Hello,
I am preparing for the final roudn with McK and I was doing some case questions from their official website. How similar are the real cases compared to the practised ones from their official website? Should I expect similar difficulty level? Thanks
Hey there,
Let's break it down!
More on that here: https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-case-interview
So overall, it is a bit misleading based on the simple answers provided on the website (both content and how they are communicated).
I have written a detailed insider perspective on the McKinsey case interview here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/mckinsey-interview
Let me know if you need more insights!
Cheers,
Florian
Hi there,
Yes! I think they're great actually - because so few of them are “classic”.
In particular, I really like Diconsca and Transforming a National Education System. This are both great for frameworking pravtice.
Please keep in mind, that when I say those 7 on the McK site are similar/representative, I mean that you could be asked anything. I do not mean that you should study/memorize those 7 and expect those cases!
Here's a bit more reading: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case
And a few other cases of similar unconventional nature:
Hey there,
Good question, there are things that are almost always similar in McKinsey case studies and things that typically change, making the cases offered a very good reference in terms of what to expect yet not cases to memorize as is.
1- What is similar
The structure of the case studies tends to be similar across interviews. It typically starts with the given, followed by 1-2 conceptual structuring questions, followed by ty 1-2 quant and exhibit questions a recco at the end. In some cases and if time allows, there could be an additional question (conceptual or analytical).
2- What changes
The given, problem statement and topic change from one case to the other. However, as long as you're familiar with the typical structure, know how to breakdown your answers and run the math, you're good to go.
Conclusion: do memorize and get used to the typical structure of cases. Learn how to conceptually break down the ask, how to crunch numbers, read and analyse exhibits as well as give your final top-down recco. However, expect a variery of topics and situations in the actual interview.
Hope this helps!
Hello,
The cases on the website are a fairly good example of the kind of difficulty and scenarios you would get in a real McKinsey case interview. You'll notice that the cases can be quite creative, and are really designed to test your thinking rather than any kind of pre-existing knowledge. I would definitely recommend leveraging the cases from the website in your preparation, if you haven't done so already.
They're pretty similar - in terms of difficulty and structure. You'll also notice that McKinsey is increasingly using ‘non traditional’ cases e.g., public or third sector. They're looking for how adaptable your thinking is rather than whether you can learn frameworks, so you should be prepared for some of these types of cases.
The cases themselves are extremely close to what you can expect in an actual McKinsey interview. The answers however need to be a lot more in-depth as pointed out by Florian. The ones on the website provide a basic template but in order to get the offer you will need to have a deep structure, be top down and concise in your communication and be extremely buttoned up in your approach.
