OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES

Consulting Skills Test Resources

Many of the top consulting companies test potential employees’ knowledge in logic, math, and analytical
skills in addition to their business sense. This comes in the form of case interviews, but also in the form of
tests such as McKinsey’s Problem Solving Test (PST), Boston Consulting Group’s BCG Potential Test and
others like them.

The PST is a paper-based test all potential McKinsey employees must take during the interview process. It
tests applicants on logic and math and is comprised of twenty six questions. Applicants have sixty minutes to
complete the test and are not permitted to use calculators or scrap paper during the test.

The BCG Potential Test targets similar skillsets and is conducted online, but the format of the test does not
appear to be standardized. Previous test takers have reported 50 questions in 50 minutes; 23 questions in 45
minutes; 53 questions in 50 minutes etc. There are less resources available for the BCG Potential Test than the
McKinsey PST, but the knowledge and skills required to succeed at one will likely lead to success with the
other. Likewise, other top consulting firms such as Bain utilize similar tests to aid in the hiring process in
addition to case interviews. Do not ignore the importance of these tests, as they can significantly help or hinder
you depending on how you perform.

We’ve tried to assist your preparation by finding some resources that may potentially help you. Some of the
following resources are free; others offer a free sample, but require payment for the full program.
Additionally, there are free videos at the bottom of this document. OCS isn’t endorsing any of the following
programs, merely providing potential resources in order to get you on the right track to successfully take the
PST, or tests like it. Lastly, previous test takers have also recommended GMAT Critical Reasoning and GMAT
math in order to help practice as well as sharpen those math skills without a calculator. For Bain’s test the
GMAT analytical exercises and the GMAT Integrating Reasoning may help in preparation.

Free Resources
Practice tests and a coaching guide from McKinsey can be found at the following link once you scroll to the
bottom of the page. www.mckinsey.com/careers/interviewing

Tips and assistance with question types designed to increase successful test taking prepared by
mconsultingprep.com. mconsultingprep.com/problem-solving-test/how-to-prepare

Mconsultingprep.com has plain number math drills to help speed up your math calculations through practice.
mconsultingprep.com/plain-number-math-drills

Additionally, mconsultingprep.com provides a chart-based math skills test to help your practice.
mconsultingprep.com/chart-based-math-drills

Updated 6/17
Classmill.com has a module that gives examples of the various types of math you’ll need to work on in order
to prepare for a test like the PST. classmill.com/brendalouis/management-consulting-test-and-interview-
prep/m/O5kv OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES
Academia.edu also provides a short-question test on math pertaining to consulting that will help you practice.
INTERVIEW TYPES
www.academia.edu/15646015/Consulting_Math_Drills_Short_Questions_Practice_Package_Overviewand_In
structions
Screening Interview: The screening interview does just that—screen out candidates whose qualifications
Consultingguru.com
don’t meet the job offers a free sample
specifications. testinterview
The first with question types you
is typically may encounter,
conducted in order
by a human to help
resources
prepare and practice. consultingguru.com/our-services/pst-example/
professional and will probably focus more on your resume and qualifications than anything else.
Screening interviews may be conducted in person, by telephone, or by video conferencing (see Telephone
Igotanoffer.com has anorarticle
Interview and Video Skypethat outlines
Interview 9 strategies for improving your proficiency at taking the PST.
sections).
igotanoffer.com/blogs/mckinseypst/16268468-mckinsey-pst-9-top-preparation-facts-and-tips

