FREE RESOURCES FOR YOUR

CONSULTING ONLINE TEST PREPARATION

Contents

A. Welcome ............................................................................................................................................. 2
B. Pymetrics test (BCG, Bain, PwC, Blackstone, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley & others) ......................... 2
C. McKinsey’s Problem Solving Game “SOLVE” (previously: Imbellus) ................................................... 5
D. BCG Online Case (Casey chatbot interview) ....................................................................................... 6
E. Bain Sova Assessment ......................................................................................................................... 8
F. Roland Berger Analytical Test .............................................................................................................. 9
G. Further free online test practice materials ....................................................................................... 10
H. Final notes ......................................................................................................................................... 11

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A. Welcome
Well done! You found this guide in which I have compiled a long and growing list of free
resources to help you prepare for your (consulting) online tests.

I am Jack; I spent five years as a Consultant and Project Manager at McKinsey and now
serve as an independent management adviser, continuing to thrive in my passion. I have
crafted this document to help you to get a significant step closer to your dream job, too!

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In the following, find my advice and resources on your online test preparation as well as
some final notes at the end of this guide. Good luck for your test preparation – and tests!

B. Pymetrics test (BCG, Bain, PwC, Blackstone, JP

Morgan, Morgan Stanley & others)
This guide starts with the Pymetrics test, since it presents the online test that currently is
most widely used by a large number of top companies, including several top consulting

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firms (BCG, Bain, Accenture, PwC), finance players (Blackstone, JP Morgan, Morgan
Stanley) as well as many other prestigious corporate organizations (list in footnote1).

The Pymetrics test comes in the disguise of 12 Pymetrics games, each of them posing a
unique challenge. One of the main problems of the Pymetrics test is that candidates are
not offered tutorials before or during the test; the test wants to push you into cold water
and see if you get the games right the first and only time you play them. Learning about
the games AND how to tackle them strategically in advance to the test therefore offers a
HUGE advantage. For this reason, I explain the purpose of the Pymetrics test, offer a
complete walkthrough & strategy guide through all 12 Pymetrics games as well as share
my overall advice on how to prepare for the Pymetrics test in this hallmark :-) video
explainer:

Pymetrics test (BCG, Bain, JP Morgan): How to master the 12 Pymetrics games |
Complete walkthrough
https://youtu.be/mnIqTjN9f0E

Once you have watched the video, you will be significantly better prepared than
candidates with no previous information about the games. Be aware that you do not need
to memorize the strategy advice on all the 12 games given in the video: During the actual
test, you can pause between playing the Pymetrics games. I suggest that each time before
you launch the new game, you (re-)watch the respective section of my tutorial video.

Be aware that Pymetrics allows you to take the test only once in 330 days – it really wants
you to play it only once! Your one-and-only result will be forwarded to all companies that
ask their candidates to take the Pymetrics test and that you apply to during the same
cycle.

I have done a lot of research on the Pymetrics test; in contrast to all other online tests
covered in this online test prep kit, the Pymetrics test is the only test where no suitable
free practice material is available. As I mention in the video, there however is one provider
that has developed a perfect simulation of the 12 official Pymetrics games. I can testify
that this simulation is virtually identical to the “real” 12 games and have used it extensively
myself to develop the strategies I present to you in my video tutorial. Once you have gone
through the mock tests, it also offers you further specific solving tips on each of the
games. On the mock test provider’s landing page, you additionally find a long written
guide with free tips on the 12 games:

https://passpymetrics.youinconsulting.com/

1
Accenture, Alpha Sights, ANZ, Astra Zeneca, Bain, BCG, Blackstone, British American Tobacco,
CliftonLarsonAllen, Coca-Cola, Colgate Palmolive, Diageo, Fidelity Investments, Hyatt, IHS, JLL, JP Morgan,
Kantar, Kraft Heinz, LinkedIn, Mastercard, McDonald’s, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Randstad, Rio Tinto, S&P Global,
Sutherland, Swarovski, Tesla, Unilever, UPS.
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I would like to offer you some further resources to understand the nature of the test. This
official 2-min video from Pymetrics summarizes how Pymetrics likes its test to be viewed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RSuwNbheGQ

Furthermore, a Pymetrics test-taker has uploaded the official report on his nine character
traits as evaluated by the games. This document illustrates what the Pymetrics test
promises to do; do not spend time analyzing it though!

