The Complete Guide to Your Case Interview Preparation

The Case Interview Basics cover step by step everything you need to know for successful case interviews. You’ll learn general information about case interviews, how to develop essential consulting skills, the different types of cases, and how to solve cases in a structured way.

Next, you’ll discover how to use frameworks effectively and confidently handle the key calculations in cases. The Management Theory & Terms section provides a compact collection of core concepts. Finally, we give you tips on how to apply what you’ve learned in peer-to-peer meetings ‒ for realistic practice and greater confidence in interviews.

This guide is the complete starting point for anyone looking to master case interviews and launch their consulting career.

Step 1 - General Info: Your Starting Point for the Case Interview Preparation

This chapter gives you the core basics of case interviews. You will learn why consulting firms use case interviews, how the format works, and why the personal fit interview matters just as much. You also get a quick overview of fit questions, interview styles, and the STAR method.

Begin with the key articles to get started:

Why Are Case Interviews Used in Consulting?

The case interview is one of the most challenging parts of the application process for consulting jobs. But why do companies prefer this method over traditional interviews? The answer lies in the many benefits case interviews offer — not just for you as a candidate, but also for the companies themselves. Let’s first explore why case interviews can be valuable for you before taking a look at the perspective of consulting firms.

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The Case Interview Format

When applying to top consulting firms, one of the most crucial stages of the interview process is the case interview. This format is designed to assess your analytical competencies, problem-solving skills, and ability to think strategically under pressure. Let's take a look at what to expect.

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The Personal Fit Interview

The personal fit interview is a crucial part of the selection process in consulting. It’s often underestimated by candidates who tend to focus on the challenging case interviews only. But the personal fit interview is just as important! It’s all about determining if you’ll fit well within the team and align with the company culture. Read this article to find out why the personal fit interview matters so much and how to prepare effectively.

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Be sure to check out the following articles to expand your knowledge:

Key Questions in the Personal Fit Interview Interviewer- vs. Candidate-Led Cases The STAR Method

Step 2 - Consulting Skills & Preparation

Discover the key skills you need for a successful consulting interview and how to improve them.

Begin with the key articles on consulting skills & preparation:

Skills Tested in a Case Interview

If you want to enter the consulting field, you probably already know how selective the industry is and that it only chooses the best and most outstanding candidates. Therefore, the application process is quite intensive and demanding. Case interviews are significantly different from traditional job interviews due to their complexity and specific requirements, as they simulate real business scenarios.To succeed in case interviews, certain skills are essential. These need to be improved and refreshed before the interview to ensure optimal performance. Below, we provide a brief summary of the essential skills you should master to excel in case interviews and differentiate yourself from the competition.

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Preparation Plan

Preparing for a case interview can feel overwhelming, but having a structured plan will help you stay focused and make steady progress. A well-organized approach ensures you build a strong foundation, practice effectively, and refine your skills before the big day.In this guide, we will walk you through the key components of an effective practice plan, including self-study, peer practice, and working with a coach. Let’s go!

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Self Study

In every preparation plan, you take center stage. 🎯 And with you, one of the most important components in preparing for your case interviews: the self-study part. In the realm of self-study, you have various opportunities to familiarize yourself with the fundamental concepts and frameworks. This involves grasping the theoretical foundations and then applying them to practical cases.It is less important to memorize everything. Instead, you should try to analyze the cases independently and use the frameworks as a basis to develop your own customized structures.Self-study is essential because it lays the foundation for a deep understanding of problem-solving and fosters the ability to solve problems independently and creatively. By independently working through and applying the concepts, the knowledge is firmly anchored, which is particularly beneficial in practice.

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Practice With Peers

Preparing for case interviews is a crucial step for success in the consulting industry. These interviews are known for their complexity and the high demands they place on applicants. One of the most effective methods for preparing for case interviews is practicing with like-minded peers. PrepLounge offers excellent opportunities to find suitable interview partners for joint practice with the world's largest case interview community. This article highlights why practicing with like-minded peers is beneficial, how to optimally use PrepLounge's resources, and provides tips on how to get the most out of mock interviews.

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Practice with Coaches

When preparing for a case interview, especially under time constraints, working with an experienced coach can significantly enhance your chances of success.💡 Pro Tip: PrepLounge offers access to over 800 (former) management consultants from top firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, who are ready to help you perfect your interview technique.

