Best way to practice for Bain's TestGorilla and Strategy&'s assessment?

Hi there,

Whether everyone receives the assessment depends on the firm, office, role, and recruiting cycle. You should expect to receive one and prepare accordingly, but receiving it does not necessarily mean that you passed a meaningful CV screening stage.

Most of these online tests are very similar.

Format and content? Somewhat different. What's required from you ability-wise? The same.

The best way is to find online tests and questions and practice. Regardless as to whether it is a new or old test, the principles are mostly the same:

1. Time management
2. Business knowledge and key formulas
3. Critical thinking
4. Numerical reasoning
5. The ability to interpret data and charts

Think of it as a merge of a case and the GMAT or GRE.

For free preparation, start with the test providers' own sample questions and then use general numerical, verbal, and data interpretation practice. The old McKinsey PST, BCG Online Test, Bain SOVA test, and similar assessments can also help you build many of the underlying skills.

Do not assume that every applicant receives the assessment. That can vary by firm, office, role and recruiting cycle, so an invitation is not a reliable signal about how far your CV has been screened.

Start with the assessment provider's official sample questions and instructions. Then practise the underlying skills under time pressure: numerical reasoning, data and chart interpretation, verbal logic, prioritization and business judgment. Use general aptitude-test questions when free firm-specific material is limited.

After each practice set, record the failure type. Did you misunderstand the question, choose the wrong method, calculate inaccurately or run out of time? Fix that specific problem before doing another full test. Avoid memorizing leaked questions or overfitting to one reported format, because vendors and modules change. Also keep case and fit preparation moving; the assessment is one gate, not the complete process.

Hey! From my experience with consulting recruiting, I wouldn’t assume that everyone gets an assessment, it can depend on the role, office and recruiting process.

For preparation, I’d focus on numerical reasoning, logical reasoning and data interpretation rather than trying to find the exact tests beforehand. For free practice, AssessmentDay, Graduates First and practice tests from SHL are good places to start. I’d also do a few timed tests so you get used to working quickly under pressure.

Alessa