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!
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:
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.
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
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Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies
Hi Cristian, BCG seems to have introduced this format in Germany as well. Could you be so kind as to share your practice library? I would very much appreciate that.
Hi Christian, for me, it is the same. I would highly appreciate it if you are willing to share some practice materials for that case.
Hello Ian, I appreciate your message. It appears that BCG also introduced this format to Germany. Would you please lend your practice library to me? That would be greatly appreciated by me.
Hello Ian, I have the same test (80 questions in 30 minutes) as part of my application to the Paris office. If you could send any resource to prepare, that would be amazing. Thanks and wishing you a good day !
Hi Ian, I have to do the 80-question test in Germany as well. Could you be so kind as to share your practice library? I would very much appreciate that.
Hi Ian, could you share your library with me as well? Thank you for the support
Yes! My full repository comes with coaching!