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Be sure to check out the following articles to expand your knowledge on consulting skills & preparation:

Note-taking in Case Interviews Charts and Data in Case Interviews Case Leadership Stating the Recommendation Creativity Business Sense Presentation and Communication General Knowledge

Step 3 - Types of Cases

Learn all about the different types of cases in consulting interviews and how to be well-prepared for every challenge.

Begin with the key articles on types of cases:

Market Sizing

Questions about market size are frequently asked in case interviews in consulting because they require a blend of logic, mathematics, and common sense. They can be asked as standalone questions or as part of a larger case. Applicants who are familiar with market sizing questions can really perform here.

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Market Entry

Market entry cases are one of the key issues in the consulting industry and present consultants and firms with unique challenges and opportunities. These cases require deep analysis and strategic planning to successfully enter new markets.

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Growth Strategy

In case interviews, you are often tasked with developing strategies to increase a company's revenue. It's crucial to conduct a systematic analysis to provide well-founded and actionable recommendations.Below, we’ll break down the key factors you need to consider and show you how to structure your response in a clear, effective way. Our goal is to give you a practical guide to help you ace your case interviews and build strong growth strategies.

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M&A Cases

M&A cases are quite common in management consulting, especially for candidates applying to firms with a focus on strategy, corporate finance, or (of course) mergers and acquisitions. While they don’t make up the majority of cases, they are frequently used to assess your strategic thinking, ability to analyze financial data, and understanding of the impact of complex business decisions.

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Valuation Cases

Understanding how to determine a company's value is a crucial skill in strategy consultingstructured approach to valuation is essential. While full-scale valuation analyses are rare in case interviews, you may still be asked questions like, "How much would you pay for company XY?" or "Is this offered price reasonable?" Let's take a closer look on how to approach valuation in a case interview!

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Profitability Cases

There are several common case types that occur in case interviews for management consulting roles. Profitability cases are some of the most frequent ones. These cases require a structured approach, analytical thinking, and a deep understanding of business fundamentals. Let’s take a look at what profitability cases actually are and how you can approach them successfully.

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Find Plenty of Practice Cases in Our Case Library!

From market sizing cases to profitability analysis or growth strategies – in our Case Library, we provide hundreds of practice cases to prepare you for your upcoming interviews!

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Be sure to check out the following articles to expand your knowledge on types of cases:

Brainteaser Pricing Competitive Response

Step 4 - Case Structuring

Understand why a clear structure is crucial in case interviews and how it helps you solve complex cases efficiently.

Begin with the key articles on case structuring:

Approaching a Case

Case interviews can be overwhelming, but they are one of the most important parts in the hiring process. These interviews allow companies to assess your problem-solving skills, your ability to structure complex problems, and how well you communicate your solutions.A case interview isn't just about finding the "right" answer – it's about how you think. The best way to approach any case is to stay organized, break the problem into manageable parts, and explain your thinking clearly. In this guide, we'll walk you through the key steps to excel in a case interview, avoiding common mistakes, and standing out against the competition.

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How to Build a Good Structure

Poor structure, or sometimes no structure at all is one of the main reasons why candidates fail in case interviews. Why? Because case interviews are designed to simulate real-life consulting scenarios. And in the real consulting world, you need to structure problems all day long. If you cannot clearly demonstrate this skill during your interview, you probably won’t be able to apply it on the job and therefore not succeed in a consulting career. But let’s stay positive: Structuring skills can be learned. With some basic principles in mind and lots of practice afterwards, you will be able to excel in this consulting-crucial discipline.

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How to Communicate Your Structure

To be convincing in case interviews, it is important not only to have a well-thought-out structure, but also to communicate it clearly and effectively. Here is a guide on how to achieve this using a top-down approach. We will provide helpful tips and approaches using the following case study example! 🚀

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How to Practice Structure

Case interviews are a central component of the consulting application process. Success in these interviews requires not only analytical thinking, but also the ability to solve problems in a structured manner. Many candidates rely on standardized frameworks, but these alone are often not enough to distinguish themselves from the competition.💡 In this article, we will show you how to effectively practice structuring to succeed in your case interviews.

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Step 5 - Frameworks

Discover proven frameworks that help you approach cases in a structured way and systematically reach a convincing solution.

Begin with the key articles on frameworks:

Issue Tree

The Issue Tree is a valuable tool for analyzing the causes of issues during a case interview. When faced with a complex issue, the Issue Tree helps you break it down into its components. By focusing on the most urgent aspects and employing a hypothesis-driven approach, you can progress more quickly—a skill highly valued in consulting. 🚀🔎 In this article, you'll learn how to effectively use the Issue Tree, understand the differences between problem-based and solution-based trees, and how to leverage this technique to excel in your case interviews.

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MECE Principle

MECE is a buzz word in consulting and is often used in preparation for case interviews.But what is behind the acronym? This article takes a closer look at the MECE principle, its meaning and examples of its use.

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Porter's Five Forces

Porter's Five Forces is a powerful framework that helps companies and consultants assess the competitive landscape of a market. By analyzing five key factors - competition, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, buyer power and supplier power - you can determine the attractiveness of a market and its potential profitability. This tool is essential for anyone who wants to gain a strategic advantage when analyzing case studies in case interviews. Porter's five forces are especially relevant for market entry cases, since you need to assess the market attractiveness here.

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Pyramid Principle

The Pyramid Principle, created by Barbara Minto, an ex-McKinsey consultant, improves clarity and impact in communication. This principle is the basis of most management consulting communication and is especially useful for making decisions and solving problems. By organizing ideas logically and hierarchically, it helps the audience easily understand and remember key messages and recommendations.

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2x2 Matrices and the BCG Matrix

You'll find the 2x2 matrix to be a valuable tool for evaluating ideas, guiding you to the ideas that deserve more in-depth exploration. It simplifies decision-making by organizing and ranking ideas based on factors like importance and growth potential.Especially in the early stages of brainstorming business models, this method accelerates decision-making, ensuring quick and effective choices. It's widely favored in the consulting industry due to its ability to present options in a mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive (MECE) manner, offering a comprehensive view of strategic possibilities.If you take a closer look, you will see that there are four quadrants, each representing unique strategic measures. This structure enables you to assess options against two distinct decision criteria. But remember, selecting these criteria thoughtfully is essential for meaningful analysis.

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SWOT Analysis

As you get to know the different consulting tools, the SWOT analysis is one of the most effective ones. This tool helps assess a company's strategic positioning and reveals whether its strategies align with its objectives. By understanding SWOT, you can gain insights into the factors influencing a company's performance.

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Be sure to check out the following articles to expand your knowledge on frameworks:

4C Framework 4P Framework 7S-Framework of McKinsey The Value Chain The PESTEL Analysis for Consulting The Scrum Framework

Step 6 - Case Math

Learn about the most common mathematical requirements in case interviews and how to handle them confidently and efficiently.

Begin with the key articles on case math:

Why Math Matters

Math is more than just a handy skill in consulting — it’s often a game-changer. Whether you're analyzing complex business challenges, building solid recommendations, or backing up your advice with hard data, strong math skills frequently set you apart in this field.

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How to Practice Math Skills

When preparing for a case interview in consulting, you will quickly realize that math is an essential component. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a math genius – it’s enough to handle numbers in a structured and confident manner.

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ROI and ROAS

When preparing for case interviews, ROI and ROAS are two concepts you'll encounter repeatedly. Both are key metrics that enable you to evaluate a company's success and measure the efficiency of investments.🔎 In this article, you’ll learn how to correctly apply ROI and ROAS in your case analyses and how to structure your answers clearly.

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Break-Even Analysis

The break-even analysis helps you find the point at which a company’s total revenue equals its total costs. This analysis allows you to determine the number of product units that need to be sold to reach profitability, given the product’s price and costs.🔎 In this article, we’ll show you how to tackle the break-even analysis in a case interview. Enjoy reading!

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CAGR - Compound Annual Growth Rate

The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is an essential metric for consultants, especially when comparing long-term growth scenarios. It represents the average annual rate at which a value (such as a business’s revenue or an investment’s value) grows over a certain period. For consultants, understanding and utilizing CAGR is crucial when projecting future business performance or comparing investments.

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Train Your Mental Math Skills Now!

You want to go from theory to practice? Check out our Mental Math Tool and get your math skills up to speed!

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Be sure to check out the following articles to expand your knowledge on case math:

Fast Math Cost-Benefit Analysis Fixed & Variable Costs Opportunity Costs Net Present Value - NPV Balance Sheet Supply and Demand

Management Theory & Concepts

Discover practical tools for business analysis and common business terms, and learn how to apply them confidently to make informed decisions.

