Updated November 2026 · By Dr. Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant The BCG Cognitive Test is an 80-question, 30-minute test of numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning that Boston Consulting Group uses in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and a few other global offices. You get roughly 22 seconds per question, every question is multiple choice, and…
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Updated July 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant The LEK Numerical Reasoning Test (also called the LEK Aptitude Test or LEK Consulting Aptitude Test) is an 18-question, 30-minute Zoom-proctored numerical and logical reasoning assessment that L.E.K. Consulting uses as a pre-interview screen for Associate and Consultant candidates. The math content is GCSE…
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By Dr. Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated November 2026 There is no single consulting ban period. BCG is the only MBB firm that publishes one: it recommends waiting at least 12 months after an unsuccessful application. McKinsey and Bain publish no general waiting period, so the date that counts is the one your…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated July 2026 The Kearney recruitment test is a 60-minute online assessment with 40 multiple-choice questions covering quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and case-style data interpretation. Correct answers earn 5 points, wrong answers deduct 1, and no personality traits are measured. Most candidates lose this test on the…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated November 2026 The Bain SOVA test is Bain & Company’s online aptitude assessment: a screen you clear after the resume review and before the case interviews, used mainly in its European and Middle Eastern offices. Miss the mark and your application stops there, no matter how…
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Florian spent five years at McKinsey as a Senior Consultant and is a highly experienced consulting interviewer and problem-solving coach. Having conducted interviews with hundreds of candidates, he understands exactly what top-tier firms look for in successful applicants.
He founded StrategyCase.com to make top consulting careers more accessible by providing tailored, up-to-date insights into the recruiting process. Recognized as the most successful case and fit interview coach, Florian has helped his clients secure 700+ offers at MBB, Tier-2 firms, Big 4 consulting divisions, in-house consultancies, and boutique firms over the past four years.
He is the author of “The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview,” “The 1%: Case Interview Workbook,” and “Consulting Career Secrets”, all available on Amazon.
