Hello! Great question!
Typically you can start by reading "case in point" or watching tutorial videos on Youtube or reading the articles here on Prep Lounge.
For tutorials look for : Introduction to case interviews, case interview frameworks, how to case interview and things like this.
Caution - don't stay too long in this prep phase - many people are afraid to "pull off the band aid" and start casing because yes indeed, it is nerve-wracking!
If you have any friends who have done casing or are already in the process, try and get ~5 cases under your belt with trusted sources and then start casing with peers from your chosen platform and / or working with a coach.
All of this is kind of like riding a bike. You can read or watch videos on how to do it, but really you won't get the hang of it until you're in the seat and feet on the pedals :)
Happy to discuss further if you have more questions - good luck!
Hello, how do u start practicing cases as a beginner with no knowledge and clue.
This is an excellent question, because the biggest mistake beginners make is passive studying. You can read every framework book on the market and still fail if you haven't internalized the logic of the conversation. You need to transition quickly from reading about consulting to actively thinking like a consultant.
Forget trying to memorize every profitability or market entry framework yet. That is a common procrastination trap. Your first two weeks must be entirely focused on two foundational skills: communication flow and logical structure. Spend a few focused days watching successful full-length case interviews to internalize the communication cadence—how top candidates pause, transition between sections, and, most importantly, how they use the initial hypothesis to guide the entire discussion. Simultaneously, you must master the fundamental concept of MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive). Every single case interview is ultimately just a test of whether you can logically break down ambiguity. Practice this structural thinking on mundane, everyday problems to build muscle memory.
After internalizing the flow and structure, do not immediately jump into blind peer exchanges with strangers. Find one trusted partner—ideally someone who has already been through the process—and run your first 5–7 cases with them. These early cases are your safe space, purely for building muscle memory on maintaining structure, asking precise clarifying questions, and managing pressure. Only once you feel comfortable with the process mechanics should you expand your practice pool and start honing your quantitative skills.
All the best!
hey there :)
the best way is to start very simple and build step by step. First understand what a case interview actually is and how it is structured, then learn basic business concepts and how to think in a structured way. After that, watch a few beginner case walkthroughs and solve cases slowly on your own before doing live practice with others. Consistency matters much more than intensity at the beginning, so short regular practice is perfect. Feel free to reach out anytime if you want guidance or a first mock.
best,
Alessa :)
You start by reading official material (and videos) from consulting firms. For example, Bain has made available a few cases with examples and a few video interviews. This is significant better than reading books that don't really understand how consulting interviews work.
Then you start reading and solving cases on your own. You have a ton of them here at preplounge. Practicing MECE beats memorizing frameworks every time. MECE gets offers. Memorized frameworks do not.
Only then you start practicing with peers.
This is an extremely relevant question, and many unsuccessful candidates' unfortunate rejection history started right here!
And allow me to remove all sugar coating: Your question already starts from the wrong premise.
You do not begin by "practicing cases".
Practicing something you do not yet understand is how people waste months and still fail.
Before you solve a single case, you must understand what the case interview actually is.
It is not a puzzle.
It is not a framework exercise.
It is not about sounding smart.
Case interviews exist to test one thing above all else
rigorous problem solving under uncertainty, communicated with clarity.
Interviewers are trained to assess:
- How you frame an ambiguous problem
- How you form and refine hypotheses
- How you impose structure on chaos
- How you reason step by step without hiding behind memorized buckets
This is exactly why the most dangerous move beginners make is consuming mainstream prep content.
Books like Case in Point or outdated Victor Cheng material teach:
- Formulaic frameworks
- Cookie cutter buckets
- Artificial case mechanics
That material trains behavior that interviewers actively penalize.
Once you internalize the wrong mental model, practice does not help.
It locks in bad instincts.
At that point, more effort just means running faster in the wrong direction.
The correct starting point is this sequence:
- Understand the purpose of the interview
What interviewers are trying to observe, how they are trained, what signals matter and which ones are noise. - Learn the underlying principles - under guidance
Structured thinking, hypothesis driven problem solving, logical decomposition.
Not memorization. Not templates. - Only then begin practice - under proper calibration by someone who knows what he/she is talking about!
And initially, very slowly.
The goal is not volume.
The goal is correctness of thinking.
The fastest and most reliable way to do this is not random articles, case books, or YouTube.
It is guidance from someone who actually understands how candidates are evaluated and why most fail.
For most people, this saves months or years of trial and error.
The cost of guidance is trivial compared to the cost of failed recruiting cycles.
Practice is powerful.
But only after your compass points in the right direction.
Otherwise, practice just makes you confidently wrong.
Hope this helps!
Sidi
_______________________
Dr. Sidi S. Koné
I recommend you jump right into it.
Read a few cases to begin with. Watch a video of a mock case. That's going to define your expectations of what the case interview looks like.
Then read a few cases to develop a sense of how different cases unfold.
Then run a practice session with a peer.
By this point, you'll understand what are the things you should focus on to improve.
Once you have a base, get a professional opinion on where you are and how to adjust your prep.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out directly.
Best,
Cristian
