10 Types of Case Interviews (for management consultants)

If you have a case interview coming up at a top consulting firm, you'll need to understand the different types of cases you could be presented with.

Below, we list the ten most common types of case interview problems. For each you’ll find video and written examples you can practice with, expert tips on how to answer, and links to specific resources when you want to dive deeper.

Here's what we'll cover:

• Case interview formats
• 10 common types of case interview
  • Profitability cases
  • Market entry cases
  • Merger & acquisition cases
  • Pricing cases
  • Competitive threat cases
  • Market sizing cases
  • Public sector cases
  • Growth strategy cases
  • Revenue cases
  • Business operation cases
• How to prepare for any type of case interview

1. Case interview formats↑

1.1 Interviewee-led vs interviewer-led

There are generally two styles of case interviews used across all main consulting firms: candidate-led and interviewer-led.

Candidate-led (used by Bain, BCG, and almost all other firms): In this format, interviewers give you more control over the pace of the interview. You're expected to take the initiative and lead the way to solving the problem.

Interviewer-led (used by McKinsey): In this format, interviewers tend to control the pace of the interview much more. They will have a list of questions about the case they want to go through with you, and will take you from one question to the next. If they feel you spend too much time on one question, they might interrupt you and ask the next question.

1.2 Individual vs group

Most case interviews are individual: you’re on your own facing one or two interviewers. But some firms use group case interviews too.

Group case interviews demand the same analytical and communication skills as normal case interviews, but they take things a step further: they also evaluate a candidate's ability to work well with others in a high-pressure team environment. 

Learn more about group case interviews.

1.3 1st round vs second round

At the top consulting firms, you’ll need to go through two rounds of interviews. First-round interviews are usually run by an Associate (2+ years of experience) or an Engagement Manager (4+ years of experience). In contrast, in the second round, you'll be interviewed by Partners (+10 years of experience) who are more likely to ask you tougher questions.

In theory, the firm takes into account your performance at both first- and second-round interviews when making final offer decisions. However, in practice, your performance during the second round carries more weight.

This is simply because Partners will have a stronger voice when the recruiting group discusses your application. It is therefore particularly important that you do well at your second-round interviews.

2. 10 most common types of case interviews↑

Let’s take a look at the main types of case interview problems you might encounter in your consulting interviews.

2.1 Profitability cases

Profitability problems are an existential threat to companies. In the long term, if there are no profits, there's no company. This is why consultants are often brought in to help find the root cause of profit issues and turn the situation around. 

Profitability cases are the most common type of consulting interview cases. You’ll need to analyze costs and revenues to pinpoint issues, such as rising expenses, falling sales, or market changes, and then recommend strategies to improve profitability.

Expert tip: “Benchmarking the company’s performance against the performance of competitors is a good way to diagnose whether profits are being affected by a market-wide problem or a specific issue for our client.” John, ex-Bain manager.

Click here to read more about how to crack profitability cases in consulting interviews.

2.2 Market entry cases

Market entries can be at the core of a company's strategy for years and involve huge amounts of money. Uber for instance, has constantly entered new geographical markets across the world since it launched in the US in 2011, burning through huge amounts of investors’ cash in order to do so.

Market entries are uncertain situations and can therefore be quite stressful for executives. They can make or break companies. As a consequence, top consulting firms are often brought in to help during these key moments.

That’s why market entry cases - in essence, deciding whether a company should enter a new market (geographically or by launching a new product) - are common in case interviews. You’ll need to evaluate market attractiveness, competitive landscape, and the company's ability to succeed in that market. Market sizing often plays a key role here, as you’ll need to estimate the potential market size and revenue opportunities.

Expert tip: “Pay attention to whether your company will be able to win in new markets with their proposed product offering. Yes, the market fundamentals are important (macro-economic growth, political stability, consumer demand etc.) but misaligned product-market fit or inappropriate capabilities will undermine your recommendation.” Luke, ex-senior manager at Deloitte

Read more about how to crack market entry cases in consulting interviews.

