follow up to previous question - online test timeline

That's a very perceptive distinction to make. Many experienced hires who excel at the complexity and systems thinking required by the McKinsey Solve struggle with the pure velocity demanded by standardized numerical tests like SHL or PSTs used by other firms. It feels counterintuitive, but the skill set is different.

The jump from being accurate but slow, to accurate and fast, is primarily about pattern recognition and process automation, not mathematical improvement. Your strong quantitative foundation means you don't need to relearn the concepts, you just need to eliminate reading time and unnecessary keystrokes. For someone with your background, you can usually compress this training significantly. I would budget three to four weeks of focused, consistent practice.

You need to treat this like high-intensity interval training. Spend 30 minutes every single day doing strictly timed, short bursts (10-15 questions maximum). Do not practice untimed. The goal is to train your eyes to instantly identify the question type ("Percentage Change," "Ratio," "Indexing") and immediately know which two data points you need to pull from the charts, bypassing the descriptive text altogether. Once you clear the 80th percentile consistently in practice, you are ready for the live tests, which act as strict, blind filters before your non-traditional experience is even reviewed.

All the best with your applications!

Hi there,

This is a very common situation, especially for experienced hires with non-traditional backgrounds, so you’re not behind in any unusual way.

From what I’ve seen coaching candidates over the years, going from accurate but slow to accurate and fast on numerical reasoning tests usually takes 4 to 6 weeks of focused, targeted practice, not months. The key is that this is a different skill from case math or McKinsey Solve. It’s more about pattern recognition under time pressure than deep reasoning.

A few practical points that tend to make the biggest difference:

First, stop treating these tests like exams. You’re not meant to solve every question perfectly. Speed comes from learning when to approximate, when to skip, and when to move on. Many strong candidates fail because they over-invest time in one question.

Second, practice with the exact test formats you’ll face (SHL, Talent Q, Korn Ferry, etc.). Do short, timed sets and review why you were slow, not just whether you were right. Often it’s about reading the question more efficiently, not the math itself.

Third, aim for consistency, not volume. Twenty to thirty minutes a day, four or five times a week, is more effective than long weekend sessions. Most people see a noticeable speed improvement after about 15–20 timed sessions.

Finally, don’t over-index on this. For experienced hires, online tests are usually a screening tool, not the main differentiator. As long as you’re above the cutoff, the interviews will matter much more.

So yes, this is very fixable. With structured practice over a few weeks, most candidates close that speed gap without needing to “relearn” math from scratch.

When I was interviewing, I practiced every day for two months and my speed basically doubled. 

There is diminishing returns curve to this as well though. 

Basically, if you have the time, then budget some daily practice and do it consistently over as long as you can. 

If you don't have the time, then you will need to budget more daily practice. 

What's also super important - and often ignored by most candidates - is mental hygiene. For instance, sleep. If you're not well rested, if you haven't had consistent sleep in the week(s) preceding the test, the result will be lower anyway. And adjusting this is also within your control. 

If you're looking for a collection of the most common formulas used in consulting interviews, this will come in handy:

• • Cheatsheet: The Must-Know Consulting Terms for Interviews

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

This is a very common issue and it’s usually very fixable. For most candidates, going from accurate but slow to accurate and fast on numerical reasoning tests takes around four to six weeks of focused practice. The key is consistency rather than volume.

Using tools like SHL-style practice, focus on pattern recognition, time management, and skipping early when a question is too time consuming. Speed improves quickly once you internalize common question types and stop recalculating from scratch each time. Given your strong math base and experienced hire context, you should see noticeable improvement within a month if you practice regularly.

Best,
Evelina

Hey there,

if you’re accurate but slow, most people can realistically get to both fast and accurate in 3–6 weeks of focused daily practice with SHL or similar tests. Start with timing yourself, review mistakes carefully, and gradually push your speed. Many friends with non-traditional backgrounds managed it this way.

best, Alessa :)