Final Round at McKinsey – Weak Math + Fast Interviews + No Feedback

Question

Hi everyone,

I recently completed my final-round interviews at McKinsey. Unfortunately, I didn’t perform well on the math portions in both interviews. Also, both interviews felt noticeably shorter and rushed than my first round.

It has now been 10 days since the interviews, and I still haven’t heard back. I emailed the recruiter yesterday to follow up, but haven’t received a response yet.

I wanted to ask:

How common is it to still receive an offer after weak math performance in both interviews?
Do shorter interviews usually indicate a negative outcome?
Is a 10-day silence normal at this stage?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has had a similar experience or insight into McKinsey timelines.

Thank you!

Answer 1

On timing: I got my offer after 2 weeks. Colleagues got theirs after 1 day, others after a month. MBB teaches structure to clients - ironically, they're not always structured internally (true story). Wait it out.

On math: Depends on the difficulty. If the math was simple and you blew it, I wouldn't count on passing. If it was objectively difficult but your reasoning was solid, you're probably fine - they care more about how you think than perfect arithmetic

The real issue: Both interviews having weak math is a negative multiplier. One off interview can be excused. Two with the same weakness compounds the signal.

On shorter interviews: Could mean anything. my final interview (before I got the offer) was 20 minutes. Sometimes they've seen enough (good or bad), sometimes they're running late, sometimes the partner just moves fast. Don't read too much into it without other context.

Answer 2

Hi there,

This situation is understandably stressful, but none of what you described is a definitive negative signal on its own.

Weak math in finals:
It is still possible to receive an offer even if math wasn’t your strongest area, especially if your structure, judgment, synthesis, and PEI were strong. McKinsey evaluates candidates holistically, and math errors are often tolerated if they don’t derail the overall problem solving. Many successful candidates felt their math was shaky in at least one interview.

Shorter or rushed interviews:
Short interviews do not reliably indicate a negative outcome. In finals, interviewers may move quickly once they’ve seen enough signal, whether positive or mixed. Length is a very weak indicator compared to content.

10-day silence:
Yes, this is normal. Final-round decisions often take 1–2 weeks or longer, especially if there’s calibration across interviewers, partner availability, or headcount discussions. Silence usually means the process is still ongoing rather than a clear no.

Since you’ve already followed up, the right move now is to wait a bit longer. Chasing again too quickly won’t change the outcome.

In short: your experience is very common, and while there are no guarantees, nothing you’ve described automatically rules out an offer. Try not to over-interpret individual signals while you wait.

Best,
Evelina

Answer 3

I wouldn't read too much into the 10-day silence or the short interview. These don't necessarily imply any outcome.

But a self-perceived low performance is never a good sign. However, what I've noticed is that a candidate's self-perception can sometimes be much worse than how the interviewer perceives them. In my case, I thought I failed both rounds with McKinsey, but I actually passed.

The reality is that there's not much you can do about it, aside from following up in a week or so if you haven't heard back from them. Instead, learn from the experience and now focus on the other applications you might have ongoing.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 4

Hello!

A few points from the perspective of someone who has been involved in consulting recruitment:

1. Weak math in final round
It’s uncommon (though not impossible) to receive an offer if math was clearly weak in both final-round interviews. McKinsey expects solid quantitative hygiene at all levels. That said, final decisions are holistic, problem-solving, judgment, communication, and PEI still matter.

2. Shorter / rushed interviews
Shorter interviews can sometimes indicate alignment (positive or negative), but they are not a reliable signal on their own. Interviewers often adjust depth based on time, discussion flow, or confidence in their assessment.

3. 10 days of silence
Yes, this is completely normal. Final-round decisions often take 2–3 weeks. Reasons are often very practical, aligning availability and input from 5–6 interviewers, calibration discussions, or capacity planning. Silence is not a negative signal by default.

What to do next

You did the right thing by following up with the recruiter
If the outcome is a no, ask explicitly for feedback
Use it to build a clear plan on what to improve and when to reapply

As a coach, I’m here to help you, we can diagnose math gaps, rebuild speed and accuracy, and put together a targeted plan to make sure you secure the offer next time if needed.