Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

Written Case - How to present a 15 min long conclusion?

For normal case interviews, I usually spend 45 seconds to deliver a short and sweet conclusion. But for written case interviews, I need to present a “15 min recommendation”. Any tips on this? Should I still do a 1 min short conclusion (like normal case), and then spend the rest 14 minutes going into details? How should I spend this 15 minutes wisely instead of going into too much details? Thank you!

5
1.6k
18
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Moritz
Coach
on Feb 01, 2022
ex-McKinsey EM & Interviewer | 7/8 offer rate for 4+ sessions | High impact sessions + FREE materials & exercises

This is the beauty of top-down communication (pyramid principle), which this comes down to and which you have to master for any interview. 

In your 15 min example, you would start with the recommendation and key points, same as you would for a 45 sec recommendation, and then “keep going”. In other words, the difference between a 45 sec and 15 min recommendation is the amount of detail you enter into with regards to specific drivers, analyses, etc. within each of the buckets.

If appropriate/possible, spend a bit of time to organize your answer by organizing the key elements in a MECE fashion that lends itself for top-down communication.

Hope this helps! Best of luck!

Pedro
Coach
on Feb 01, 2022
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

You still need to present your ideas using “top-down” communication.

Since you haven't gone together through the case with the interviewer, you will need to backup your conclusions with data. So you will take some of the time to go to the specific slides/enhibits and highlight the insights that support your recommendations. And of course, answering specific questions.

You will present for 15 mins, but it won't be a 15 minute monologue, but a 15 minute conversation.

Ian
Coach
on Feb 02, 2022
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

You need to present it just like you would any presentation!

Start with your main thesis/recommendation. Then, summarize the key supporting reasons (2-4). After that, dive into each key supporting reason and explain in detail.

Deleted user
on Feb 01, 2022

So, use the 15mins to summarise your recommendation (s), explain the story behind each recommendation i.e. your analysis & insights and highlight any risks. 

8
Clara
Coach
on Feb 04, 2022
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Yes, what you propose sounds about right. 

A conclusion of the conclusion as an exec. summary, and then the rest of the conclusion (tought 15 mins might be too much, depending on the context). 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

Similar Questions
Consulting
Just did the Mckinsey Solve Game (January 2025) - got some questions/insights
on Apr 24, 2025
Global
5
3.4k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
38
5 Answers
3.4k Views
+2
Consulting
Employment Gap on Resume and How to talk about it during Interview
on Apr 14, 2025
Global
9
8.1k
Top answer by
Ariadna
Coach
BCG | Project Leader and Experienced Interviewer | MBA at London Business School
110
9 Answers
8.1k Views
+6
Consulting
How should I explain a change in course at university? Will it be asked of me?
on Apr 14, 2025
Global
10
3.5k
Top answer by
Alessa
Coach
xMcKinsey & Company | xBCG | +200 individual & group coachings | feel free to schedule a 15 min intro call for free
81
10 Answers
3.5k Views
+7
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
Thanks for your feedback! Your opinion helps us make PrepLounge even better.