2.3 Merger & acquisition cases

Merger and acquisition (M&A) deals can involve huge sums of money. For instance, Capital One’s acquisition of Discover Financial, bringing together two of America’s largest credit card businesses, was worth around $35 billion (for context, that’s more than the annual GDP of Jamaica).  

Most CEOs only do a handful of acquisitions in their career and are therefore not that familiar with the process. If things go wrong, they could lose their job. Hence, consulting firms are usually brought in to help.

In M&A case interviews, candidates assess the potential value and risks of a company acquiring or merging with another business. This includes analyzing the strategic fit, financial benefits, cultural alignment, and potential synergies or integration challenges.

Expert tip: Partners at MBB firms typically look at 4 areas when working on M&A cases: the market, the target, the buyer, and synergies and risks.

Click here to learn more about how to crack M&A case interviews.

2.4 Pricing cases

Pricing strategy is one of the easiest levers CEOs can pull to increase profits in their company. But here is the thing about pricing - pricing is very sensitive and getting it wrong getting it wrong can be extremely costly.

As a consequence, McKinsey and other consulting firms have got partners who are specialised in helping companies get pricing right. This is why you are likely to come across pricing problems in your case interviews.

Pricing cases revolve around determining the optimal price for a product or service. You’ll need to consider factors like cost structure, customer demand, competitor pricing, and the overall market strategy. The goal is to find a price point that maximizes profits while maintaining competitiveness.

Expert tip: There are three approaches consultants use to think about pricing: cost-based pricing, value-based pricing, and competitor-based pricing.

Click here to learn more about pricing case interviews

2.5 Competitive threat cases

Responding to competitive threats is critical for companies to safeguard their market position and maintain profitability. If a company doesn’t act quickly and strategically, the consequences can be severe, leading to lost market share and declining customer loyalty.

In competitive threat cases, you’ll need to evaluate the competitive landscape, assess the company's strengths and weaknesses, and recommend strategies to counter the threat, such as changing pricing, improving products, or entering new markets.

Start by analyzing what makes the competitor a threat—pricing, product differentiation, market share, or technology. Knowing their strengths and goals helps in crafting a targeted response rather than a broad strategy.

Expert tip: “Competitive threats can come outside of the existing competitor set. Think about who or what else can fulfill your customer's "job to be done". For example, competitive threats to airlines aren't just other airlines; they could be trains, ferries or, depending on the segment, even Zoom.” Luke, ex-senior manager at Deloitte

2.6 Market sizing cases

It’s unlikely that you’ll get a case that’s focused purely on market sizing. What’s more likely is that you’ll need to do some market sizing as part of your answer - perhaps as part of a market entry case or M&A case.

Market sizing is the process of estimating the total potential revenue or volume of a specific market. It helps to understand the size of the opportunity in a given market, usually by calculating how many potential customers exist and how much they might spend.

Expert tip: Always round your calculations. After all, you’re dealing with estimates, and this will make your calculations much more simple - important if you’re not allowed to use a calculator.

Click here to learn more about market sizing and how to do it in a case interview situation.

2.7 Public sector cases

Public sector projects can often be highly complex. Take the recent efforts by various governments to digitize their services—this isn’t just about updating technology; it’s about reshaping how citizens interact with their governments. Consulting firms are often called in to provide guidance and firms like McKinsey have dedicated teams that understand the nuances of working within public institutions.

In public sector case interviews, candidates dive into improving efficiency and service delivery for government agencies or public organizations. You’ll need to assess stakeholder needs, regulatory landscapes, and the political climate to devise strategies that not only enhance performance but also meet the public’s expectations.

Expert tip: When tackling public sector cases, always think about the broader stakeholder map—who is impacted and who has influence. Solutions that align with the interests of key stakeholders will often be the most effective.

2.8 Growth strategy cases

Growth is a priority for every company, and consulting firms are often brought in to identify the best path forward. Growth strategies are not just about scaling up; they involve sustainable growth that aligns with market dynamics and the company’s strengths.

