Do Partners typically reuse the same case with multiple candidates during the same recruitment cycle?

In my experience, yes. For final rounds, partners usually have their favorite cases they like to use. While the overall scenario may sound similar across candidates, the specific questions they ask can feel quite random.

Compared to first rounds, where interviewers typically follow a structured “prompt”, final rounds are much more free-style. Partners may even pull from a real case they personally led and then ask spontaneous questions based on how you respond.

For example, in my final round, the most senior partner (head of the entire practice in North America) kept pushing me with brainstorming questions until I eventually ran out of ideas. He said: “It’s okay, I’m surprised we even got this far into the case.” That was the moment I realized just how free-flowing it was :) 

Unsolicited coaching tip: Final rounds are less about “getting the answer right” and more about showing that you can think on your feet, stay structured under pressure, and engage the partner in a real business discussion. So when you prep, focus not only on practicing cases, but also on building comfort with open-ended brainstorming and communicating confidently when you hit ambiguity.

Hope this helps,

Han