Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

Are written cases and structured case interviews the same thing?

I recently came across the terms unstructured and structured case interviews. 

The “structured” one seems like a written case to me. Is this correct or is this another category again?

4
1.2k
10
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Ian
Coach
on Aug 18, 2021
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

You're a bit mixed up but that's ok :)

Live Cases - 30 minutes, conducted live, with a few charts/exhibits/data

  1. Type 1 - Structured. As in, there is a clear path to the case (it is written down…like the ones you see on preplounge)
  2. Type 2 - Unstructured. The interviewer sort of just talks off the cuff, let's the case flow naturally, and asks a lot of brainstorming questions

 

  1. Style 1 - Candidate-led. You have to drive the case
  2. Style 2 - Interviewer-led. They will “tell” you what to do

Written Cases - Some as short as 1 hour, some as long as 48 hours. You are provided written material, generally 5+ exhibits/charts. You need to create a written response i.e. a presentation generally in powerpoint.

 

Skills needed/concepts tested are essentially the same, but the format/style is very different!

Make sense?

on Aug 19, 2021
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

This is a terminology some firms use and it could have a different meaning according to the firm. For example, I helped a candidate that had to go through a Strategy& interview and he got the following:

  • Unstructured: normal case interviews
  • Structure: 10 min to read some info, then 40 min discussion

I know other firms use the terminology with a different meaning though.

All in all, I would recommend to clarify with HR.

Best,

Francesco

Dennis
Coach
on Jun 26, 2024
Roland Berger|Project Manager and Recruiter|7+ years of consulting experience in USA and Europe
Deleted user
on Aug 19, 2021

Hello,

It might depend as various companies use different terminology, but generally the structured and unstructured cases are traditional interviews (i.e. not written). 

A structured case generally has more structure regarding the time and a pre-determined set of questions you are expected to cover with the interviewer. So instead of jumping around, the interviewer will guide you to focus on particular questions.

An unstructured case, like the name suggests, is generally more free-flowing - there is a solution to the case, but there are no specific markers on how best to get there. These tend to be more candidate-driven.

Written cases by nature tend to be more structured since you're not having a dialogue with an interviewer and you might be asked to solve specific questions.

3
Similar Questions
Consulting
Written cases
on Jan 27, 2025
Global
4
500+
Top answer by
Thabang
Coach
Ex-McKinsey Consultant | McKinsey Top Coach & Interviewer | Special Offer: Buy 1 Session Get 1 Free (Limited time!)
14
4 Answers
500+ Views
+1
Consulting
Just did the Mckinsey Solve Game (January 2025) - got some questions/insights
on Apr 24, 2025
Global
5
4.7k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
45
5 Answers
4.7k Views
+2
Consulting
Bain Final Round interview
on Aug 05, 2024
Global
1
900+
Top answer by
Florian
Coach
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU
30
1 Answer
900+ Views
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
Thanks for your feedback! Your opinion helps us make PrepLounge even better.