Thefollowing is a list
Articulate yourofskills
articles
andfrom
whatIgotanoffer.com
you accomplishedprovides
at each a variety
previousofjob
techniques to improve taking the
experience.
PST. igotanoffer.com/blogs/mckinseypst
Second Interview: Second round interviews are often more difficult to prepare for because their purpose
Additionally, igotanoffer.com
is more subtle—to determinepossesses multiple test
which candidates preparation
will best "fit" withprograms to helpSecond
the company. test takers improve
interviews their
may
abilities for case interviews and the PST.
be comprised of behavioral and competency-based questions (see Behavioral Interview and Competency-
based Interview sections).
Free McKinsey Case Interview Prep: igotanoffer.com/collections/mckinsey-case-interview/products/free-
mckinsey-case-interview-prep
 Ask questions about the work environment.
Free McKinsey PST: igotanoffer.com/products/free-mckinsey-pst
 This stage may also include reference checks and testing.
Igotanoffer.com also provides this article which has methods one can use to help speed up mental math
Case Study
calculations forInterview:
problemsConsulting
geared towardfirmsthe
and certain
PST. financial institutions may include a case study or
igotanoffer.com/blogs/mckinseypst/13218041-be-lazy-and-
word problem based on a real-life or simulated consulting situation as part of their interview process. In
increase-your-speed-at-the-mckinsey-pst
this instance, the interviewer will present you with a case study and ask how you would approach and
solve the dilemma at hand.
Consultingcase101.com offersThe interviewer
a small paragraph is simply trying to determine
with information on the PST yourandanalytical abilities
also provides through
a number of
thissample
older interview method,
tests so be
that can trydownloaded
not to get flustered!
and taken for free. www.consultingcase101.com/mckinsey-
problem-solving-test
 You can usually ask relevant questions in your efforts.
Consultingcase101.com
 There are a number alsoofprovides fivehardcopy
online and different case interviews
resources to help
available improve
through the your calculation
Office of Career speed
with fastServices
math drills. www.consultingcase101.com/?s=fast+math+drills
to help you prepare for these types of interviews.
 It is also imperative to be part of a student study group and practice together since these interviews
Caseinterview.com has a math problem practice program that allows you to choose between precise math or
are very demanding.
estimation math, in addition to problem types that range from addition and subtraction to multiplication and
percentages.
Behavioral You can also
Interview: Inselect
these the difficultythe
interviews, level. In order to
interviewer willutilize
ask youthetotest
talkyou’ll
about need to situation
a real make an account.
you’ve
www.caseinterview.com/math/home.php
encountered and your response to that situation. A sample question could include, “Tell me of an
incident when you failed,” instead of a hypothetical question such as “How you would handle a mistake or
Caseinterview.com also has a guide for the PST. www.caseinterview.com/mckinsey-problem-solving-test
failure?” The employer assumes this will be a good indicator of how you would handle situations in the
Infuture.
addition to their PST guides, igotanoffer.com also provides a short guide for the BCG Potential Test.
igotanoffer.com/blogs/bcg-potential-test/16842880-bcg-potential-test-how-to-prepare
 Stay calm and answer the question as completely as you can, using the SAR formula as your guide:
Likewise mconsultingprep.com has a sample BCG Potential Test. mconsultingprep.com/bcg-potential-test/
o S – What was the situation or problem that you were presented with?
o A – What
Caseinterview.com action
provides did you
a small guide take?
on the(Specifically highlight
BCG Potential Test.the skills used.)
www.caseinterview.com/bcg-potential-
test o R – What were the results of your actions? (Be specific and quantify results when
possible.)
Lastly, there are two books in the Columbia University library system that may assist you with the skills
needed to successfully take the PST or similar tests. The book Financial Intelligence: A Manager's Guide to
OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES
Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean, by Karen Berman and Joe Knight can be purchased on Amazon, or
checked out from the Business and Economics Library. Guesstimation: Solving the World's Problems on the
Back of a Cocktail Napkin, by Lawrence Weinstein and John A. Adam can be obtained from Milstein (Butler)
INTERVIEW TYPES
for a hard copy version, or if using a search on CLIO you may find an electronic version.

Screening Interview: The screening interview does just that—screen out candidates whose qualifications
Paid
don’tResources
meet the job specifications. The first interview is typically conducted by a human resources
professional and will probably focus more on your resume and qualifications than anything else.
MyConsultingCoach.com
Screening interviews may offers a free sample
be conducted PST, but
in person, byalso provides
telephone, ormultiple
by videoPST preparation
conferencing programs
(see at
Telephone
varied costs. www.myconsultingcoach.com/problem-solving-test/
Interview and Video or Skype Interview sections).

McKinsey Case Interview Training Programme: igotanoffer.com/collections/products-landing-

 Articulate your skills and what you accomplished at each previous job experience.
page/products/mckinsey-case-interview-training-programme

SecondPST
McKinsey Interview:
TrainingSecond round igotanoffer.com/products/mckinsey-pst-training-programme
Programme: interviews are often more difficult to prepare for because their purpose
is more subtle—to determine which candidates will best "fit" with the company. Second interviews may
be comprised of behavioral
MConsultingprep.com and
also has competency-based
a paid questions
PST training program. (see Behavioral Interview and Competency-
mconsultingprep.com/problem-solving-test-
product
based Interview sections).

 Ask questions about the work environment.

Videos
 This stage may also include reference checks and testing.

McKinsey PSTInterview:
Case Study Prep: Reading Facts Questions
Consulting firms andGuide
certainfrom Mconsultingprep.com.
financial institutions may include a case study or
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LLULjlTeKQ
word problem based on a real-life or simulated consulting situation as part of their interview process. In
this instance, the interviewer will present you with a case study and ask how you would approach and
McKinsey
solve thePST Prep: Fact-Based
dilemma Conclusion
at hand. The Questions
interviewer is simplyGuide
tryingfrom MConsultingprep.com.
to determine your analytical abilities through
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR46Q_gk90E
this interview method, so try not to get flustered!
McKinsey PST Prep: Root-Cause Questions Guide from MConsultingroup.com.
 You can usually ask relevant questions in your efforts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3udUGaVw3vg
 There are a number of online and hardcopy resources available through the Office of Career
Services
McKinsey to help you
PST Essential prepare
Business for thesefrom
Knowledge typesigotanoffer.com.
of interviews.
 It is also imperative to be part of a student study group and practice together since these interviews
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkEVfsk9NVk
are very demanding.

Behavioral Interview: In these interviews, the interviewer will ask you to talk about a real situation you’ve
encountered and your response to that situation. A sample question could include, “Tell me of an
incident when you failed,” instead of a hypothetical question such as “How you would handle a mistake or
failure?” The employer assumes this will be a good indicator of how you would handle situations in the
future.

 Stay calm and answer the question as completely as you can, using the SAR formula as your guide:
o S – What was the situation or problem that you were presented with?
o A – What action did you take? (Specifically highlight the skills used.)
o R – What were the results of your actions? (Be specific and quantify results when
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possible.)
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