expected deadline | Verify with target office |
Preparation Roadmap by Week
For candidates starting 6 weeks before their assessment, here is the recommended preparation schedule:
| Week | Focus | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Foundation: mental math, chart reading, format research | DrillCase free tools (Math Drills, Chart Practice) |
| 3-4 | Format-specific: practice your target firm's assessment | DrillCase Casey / SOVA / McKinsey modules |
| 5-6 | Full simulation: timed practice under real conditions | Full-length practice assessments + error review |
Start with DrillCase's free drills (a free account is required): Mental Math Drills, Chart Interpretation, and Market Sizing Practice. Then upgrade to firm-specific modules as your assessment date approaches.
Frequently asked questions
When do consulting firms send online assessments?
Most consulting firms send online assessment invitations 1-3 weeks after the application deadline closes. For fall full-time recruiting (applications due September-October), assessments typically arrive in October-November. For winter internship recruiting, assessments arrive in January-February. Experienced hire assessments can arrive at any time since experienced recruiting runs on a rolling basis. The exact timing varies by firm and office — McKinsey tends to send Solve invitations within 1-2 weeks of application close, while BCG Casey invitations may take 2-3 weeks.
How long do I have to complete a consulting online assessment?
Most firms give candidates a window of 5-14 days to complete the online assessment from the date of invitation. BCG Casey typically allows 7-14 days. McKinsey Solve usually provides a 5-10 day window. Bain SOVA deadlines vary by office but generally allow 7-10 days. We strongly recommend completing the assessment early in the window — technical issues, internet problems, or personal emergencies are harder to accommodate if you wait until the deadline.
Is the consulting assessment timeline different for experienced hires?
Yes. Experienced hire recruiting typically runs on a rolling basis rather than fixed cycles. This means applications, assessments, and interviews can happen at any time throughout the year. The assessment format is the same (Casey, Solve, or SOVA depending on the firm), but the timeline is compressed — you may receive an assessment invitation within days of applying. The advantage is flexibility; the disadvantage is less predictability for preparation scheduling. We recommend having assessment prep completed before submitting experienced hire applications.
Do all consulting firms use online assessments?
Most major consulting firms use some form of online assessment, but the format varies significantly. McKinsey uses Solve (gamified simulation), BCG uses Casey (chatbot case) or CCA (case completion), Bain uses SOVA (cognitive aptitude test), Deloitte uses a mix of SHL and custom aptitude tests, and Kearney and Oliver Wyman use proprietary or third-party assessments. Some smaller boutique firms skip online assessments entirely and go directly to case interviews. DrillCase covers the three major MBB formats — check our product pages for McKinsey, BCG, and Bain for format-specific preparation.
When should I start preparing for consulting assessments?
We recommend starting assessment preparation 4-6 weeks before your expected assessment date, or 6-8 weeks before the application deadline (since assessments typically arrive 1-3 weeks after the deadline). For fall full-time recruiting with September application deadlines, start preparation in July-August. For winter internship recruiting with December-January deadlines, start in October-November. If you are applying to multiple firms, start with the assessment format for your earliest deadline and layer in additional formats as needed.
Sources
This article predates our citation policy and does not yet list external sources. Format details reflect candidate reports at the time of writing. See our editorial policy.