Besides the practice questions provided by the company, and the drills on preplounge, what other resources can I use to get better at the online tests for consulting? I do well in tests for some companies, but struggle with others. E.g., practicing for the BCG online maths tests, OC&C online tests, LEK online tests. I find myself struggling to complete questions quickly and accurately. Especially under time pressure with only a few minutes left, i find myself panicking and struggling to stay calm. Thanks!
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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:
- 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
- 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.
- Do short drills, not long sessions. 15–20 minutes daily under a stopwatch works better than long weekend sessions
- 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.
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,
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
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!
