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Bain test ( Associate Position) - London office

Hello everybody,

Has anybody taken the Bain test - London office?

Have they changed anything this year? Can anybody shed some light on how many questions are there and what is the time limit and how to prepare for it?

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Top answer
Mehdi
Coach
on Oct 12, 2020
BCG | Received offers from all MBB & Tier 1Firms | Supporting you secure your top tier consulting offer

Hi there,

Online assessment tests are more and more used by consulting firms to filter candidates appying for junior positions (fresh graduates). The best way to prepare for it is to practice Integrated Reasoning quesstions from GMAT. Many people found this useful and it prepared them well to passe the online assessment.

I hope it was helpful, please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any question.

All the best,

Mehdi

Ian
Coach
on Oct 11, 2020
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

The best way is to really find online tests / questions and practice. Regardless as to whether is a new or old test, the principles are mostly the same:

  • Time management (need to think quick)
  • Business knowledge/context (incl key formulas)
  • Critical thinking (answers that are very similar to each other...clues "hidden" in the text)
  • Ability to interpret data/charts

Think of it as a merge of a case and the GMAT/GRE.

You need to be clear on some key case-related and account formulas (margin, growth, breakeven, etc) as well as be good at critically understanding the question (including nuance to questions) and parsing through complicated text with a fair amount of distraction.

You'll also need to be good at chart/graph reading.

The (old) McKinsey PST, BCG Online Test, Bain SOVA test, etc. are all quite similar so leverage resources across all of them.

https://www.myconsultingoffer.org/case-study-interview-prep/bcg-online/

https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests

https://www.psychometricinstitute.co.uk/Free-Aptitude-Tests.asp

Ian
Coach
on Oct 21, 2020
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success
Originally answered question: Bain Online Assessment London 2020

Honestly, all of these online tests are very similar

Format? Somewhat. Content and what's required from you ability-wise? Not at all.

The best way is to really find online tests / questions and practice. Regardless as to whether is a new or old test, the principles are mostly the same:

  • Time management (need to think quick)
  • Business knowledge/context (incl key formulas)
  • Critical thinking (answers that are very similar to each other...clues "hidden" in the text)
  • Ability to interpret data/charts

Think of it as a merge of a case and the GMAT/GRE.

You need to be clear on some key case-related and account formulas (margin, growth, breakeven, etc) as well as be good at critically understanding the question (including nuance to questions) and parsing through complicated text with a fair amount of distraction.

You'll also need to be good at chart/graph reading.

The (old) McKinsey PST, BCG Online Test, Bain SOVA test, etc. are all quite similar so leverage resources across all of them.

https://www.myconsultingoffer.org/case-study-interview-prep/bcg-online/

https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests

https://www.psychometricinstitute.co.uk/Free-Aptitude-Tests.asp

Norah
Coach
on Mar 12, 2019
I am here to get you an offer! | Ex MBB interviewer Expert in MBB and Tier 2, Deep knowledge of EU & Middle East regions
Originally answered question: Bain Online Assessment - London Office

Hello Anonymous,

Thanks for reaching out.
There are 3 sections: numerical, logic and business sense. Time is untimed, although consideration will be given to time (i.e. they will not stop you at any time, but how long it takes you to complete the test is still factored in). 

You can prepare with the following:

- GMAT/GRE tests for the numerical part

- logic GMAT part

- for business situation, I would recommend using SHL/investment banking tests

Any questions, do not hesitate to reach out,
Best
Norah

on Apr 24, 2020
Hi,
on Apr 24, 2020
Do you know if the Bain London office does a screening interview test as part of the online assessment?
on Feb 04, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
Originally answered question: Bain Online test London office

Hi Vivek,

until few months ago the test was structured as follows, I would check with HR if that's the case for you as well:

  • Based on SOVA
  • Requires around 75 minutes
  • Parts include:
    • Personality test – Have to rate what seems closer to your personality
    • Numerical – SHL based. They provide a graph and have to perform calculations based on that
    • Verbal – SHL based. Have to state if answer is true/false/cannot say
    • Logical – More challenging than the equivalent SHL part. Have to identify the pattern in series identifying what’s next

I would recommend to practice on SHL simulations covering the parts above to prepare.

Hope this helps,
Francesco

on Feb 04, 2020
Thanks Francesco. I could find only a few SHL tests online. They allowed calculators. Does it mean that calculators are allowed in actual test too?
on Feb 06, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
Hi Vivek, I would recommend to contact HR and clarify with them, I am not sure for this, but for other kind of tests like the BCG Potential Test different offices have different policies. Best, Francesco
Clara
Coach
on Feb 04, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut
Originally answered question: Bain Online test London office

Hello!

It´s a comprehensive test that includes quant and verbal problems, integrated reasoning and interpretation, etc. Hence, very similar to the GMAT exam -I even got some data suficency questions, that are literally from the GMAT exam-. 

There are free exams in the internet that you can use for practice (the one of LBS MBA page, Verits prep, as well as some free trials for courses such as the one of The Economist (https://gmat.economist.com/)

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

on Feb 04, 2020
Thanks a ton Clara.
on Feb 05, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching
Originally answered question: Bain Online test London office

Hi,
the interview will be structured in 3 parts:
- Personal Experience Interview: fit and CV questions to assess your personal impact, leadership skills, and entrepreneurial spirit
- Case Interview: typical business case to evaluate your structure in approaching problems, problem-solving skills, and business sense
- Your final questions to the interviewers

Feel free to text me for some tips about the preparation. I have supported tens of experienced professionals in crafting impactful stories and structuring business cases.

Best,
Antonello

Anonymous D
on Sep 14, 2020
Originally answered question: Bain Online test London office

Hello Vivek,

Can you tell me how long after you apllied did you receive the invitation to the assessment?. I applied about a week ago nd although they state that I should receive the link within a week, I haven't received it yet. Is it not part of the initial screening? Or only those who pass the CV screening receive it?

Thank you!

0
Clara
Coach
on Sep 30, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut
Originally answered question: Bain Online Assessment - London Office

Hello!

I struggled with the same thing.

I would strongly recomment you practice it with the Integrated Reasoning part of the GMAT exam.

There are free exams in the internet that you can use for practice (the one of LBS MBA page, Verits prep, as well as some free trials for courses such as the one of The Economist (https://gmat.economist.com/)

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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