Is this the firms' real process?

No. It is a rehearsal built from how consulting recruiting usually works. Formats vary by firm, office, role and year, and the pass marks are PartnerRound's own: real firms judge the whole picture rather than adding up scores.

How long does it take?

About three hours in all: ten minutes for the application, 20 to 85 for the online test, 15 for the video interview, about 50 for the first round and 95 for the final round. Your progress is saved, so do a stage a day if you like.

What happens if I fail a stage?

You see where a real process would likely have stopped, and why. Then you can retake the stage, or carry on to the next ones for practice.

Do I need an account?

Not for the application screen or the online test. The video interview and the live interviews are marked by AI and saved to your account, so those need you signed in. It is free.

Application to offer

Go through the whole process before the real one

A full mock recruiting process for McKinsey, BCG, Bain or another firm: a CV screen, the online test, a recorded video interview, first-round fit and case interviews, partner final rounds, then your result. Each stage is scored, and you see exactly where a real process would have stopped.

Stages: 6
Interviews: 5
Time: About 3 hours

How consulting recruiting works

Most firms follow the same steps, give or take the video interview. The mock runs each one.

1
Application screen · CV and motivation
You apply through the firm's careers site with a CV, and sometimes a cover letter. Screeners look for strong academics, leadership and impact you can measure. A referral from someone at the firm can help you stand out.
Paste your CV and a few lines on why this firm. It is screened the way a recruiter would, with a score, what works and the exact lines to fix.
2
Online assessment · McKinsey Solve
McKinsey uses Solve, a set of gamified problem-solving tasks that scores both your answers and how you reach them.
Sit the simulation under the real clock. Your score comes back to this page when you finish.
3
Video interview · Recorded answers
McKinsey more often screens with its online test and goes straight to live interviews, but some offices and roles add a one-way video interview: a question on screen, a short time to prepare, then a fixed time to record.
Four questions, 30 seconds to prepare and 90 to record each, one retake per question. Your answers are transcribed and marked; your videos stay on this device so you can watch yourself back.
4
First round · Fit and a case
Usually two interviews, back to back, with consultants or managers. Each pairs a Personal Experience Interview with a case. McKinsey cases are usually interviewer-led: the interviewer asks one question at a time and moves you through.
Two interviews with the AI interviewer: a Personal Experience Interview, then a case in the McKinsey style. Do them together or on different days.
5
Final round · Partner interviews
Two or three interviews with partners or senior principals. The cases go deeper, and there is more weight on leadership, judgement and whether they would put you in front of a client.
Three interviews with a partner-style interviewer: a deeper fit conversation and two harder cases, with more pressure and fewer hints.
6
The offer · Your result
Successful candidates usually get a call first, then a written offer with salary, start date and office or team.

Set up your process

Which firm are you applying to?

Where are you in your career?

Final year or recent graduate, for analyst roles.

Saved in this browser as you go, so you can stop and come back. The application and online test work without an account; the interviews need you signed in.

The interviews you will face

Fit and personal experience

Questions about you: why consulting, why this firm, and stories about leading, influencing and recovering from setbacks. McKinsey's Personal Experience Interview takes one story and probes it for fifteen minutes or more.

Case interviews

A real business problem, such as falling profits, a market entry or an acquisition. You structure it, ask for data, do the maths out loud and finish with a recommendation.

Interviewer-led or candidate-led

McKinsey cases usually move one question at a time, led by the interviewer. BCG and Bain more often expect you to drive: set the structure, choose where to go and form a hypothesis.

Questions

Is this the firms' real process?: No. It is a rehearsal built from how consulting recruiting usually works. Formats vary by firm, office, role and year, and the pass marks are PartnerRound's own: real firms judge the whole picture rather than adding up scores.
How long does it take?: About three hours in all: ten minutes for the application, 20 to 85 for the online test, 15 for the video interview, about 50 for the first round and 95 for the final round. Your progress is saved, so do a stage a day if you like.
What happens if I fail a stage?: You see where a real process would likely have stopped, and why. Then you can retake the stage, or carry on to the next ones for practice.
Do I need an account?: Not for the application screen or the online test. The video interview and the live interviews are marked by AI and saved to your account, so those need you signed in. It is free.

Not ready for the full run?

Practise one stage at a time

Run a single live case, sit one of the online tests, or let the coach build you a week-by-week plan.

Browse the case library Ask your coach