Growth strategy cases are common in MBB firms and usually touch on topics like market expansion, product development, pricing adjustments, or acquisition opportunities.

You’ll need to think critically about market trends, competitive positioning, and internal capabilities to recommend a solid growth plan.

Expert tip: “It’s too often assumed that all growth is good. Show some commercial acumen and critical thinking by first establishing the growth hypothesis: "Why does this company need growth?". Growing a mature company with limited scale benefits and a negative gross margin is likely to lead to shareholder ruin, not fortune.” Luke, ex-Senior manager at Deloitte

2.9 Revenue cases

Revenue cases are fairly common in case interviews. You’ll usually be given a situation where a company is seeing its revenue decline and you’ve been brought in to advise them on how to turn it around.

In revenue case interviews, candidates analyze factors like pricing, customer segments, and potential new revenue sources. 

Expert tip: “A mistake I see a lot of candidates making is talking about profits and costs when they’re answering a revenue case. This makes the interviewer think they don’t understand the difference between revenue and profit. Keep your analysis focused on factors that drive revenue, like pricing, volume, and customer segments.” John, ex-Bain manager.

2.10 Business operations cases

Optimizing business operations can be a real game-changer. Take Amazon, for example—they’ve built their reputation on efficiency, constantly fine-tuning their logistics to ensure quick deliveries. When companies hit operational roadblocks, consulting firms swoop in to help them get back on track.

In business operations case interviews, candidates assess processes, supply chains, and workflows to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities. You could also be asked to advise a business that wants to go through a digital transformation.

Expert tip: Focusing on identifying bottlenecks in processes can be a useful approach here. Whether it’s slow production times or delays in distribution, addressing these issues can have a significant impact on overall efficiency.

For a lot more case interview examples, both written and video, plus links to more great practice resources, see our article case interview examples.

3. How to prepare for any type of case interview↑

In this section, we're going to cover the most important things you can do in order to prepare for your case interviews. Let's begin with maths preparation.

3.1. Become really confident at maths

You don't have to have a perfect GPA or GMAT score to succeed at case interview maths. However, during your case interviews, you will be expected to quickly perform accurate mental maths. 

In order to do this, it’s essential to know the formulas for common metrics, like return on investment or breakeven point. And it’s also helpful to know a few maths shortcuts to help you solve problems more quickly. To learn more about these topics, check out our free guide to case interview maths. 

In our experience, the most successful applicants start their interview preparation by practising maths skills, so make sure you prioritise this step.  

3.2 Develop a consistent method to crack cases

One of the biggest challenges of interviewing with top consulting firms is solving cases that you’ve never seen before. Each case can be difficult, and you’ll have to perform well across multiple case interviews in order to get an offer.

As a result, it’s critical for you to have a consistent approach to solving cases.

Whichever type of case you're given, you can follow this structured approach.

1. Ask clarification questions
2. Create a case framework
3. Explore the framework
4. Do the maths
5. Brainstorm
6. Make a recommendation

See our Case interview prep guide to learn exactly how to apply this approach in your case interviews.

3.3 Practise cases out loud

How you solve each case is important, but your interviewers will also be evaluating how you COMMUNICATE your answers. It's important to speak in a structured way that makes it easy to clearly understand your points.

The best way to hone your communication skills is to practice interviewing out loud, and you can do that in three main ways:

1. Interview yourself (out loud)
2. Practise interviewing with peers
3. Practise interviewing with ex-interviewers

To help you with this process, here is a broad list of consulting interview questions you can practise with. Practising by yourself is a great way to get started, and can help you get more comfortable with the flow of a case interview. However, this type of practice won’t prepare you for realistic interview conditions. 

After getting some practice on your own, you should find someone who can do a mock interview with you, such as a friend or family member.

We’d also highly recommend that you do mock interviews with ex-interviewers from MBB firms. This is the best way to replicate the conditions of a real interview, and to get much more useful and high-quality feedback than you can get from peers. Book case interview coaching now.