Ideal time to spend on graph interpretation?

Hi there,

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

• First of all, it depends on the exhibit and consulting firm. For example, if you spend three minutes on a simple table at BCG, where the entire case study usually takes only 20 minutes, you will likely be penalized for poor time management.
• Moreover, if you're unsure about how to perform a perfect exhibit analysis, please feel free to reach out for a focused session on the topic, covering both theory and practice.

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

I would rather ask "What type of insights should I focus to maximise the limited time in interpreting a graph?" 

With some practice and continued exposure to a range of charts and exhibits, you will be able to identify potential relationships between the data much more clearly. This will result in not only being quicker, but also more sharp in the insights you derive.

Hi,

It's fine! 

If you are talking about a normal case interview and there's one or two exhibits - 3minutes to go through a full exhibit is okay. 

If you're commenting on:

1. Compilation: Fragmented/monopoly etc.
2. Size: Who is biggest, second biggest etc.
3. Growth trend: Who is fastest, faster than overall; x is growing faster than y
4. So what does this all mean for our problem statement

Then you're all good.

Good luck and happy to chat!

Hi there,

Q: I find that I generally take 3 minutes (including a 20 second reading pause) to fully go through an exhibit. This can include insights and also what I see. Can I ask if it's too long?

If the 3 minutes include the insights from the graph, as you indicated, this seems a reasonable amount of time. In any case, if the alternative is (i) more time with correct insight or (ii) less time with incomplete or incorrect insight, I would stick with the first option.

In terms of the steps to follow, for a graph analysis I would recommend the following.

1. READ THE GRAPH

• Ask for some time to understand the graph. Usually 30 seconds are enough, but there is no hard rule.
• Summarize the graph. Read in particular the graph title, the legend, and the footnote. Candidates quite often skip this part and then make mistakes.

2. ANALYZE THE GRAPH AND FIND THE KEY INSIGHTS

• Repeat the question. Some candidates don’t repeat the question and then answer the wrong one. If you repeat it, you can be sure that you will answer what was asked.
• Provide an analysis related to the question. Identify the key insights of the graph based on the question. This is the most challenging part of graph analysis to master, as it is different in every chart. You can improve it with drills on your own or with coaching.

3. PROPOSE THE NEXT STEPS

• State your hypothesis or suggestion on what to do next. Present what should be done next to help further the client reach the goal.
• Ask a question/propose an analysis related to what is needed to move forward. This will show you can drive the case forward.

Good luck!

Francesco

I think that's reasonable, but also it's really variable by case. If you get given exhibits with an obvious answer, it could take a bit less time.

On the other hand, if you're given 3-4 data-heavy exhibits with more complex relationships between them, and asked to derive an overarching insight, it might take slightly longer. 

let me know if you want to practice some final-round style data interpretation.

Hi there!

It's not too long. 

Actually, it might be too short. 

But it really depends on the exhibit. 

Ideally, you start by reading it with the interviewer and ask any clarifying questions you might have.

Then you can take the time to actually digest it on your own and come up with the insights. 

Then you can communicate the 2-4 insights that you might have. At this point, the interview can become more conversational (ideally it does), so it's rather difficult to quantify how long it 'should' take. 

Best,
Cristian

hi! 

3 minutes isn’t too long if you’re pulling the right insights and keeping it structured. But in interviews, aim to share key takeaways in about 60–90 seconds after a short pause. You don’t need to describe everything—focus on the 1–2 most relevant patterns or outliers, then link them back to the case question. Less is often more, as long as it’s sharp and clearly tied to your thinking.

Happy to help you practice if you'd like!

best,
Alessa :)

Hi there,

There is no correct answer as it depends on the level of complexity of the graph and if what you are saying is actually relevant and insightful to the problem you are solving.

Aim for quality, not speed.

Best,

Mari