All questions tagged bcgtest - Consulting Q&A - PrepLounge.com

Hi there,

First of all, I would check if you have to do the Potential Test or the Online Case Experience (Chat Bot version). In both cases, the industry is not important compared to preparing on some of the points below.

POTENTIAL TEST

The BCG Potential Test - also called Online Case in some offices - is a multiple choice computer test with 23 questions to be answered in 45 minutes.

It has one single case only. You receive +3 for each right answer, 0 for no answer and -1 for a wrong answer.

Calculators are generally not allowed, but there are exceptions in some countries - you can clarify that with HR if needed.

I recommend the following approach to prepare:

1. Look online for reliable BCG test simulations. You can find an example here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/bcg-potential-test-1-13
2. If possible, don’t print the sample tests; rather, do the simulations on your computer. The day of the test you won’t be able write notes near the questions or turn pages. If you practice on a paper version, you will find different dynamics the day of the interview that could impact your performance. You should also do all the simulations with a time constraint
3. After each test write down the mistakes you did. You will probably find that the mistakes have something in common – eg wrong math, too much time wasted on some questions, wrong interpretation of graph
4. Work on each area of improvement. Many candidates do these simulations checking only the final score and don’t spend time analyzing the mistakes - thus they don’t improve
5. Once you have done all the BCG test simulations, move to PST practice. You can find a good number of PST tests online. The PST is different from the Potential Test – in the PST there are multiple cases, the types of questions are different and you have more time available. However, it may still help to improve your performance

As additional notes:

• Remember you are penalized for wrong answers - you should adapt your strategy accordingly
• Aim to identify the main areas of improvements already with the first test - the typical ones are math, graph interpretation and ability to absorb information quickly
• Try to distribute the tests between the day you start practicing and the day of the test for constant learning – avoid to do them just at the end

If you want to practice on a real example of a BCG Potential Test, you can find the one I published below:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/bcg-potential-testonline-case-1-13

With this test you will be able to:

• Prepare on the exact same format of the BCG Potential Test – 23 questions in 45 minutes
• Identify your possible improvements thanks to detailed solutions for all the 23 questions
• Practice on material tested by multiple candidates who did the test and successfully passed the Potential Test.

Below you can find a screenshot of the test:

CHAT BOT VERSION

The Online Case Experience (also called Chat Bot Case) is a new 8-question test BCG started to use in 2019 globally. It is structured in 2 parts:

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

There are some variations in some countries, which is why sometimes you hear it is a 10-question test. The 8 question format is the most common though.

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

1. 8 questions instead of 23
2. 25 min instead of 45
3. No negative points
4. Calculators allowed
5. Presence of open questions
6. Video sum up at the end

The general logic though is similar to the old test.

I helped several candidates who did the chat bot test and succeeded in it. The main challenges based on their feedback are:

1. Time. Questions are not particularly difficult, however you will feel time constraints also due to the fact you don’t know how difficult could be the next questions - thus how much time they may require.
   • Implication --> Try to practice PST and/or BCG Potential Tests with a strict time constraint
2. Math. Candidates usually find the math challenging
   • Implication --> Many candidates said the old BCG Potential Test is the one resembling the most the math required
3. Chat bot 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. In that sense, it is not dissimilar from the old BCG Potential Test, where information was revealed step-by-step
   • Implication --> Practice on PST/Potential Tests working questions by questions, without skipping any

Please feel free to PM me for more info.

Best,
Francesco

Hi Valeria!

The correct answer is (b) ~6%.

Relative Market Share (RMS) is defined as a company's market share, devided by the market share of it's largest competitor, e.g

• for Player A, it is it's own market share, devided by the share of Player E,
• for Player E it is it's own share, devided by the share of Player A

Therefore, you can express the total share of A, E, B in terms of the market share of Player A (let's call that MS(A)):

45% = 1 x MS(A) + 0.75 x MS(A) + 0.55 x MS(A)

==> MS(A) = 19.6%

Now you need to add the total share of the new company

MS(New) = 0.1 x MS(A) + 0.2 x MS(A), because RetailCo and Player D have a RMS of 0.1 and 0.2 respectively.

