Do the fit questions in the 2 round of BCG repeat the fit questions from the 1 round?

Short answer: sometimes, yes – but you should not plan around repetition.

Longer answer from experience:

BCG does not run a fixed “question bank” across rounds. Different interviewers, different styles. That said, second round interviewers often probe the same themes again, especially if they matter for the office or if something was borderline in round one.

What usually changes in round two:

• Questions are more conversational and less scripted
• The bar is higher on depth, reflection, and judgment
• Partners care less about polish and more about how you think and act under pressure

You might get a very similar question (eg. leadership, conflict, failure), but the expectation is different. A round one answer that was “good” is often not enough in round two. You are expected to go deeper, show clearer ownership, and reflect more maturely on tradeoffs and mistakes.

Best way to prepare:

• Assume no repetition and prepare a full set of strong stories
• Be ready to reuse a story only if it genuinely fits better than alternatives
• If a theme comes back, treat it as a chance to go deeper, not to repeat the same answer

themes may repeat, exact questions usually do not. Prepare for depth, not memorization.

Hi there,

They usually don’t repeat fit questions verbatim, but the themes often overlap. In round two, BCG interviewers tend to go deeper rather than ask completely new categories of questions.

You might see the same areas tested again such as leadership, conflict, failure, or teamwork, but with more probing follow-ups or from a different angle. For example, if round one focused on a leadership story, round two might explore how you influence without authority or handle pushback under pressure.

It’s best to assume that any core fit dimension can come up again, but be ready to draw from different examples or highlight different aspects of the same experience. Consistency matters more than novelty.

Best,
Evelina

Excellent summary above.

To add a layer of insider context: the R2 interviewer, often a Partner or Principal, frequently has access to the R1 interviewer's notes, or at least a high-level summary. If your R1 interviewer flagged a specific area as "good, but needs more maturity/reflection" (e.g., a conflict story where you didn't fully explain the political risk), the R2 interviewer isn't just randomly repeating the theme—they are intentionally testing the borderline area. They use a similar prompt to see if you have internalized the deeper meaning and complexity since the last discussion.

This means you should stop preparing for answers and start preparing for judgment. The Partner cares less about the clean STAR structure and more about the three decisions you struggled with, the cost of each path, and what specific advice you would give your past self now. Your R2 stories must demonstrate an awareness of the organizational impact and the personal tradeoffs.

Focus your prep on ensuring your main three or four stories have a "Partner-level spike"—that higher maturity and self-awareness you mentioned. This depth of reflection is what separates a strong R1 candidate from an offer-worthy R2 candidate.

All the best in your final push.

They can, but usually do not repeat exactly.

In the first round, interviewers ask basic questions: Why consulting? Why BCG? Tell me about yourself. They might also ask one or two questions about leadership or teamwork.

In the second round, partners go deeper. They ask about different things like how you influenced people, handled conflict, or dealt with failure. They also push harder on your answers.

Interviewers don't always talk to each other. I've seen candidates get asked "Why BCG?" in both rounds. So don't assume any question won't come up again.

Prepare all your stories well for both rounds. But expect partners to dig deeper into why you did what you did. They want to understand how you think, not just hear a good story.