https://pdfcoffee.com/sample-report-of-factor-and-traits-by-pymetrics-pdf-free.html

I know this website looks a bit dodgy, but if you click on the two little arrows, you can
download the example report! :-)

Last but not least, as mentioned in my video tutorial, there are many games where you
need to smash your spacebar as fast possible or hit your cursor keys at the right moment.
During my own practice sessions, my performance occasionally suffered because I was
hesitatant to smash my keyboard as heavily as required since I was worried that could
destroy it… At the same time, an only partially functional keyboard will put your Pymetrics
game performance at risk, too. I advise to use an external and wired keyboard (wireless
keyboards pose their own risk in terms of being fully charged and lags). If you like to buy
a new keyboard either before or after :-D taking the Pymetrics assessment, I recommend
you a branded, but low-cost wired keyboard here:

Germany: https://amzn.to/3Av3HVC
India: https://amzn.eu/d/bpYc7dn
United Kingdom: https://amzn.to/3e1LZ4q
USA: https://amzn.to/3QVmC37

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C. McKinsey’s Problem Solving Game “SOLVE”
(previously: Imbellus)
By now, McKinsey has phased out its former Problem Solving Test (PST) from most offices
(write me if you are still required to take the PST!) and has replaced it by the new, more
stylish Problem Solving Game (PSG) called “Solve” (previously: Imbellus).

I offer a comprehensive introduction on how to tackle the Imbellus games in my McKinsey

PSG video explainer:

Imbellus: How to master the McKinsey Digital Assessment

https://youtu.be/oYrAoUyrFKg

Even if you do not apply to McKinsey, but are required to take other online tests as part
of your job applications, I recommend you to watch this video’s first section (starting from
minute 01:40) and its third section (starting from minute 10:02), in which I explain the
“hidden reasons” why top companies make use of online assessments as well as how to
prepare for them in general, respectively.

While the Imbellus assignment is peculiar, it is safe to assume that McKinsey is still
interested in finding the same qualities in its candidates as before. The good news is that
for preparation for its former PST, McKinsey over the years had provided many high-
quality mock tests. While such questions of this type do not anymore appear in Solve,
practicing these tests will still help you to hone the analytical skills McKinsey seeks in its
candidates. Furthermore, they still help with getting familiar with the type of analytical
“trap” questions appearing in other (consulting) firms’ online tests:

McKinsey Problem Solving Test Practice A

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/careers%20redesign/interviewing/main/problem%20solving%20test%20pdfs/practice-test-a.ashx

McKinsey Problem Solving Test Practice B

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Careers%20REDESIGN/Interviewing/Main/Problem%20Solving%20Test%20PDFs/practice-test-B.ashx

McKinsey Problem Solving Test Practice C

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Careers%20REDESIGN/Interviewing/Main/Problem%20Solving%20Test%20PDFs/practice-test-C.ashx

McKinsey Problem Solving Test Practice: Kosher Franks (22-page version)

https://www.colloquio-lavoro.it/wp-content/uploads/pdf/PST%20McKinsey%20test%20A%202010.pdf

McKinsey Problem Solving Test Practice: Fiji Cola

http://mckinsey-pst-practice-test-fiji-cola.youinconsulting.com/
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At the time of shooting my video on Solve, no test kit specifically dedicated to cracking
Solve had been available. This has changed now. I am compiling this collection of free
online test prep materials so that everybody has a better chance of passing these online
tests, regardless of the size of their wallet. I do understand though that some amongst
you are willing to invest in order to get into McKinsey, so I do want to mention the “Ferrari”
solution out there to crack Solve, which you can find here:

https://mckinsey-solve.youinconsulting.com/

Before adding this program to my list of recommended sources, I reviewed and tested it
in depth myself: It comes with a 2-hour video tutorial, covering both the ecosystem as well
as the plant defense games in detail using graphical materials simulating the real test
experience; a ~150-page written guide covering strategies both for the main games as
well as the alternative games that appear less frequently (and including the new Red Rock
game); a customized Excel tool to be used during the actual test, which is designed to pass
the ecosystem game nearly automatically and with less time required than usual, so that
candidates have substantially more time left to spend on the second game; and individual
Q&A support by the program author on each component of the assignment. Most
remarkably, the program author offers a 100%-money-back guarantee to every customer
who does not pass the Solve assignment after purchasing his system. For me, this changes
everything: Essentially, you do not pay just for better odds, but only for actually passing
Solve.

