How good is good enough to pass my MBB interview?

Short answer: you need to be in the clear top 10% of all candidates — not perfect, but clearly above the bar.

Longer take: It’s not about perfection, it’s about adaptability. Different interviewers value different things — some care about sharp 80/20 thinking, others about depth, or clean synthesis. The real skill is reading the room and flexing accordingly.

Round 2 usually has more senior interviewers, so expectations go up. They’re testing how you think, not just whether you followed a framework. Internalize casing (or business discussion) as a skillset, not a checklist. That’s how you separate yourself.

Hi there,

As you go through the rounds, the case expectations do not increase. You are expected to perform at your best level throughout, showing clear ability to structure the case quickly and clearly, communicate concisely, calculate with no errors (or if you do make an error, be able to catch it or take a step back and quickly re-calculate), and summarize and draw a clear recommendation. I suggest you try and work with at least one coach to ask their opinion on whether they would've passed you if it was a real interview.

Good luck!

hey there :)

You don’t need to be perfect,  nobody is. For round 1, what matters is showing strong structure, logical thinking, and clear communication. Small math slips or imperfect frameworks won’t sink you if you recover well. By round 2, expectations are higher: partners want to see you drive the case confidently, prioritize well, and show maturity in your answers. But even there, it’s not about perfection, it’s about whether they’d feel comfortable putting you in front of a client tomorrow.

So aim for consistent, solid performance rather than flawless.

best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the progress in the application process!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, I would strongly advise you to change your mindset from ensuring that you conduct the interviews in the best possible state rather than trying to just barely make it.
• Moreover, contrary to what other coaches have said, most consulting firms do not assess your performance on a relative percentage scale, but on an absolute basis.
• Lastly, the final interview round is by no means more difficult, but can be different. I have written about this in-depth in this article.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

You definitely don’t need to be perfect to get through. In round 1, what matters is showing the basics clearly—structured thinking, logical problem-solving, clear communication, and reasonably solid math. A few small mistakes or moments where you need to course-correct are fine as long as your overall approach is strong.

Round 2 can feel tougher because partners push harder to see if you think like a consultant they’d put in front of a client. They care less about textbook frameworks and more about whether you stay calm, cut through messy problems, and get to the “so what.” But again, they don’t expect flawless—just confident, sharp, and client-ready.

So in short: round 1 is about proving you’re solid, round 2 is about showing you’d succeed on the job. Consistency matters more than perfection.

Best,
Evelina

Its hard to know what is good enough unless you have someone that knows the process review your performance. This could be anyone that has worked at the firm or is working and interviewing candidates there. In general, you need to be well structured, communicate effectively, listen well and be willing to be guided on your case performance.

For final rounds/partner rounds what changes is both the predictability factor (partners have a lot more leeway on what to ask), the depth of problem solving (they may focus on one area, usually identified as a potential weakness and go quite deep) and the ability to communicate effectively in more nuanced situations.

All the best for your interview,

Udayan

• You have to be quite good.
• You don't have to be perfect.
• Round 2 is not about being more difficult, but rather about being consistently strong.

Now... does getting an answer to these questions impact your preparation? Knowing the answer to these questions doesn't help you get the job, focus on the right things!

Hi,

That’s a very broad question, it must be good, of course, and it increases difficulty level / bar in R2. You don’t need to be perfect, but must nail the important aspects (structure, math).

Best,

Mari