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McKinsey and Co Assessments

    • 18 tests |
    • 194 questions

McKinsey is one of the world’s leading management consultancy firms.

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Personal experience interview

The McKinsey Personal Experience Interview (PEI) is an essential part of the recruitment process, designed to evaluate a candidate’s interpersonal, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

This interview format aims to understand how a candidate has approached and navigated real-life challenges and situations, offering valuable insights into their potential fit within the McKinsey culture. The PEI typically lasts for 20-30 minutes, preceding or following the case interview, and focuses on assessing key qualities such as personal impact, entrepreneurial drive, and leadership capabilities.

To prepare for the McKinsey PEI, candidates should reflect on their past experiences and identify compelling stories that demonstrate their skills and personal attributes. These stories can be drawn from various aspects of a candidate’s life, including professional, academic, and extracurricular experiences. When sharing a personal experience story, it is crucial to follow the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) framework to ensure a structured and comprehensive response.

Candidates should be prepared to answer follow-up questions, as interviewers often delve deeper into the details of a story to better understand a candidate’s thought process and decision-making abilities. Practicing storytelling and effectively communicating one’s experiences can significantly contribute to a successful McKinsey PEI.

Questions you might be asked in a McKinsey PEI personal experience Interview include:

  • Describe a time when you led a team through a challenging situation. How did you motivate the team and ensure a successful outcome?
  • Can you provide an example of when you had to deal with a difficult or uncooperative team member? How did you handle the situation, and what was the outcome?
  • Tell me about a time when you had to persuade a client or stakeholder to accept your proposal or idea. How did you approach the situation, and what was the result?
  • Share an instance where you faced significant obstacles or setbacks in a project. How did you overcome these challenges, and what did you learn from the experience?
  • Describe a time when you took a significant risk or pursued an entrepreneurial opportunity. What was your thought process, and what was the outcome?

Mckinsey Problem Solving Game (PSG)

The McKinsey Problem Solving Game (also known as the Imbellus Test) is a computer-based simulation game that McKinsey uses as part of its recruiting process to evaluate a candidate’s problem-solving skills. The game is designed to test a candidate’s ability to work collaboratively, analyze complex problems, and develop solutions to drive organizational change.

The games fall into one of 3 categories:

  • Constrained optimization
  • Strategy and adaption
  • Cause vs. effect

To do well in each category of the game it’s important to prioritize your goals and remember the skills being tested. You should also be sure to read the instructions carefully and understand what you are required to do.

Constrained optimization game

For constrained optimization game types it’s important to ignore irrelevant data and focus on finding a solution to the optimization challenge and navigating the constraints.

Ecosystem design: candidates must decide on the optimal location and species to live in an environment as well as creating a sustainable ecosystem. Specific and plants have interrelationships i.e herbivores eat plants, omnivores eat herbivores and carnivores eat omnivores.

Animal relocation: a natural disaster is killing off an animal ecosystem. Your job is to discover which natural disaster is the cause and move the animal to a suitable location where they can thrive. You will need to analyze a large amount of data to reach a decision and identify key data.

Strategy and adoption game

Ecosystem survival: for this game, you must protect an ecosystem from invasive plant species. To be successful at this game you will need to introduce the right predators and protectors to manage the outbreak. The game tests how long you are able to delay the outcome of the invasion since they will inevitably take over.

Migration management: with limited resources, you must help a herd of animals to migrate - animals die and resources end at each turn; you must make the most optimal choices to keep as many alive with as many resources as possible by the end.

To be successful in both games read through new information at each stage, by comprehending the information slowly and adapting your approach with what you’ve learned.

Cause vs effect game

Disease Analysis: You will be required to analyze large amounts of data to identify why animals are dying in an ecosystem. You must find the problem and the right treatment required.

To be successful in this game, you need to start by identifying what the relevant and irrelevant information is. Then look for logical relationship patterns e.g. when X increases, Y decreases (something causes something else to happen).

McKinsey Fit Interview

The McKinsey fit interview helps recruiters evaluate a candidate’s cultural fit, motivation, and personal qualities. The fit interview is designed to assess a candidate’s alignment with McKinsey’s values, as well as their ability to work effectively in a team and communicate with clients.

