Bain vs McK vs BCG: Which has more difficult maths ?

Hi there, 

There really is no difference, or at least not at a level that is statistically significant. 

Each firm has its own case library. 

They each have a very similar 'ideal candidate'  in mind. 

And for each firm, there are then adjustments based on region, and role requirements. 

None of them has 'simpler' maths. 

In effect, the maths component is not the difficult one in the interview. The focus should go rather into learning the skill of working with the interviewer through the maths, co-creating the approach with them, the same way you would do with a client.

If the maths is concerning you, you might find this guide helpful:

• Cheatsheet: The Must-Know Consulting Terms for Interviews

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, there are no observable differences between consulting firms or regions.
• Moreover, I would strongly advise you not to worry about math. While proficiency is important, it's easy to refresh your high school math skills.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

All three firms demand excellent mental-math chops, but McKinsey’s PST (and its emphasis on rapid chart interpretation) is generally the most formally rigorous, BCG’s Potential Test blends data interpretation and multi-step guesstimates, and Bain embeds calculations more organically within live cases. Ultimately, mastering 5‐second-per-calculation accuracy and then tailoring timed practice to each firm’s format (PST for McKinsey, Potential Test for BCG, case drills for Bain) will see you through anywhere.
 

Let me know if I can help you further!

Best,

Evelina 

Hi,

The math is independent on the region; it's depending on the case and interviewer. Based on my experience, I would tend to say the math at BCG can be a bit more difficult, but difference is small. 

Mattijs

hey there :)

you’re right—it’s not about the math itself being harder at one firm, but more about the format. McKinsey is interviewer-led, so the math is usually more structured and guided. BCG and Bain are interviewee-led, so you're expected to set up the analysis yourself, which can feel harder, especially under pressure. so in practice, the math at BCG/Bain can be trickier just because you're on your own more.

regionally, not a big difference, but in some SEA offices for example, they do like to push a bit more on quant to test precision. still, the core expectations are pretty similar globally.

let me know if you want help practicing the math side!

best,
Alessa :)

Probably Bain. For SoutheastAsia

Hello there,

They’re all similar, and I agree it sometimes depends on the interviewer.

If you’re struggling with math, maybe this article will be helpful:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/case-math-confidence

Let me know if you need professional assistance in this area, happy to support you!

Best,

Mari

I don't think there's a meaningful difference by firm or region. 

You can get a case with hard math or easier math in any firm x region combination. 

The key takeaway is that your case math should be bulletproof in order to receive an offer from any of the MBB firms.

Neither. All. You pick. There is probably no correct answer.

The math is as difficult as you make it to be.

My recommendation is to NOT obsess over minor comparisons that are not true at an aggregate level.

Prepare once, prepare well.