McKinsey’s Solve assessment

Hi there,

Congrats on making it to the Solve stage. The assessment is quite different from traditional tests – it’s scenario-based and designed to evaluate problem solving and decision making in a simulated environment. A few points to help you prepare:

1. What Solve looks like

• You’ll face interactive, game-style scenarios (ecosystem building, plant survival, etc.).
• It’s not about prior knowledge but about how you think through trade-offs, apply logic, and adapt strategy.

2. How to prepare

• There are no official full practice tests, but McKinsey provides sample instructions and a short demo once you receive the invite. Make sure you go through these carefully.
• Sharpen mental math and probability basics – some tasks involve estimating outcomes and thinking in numbers.
• Practice structured decision making: lay out options, weigh pros/cons, and select the most logical path. Even in a game, think like a consultant – clear structure first, then execution.

3. Mindset on the day

• Stay calm, read instructions carefully, and manage your time (some candidates lose points by rushing).
• Remember: they’re testing problem-solving approach, not whether you “win” the game perfectly.

Happy to help you prep and suggest specific resources - feel free to reach out!

Best,

Evelina

Hey there :)

Congrats on the invite! The Solve assessment doesn’t really require memorizing content—it’s more about structured logical thinking under time pressure. There aren’t many official practice tests, but you can prepare by getting familiar with probability, resource allocation, and ecosystem-style logic problems. The key is to stay calm, approach each scenario step by step, and be consistent in your decisions.

If you want, I can also point you to a game-like practice tool that simulates the ecosystem logic, but honestly you can do well just by training clear reasoning.

best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

Q: Are there any practice versions, simulations, or resources available to train for Solve?

If you would like additional preparation for the game, you can check the course I created at the link below, which also includes the Excel solvers for the game. We update it within a few days whenever there is any change, as we receive constant feedback from our users on the latest version of the game.

▶ McKinsey Solve Combo Course

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to message me, I will reply within 12 hours.

Good luck!

Francesco

Francesco's simulation is the way to go!