Best resources for online test prep?

This is a very common issue, and it is less about “which platform” and more about how you train.

A key point first: these online tests are not testing advanced math. They are testing speed, prioritization, and staying calm while numbers are flying at you. If you panic at the end, that usually means pacing is the real problem.

On resources:

• GMAT quant (especially data sufficiency and integrated reasoning) is still the best all around training. Not because it is identical, but because it forces you to read fast, decide fast, and move on.
• SHL style platforms like AssessmentDay or JobTestPrep are useful because the formats feel close to BCG, OC&C, and LEK.
• But no resource will fix this unless you practice them timed, strictly, and slightly uncomfortable.

How to actually improve:

1. Stop aiming for perfect accuracy. These tests reward skipping. If a question does not look clear within ~20–30 seconds, guess and move on. Getting stuck is what kills scores
2. Train estimation aggressively. Eg. if revenues are 47, 52, and 49, treat them as 50. If answers are far apart, exact math is usually unnecessary.
3. Do short drills, not long sessions. 15–20 minutes daily under a stopwatch works better than long weekend sessions
4. Practice finishing with time left. Deliberately force yourself to move faster than comfortable so the real test feels calmer

One mindset shift that helps a lot: these are not “math tests”. They are decision making under pressure tests. Once you treat them that way, speed and confidence improve quickly.

If you want, I can also share how I personally trained for and passed multiple MBB style online screens, and GMAT 730, but the above alone already fixes most issues.

Hi there,

Struggling with online tests is very common and it’s usually about speed and pressure rather than ability. Beyond company practice and PrepLounge a few resources and habits tend to work best.

SHL style platforms like AssessmentDay or JobTestPrep are very close to what firms like BCG OC&C and L.E.K. use. GMAT or GRE quant especially Integrated Reasoning and data interpretation is also great for building speed with charts and numbers. Short daily mental math drills help a lot with fluency so you’re not recalculating from scratch under time pressure.

What makes the biggest difference is timed simulation. Practice under strict conditions and train yourself to skip come back and manage time calmly. Pattern recognition also matters once you’ve seen the same question types enough times speed improves naturally.

If you’re panicking at the end that’s a signal to practice pacing not more content. A few full timed tests and regular short drills usually move the needle quickly.

Best,
Evelina

If you do well on some tests but struggle with others, it's probably the format, not your ability. Each firm's test is different, so practice the specific style.

For BCG and math-heavy tests:

Work on mental math speed. Spend 10-15 minutes daily on timed practice: percentages, fractions, basic calculations. Use apps like GMAT Club or any mental math app. Make it repetitive until it's automatic.

Also practice reading charts fast. BCG throws a lot of data at you. Learn to find the key numbers quickly and ignore the rest.

For OC&C and LEK tests:

These mix logic, verbal reasoning, and data. Practice with SHL or Cubiks style tests online. Free samples are available. The more formats you see, the less you'll be surprised.

On panicking under time pressure:

You can train this. Always practice with a timer. Give yourself less time than the real test. Get used to not finishing.

If you feel panic during the test, pause for two seconds. Breathe. Move on if you're stuck. Getting one question wrong is fine. Letting panic ruin the next five is not.

One more thing:

After every practice test, review your mistakes. Was it a calculation error? Did you misread something? Did you run out of time? Each mistake type needs a different fix.

The goal isn't to be perfect. It's to be fast, calm, and accurate enough.

This is an extremely common bottleneck, and it sucks because you know you can do the math, but the clock turns your brain to soup. The truth is, these tests are less about advanced quantitative skill and much more about systematic process execution under duress. The panic is the signal that your mental model for execution isn't tight enough yet.

Forget looking for proprietary "BCG/OC&C" test prep beyond the official materials. The underlying logic for almost all quantitative consulting screens is lifted directly from standardized tests, specifically the GMAT Quantitative Reasoning section. The best resource for high-speed, systematic math and data comprehension practice is the Official GMAT Quantitative Review book. The questions are designed to test data sufficiency and interpretation, which is exactly what these firms are looking for when presenting you with charts and tables.

Here’s the strategic pivot: Stop treating these as accuracy tests, and start treating them as speed optimization exercises. For every new practice session, focus intently on two things:

1. Estimation Over Calculation: Unless the answers are clustered closely, practice estimating the result based on rounding the data points. You must train your brain to quickly identify whether an answer is plausible before wasting 30 seconds on long division.

2. The 30-Second Bailout Rule: If you read the prompt, look at the data, and still haven't clearly identified the exact steps required to solve it within 30 seconds, immediately mark a plausible guess and move on. The worst thing you can do is burn 90 seconds on a single complex question that derails your ability to grab easy points later in the exam.

Focusing on the GMAT structure will build the necessary muscle memory to read data rapidly and reduce the novelty shock when a new firm throws a slightly different format at you.

Hope that helps!

Sorry to hear that. That sounds difficult. But it's important to remember that these tests are challenging, and everyone struggles, so, to a certain extent, it's perfectly normal to feel this way.

Practice will make you better. Be sure of that.

It sounds like you're already doing lots of tests and practising across firms. Do more of this. If you feel you're plateauing, work with an expert to diagnose it. I'm happy to help if you need support.

Otherwise, I've also put together a list of the most common formulas that appear in these tests and in the interviews:

• • Cheatsheet: The Must-Know Consulting Terms for Interviews

Best,
Cristian

hey there :)

For online tests, in addition to company questions and PrepLounge, try practice platforms like GMAT/SHL-style numerical reasoning drills, JobTestPrep, or AssessmentDay for timed practice. Focus on speed first with easier questions, then gradually add harder ones. Simulate real test conditions to train calm under pressure, and practice skipping tough questions and returning if time allows. Learning shortcuts for mental math helps a lot too.

best,
Alessa :)

Hi there,

JobTestDay and Assessment day have both been around for a long time and should be able to have enough content for you to through.