Short answer
Free prep covers the foundations well: mental math, chart reading, market sizing, case libraries and the test providers' own samples. Paid prep earns its cost when it gives you more timed practice in a specific test's format than free material can. Start free, check refund terms, and pay only for the tests your invitations name.
Key takeaways
- Free tools build the core skills every consulting test uses and should come first.
- Paid practice adds timed volume in a specific format; check the free demo and the refund terms before buying.
- Buy format-specific practice only for the firms you apply to; a bundle only pays off across two or more firms.
In this article
Part ofConsulting Online Assessments: Which Test Will McKinsey, BCG or Bain Send You?
Free consulting assessment prep means drills, sample questions and guides you can use without paying. Paid prep means more practice in a test's specific format, usually timed. This guide sets out where free is enough, where paid practice adds something, and how to spend a small budget well.
Disclosure: DrillCase makes both free and paid tools, and we earn money when you buy. We have tried to write this so that it is useful even if you never do.
What free prep gets you
Free tools at DrillCase
No account or payment needed:
- Mental Math Drills: 500 timed questions across 10 skills, from percentages to break-even
- Chart Interpretation: 50 exhibit-reading questions
- Market Sizing: 32 estimation questions
- Case Library: 63 full cases with exhibits, filterable by function, sector and difficulty, readable in the browser or as PDFs
- Free demos: one BCG Casey-style case, one McKinsey Solve-style scenario and a 50-question Bain-style verbal sample
Other free resources
- Test providers' own practice. Sova's candidate hub and TestGorilla's candidate help pages explain their formats, and every Sova section opens with an unscored practice question.
- Firm pages. McKinsey, BCG and Bain each describe their online test on their careers pages. They are short, but they are the only official word.
- Guides like this one. Useful for format, as long as they are dated and cite sources.
- Peers and school clubs. Good for live case practice and recent candidate reports.
What paid prep adds
Free resources tell you what a test looks like. Paid practice gives you more repetitions inside that format.
- Format. A chatbot case with exhibits beside the chat, or a game-based study screen, feels different from a case book. Practicing in a similar screen removes a surprise on test day.
- Volume. Speed comes from repetitions. DrillCase has 25+ BCG Casey-style cases with 250+ questions, 20+ McKinsey Solve-style scenarios and 450+ Bain-style questions in 23 timed sets.
- A clock. Timed sessions show you whether your pace is good enough, not just whether your answers are right.
What prep costs
| Prep method | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Private coaching | About $200 an hour (Road to Offer's comparison) | Live feedback on case interviews |
| Case-prep subscriptions | For example CaseCoach at $49 a month or $199 a year | Case banks and interview practice |
| DrillCase | $20 per module up to $250 for All-Access | Format-specific practice; one-time purchases |
| Free tools only | $0 | Core skills and samples |
Prices are as shown on each site on September 23, 2026 and change with promotions.
When free is enough, and when it is not
Free is likely enough if:
- you are already quick with percentages and charts under time pressure;
- the firm's own samples and free demos already feel comfortable;
- your invitation gives you enough days to practice with free material.
Paid practice is worth considering if:
- the format itself is new to you (a chatbot case, a game-based test or a timed aptitude battery);
- you have run through the free material and want more timed repetitions;
- you are applying to several firms and need practice for each format.
A sensible order
- Start free. Build math, chart reading and structuring with free drills and cases. Read the guide for each test you face.
- Try the demos. Use the free demo for each format before paying for anything.
- Buy only what your invitations need. A single Bain-style module is $20; BCG Casey-style cases start at $99 for 14; McKinsey Solve-style practice starts at $99.
- Bundle only across firms. The $250 All-Access Pass unlocks every DrillCase firm product. It only pays off if you face two or more firms' tests. It carries a 7-day refund; most other DrillCase products are final sale.
Frequently asked questions
Are free consulting assessment prep tools good enough to pass?
For many candidates, free tools cover most of what matters. Mental math, chart reading and case practice are free on several platforms, and Sova and TestGorilla publish practice material. Where free material runs thin is timed repetition in a specific test's format, such as a chatbot case or a game-based test. Whether you need more depends on how comfortable you already are under a clock.
How much should I spend on consulting assessment prep?
Only what the tests you face require. Coaching is priced by the hour (Road to Offer quotes about $200 an hour for a coach), subscription platforms charge monthly or yearly, and some tools are one-time purchases. DrillCase ranges from $20 for a single Bain-style module to $250 for the All-Access Pass. Check what is refundable first; at DrillCase only Solve VIP and the All-Access Pass carry a 7-day refund.
What free consulting prep tools does DrillCase offer?
No account needed: Mental Math Drills, Chart Interpretation and Market Sizing practice (582 drill questions in total), and the case library of 63 consulting cases with exhibits, filterable by function, sector and difficulty and downloadable as PDFs. There is also a free BCG Casey-style demo case, a free McKinsey Solve-style demo scenario and a 50-question Bain-style verbal sample.
Is it worth paying for consulting prep if I already have school resources?
School resources such as case books, peer groups and coaching are strong for live case interviews. They usually do not include practice in the online-test formats (a chatbot case, a game-based test or an aptitude battery) that come before the interview. If your school covers those too, you may not need to pay for anything.
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
- Road to Offer: plans and coach price comparison (checked 23 Sept 2026)
- CaseCoach: Consulting interview prep toolkit prices (checked 23 Sept 2026)
- Sova: Candidate Preparation Hub (free practice material)
- TestGorilla Candidates: Common questions about assessments and tests
- McKinsey & Company: Interviewing at McKinsey
- DrillCase: refund policy