BCG Online Case Assessment/Casey Chatbot Guide

If you’ve applied for a consulting role at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), you’ll need to get ready for one of the first hurdles you’ll need to clear in your application: the BCG online case assessment.

Like McKinsey and Bain, BCG uses an online assessment tool to filter its pool of candidates early on in the process. However, the firm has not published any official description of their test. 

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the BCG online case assessment: the test format and question types, practical tips from our expert coaches and real BCG candidates, links to resources, and a prep plan you can follow to help you ace the test.

Here’s an overview:

• What is the BCG online case assessment?
• BCG online case question types
• BCG online case assessment tips
• BCG practice cases
• How to prepare for the BCG online case assessment

Let’s get started.

1. What is the BCG online case assessment?↑

The BCG online case assessment is the consulting firm’s digital screening tool. It was developed by HireQuotient, a start-up in Singapore co-founded by BCG alumnus Eugene Goh.

What makes the BCG online case assessment unique is that it comes in the form of a chatbot named Casey. Of the three MBB digital assessments, its format is the closest to a live case interview. BCG management consultant Petr describes it as “a ‘case-lite’ performed with a chatbot as the interviewer.”

According to ex-BCG associate director Adrian, “The BCG online case grades the same parameters as a traditional case, only in a different format.” He adds that with this assessment, skills such as reasoning, quick maths, logic, data analysis, filtering and grouping can be further tested easily.  

Some of the contents you can expect in the BCG online case include market sizing, financial analysis, competitive analysis, data interpretation, and decision-making, according to BCG senior manager James.

1.1 What’s the purpose of the BCG online case assessment?

The purpose of the BCG online case assessment is to help the firm hire the best and most diverse people as quickly as possible. It’s one of the first steps in the hiring process so that BCG can screen candidates based on both background and ability early on. 

The BCG online case assessment gives the firm a greater chance of finding high-potential candidates who may or may not fit the usual profile of a successful consultant. They can do so without having to spend tons of time and resources interviewing people who look qualified on paper but may not actually have the right skills for the role.

1.2 At what stage in the hiring process will I be given the BCG online case?

You’ll encounter the BCG online case early in your application process. It was originally created as part of the initial screening or Round 0 (R0), and some regions still have it at this stage, but now many candidates report the BCG online case as part of their Round 1(R1) interviews. 

In some regions, the Quantitative Reasoning test may take the place of the BCG online case. If it’s unclear in your recruiter’s email whether you’ll get the online case assessment, it’s best to clarify which steps to expect.

1.3 What’s the format of the BCG online case assessment?

The BCG online case assessment has two sections: the 30- to 35-minute Casey chatbot case test proper and a 1-minute video recommendation. Let’s look at each section more closely.

1.3.1 Casey chatbot case test 

This is the first section of the BCG online case assessment. During this section, you’ll be interviewed by the Casey chatbot. You’ll be given a case, and your first task is to identify the optimal relevant data from a given set of ~8 datasets. At this point, you’re being tested on whether you can perform the MECE (Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive) test. 

After this, you’ll encounter 8 to 10 questions, with a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions. You’ll mostly be dealing with casing maths and data/chart analysis. In section 2, we’ll cover the different types of questions you’ll encounter in this section.

1.3.2 Video interview

Once you’re done with the test, you’ll be prompted to take the video interview portion of the BCG online case. 

In this section, you’ll be asked to give your final recommendation to the client in the case. You’ll have exactly 1 minute to give your recommendation. 

This part of the online assessment will test you on your ability to synthesise your thoughts quickly and confidently present your client recommendation.

1.4 How long does a BCG online case assessment take?

The BCG online case assessment takes less than an hour to complete. The Casey chatbot section is timed at 30 to 35 minutes. Once you start the chatbot portion of the test, there’s no way to pause in between or go back to a question. Once you finish the chatbot test, you’ll then be prompted to make a 1-minute video recommendation.

1.5 What is the pass rate for the BCG online case?

There’s no way for us to determine the pass rate for the BCG online case, unfortunately. But given recent candidate reports on Reddit, it seems that many find it challenging to crack. 

What typically gets to candidates who take the online case is the time pressure. Also, unlike a live case interview, there’s no way to ask clarifying questions.

2. BCG online case question types↑

Now that you have an idea of what the BCG online case assessment generally looks like, let’s get into the different types of questions you can expect during the Casey chatbot case test portion.

