MBB Assessment Tests

At some point, repeated failure is a signal. Six attempts with no interview means you are below the bar as currently measured.

That does not mean you lack potential, and it does not mean you could not be a good consultant. It means that, today, you do not meet the screening bar these firms use. MBB does not optimise for fairness. It optimises for fast elimination.

The assessments are not testing “consulting” in a broad sense. They test speed, accuracy, cognitive discipline, and the ability to apply simple heuristics under time pressure. Those are trainable skills. Many people who pass were not naturally good at them.

So the choice is binary.

Either you treat this like any other performance gap and train deliberately and narrowly for the test until you clear the bar.

Or you stop applying, because repeating the same process without changing capability is just noise.

Six attempts without getting past the assessment stage is frustrating. I understand why you're questioning whether to keep going.

The assessments test a specific set of skills: pattern recognition, logical reasoning, data interpretation, and decision-making under time pressure. They're not a perfect measure of consulting ability. Plenty of great consultants might struggle with these tests, and plenty of people who pass them wouldn't make good consultants. They're the gatekeeper. If you can't get past them, you can't get to the interview. And after six tries, something needs to change.

A few questions to consider:

Are you actually preparing differently each time? If you're retaking the same tests with the same approach, you'll get similar results. Each attempt should involve targeted improvement in your weakest areas.

Have you identified what specifically trips you up? Is it time pressure? Certain question types? Pattern recognition? Data interpretation? Without knowing the exact problem, you can't fix it.

Are you practicing with the right resources? Each firm's assessment is different. McKinsey Solve, BCG Casey/Chatbot, and Bain's tests all require different preparation.

On whether to give up:

I wouldn't say give up on consulting entirely. But I would say rethink your approach.

Consider applying to firms that don't use these types of assessments. T2 firms like Kearney, OW, Strategy&, or boutiques often go straight to interviews. Big 4 strategy teams too. You might perform very well in actual case interviews even if these game-based tests don't suit you.

If MBB is still your goal, invest seriously in test prep before your next attempt. Not a casual review, but dedicated daily practice for several weeks targeting your specific weak areas.

Also consider whether the MBA route might help. Some MBA programs have direct pipelines to MBB that bypass or reduce the weight of online assessments.

Six attempts shows determination. That's a good trait for consulting. But determination without changing your approach is just repetition. Either change how you prepare or change where you apply.

You have options beyond MBB. Don't let these tests make you think consulting isn't for you.

Hi there, 

I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that “consulting isn’t for me” based on this alone.

If you’ve never reached interviews, the most likely bottleneck is CV screening, not the assessment games. At MBB, your resume is the primary filter: strong academics, relevant internships, and meaningful out-of-curriculum achievements are what get you into the interview process in the first place. The online assessments usually come after you’ve already passed that initial screen.

On the assessment games themselves: they test a very narrow slice of skills (basic analytics, pattern recognition, decision-making under constraints). They are not a good proxy for core consulting abilities like structuring, communication, or problem-solving in real cases. Many strong candidates don’t find these games intuitive and still perform very well in interviews.

After multiple applications, what’s worth reflecting on is:

• Whether your CV clearly signals excellence (grades, academic rigor)
• Whether your experience is framed in a consulting-relevant way (impact, ownership, problem-solving)
• Whether you’ve built enough distinctive signals beyond academics (internships, leadership, competitive achievements)

Before giving up, I’d strongly recommend getting external feedback on your CV and positioning. In many cases, it’s not about capability, it’s about whether your profile translates clearly on paper.

It’s completely understandable why you feel this way. Six attempts across the major firms, resulting in zero interview invites, feels like a definitive, structural message, and it absolutely sucks to be stuck at that first gate.

Here is the reality of how the recruiting machine uses these tools: the BCG Solve, McKinsey PSG, or Bain SAT are not designed to test holistic strategic thinking or leadership potential. They are designed to be cheap, scalable filters for two critical and non-negotiable analytical capabilities: speed and error rate management. On the job, the expectation for basic numerical processing and data synthesis is near-zero error, especially under tight deadlines. The assessment is merely a highly efficient proxy for measuring this specific discipline under pressure.

Failing six times suggests your issue is not necessarily lack of intellectual horsepower, but lack of process mastery specific to these types of high-stakes, timed exams. The firms set a brutally high cutoff—often 85-90th percentile globally—because they know they have 10,000 other highly qualified candidates who can hit that technical benchmark. They are not judging your capacity for strategy, but your current ability to navigate their filtering process.

If you still want this, you should absolutely pivot your strategy. Stop applying until you can reliably score in the top decile on rigorous third-party practice simulations that mimic the structure and timing of the official tests. View the test not as a measure of consulting skill, but as a measurable, trainable technical hurdle. If you master the mechanics and clear that required technical bar, the firms will re-evaluate you instantly.

Hope this provides clarity.

Wow. That's commitment. 

I refuse to believe in this idea that 'it's just not for you'. 

Something isn't for you if you decide it isn't for you. But if you've kept trying for 6 years, that's a clear sign you want it to be your thing. So you shouldn't give up. Having tried so many times is a clear sign you care. 

But what have your tries looked like? Feel free to drop me a message on this to clarify. Because if you've been sending a CV that's not that well written I'm not surprised it didn't pass screening. Or there could be dozens of other things that might've gone wrong. 

Did you work with a coach? Did you have anybody guiding you through the process?

Best,
Cristian

Hi There

Sorry you're path into consulting has been an uncomfortable journey so far. 
A question to you - did you receive the assessments? (did you make the CV screening?)

Another question to ask yourself is "is MBB the goal or is consulting the goal?". There are many reputable consulting firms, so it is good to cast a wide net if the goal is getting into consulting. 

Ensure you're CV is ready for the screening, ensure you strategically network and prepare to crack the cases! Perhaps you haven't yet found the firm you're most aligned with. Additionally, if MBB remains a dream, you can always apply as an experienced consultant later on with more experience under your belt.

Hope this helps!

Hi there,

I wouldn't say that it's a sure sign that consulting isn't for you, it's just that your profile as it is now does not meet the interview requirements. There are plenty of false negatives, as there are false positives. MBB tries to manage this but the process is not perfect. 

Whether or not you should continue trying depends on how badly you want consulting. It is a very personal choice.