MS(New) = 0.3 x 19.6% = 6%

Hope this helps

Hi,

Have you asked which of their tests they are going to give you?

Usually, they give their candidates either a maths and logic test or a guided business case. For the first type, I recommend preparing with SHL-like questions as BCG actually uses SHL for its test. For the second type, standard business case preparation with a focus on maths is the best preparation.

Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you want to know more about additional prep material!

Best,

Anto

Hi,

There are 3 types of written tasks you may have:

• Math test - GMAT-like math test
• Online test - problem-solving test with a business situation
• Written case - they give you a case and you have to make a presentation

As you can see there is no "Online case". I also have never heard of BCG giving both Math Test and Online test. However, you should double check with the interviewer

I have uploaded all test and written case samples here (Online test is about airlines, the written case is about wine):

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zor4m49eyx5qxal/AABeUN6mtiGkWhEklRjszX2Oa?dl=0

(ask me for a password)

Best!

PrepLounge has solid materials to prepare for the McK PST, these tests are similar enough that prepping for one will also get you ready for the other.

Hello!

First of all, and perhaps most important, you only get one bullet for this, so you should better get it right! It´s okay to ask HR to re-schedule if you don´t feel 100% ready, and most of the times they do -I am exhibit A here, and good I did, since when my test & interviews I was not at all already and would have misserably failed-!

Regarding the test, 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/)

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

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Hello!

The online quant test are indeed very similar among them and hence, better to prep.

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/)

The old McKinsey PST, 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.psychometricinstitute.co.uk/Free-Aptitude-Tests.asp

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Hi there,

I think the most important thing to consider (aside from basics like "try to avoid dumb mistakes") is that your application needs to make a compelling argument that you are a great fit for the job. It needs to review the main job requirements and demonstrate how your skills, experience, and passions align with those.

Too many "good" applications simply describe the applicant's experience or accomplishments. The applicant is leaving it to the other to make the connection with the job. The great applications make this connection for the reader and they make it a strong argument, not just listing accompishments.

Note: this is not easy because we are all naturally focused on our own accomplishments and how much we want the job. A great application results from putting forth the effort to start with the job requirements and work backwards to what you bring to the table that is most relevant. That's why a resume needs to be specific to the job.

Hope that helps - happy to discuss further.

Best,
Allen

Hi there,

This is the key information you should know on the test.

The BCG Online Case - also called Potential Test in some offices - is a multiple choice computer test with 23 questions to be answered in 45 minutes.

It has one single case only. You receive +3 for each right answer, 0 for no answer and -1 for a wrong answer.

Calculators are generally not allowed, but there are exceptions in some countries - you can clarify that with HR if needed.

I recommend the following approach to prepare:

1. Look online for reliable BCG test simulations. You can find an example here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/bcg-potential-test-1-13
2. If possible, don’t print the sample tests; rather, do the simulations on your computer. The day of the test you won’t be able write notes near the questions or turn pages. If you practice on a paper version, you will find different dynamics the day of the interview that could impact your performance. You should also do all the simulations with a time constraint
3. After each test write down the mistakes you did. You will probably find that the mistakes have something in common – eg wrong math, too much time wasted on some questions, wrong interpretation of graph
4. Work on each area of improvement. Many candidates do these simulations checking only the final score and don’t spend time analyzing the mistakes - thus they don’t improve
5. Once you have done all the BCG test simulations, move to PST practice. You can find a good number of PST tests online. The PST is different from the Potential Test – in the PST there are multiple cases, the types of questions are different and you have more time available. However, it may still help to improve your performance

As additional notes:

• Remember you are penalized for wrong answers - you should adapt your strategy accordingly
• Aim to identify the main areas of improvements already with the first test - the typical ones are math, graph interpretation and ability to absorb information quickly
• Try to distribute the tests between the day you start practicing and the day of the test for constant learning – avoid to do them just at the end

If you want to practice on a real example of a BCG Potential Test, you can find the one I created below. It is not free, but as they say – you get what you pay for ;)

https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/bcg-potential-testonline-case-1-13

With this test you will be able to:

• Prepare on the exact same format of the BCG Online Case – 23 questions in 45 minutes
• Identify your possible improvements thanks to detailed solutions for all the 23 questions
• Practice on material tested by multiple candidates who did the test and successfully passed the Potential Test.

