The self-scoring rubric
Five criteria with 1, 3, and 5 anchors, the score bands, and how to use them after a Partner mode case.
Key takeaways
- After every practice case, score yourself on five criteria, find the lowest one, and practice only that before the next case.
- Scoring traps: Scoring yourself higher because you knew the answer after the case.
- Before you see your partner's scores, score yourself on all five criteria with the table above.
- Your partner scores you in the interviewer view and can copy the written feedback it produces.
Key idea
After every practice case, score yourself on five criteria, find the lowest one, and practice only that before the next case.
This rubric uses the same five criteria and the same anchors as the scoring rubric in Partner mode, so a partner's scores and your own can be compared line by line. Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5, and a 2 or a 4 sits between the descriptions. The total is out of 25.
| Criterion | A 1 looks like | A 3 looks like | A 5 looks like | Ask yourself after the case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structuring | No clear structure, or a memorized framework that does not fit the problem. | A sensible structure, but with some overlap, a gap, or no clear priority. | A structure built for this problem, with no overlap and no gaps, a stated hypothesis, and a clear first step. | Could I name the bucket I thought mattered most, and why? |
| Math | Frequent errors, no units, or needed heavy help to finish. | Right answers but slow or messy working, or one error caught late. | Accurate and clearly narrated, with units, a sense check, and what the number means. | Did I say the setup before calculating, and the so-what after? |
| Exhibit reading | Read the chart aloud without finding the number that matters. | Found the key number but gave only part of the so-what. | Pulled the right number quickly and said what it means for the case. | Did I read the title, units, and notes first? |
| Synthesis | Summarized what was done, with no clear answer. | Gave an answer, but with weak reasons or no next step. | Answer first, then two or three reasons with numbers, the main risk, and next steps. | Was my first sentence the answer? |
| Communication | Hard to follow: long silences, no signposting. | Clear most of the time, with some rambling. | Calm and concise, signposted each step, and checked in with the interviewer. | Where did I go silent or ramble? |
So-what
The anchors are concrete behaviors, so you can score a case honestly and see exactly what to change.
Reading the total
- 21 or more out of 25: a strong performance on this case.
- 15 to 20: solid, with one or two clear gaps.
- Below 15: early stage. Focus on the lowest criterion first.
- One case is one data point. Look at the pattern across your last five cases, not a single score.
How to use it after a Partner mode case
Ten minutes after each case
- 1Before you see your partner's scores, score yourself on all five criteria with the table above.
- 2Your partner scores you in the interviewer view and can copy the written feedback it produces. Compare the two sets of scores. Where you differ by 2 or more, ask your partner for the specific moment behind their score.
- 3Save the case. When your partner presses "Save to my progress" on your device, the case counts in your progress and the five scores, the total, and the feedback go into the partner history on your profile page (/account), with a simple trend. It is kept in this browser, and synced to your account if you are signed in. If your partner scored you on their own device, copy the feedback to yourself instead.
- 4Pick the lowest criterion and one practice for it: the Structure Builder for structuring, the Mental Math Gym for math, the Exhibit Gym for exhibit reading, a speaking drill from the Synthesis and the recommendation module for synthesis, and a recording of yourself for communication.
- 5In the next case, ask your partner to watch that one criterion closely.
Scoring yourself higher because you knew the answer after the case. Scoring a friend kindly instead of honestly. Chasing the total instead of the lowest criterion. Remember that a real interviewer's form may use different criteria and weights; this rubric is a practice tool.
Practice
Your scores after a case: Structuring 4, Math 5, Exhibit reading 4, Synthesis 4, Communication 4. Which band is this?
Your scores: Structuring 4, Math 2, Exhibit reading 4, Synthesis 4, Communication 4. The total is 18. What should you practice before the next case?
You scored your synthesis a 4. Your partner scored it a 2. What is the best next step?
What does a 5 in synthesis look like on this rubric?
After a Partner mode case, which criterion should you work on first?
Where are your rubric scores from a Partner mode case kept?
Sources for this lesson (1)
- Recognized public explanations of case-interview concepts and frameworks
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