• Structuring
• Business sense
• Math/quantitative 
• Graph/data interpretation

2.1 Structuring

Structuring questions evaluate your ability to identify the right data or information, which you’ll then use to structure an approach to solve a given problem.

In the BCG online case, this is the first part of the test where you’ll be asked to choose the datasets that are the most relevant to the problem at hand. It’s usually a multiple-choice question followed by an open-ended question which asks you to justify your choice. 

One thing to watch out for when answering structuring questions: “Some of the datasets will be completely irrelevant, while others will be relevant for only one part of the problem or will leave a gap that is impossible to guesswork through,” BCG interview coach Petr says.

That’s why it’s very important not to skim through the prompt. Make sure you understand the objective of the case. Not only is it crucial for choosing your datasets, but it will also help you get through the rest of the case test.

Most candidates, according to Petr, commonly make the mistake of choosing two datasets that give them the same information yet lack a crucial component.

For example, in a retail profit maximizing case, a candidate might select an itemised profit and loss (P&L) per inventory item and an inventory list that includes the purchase cost of each item. This neglects the fact that the purchase cost is already included in the first dataset (itemised P&L), so you essentially now have two datasets telling you the same thing. 

2.2 Business sense

With business sense questions, your decision-making skills will be put to the test. How do you use both your knowledge of a given situation along with your intuition to choose the best option possible?

Again, like the structuring questions, you may encounter business sense questions as multiple-choice and open-ended questions. 

You’ll be asked to identify the best possible options for the multiple-choice questions. Some of the options will look instantly irrelevant, so to manage your time, instantly eliminate these options. This gives you more time to focus on deliberating which of the remaining ones is the best way to go.

For instance, you get a hotel strategy case, and your objective is to recommend a competitor response strategy. You might encounter a business sense question asking you to identify which areas you would like to investigate first. You’ll want to immediately eliminate options that are too generic or too niche and focus instead on the options directly related to business impact and customer relations.

For the open-ended questions, be sure to justify your choice in the most succinct way possible.

2.3 Math / quantitative skills

Based on candidate reports, the quantitative questions on the BCG online case are basic business maths. If you’re not familiar, here’s an overview of the most common formulas you’ll need to know:

• Break-even
• Profit
• Weighted average
• Expected value
• Contribution margin

We also recommend that you review our free case interview maths guide.

During the online case, you can have a calculator nearby if you’re not comfortable with mental maths. However, we do recommend brushing up on mental maths early on because calculators are not allowed during live case interviews at BCG.

2.4 Graph / data interpretation

For this type of question, you’ll be asked to analyse and interpret 2 to 3 graphs. You’ll need to do some calculations to derive an assessment of the situation. For example, you might be asked what’s driving the cost increase or the decline in profits.

Again, this can come in the form of a multiple-choice question followed by an open-ended one.

3. BCG online case assessment tips↑

Now that you have an idea of what the BCG online case assessment looks like and the types of questions you’ll encounter, here are some practical tips to keep in mind while taking the test.

3.1 Devote enough time to choosing the right datasets

“Candidates often rush through the first parts of the online assessment, ending up with a lot of time at the end, at the cost of accuracy in the early stages,” says BCG consulting coach Petr.

His advice is to go through the data selection task very carefully. “Making a sub-optimal selection there will have a knock-on effect on the rest of the case,” he says.

3.2 Use a calculator if you must

You’re allowed to use a calculator during the BCG online case, so take advantage of it. Still, do know it would be helpful to get comfortable with mental maths as early as you can because as we’ve mentioned, you won’t be allowed to use a calculator during your live case interviews.

3.3 Don’t go straight into the video section

You’ll only have 1 minute to make your video recommendation, so don’t rush into it. After the chatbot case portion, you’ll be prompted to click “Next”. Don’t click on it just yet. Take a breather, gather your thoughts, and practise your 1-minute spiel before going to the video interview portion.

3.4 Relax while answering 

Don’t go into the online case stressed about the time constraint. Relax and make sure you don’t rush through the case objective, as having an incomplete understanding of this will have a trickle-down effect on your performance. You’ll also want to devote time to the dataset selection. Another thing to keep in mind, BCG senior manager James says, is not to overthink. When you overthink, you could ultimately mismanage your time and even misinterpret questions.

