BCG CCA - didn't finish

Hi there! 

From what I know about BCG's CCA and have encountered from candidates who have taken it, the short answer is that not finishing the last question is likely NOT a deal breaker on its own. Here's why:

• Holistic evaluation: first of all, unlike some more traditional tests, the BCG CCA doesn't have a simple "score" that's purely about getting every question right. The behavioral section has no right/wrong grading, and even the logic section might be assessed in context. BCG tends to compare candidates’ responses to benchmarks of successful consultants, looking for a strong overall match more so than a perfect "score". If, for instance, you answered 6–7 out of 8 logic questions well and showed consistency in your behavioral answers, that could very well meet the benchmark. Missing the last question might simply register as one unanswered item, which in a tight timed test is understandable.

   

• Time pressure is expected: the CCA is known for its tight time constraints. BCG understands that candidates are under pressure, and they might even be assessing how you handle that pressure. Running out of time on the last question, particularly if it was a complex one, happens to many applicants and I have come across candidates who didn't get through every question on the CCA and still moved forward in the process.

Hope that helps. Regardless of how good/bad you feel about your performance, I'd advise you not to dwell on it (don't panic! You're definitely not alone here). To the best of your ability, focus your energy instead on preparing for any potential next steps. If you advance, BCG will likely assess you further through other online tests (like Pymetrics), case interviews, and behavioral/fit interviews. 

Happy to help you prep for any of that in more depth, or discuss any questions/ concerns you may have in further detail. Just reach out and let me know.

Good luck!

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the progress in the application process with BCG thus far!

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

• First of all, the BCG CCA pre-interview assessment is intentionally designed to be time-pressured, and some candidates don’t finish every question. I would advise you to not panic - BCG looks at the overall profile, not just whether you answered all quantitative/reasoning questions.
• Moreover, one unanswered quantitative/reasoning question at the end is unlikely to sink your application. I would advise you to focus now on what you can control - which is your interview preparation, in case you move forward.

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 for your upcoming BCG interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Impossible to tell, honestly. But I'm confident you're not the only one to have had this issue. 

What is important to know is that the screening is not conducted on the test alone, but also your CV, CL and referral (if applicable). So even if the test didn't go well, the other components could compensate. 

Hope you get good news soon!
Best,
Cristian

Hey there :)

No need to panic, many candidates run out of time on the last CCA question. BCG looks at your overall performance across all questions, not just whether you finished everything. If your answers before that were solid, one missed question likely won’t ruin your chances.

best,
Alessa :)