BCG - Logical Test

BCG Logic
New answer on Sep 18, 2023
2 Answers
94 Views
Anonymous A asked on Sep 14, 2023

 Hi there,

I understood that some BCG offices propose a logical aptitude test before actual case studies. This is composed of 80 questions to be answered in 30 mins and is intended to assess 4 skills: 1) numerical and verbal, 2) logic, 3) rapidity and relevance of decisions and 4) learning ability. Do you by any chance have any helpful preparation material to share? Tips?

Many thanks!

 

 

 

Overview of answers

Upvotes
  • Upvotes
  • Date ascending
  • Date descending
Best answer
Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 14, 2023
MBB | 100% personal interview success rate (8/8) and 95% candidate success rate | Personalized interview prep

Hi there,

Yes I do - feel free to shoot me a message!

Lucky for you the McKinsey PST, BCG Online Test, Bain SOVA test, etc. are all quite similar so you really can leverage the practice tests for all of them in order to prepare:

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.

PRACTICE TESTS

The (old) McKinsey PST, BCG Online Test, Bain SOVA test, etc. are all quite similar so leverage resources across all of them. I have a huge list (links + documents) which I can share.

CHART/GRAPH INTERPRETATION

Best Rote Practice

Rocket Blocks

Best Practice Strategy

1) Read the Economist (especially the daily graph and Financial Time frequently

2) Ask case partners to focus particularly on your chart-reading skills (i.e. by providing you with cases with many charts) - Bain and Deloitte cases tend to be chart heavy

Graph Interpretation Tips

1) Read the title - and understand it

2) Read the legends - and understand them

3) Remind yourself of the objective / hypothesis in the case, to see where this might fit

4) Find the differences - where does the line graph plummet or spike? Which column is a lot smaller or bigger than the others? Where does change occur? The differences are what matter

5) Talk outloud while interpreting - first, it helps you think and process your thoughts, second, it lets the interviewer provide guidance and course correct if needed.

Was this answer helpful?
Cristian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 18, 2023
#1 McKinsey Coach by rating & recommendation rate

Hi there!

Yes, feel free to reach out and I share a library of materials for practice. 

Basically, the format of these tests if quite similar. Once you get a hand of the usual structure, it becomes easier to practice for them. 

Also, the best thing about it is that the more you practice the better you get. The linear correlation is amazing. When I was practicing for interviews I would calculate the average score every day from practicing and tracked it over two months and a half, and my speed and accuracy almost double in this interval. 

To support you with these tests, sharing here also an article that contains the most common terms that you're likely to come up again during interviews:

Best,
Cristian

———————————————

Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies  

Was this answer helpful?
Ian gave the best answer

Ian

Content Creator
MBB | 100% personal interview success rate (8/8) and 95% candidate success rate | Personalized interview prep
958
Meetings
64,133
Q&A Upvotes
198
Awards
5.0
121 Reviews
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely