How to practice for next week's Bain final round math test?

Question

All my recruiter has been able to tell me is that it is a 50-minute math test with 20 questions, similar to the GMAT/GRE quant section, and that there are no charts. I get the impression that this is all the information she is able to give me, so I'm hesitant to ask for sample questions.

What is the best way to practice for this over the next week? I am decent with practical word problems, but I don't know if there will be "pure math" questions on there, like ones asking about permutations, or the number of digits in the product of numbers with large exponents.

Also, I would appreciate any insight into how important this test is, and why they didn't use it to screen people out before interviews. If it makes a difference, I'm interviewing at a Texas office. I would be an experienced hire, entering at the consultant level (MBA equivalent, although I did not go to business school).

Answer 1

Hello!

I had the same test and it´s very similar to GMAT. I would strongly recomment you practice it, since normally it´s very different from the things you have seen before -particularly the data sufficency part-.

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

Answer 2

I have taken Bain screening test in Singapore before first round in AC interviews. You can search it from Mconsultingprep for 2-3 sample tests.

Answer 3

Hi June,
working with SHL (a bit easier than the Bain test) and GMAT (more difficult) will help you to arrive prepared.

There are many websites which offer mock SHL tests, here you can find 5 free practice tests:

https://www.gradtests.com.au/test/starttest/TestType/2/TestId/45/practice/1
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
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

I agree it's uncommon making the test as experienced hire after the interviews, it can depend on the feedback about your math skills or on the accelerate process you have faced with no time for the test before.

Hope it helps,
Antonello

Answer 4

Hello June.

If there are no charts, I would suggest to focus on GMAT material (skipping not interesting questions like geometry) and not focus on SHL test.
The test is really important and I think that it will be a go/no go test since math skills are fundamental for working as consultant (especially for an experienced hire).

Feel free to contact me, since I do coaching also for GMAT preparation.

Best,
Luca

Answer 5

Dear Nora!

Keeping your math trained with GMAT exercises is always a good idea. Free resourced can be found online, for example:

http://www.mba.com/global/the-gmat-exam/prepare-for-the-gmat-exam/test-prep-materials/free-gmat-prep-software.aspx
https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat https://www.mba.com/-/media/files/mba2/assessments/2018/gmat/gmat-handbook-2020-07-10.pdf?la=en&hash=9DCAD3E9A43EEE7B520C84327FBEC6F399A72D82

2) Also, tests that usually are for investment banks (with graphs analysis) are useful. Free resourced can be found online, for example:

https://www.tptests.com/Candidate/practice/Instructions

For any further questions or advice just drop me a PM.

Best,

André