MBB vs Tier 2

Hi there,

I would not think of Tier 2 as “MBB but X% easier”. There are too many variables for that comparison to be meaningful.

A few things I would keep in mind:

• Tier 2 is not one homogeneous category. Firms such as Oliver Wyman, Kearney, Strategy&, L.E.K. or Simon Kucher can have very different interview styles, case types and areas of emphasis.

• Some Tier 2 interviews can actually feel harder in specific dimensions. A specialised firm may give you a more technical, sector specific or quantitative case than a generalist MBB interview.

• The interviewer matters a lot as well. Two interviews at the same firm can feel completely different depending on how much the interviewer challenges you, how much guidance they provide and simply how naturally you engage with each other. That does not necessarily make one case objectively harder, but it can significantly affect how difficult the interview feels.

• I would distinguish case difficulty from the performance bar. The underlying problem may be similar, while expectations around structure, synthesis, communication, business judgement or consistency can differ.

• For maths specifically, I would prepare in essentially the same way for both. Percentages, ratios, weighted averages, breakevens, market sizing and data interpretation are transferable skills. There is little benefit in deliberately preparing easier maths because your target is Tier 2.

So I would prepare to MBB level and then adapt to the specific firm, rather than lowering your preparation standard because a firm is classified as Tier 2.

The useful question is not “how much easier is Tier 2?”, but “what does this particular firm and interview process expect from me?”

Best,
Carlos

Hi there,

I don't think the main difference is the level of math or interview difficulty. In my experience, the quantitative bar at top Tier 2 firms is still very high, and strong case-solving fundamentals are required across the board.

A bigger difference is that many Tier 2 firms tend to have stronger positions in specific industries or functional areas. As a result, candidates whose backgrounds align well with those focus areas may have an advantage during the recruiting process.

I also wouldn't try to think about it in percentage terms (e.g., "20% easier"). The overlap is significant, and many candidates who receive MBB offers also receive Tier 2 offers, and vice versa. Success often comes down more to fit with the firm's needs, office hiring demand, and your specific profile than to a meaningful difference in interview difficulty.

Best,

Anna

There's no meaningful percentage.

Tier 2 isn't just automatically easier.

You can't say:

MBB = 100 difficulty

Tier 2 = 75 difficulty

It doesn't work like that.

Difficulty varies by:

• Firm
• Interviewer
• Case
• Office
• Role
• Your own strengths and weaknesses

You could get an MBB case that happens to play perfectly to your strengths and then get destroyed by a Tier 2 case the following week.

Same with the math.

So don't lower your preparation standard because you're interviewing with Tier 2. Prepare to MBB level and you'll cover both.

If there's a weakness in your math, structuring, synthesis, etc., fix the weakness. Don't rely on the next firm being easier.

I doubt there's an actual answer to this question. 

The interview maths depends a lot on the case, interviewer, role you're interviewing for, and many other factors. It has less to do with the firm. 

The one argument you could make is that MBBs have lower acceptance rates, which implies they have a higher 'bar', which means that interview complexity is higher. But by how 'much' higher it is, it's impossible to say. 

Honestly, asking yourself these sorts of questions is also not particularly useful :) It's not really helping improve your prep, just occupying your mind with stuff you cannot control. 

Good luck with the prep process!
Best,
Cristian

I wouldn’t necessarily say Tier 2 is easier — the evaluation can just be a bit different.

From my experience, Tier 2 interviews can have a stronger implementation focus. So beyond getting to the right answer, I’d make sure your recommendation covers how you would actually make it happen — roadmap, key actions, risks, and clear metrics for success.

MBB cases can lean more toward the strategy/problem-solving side — forming hypotheses, structuring ambiguity, and getting to the key insight.

Either way, I wouldn’t expect the math itself to be dramatically easier.

Hi,

As Carlos and Cristian said, there is no meaningful percentage to put on this; the cases and the math at Tier 2 firms are broadly the same as at MBBs, what changes is the bar and the pool of candidates you are compared against.

My suggestion is to prepare to MBB level for all of them and then spend a few hours on the specifics of each firm you apply to.

Good luck!

Best,
Franco

Just trying to add another perspective on this :) 

Maybe it is more helpful to look at "acceptance" likelihood. 

All other being equal, the same candidate might have an offer

- at MBB: <5%

- Tier 2: ~30%

- Tier 3: 50%+

Maybe this helps abit for calibration. 

Best,

Vincent

It is not possible to put a number on this. MBB is very selective in general regarding your overall application (you as a person, your skills, your behavior, your experiences). Tier 2 has a different focus/approach but not easier in general. 

Hey :)

I wouldn’t put a percentage on it because there’s no meaningful benchmark, and the difference varies a lot by firm and interviewer. Some Tier 2 interviews can be just as challenging as MBB, especially on the maths and case structure.

If anything, I’d prepare to MBB level and treat Tier 2 interviews as potentially similar rather than assuming they’ll be easier. The biggest difference is usually the style of the interview and what the firm chooses to test, not necessarily the raw difficulty.

Best, Alessa :)

No honest percentage exists. A Tier 2 interview is not a discounted MBB interview, and the maths is not a softer paper by some fixed amount.

Some Tier 2 cases are as numerical as an MBB case. Others are looser on structure and tighter on industry context. The gap candidates notice is usually how much fuzz an interviewer will tolerate, and that varies inside both groups. If you are recruiting at both, prepare the maths and the structure to an MBB standard. You can adjust to a firm's style once the invite arrives.