D. BCG Online Case (Casey chatbot interview)

Before applying to BCG, I suggest you to first find out which application process applies
to you. In some BCG offices, BCG requires you to take the Pymetrics test (first), in others
you will need to pass the BCG Online Case. In the worst case, you need to pass both
online assessments. Make sure you prepare only for what is needed! ;-)

In order to help you prepare for the BCG Online Case (or the Casey Chatbot Interview),
make sure you internalize my in-depth video tutorial:

BCG Online Case Experience (Casey) — How to master the chatbot interview:
https://youtu.be/wO4tuFrJ3yM

If you do not plan to apply to BCG or do not need to pass the Casey interview, I
recommend you to still check out the second part of the video (starting from minute
21:00), where I take you through a consulting mock test for an interactive training session.

Compared to McKinsey, BCG has been less generous with distributing official free test
preparation materials. Fortunately, I have got you covered! :-) I have found a link to an
official BCG Online Case Experience practice test provided by BCG! Judged by the
instructions, it appears to me that this is a glitch and this practice test should be accessed
only by actual BCG applicants. Therefore, you may want to sign up with another email

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address than the one you are going to use for applying to BCG. The test comprises six
questions and is rather easy, so I would not take it too seriously, but rather use it to
familiarize yourself with the Casey interface. I will keep this link in this list as long as the
practice test can be accessed:

https://impress.ai/html-widget/chat-widget/5290cce9-2748-4823-aebd-0809804e24b6/

Furthermore, you should leverage another (semi-)official and free Casey practice test that
– no joke! – was developed and is offered to BCG applicants by the very same software
company that has also developed the Casey chatbot used by BCG! You can leverage their
free 20-minute online Casey interview practice test here:

https://explorecasey.youinconsulting.com/

After loading the website, you need to wait for ~10 seconds, and then a pop-up window
should appear at the bottom-left corner of your screen – the button leads you to the free
test!

If the pop-up window does not appear, try this alternative option to access the free test:

https://crackcasey.youinconsulting.com/

Then talk to the chatbot in the bottom-right corner, it will also lead you to the free practice
test :-)

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At the end of the free mock test, you will be offered to buy an extended version for a 50%
discount. Alternatively, the company offers further mock test bundles (see “Practice
Cases” section) for the BCG Casey chatbot interview preparation. Given that these
additional tests come from the official chatbot developer, I am confident that they will
resemble the actual BCG Online Case Experience very closely, hence will most likely be
suitable for those of you looking for an efficient shortcut solution for the preparation (I
have not yet tried them myself, but have received positive feedback from other buyers).

Last but not least, for preparation of its former BCG Potential Test (predecessor to the
chatbot interview), BCG also provided this comparatively short mock test:

http://media-publications.bcg.com/BCG-Online-Case-Example.pdf

E. Bain Sova Assessment

Bain is similar to BCG in the sense that the selection of online test(s) you need to pass
depends on the office you apply to. Bain states this even officially on its website and
recommends you to get in touch with your target office before you apply:

https://www.bain.com/careers/digital-recruiting-tools/

Again, Bain explains it also makes use of the Pymetrics test that I covered at the beginning
of this guide. It says that the Sova test “is used at a few of Bain offices globally and mainly
with our Europe and Middle East offices”.

I have not yet analyzed the Bain Sova Assessment in detail and may break it down in a
future video tutorial. As per my present knowledge, it fortunately presents a more “classic”
aptitude test, so I am pretty confident that the free test prep resources I compile for you
on the Roland Berger Analytical Test and further below will be of help to prepare for the

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Bain Sova Assessment as well. Meanwhile for those of you looking for a shortcut solution,
there does exist a dedicated paid compilation of Bain Sova Assessment mock tests:

https://bainsova.youinconsulting.com/

I have not yet reviewed this mock test solution. If you decide to purchase it and take the
Bain Sova Assessment, I would be happy to receive a feedback from you on whether you
found it helpful or not.

