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BCG Potential Test: How to prepare in 6 months?

Hi everyone,

I know it may be early, but I really want to get an offer this time around. 

I will be applying to BCG in around 6 month time - with a referral (my target office has rolling applications). As such, I have almost half a year to prepare.

I was wondering what would be the best strategy to prepare for the Potential test?

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Top answer
Ian
Coach
on Dec 16, 2020
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

Ok, this is very important. 6 months is way too much time to just study for this test!

Rather, you need to build your overall business knowledge/acumen, critical thinking skills, casing ability, etc.

This will provide the foundation for your ability to properly answer questions on the Potential Test. As such, my #1 advice is to prepare for the CASE interview. The rest will follow.

In the 1-2 months prior to the PST, you can directly prepare for it using the following:

  • 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
  • https://igotanoffer.com/products/free-bcg-potential-test
  • https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0417/7869/files/McKinsey_PST_-_Test_A.pdf?601759184528580827
  • https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0417/7869/files/McKinsey_PST_-_Test_B.pdf?601759184528580827
  • https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0417/7869/files/McKinsey_PST_-_Test_C.pdf?601759184528580827
  • https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0417/7869/files/McKinsey_PST_-_2011_version.pdf?601759184528580827
  • http://media-publications.bcg.com/BCG-Online-Case-Example.pdf
Clara
Coach
edited on Dec 16, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Don´t you worry, you have more than enaugh time. 

First of all, you need to see which test is happening in the office you will apply to. Some have the chatbot version, some the case study

All in all, most of the online tests are very similar, and test the same skillset. It´s a good thing, since you can prep for them with a very unified approach. 

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/)

Furthermore, you can leverage the MBB tests (https://www.myconsultingoffer.org/case-study-interview-prep/bcg-online/, https://www.psychometricinstitute.co.uk/Free-Aptitude-Tests.asp, and many others)

Hope it helps!

Anonymous B
on Dec 16, 2020

Which office are you applying to? Some offices have transitioned to the online case study test, where you solve a case with an AI chatbot.

4
Anonymous A
on Dec 16, 2020
Oh right - the HR team mentioned I will be sitting an online case study - I presumed it would be the same as the potential test. I am applying in southern Europe.
Anonymous B
on Dec 18, 2020
All the experts here are just pasting generic answers that aren't helpful at all. Prepare for the case study, not the potential test. the case study test will be around 30 mins long with 8 questions, in which you solve a case with a robot. It's relatively easy once you've practiced live cases.
Anonymous C
on Jan 02, 2021
Hi A, thanks for adding that - I also felt slightly the same when scrolling through all these threads. So you wouldn't say that the chatbot test is similar in terms of solving many math-related questions? Thanks a lot!
Gaurav
Coach
on Dec 16, 2020
#1 MBB Coach(Placed 750+ in MBBs & 1250+ in Tier2)| The Only 360° coach(Ex-McKinsey+Certified Coach+Active recruiter)

Hello there, 

well, six months are not little. With the right strategy, you will have plenty of time to prepare.

I agree to what Clara said - it's important to practice on the tests that you easilly can find online. 

What I've found useful and always suggest to my clients is to come up with a routine when you do a little practice every day and to stick to the schedule. Set goals and do a step forward every day. 

If you need any suggestions on how to start, how to proceed, how to evaluate your progress, I'll be happy to help.

And don't hesitate to ask further questions.

Crack it!

GB

on Dec 18, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,

This test is for sure an important part of your application and you should do it at your best. However, preparing for 6 months is not worth it as you definitely need less time to be ready.

Work on your math and practice with the BCG Potential Test you find online. I'll give you some links to strengthen your math skills in the meantime.

Here you can find some useful links to simulate PST:
- https://mconsultingprep.com/free-practice-mckinsey-pst/
- https://igotanoffer.com/pages/mckinsey-problem-solving-test
- https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Careers%20REDESIGN/Interviewing/Main/
Problem%20Solving%20Test%20PDFs/practice-test-A.ashx
 
Here some free link to practice with the quantitative part of the SHL test:
- https://www.gradtests.com.au/test/starttest/TestType/2/TestId/45/practice/1
- https://www.wikijob.co.uk/aptitude-test/verbal-reasoning-practice
- https://www.practiceaptitudetests.com/sign-up/programme/shl
- https://www.shldirect.com/en/practice-tests
- https://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/jobtestprep/testPlayer.aspx?atr=1&skinid=9&localeSetting=
en-GB&sLanguage=en-
GB&test_id=E_FreeSHL_Numerical&mode=timed&template=FreeTestTemplate&endURL
=%2ffree-shl-numerical-test-results-
page&endURLName=Exit+Test&cancelURLName=Exit+Test&cancelURL=signout.aspx&
ReturnURL=%2fmaster-ceb-shl-numerical-
test&layoutype=1&layoutype=1&testTitle=Free+SHL-
Style+Numerical+Test&adPageID=&itemCode=E_FreeSHL_Numerical
 
Best,

Antonello

Udayan
Coach
on Dec 16, 2020
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /12 years recruiting experience

100% agree with Ian

on Aug 14, 2021
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

I noticed in the comments that you will be sitting for the Online Case. The BCG Online Case (also called Chatbot Interview) is a new 8-10 questions test BCG started to use in 2019 and now expanded globally. It is structured in 2 parts:

  • 8-10 questions to be taken in 25-30 minutes
  • 1 video interview question at the end, where you have to provide a recommendation

The main differences compared to the previous version (BCG Potential Test) are the following:

  1. 8-10 questions instead of 23
  2. 25-30 min instead of 45
  3. Calculators allowed
  4. Presence of open questions
  5. Video sum up at the end

The main challenges based on the candidates I helped are the following:

  1. Time. Questions are not particularly difficult, however you will feel time constraints also due to the fact you don’t know how difficult the next questions could be - thus how much time they may require
  2. Chatbot interaction. Unlike a test like the McK PST, you cannot proceed “at your own pace”. You will have to follow the evolution of the test as questions are revealed one by one
  3. Math. Candidates often find the math quite challenging given the time constraint

If you want to prepare in the best possible way, I created a guide exactly for that.

This guide will:

  • Show you the perfect strategy to answer the 5 types of questions in the Chatbot
  • Offer you a clear strategy to optimally structure the One-Way Video Assessment
  • Provide insider information from previous applicants who succeeded the Online Case
  • Structure a clear preparation plan based on 6 FREE PSTs and Potential Tests
  • Replicate the same experience of the interview thanks to 2 FREE Complete Chatbot Cases (Casey-style)

And much more ;)

You can download the guide instantly here:

 https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/bcg-online-case-secrets-69

 

4. BCG Online Case Secrets - Chatbot Interview.png

As an extra bonus, I am currently offering the BCG Potential Test #1 (worth $39) and Graph Analysis Cheat Sheet (worth $29) for free with the guide. That may change in the future so hurry up if you are interested ;)

If you need additional support or have any questions on the guide please feel free to PM me, I will reply within 12 hours. 

Best, 

Francesco

edited on Sep 05, 2021
Former BCG | Case author for efellows book | Experience in 6 consultancies (Stern Stewart, Capgemini, KPMG, VW Con., Hor

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