If you need additional support or have any feedback on the test feel free to PM me, I can provide additional tips for free.

Hope this helps,

Francesco

Usually the fit questions of your interview will be approximately 10-15minutes long. The answers may differ greatly - it’s not about the amount of time you answer, but rather the quality.

Answers should always be structured, start with the direct answer to the question and then build into greater detail to give concrete examples or further details to what your initial statement was. Always be sure to back it up! For example, don’t just say you’re a team player, make sure you also say why you are one.

Prepare by making a list of usual fit questions and preparing your personal answers for them.

Choose topics that complement what your interviewer already knows about you through your resume and cover letter.

Hope pé it helps,

João

First, do the sample ones on the website.
Once you complete them, let me know. I can share additional sources for free.

Hi, I confirm the process will be similar, even if more focused on the area you are applying for

Best,
Antonello

Hi Felix,

I did the test a couple of weeks ago in Germany. The case example is comparable to the one you will receive on the actual interview day. While I prepared I checked which questions were the hardest / easiest for me. Based on this knowledge I answered the questions on the online test and did not answer the difficult ones since you will get a reduction of -1 for each wrong answer.
I guess you should make your own 'personal' strategy. I did not answer all question in the online test and still got to the final round.

All the best

Hi, I have some material available to practice it. Feel free to text me

Best

Antonello

Hi there

Good news: if you solved the sample one easily, you can expect to have similar performance at the real one.

I can provide you more sample tests to practice for free. Feel free to reach me.

Serhat

Hi there,

Having worked for Dubai Office for 2 different projects and also worked with many candidates got an offer from Dubai Office, the first time I am hearing that the final round is consisting online test.

Calculators are not allowed for that test, I can provide you useful resources to prepare for. Feel free to message me.

I strongly recommend you to reschedule your interview date. Happy to talk about how you can do it in detail.

Best
Serhat

Hi Anon!

Egor shared a fantastic answer with a few useful links, including BCG test resources in the below question:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/i-want-to-get-into-mckinsey-bcg-and-bain-company-2645

Hope that's helpful!

Kay

Hi there, our preplounge experts shared great materials about this topic previously. I believe they will be helpful for you. You can see their posts at the following links:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/i-want-to-get-into-mckinsey-bcg-and-bain-company-2645

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/bcg-potential-test-preparation-2117

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/bcg-online-test-1120

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/material-for-bcg-potential-test-1048

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/bcg-online-test-936

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/prep-materials-for-bcg-potential-test-2712

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/tag-BCG+Potential+Test

Hope it helps

Serhat

Hi,

I have uploaded both test samples here (Online test is about airlines). I've also added BCG written case sample (Next round) and Bain written case:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zor4m49eyx5qxal/AABeUN6mtiGkWhEklRjszX2Oa?dl=0

(PM me for a password)

As for particular recommendations for online test:

1. Try to find as many people in your country as you can who have done the test. Ask them for the topic, industry, and questions they remember. For example in one of the countries there was a test about airlines and reading a couple of articles / company reports / wikipedia articles with industry terms could significantly improve performance
2. Try to practice tests with strict time-management. McKinsey PST from the official web site and all mck and bcg -like tests you can find online
3. Additional resources can be GMAT Integrated reasoning from the official guides and apps if you feel that you are not p[erforming well
4. As far as I remember calculator is allowed on BCG test. Make sure you know how to simplify calculations and use it fast

Best!

Let me know your questions.

Cheers, Sidi