Hi there,
The standard BCG Online Case - also called Potential Test in some offices - is a multiple choice computer test with 23 questions to be answered in 45 minutes.
It has one single case only. You receive +3 for each right answer, 0 for no answer and -1 for a wrong answer.
Calculators are generally not allowed, but there are exceptions in some countries - you can clarify that with HR if needed.
I recommend the following approach to prepare:
- Look online for reliable BCG test simulations. You can find an example here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/bcg-potential-test-1-13
- If possible, don’t print the sample tests; rather, do the simulations on your computer. The day of the test you won’t be able write notes near the questions or turn pages. If you practice on a paper version, you will find different dynamics the day of the interview that could impact your performance. You should also do all the simulations with a time constraint
- After each test write down the mistakes you did. You will probably find that the mistakes have something in common – eg wrong math, too much time wasted on some questions, wrong interpretation of graph
- Work on each area of improvement. Many candidates do these simulations checking only the final score and don’t spend time analyzing the mistakes - thus they don’t improve
- Once you have done all the BCG test simulations, move to PST practice. You can find a good number of PST tests online. The PST is different from the Potential Test – in the PST there are multiple cases, the types of questions are different and you have more time available. However, it may still help to improve your performance. You should be able to identify the similarities between questions doing both of them
As additional notes:
- Remember you are penalized for wrong answers - you should adapt your strategy accordingly
- Aim to identify the main areas of improvements already with the first test - the typical ones are math, graph interpretation and ability to absorb information quickly
- Try to distribute the tests between the day you start practicing and the day of the test for constant learning – avoid to do them just at the end
There is also a variation of the online case BCG started to use in some countries. This is the feedback I got from a candidate who recently took the new test in Germany:
- 8-10 questions instead of 23
- 30 min instead of 45
- No negative points
- Calculators allowed
- Presence of open questions
- Video sum up at the end
The main addons are 5 and 6, as this part was not present before. For the rest, I would recommend preparing as for the old one (plus answering all the questions as there are no penalties in this version).
You can clarify with HR the version you will have to do.
If you want to practice on a real example of a BCG Potential Test, you can find the one I created below:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/bcg-potential-testonline-case-1-13
With this test you will be able to:
- Prepare on the exact same format of the standard BCG Online Case – 23 questions in 45 minutes
- Identify your possible improvements thanks to detailed solutions for all the 23 questions
- Practice on material tested by multiple candidates who did the test and successfully passed the Potential Test.
If you need additional support or have any feedback on the test feel free to PM me, I can provide additional tips for free.
Hope this helps,
Francesco
Thank you for the informative answer. Do you know which type of BCG test is being used in Israel? As far as I know, there is 23 questions test with 45 minutes limitation time, while all of the questions are on the same case and different Docs are being provided along the case. Would McKinsey PST tests are good resource for study to BCG test?
(editiert)