The McKinsey fit interview typically consists of a series of behavioral questions that require candidates to provide specific examples of their experiences and achievements. The questions may cover a range of topics, including leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication skills, and more.

To prepare for the McKinsey fit interview, candidates should research the company and its culture, and be prepared to discuss their relevant experiences and achievements in detail. Candidates should also be familiar with McKinsey’s values and be able to demonstrate how their personal values align with those of the company.

Questions you might be asked in a McKinsey Fit Interview include:

  • Why have you chosen to pursue a career in management consulting, and why McKinsey specifically?
  • How do you see yourself contributing to McKinsey’s culture and mission?
  • How do you handle stress and maintain a work-life balance in a demanding environment like management consulting?

Practice Aptitude Tests is not associated with McKinsey and Co. We provide preparation services for McKinsey and Co psychometric tests. Our tests are not designed to be identical to any style, employer or industry. Visit https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/search-jobs to find out more.

Sample McKinsey Tests question Test your knowledge!

During an assessment of team performance, a consultant observes that productivity has followed a pattern over the last five days: high, low, high, low, and high. If this pattern continues, what can be expected for the next two days?

  • High, Low
  • Low, High
  • High, High
  • Low, Low

A consulting firm has 5 clients in different sectors: finance, technology, healthcare, education, and energy. The billed hours for last month were as follows: finance 120 hours, technology 90 hours, healthcare 150 hours, education 75 hours, and energy 165 hours. Which sector accounted for approximately 26% of the total billed hours?

  • Finance
  • Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Energy

In a statement made by a consulting firm's CEO, it is mentioned that 'leveraging disruptive technology can drive significant cost savings for our clients'. What is the primary implication of this statement?

  • The firm primarily values traditional methods over new technologies.
  • The firm recommends that clients increase their spending on technology.
  • The firm believes in prioritizing cost savings over technological advancements.
  • The firm supports the use of new technology to reduce client expenses.

A new intern at a consulting firm has incorrectly graphed sales data on a timeline, leading to an error in the pattern of data. If the sales were following a consistent monthly increase, and the error showed a sudden spike instead, what is the most likely cause of the discrepancy?

  • A miscategorized sale
  • A duplicated data entry
  • A misinterpretation of the sales model
  • A calculation error in the growth rate

A business development manager preparing a presentation with several boxes outlining client segments notes that there are four key segments in a specific market: A, B, C, and D. If A is sized the smallest due to niche specialization, and C is the largest due to its broad appeal, in what order should the boxes be arranged to represent the segments from smallest to largest market presence?

  • A, B, D, C
  • A, D, B, C
  • C, B, D, A
  • A, B, C, D

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McKinsey Tests Tips

1Understand the Format

Get familiar with the types of questions McKinsey & Co uses in their aptitude tests. Understanding the format ahead of time will alleviate surprises during the test.

2Practice, Practice, Practice

Consistent practice improves performance. Use Practice Aptitude Tests to take free practice tests that simulate the real experience.

3Time Management

Learn to manage your time effectively. McKinsey’s tests can be time-pressured, so practicing how to allocate your time is essential.

4Read Carefully

Take the time to read all instructions and questions thoroughly. Careful reading prevents misunderstandings and mistakes.

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McKinsey Tests FAQs

What are the McKinsey & Co tests?

McKinsey & Co tests are designed to assess a candidate’s analytical and problem-solving abilities. These may include numerical, logical, and verbal reasoning exams to evaluate how candidates process information and make decisions.

Are the McKinsey & Co tests hard?

The difficulty of McKinsey & Co tests can vary depending on your familiarity with the question types and your innate aptitude. Some candidates may find them challenging, but thorough preparation can ease the difficulty.

How do I prepare for McKinsey & Co tests?

The best way to prepare for McKinsey & Co tests is by practicing and taking practice tests to become comfortable with the format and question types. Practice Aptitude Tests offers a variety of practice tests to help you prepare.

How long does the recruitment process take at McKinsey & Co?

The recruitment process at McKinsey & Co varies by role and applicant pool, but generally it can take several weeks to a few months, including tests, interviews, and assessments.

What are McKinsey & Co's core values?

McKinsey & Co’s core values revolve around adhering to the highest ethical standards, creating an environment of respect and inclusion, and committing to client success through professional excellence.

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    August 11, 2022

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    Medium difficult as time was running fast

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