4. BCG online case assessment practice cases↑

One of the best ways to prepare for a case interview is to review as many practice cases as you can. Here are some free practice cases to get you started:

• BCG Climate Case Challenge
• BCG Digital Strategy Case Study
• BCG IT Architecture Case Study
• BCG Written Case: Chateau Boomerang Case Study
• BCG Public Sector Mock Case
• BCG Revenue  Problem Mock Case

Try to diversify the types of cases you practise with. “The more cases you have confronted, the wider your spectrum of knowledge and solutions will be,” BCG consulting coach Adrian says.

5. How to prepare for the BCG online case assessment↑

“There is no difference between Casey [BCG online case chatbot] and a classic face-to-face case interview, and we recommend that the preparation be the same,” says Casey developer Goh. Reading up on and reviewing practice cases is a great way to start, but for you to ace your online case, we recommend the following prep plan:

5.1 Verify your initial assessment format

As we’ve noted in the summary of BCG’s hiring process above, you may encounter other tests as part of the initial screening. Sometimes, the test/s may be an add-on to the BCG online case, and in other cases, they may be a substitute. Best to check with your recruiter so you know exactly what to prepare for.

5.2 Brush up on your case maths and data analysis

A large portion of the BCG online case will require some case maths. If you have any case interview or business experience, you’ll likely be familiar with the basics. BCG consulting coach James also advises taking the time to familiarise yourself with reading charts and graphs as this is an essential component of the test. In any case, whether you have experience or not, it’s good to brush up your knowledge beforehand. 

Click here to read our guide on case interview maths.

5.3 Time your practice

For most candidates, the time constraint is the most stressful part of the BCG online case. A good way to ease your nerves about it is to incorporate it into your practice. Get used to solving cases under 30 minutes, and practise giving 1-minute client recommendations on camera.

5.4 Practise typing your answers

For open-ended questions in the Casey chatbot test, you’ll need to provide succinct answers in a structured way. For this, you’ll need to be able to quickly structure your thoughts in a written format, according to ex-BCG associate director Adrian. So we highly recommend typing up your answers as quickly as possible during your case interview practice.

5.5 Maximise the online case demo sent by BCG

When you get the invite to do the online case, your BCG recruiter will send you a demo. While most candidates report that this demo case is so much easier than the real thing, that doesn’t mean you should skip it. You should use it as a mock case to get used to the format.

5.6 Sign up for a simulation course

If you want more in-depth practice and have the budget to spare, consider signing up for a simulation course like Online Case Secrets' BCG Case Combo. This course bundle, developed by ex-BCGer and top consulting coach Francesco, includes simulations of the chatbot and the video interview, along with other review resources to help you master every part of the online case. They also update the simulation course to reflect any changes to the online case. They offer a 100% money-back guarantee within 60 days if you don’t pass the assessment. 

Click here to find out more about Online Case Secrets’ BCG online case simulation package.

5.7 Practise by yourself or with peers 

As we’ve noted, the BCG online case interview is simply a chatbot version of a live case interview, so the best way to prepare for it is with mock case interviews. 

You can ease your way into this by reading our BCG case interview guide and reviewing case interview questions. You can also supplement your review by watching mock case interviews on our YouTube channel. That way you can see what an excellent answer looks like.

Once you’re in command of the subject matter, you’ll want to practise solving cases. But by yourself, you can’t simulate thinking on your feet or the pressure of performing in front of a stranger. Plus, there are no unexpected follow-up questions and no feedback.

That’s why many candidates try to practise with friends or peers.

If you have friends or peers who can do mock case interviews with you, that's an option worth trying. It’s free, but be warned, you may come up against the following problems:

• It’s hard to know if the feedback you get is accurate
• They’re unlikely to have insider knowledge of interviews at your target company
• On peer platforms, people often waste your time by not showing up

For those reasons, many candidates skip peer mock interviews and go straight to mock interviews with an expert. 

5.8 Practise with experienced BCG interviewers

In our experience, practising real interviews with experts who can give you company-specific feedback makes a huge difference.

Find a BCG consulting interview coach so you can:

• Test yourself under real interview conditions
• Get accurate feedback from a real expert
• Build your confidence
• Get company-specific insights
• Learn how to tell the right stories, better.
• Save time by focusing your preparation

Landing a job at a top consulting company like BCG often results in a $50,000 per year or more increase in total compensation. In our experience, three or four coaching sessions worth ~$500 make a significant difference in your ability to land the job. That’s an ROI of 100x!