The format, and how to perform in it
What to expect, what is official and what is reported, and how to practice.
Firm processes and online tests change from year to year and differ by office. Use this to prepare, and confirm the exact current steps on the firm's own careers page.
Key takeaways
- Because the format is structured and time-boxed, rehearse a similar format, not only live cases.
- Follow each firm's rules on AI: Bain's official assessment page says AI tools are strictly prohibited during its online test, including recording, screenshots, and any software that transcribes or gives feedback.
- BCG United States: a select group of candidates is invited to complete the online case about 2 weeks after the application deadline.
- BCG United States: Associate applicants also receive the Consulting Career Assessment (CCA), sent 30 to 90 minutes after applying.
- BCG in the Netherlands does not list an online case. Its current process starts with an Online Reasoning Test, where you interpret graphs, draw quantitative conclusions and make calculations.
Official facts come from the firms' own pages. Reported facts come from candidate accounts, university career centres and prep sites, and they vary by office and recruiting cycle. Your invitation always wins: follow what it says. We re-check this page at least every 90 days.
A chatbot-led digital case is a screen where a chatbot, not a person, presents a business case and walks you through a series of timed questions. You read exhibits, answer multiple-choice, numeric and short typed questions, and usually finish by recording a short video of your recommendation. BCG uses this format, an online case at some offices and for some candidates. Prep sites report that it is guided by a chatbot named Casey and may be called the Online Case Experience. It sits alongside other BCG screens, such as the Consulting Career Assessment (CCA) for US Associate applicants.
Official: what BCG says
- BCG United States: a select group of candidates is invited to complete the online case about 2 weeks after the application deadline. It takes about 35 minutes. Candidates who took it before are not asked to take it again.
- BCG United States: Associate applicants also receive the Consulting Career Assessment (CCA), sent 30 to 90 minutes after applying. It takes about 30 to 35 minutes and must be completed within 48 hours of the invitation.
- BCG in the Netherlands does not list an online case. Its current process starts with an Online Reasoning Test, where you interpret graphs, draw quantitative conclusions and make calculations. So screens differ by country: check your own office.
- BCG's case preparation page links to OneDay@BCG, a free job simulation.
Reported: details from candidates and prep sites
- The chatbot is called Casey, and the screen may be called the Online Case Experience (OCE). Some invitations are reported to come from HireQuotient on behalf of BCG.
- About 8 to 10 questions in sequence. You usually cannot go back to an earlier question.
- Question types: multiple choice, numeric answers from calculations, and short typed answers.
- A final recorded video recommendation of about 60 seconds, with a short preparation window. Your camera is on.
- A calculator is usually allowed, but check your invitation.
- Which offices use it, and for which candidates, varies by country and recruiting cycle.
What to expect
- A business problem introduced up front, then a series of questions that build on each other.
- Exhibits to read and reason from, as in a live case.
- A mix of multiple-choice, numeric and short typed answers, under a timer.
- A short video recommendation at the end. BCG does not publish how it is scored, but a clear answer, solid reasons and a next step are what any reviewer looks for.
Key idea
Because the format is structured and time-boxed, rehearse a similar format, not only live cases. The case simulator on this platform has a chatbot-style mode inspired by these screens: about 5 to 8 timed questions on one case, then a typed recommendation instead of a video. It is shorter than the real screen, so record a one-minute spoken close on your phone as well, and it is not any firm's test.
How to perform
- Read each exhibit with the routine: title and axes first, find the numbers that matter, do the math, state the so-what.
- Answer crisply and commit; the timer rewards good-enough decisions over perfect ones.
- For the video recommendation, use the close shape: answer first, two or three reasons, the main risk, a next step, in about a minute. Stop before the cutoff.
- Practice speaking a clear recommendation to a camera until it feels natural.
Common mistakes
- Treating it like a casual chat and rambling in the video recommendation.
- Spending too long on one exhibit and running out of time.
- Forgetting to state a clear so-what on each exhibit.
Bain's official assessment page says AI tools are strictly prohibited during its online test, including recording, screenshots, and any software that transcribes or gives feedback. Meanwhile, some firms now pilot interviews where you are asked to use an AI tool the firm provides. Read every invitation closely, and use outside AI help only when the firm clearly allows it.
This platform gives practice in a similar format and builds the skills it tests. It does not copy or reproduce any firm's assessment. So What Club is not affiliated with or endorsed by any firm or test provider named here.
Sources, official first (checked 28 September 2026)
- BCG careers, United States Associate opportunities (official): https://careers.bcg.com/global/en/on-campus/united-states-associate-job-opportunities
- BCG careers, application process at BCG in the Netherlands (official): https://careers.bcg.com/global/en/locations/the-netherlands
- BCG careers, case interview preparation and OneDay@BCG (official): https://careers.bcg.com/global/en/case-interview-preparation
- MyConsultingCoach, BCG Casey guide (updated 11 July 2026): https://www.myconsultingcoach.com/casey
- MyConsultingCoach, BCG online assessments 2026 (updated 11 July 2026): https://www.myconsultingcoach.com/bcg-online-assessment-2026
Sources for this lesson (5)
- BCG careers, United States Associate opportunities (official)
- BCG careers, application process at BCG in the Netherlands (official)
- BCG careers, case interview preparation and OneDay@BCG (official)
- MyConsultingCoach, BCG Casey guide (updated 11 July 2026)
- MyConsultingCoach, BCG online assessments 2026 (updated 11 July 2026)
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