Hi,
I just received an invitation to the McKinsey Solve Game and had a quick question.
Does everyone who applies to McKinsey receive an invitation to the Solve Game, or does it mean that an initial CV screening was successful?
I also need to complete the game within the next five days. Do you have any tips on how to prepare, or know of any resources that people who have successfully completed it found helpful?
Thank you!
Congrats on the invite! Yes, in most offices it means your CV already passed. A few check the CV after the test, but usually it's a good sign. It's tough though, only about 20 to 30% move on, so use your 5 days well.
The old Ecosystem game is gone, so skip that prep. The 2026 games are Redrock (data and maths, most case like), Sea Wolf (match microbes to clean ocean sites, watch the clock), and sometimes Sustainable Futures Lab (multiple choice on leadership). Your invite time tells you which: 65 mins means two games, 85 means all three.
Do a couple of practice sims first. Good luck!
Congrats!
That's already a big first step.
Typically, it means that they checked your application and they considered it relevant enough to send you the test.
Then, once you do the test, they will review the result from the test together with the rest of the application package and make a decision on whether to invite you to the R1 interview.
Re prep - you'll find lots of info online about how to approach the test and there are also paid simulations in case you would want to try that.
Best,
Cristian
Hey - how cool :)
Getting an invitation to the McKinsey Solve is not automatic. It means you passed the initial CV + background screening, so your application is active. Not everyone gets the test.
You usually have 5–7 days to complete it, and that deadline is strict. For prep, focus on pattern recognition, quick data interpretation, and basic mental math. There’s no perfect simulation, but practicing calm, structured thinking helps more than anything else. The game is designed to test logic, not prior knowledge.
Alessa