F. Roland Berger Analytical Test

For those of you applying to Roland Berger, I have got you already covered, too! :-) First
watch this in-depth video tutorial on the Roland Berger Analytical Test:

Roland Berger Analytical Test: How to crack the RB consulting online test
https://youtu.be/e7MO_8HbOlU

To prepare for the Roland Berger Analytical Test, Roland Berger shares with its applicants
a set of three “official” mock tests (one numerical one, one verbal one and one logical one).
You can access these mock tests well-before you apply. I strongly recommend you to
familiarize yourself with what to expect by taking these three “official” mock assessments:

https://www.trytalentq.com/how-to-prepare/

To find the right mock assessment as instructed by Roland Berger, hit the “Try Elements
ability tests” on the right, as illustrated in this screenshot:

Create an account and have a go. When registering for this mock assessment, you may
consider using a different email address to the one you are going to use for your
application – though I do not believe anyone really tracks that.

The mock test software provides you with an overall test result, but does not explain you
the paths to the solutions. In most cases, you will find you will be able to find the right
answer yourself if you only spend enough time on it. However, in regards to those
questions where you are unsure about the answers, I would like to make you aware that
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another content creator has already generated detailed walkthroughs on each question
contained in the official mock tests. You find them here:

Walkthrough numerical mock test:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY_uGiDRShrTk8dcquY_s0OpB48SYH0pa
Walkthrough verbal mock test:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY_uGiDRShrRjK2R2QW3QpS6xeW6hO5nd
Walkthrough logical mock test:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY_uGiDRShrTfjOp3Zbrb1xHnmZRtdsjo

I recommend you though not to watch these tutorials entirely, but only for those
questions where you feel specifcally unsure. Instead, spend the time on extra practice.

Beyond all the free test prep resources in this kit, if you look for a customized “high-end”
shortcut solution to prepare for the Roland Berger Analytical Test, a dedicated test prep
kit tailored to the Roland Berger Analytical Test exists. This kit I have reviewed myself and
can confirm that it resembles the real Roland Berger Analytical Test experience very
closely (a few screenshots from it are shared in the video):

https://joinrolandberger.youinconsulting.com/

On that landing page, scroll down and select the “Talent-Q All-Inclusive Pack”, which is
designed for the Roland Berger Analytical Test preparation.

G. Further free online test practice materials

The test materials listed so far have been provided by the top consulting firms themselves
or their test providers, and I regard them as most relevant for your preparation. If you like
to spend further time on practicing the skill of solving analytical tests online, these

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additional free resources may be helpful, too. I have ranked the following links in order of
their usefulness:

Free SHL-style test:

https://www.gradtests.com.au/

Free SHL numerical test:

https://bit.ly/3wNQAvx

Free SHL-style test:

https://www.psychometricinstitute.co.uk/Free-Aptitude-Tests.asp

Free SHL test:

https://www.practiceaptitudetests.com/sign-up/programme/shl

Free SHL tests:

https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests

Two free GMAT mock tests (free sign-up required):

https://www.mba.com/exam-prep/gmat-official-starter-kit-practice-exams-1-and-2-free

H. Final notes
I hope you find these resources helpful!

A few final remarks:

1. Given that the online tests often present the first hurdle during your application process
(after submitting your application), you will unfortunately need to dedicate at least some
time for their preparation. Keep in mind though that what all consulting firms have in
common is that you need to pass the later job and case interviews. Hence be efficient in
your online test preparation and reserve the bulk of your time for preparing for your
business case interviews.
2. The purpose for crafting this document has been to offer you a list of free resources
for your consulting online test preparation. I am aware though that some of you prefer to
save time and invest money for access to the tailor-made mock test software solutions.
Please note that if you decide to purchase one of the paid practice test solutions through

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the affiliate links above, I would receive a small commission from the test provider (with
no cost for you, of course).

3. At the beginning of this guide I said that the YOUinConsulting project is driven by you
spreading the word about it. While I know that many of you do that already just because
you like my content (and hopefully, my humour ;-) ), I go even beyond that. I have called
into life the “YOUinConsulting Ambassador Program” in which I reward you if you
successfully invite peers of yours to subscribe to the YOUinConsulting newsletter and
YouTube channel. For instance, if you invite only five of your peers to subscribe to this
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case interview sessions with peers. To find out how it works, hit the “Your personal
dashboard” at the bottom of one of my recent emails. :-)

Last but not least, I pledge to continue pushing out top-quality content on business
and consulting careers. If you are currently at the job application stage, you may want
to check out the video tutorials in my growing “How to get a top consulting job at
McKinsey, BCG or Bain” playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO4rGtv4Tn0QinESJ4KsMTNx7sablFyV0

Thank you for becoming part of the growing YOUinConsulting community!

Good luck for your tests and – interviews!

All the best

Dr “Jack” Jörg Leib

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