Useful Business Analysis Tools

Our collection of business analysis tools contains the most important frameworks for case analysis. Learn more in our Case Interview Basics.

ABC Analysis Pareto Principle Product Life Cycle Benchmarking Core Competencies The 5 Cs of Credit The Business Model Canvas The Balanced Scorecard The Cynefin Framework Kotter Change Management Model The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) The Competing Values Framework SMART Goals in Consulting Public Value Strategic Triangle GROW Model Hoshin Kanri Matrix The Stacey Matrix The Influence Model ADKAR Model McKinsey Growth Pyramid Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Correlation and Causality

Common Terms of Business

Learn everything you need to know about the common terms of business in your case interview. Our Case Interview Basics prepare you to crack the case.

Economy of Scale and Economy of Scope The Tuckman Model The Kanban Framework The Blue Ocean Strategy Lean Management Servant Leadership Peter Principle Emotional Intelligence Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) DevOps Five Dysfunctions of a Team Kolb's Learning Circle Interpersonal Communication Six Sigma The Role of the Hypothesis in Consulting The Roots and Effects of Inflation Learning Organization Theory of Planned Behavior Situational Leadership Theory of Constraints Herzbergs 2-Factor Theory Income Statement Cash Flow Statement Design Thinking Capability-Based Planning Unique Value Proposition (UVP)

Next Step: Practice With Peers

The best preparation is practice. The more interview situations you’ve trained for, the more confident you’ll be in the real thing. Once you’ve mastered the basics, do mock interviews with other candidates and solve cases together – this helps you apply your knowledge realistically and gain confidence.

Not sure what to expect in mock interviews? Here are some helpful resources.

Meeting Guide: How Do Mock Interviews Work on PrepLounge?

Read this article to learn how to make the most of mock interviews.

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Example Meeting

Check out the example meeting to see how a mock interview works on PrepLounge.

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

We are happy to answer the most frequently asked questions.

What are the Case Interview Basics?

The Case Interview Basics are a comprehensive introductory course that provides all the theoretical fundamentals you need to succeed in case interviews. The learning path guides you step by step through key topics such as structuring, frameworks, case math, and essential consulting skills. The goal is to give you a solid understanding of the core components of a case interview before you move on to practical practice. Your progress is saved along the way, so you can easily continue where you left off.

How do the Case Interview Basics support my interview preparation?

The Case Interview Basics help you understand the mindset and working methods of consultants, enabling you to respond to real interview questions in a structured and confident way. You not only learn how cases are built but also which approaches top candidates use to develop strong, convincing solutions. Through clear explanations, examples, and practical frameworks, you build your skills step by step.

Who are the Case Interview Basics best suited for?

The course is particularly helpful for beginners who have little to no experience with case interviews or the consulting industry and are looking for a clear, structured introduction.

At the same time, more advanced candidates also benefit, as many sections are perfect for refreshing knowledge or deepening specific topics. If you already have experience and only need a specific framework or calculation method, you can simply use the search function to jump directly to the article you need.

Is theory alone enough, or should I also practice case interviews with peers?

Theory is absolutely essential – but we strongly encourage you to apply what you’ve learned in real interview situations afterward. It’s only through practicing with peers that you truly see how confidently you can use the concepts and where there’s still room for improvement. Direct feedback helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses much faster and allows you to work on them in a focused way.

You can schedule your interviews on the Meeting Board.

Do I need prior knowledge to start with the Case Interview Basics?

No, you don’t need any prior knowledge to get started. The Case Interview Basics are designed to guide you step by step through all essential concepts – whether you're completely new to consulting or simply looking to refresh specific areas. You can begin right away and work through the content at your own pace.

Should I complete the entire Case Interview Basics to be fully prepared?

If you have enough time, we highly recommend working through the entire course. Each section builds your understanding step by step and teaches essential skills that matter in the interview process. Candidates who go through all the content and then apply the knowledge in practice are typically much better prepared than many of their competitors.

Are the entire Case Interview Basics available for free?

Yes, all articles within the Case Interview Basics course are completely free to access – even without a Premium membership. This ensures that everyone has access to the essential foundations needed for a successful interview preparation. You can explore the full course at your own pace without any cost barrier.