How to improve focus?

Hello!

You're definitely not alone—what you're describing is a really common challenge, especially when you're under time pressure or trying to do multiple things at once in your head. The fact that you're aware of these patterns is already a big step forward.

Here are a few strategies that might help:

1. Slow down to go faster
It might feel counterintuitive, but deliberately slowing down—especially in the first 60–90 seconds of a case or problem—can help reduce careless errors later. Take a breath, clarify the question, and write down key variables before diving in.

2. Use a consistent structure/checklist
For example, when reading a chart:

• Title
• Axis labels
• Units
• Trends
• Anomalies
  Build the habit of scanning exhibits in that same order every time, so it becomes second nature.

3. Talk your thinking out loud
Even when practicing solo, narrating your thought process can help you catch gaps or misreads before they become errors.

4. Treat mental stamina like a muscle
Get enough sleep, take breaks, and avoid back-to-back practice sessions. Focus is fragile when your brain is tired. Quality > quantity here.

Improving focus is a process—it won't flip overnight, but small tweaks consistently applied can have a big impact. You’re clearly putting in the effort, so don’t be discouraged. 

Feel free to reach out if you'd like a focused drill structure or review method—happy to help as I faced a similar issue when I was applying in the past and managed to overcome it.

Best,

Evelina

What is your mental map and sequences when going through a case? have you ensured that you can recall them properly, with consistency? Practice on your own, and notice what elements you constantly miss - then repeat that with a partner in simulated settings of (at ease, stress, false comfort)

Rinse and repeat

Hello, 

In my view, there are two key aspects to this:

Mental: You might be overthinking, focused on the stakes of the interview, feeling pressure about being judged by the interviewer, or worried about making mistakes. The key is to stay in the present and only focus on the task at hand. Try to approach it as if you’re discussing a topic with a friend at a coffee shop in a calm, focused, and conversational way.

Technical: It's all about repetition (without compromising on quality). The more cases and drills you complete, the more familiar you become with the “universe” of case types and common exhibits, reducing the chance of being caught off guard. I recommend tracking your mistakes and feedback received over time to self-assess and identify recurring patterns.

Hope this helps, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

I think the best way to eliminate these careless errors is to have a 'system' or checklist of things you tick off mentally when approaching a math/chart question. That way, you can be sure you haven't missed something.

Happy to discuss further what this looks like if helpful.

Hi there, 

That's a great question. 

Honestly, there could be countless reasons and the only way to figure out what is going on specifically with you is to see you in action.

Still, the most common one that I see is that candidates rush. The average candidate believes that speed is super important during consulting interviews, and they end up not taking sufficient thinking time, or, even more common, trying to do everything at once (for instance, in calculation questions doing logic + computations + communication all at once, which is a recipe for disaster). 

So my suggestion would be to slow down and that should already help. If it still continues, feel free to reach out and we can diagnose it together.

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

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

• First of all, I would advise you to slow down your pace intentionally, especially at the beginning of the case study. Rushing leads to exactly the kind of mistakes you described. Try setting a personal rule, like always pausing 3-5 seconds before speaking or writing anything.
• Moreover, you may also try to work with a personal checklist for key steps - the summary, clarifying questions, the initial structure, exhibit analysis, quantitative questions, qualitative questions, and the final recommendation.
• Lastly, I would advise you to limit the number of back-to-back drills. Focus instead on doing fewer case studies but with deep review after each one.

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 pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen