--- title: "McKinsey Solve: How to Pass the Assessment in 2026" description: "Updated June 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant The McKinsey Solve Game, the firm's assessment tool, is now an 85-minute, three-module test that filters out roughly 75-8..." url: https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-solve/ date: 2019-05-13 modified: 2026-06-26 author: "Florian Smeritschnig" image: https://strategycase.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/McKinsey-Solve-Game.png categories: ["McKinsey", "Consulting Aptitude Tests", "McKinsey Solve Game"] type: post lang: en --- # McKinsey Solve: How to Pass the Assessment in 2026 *Updated June 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant* The McKinsey Solve Game, the firm’s assessment tool, is now an 85-minute, three-module test that filters out roughly 75-80% of candidates before they ever speak to a consultant. Red Rock, Sea Wolf, and the new Sustainable Future Lab all track process signals behind every click, not just your final answers. Most candidates treat Solve like a puzzle game and get screened out. They practice in the wrong direction, freeze on the interface, and watch the clock burn while McKinsey logs every backtrack and hesitation as a weak process signal. One failed attempt locks you out of reapplying for 12 to 24 months, depending on the office. I spent five years at McKinsey as a Senior Consultant and through our prep have helped 9000+ candidates through this exact assessment. Among StrategyCase users who use our suite, the reported pass rate is 89%. This guide walks you through the current 2026 format, the dual-scoring logic most write-ups miss, and the three-layer preparation model that separates passers from the 75-80% who do not make it. ![McKinsey announcement headline introducing the Solve Game as part of digital recruiting.](https://strategycase.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/image-1024x180.png)*McKinsey’s Announcement of the Solve Game* Toggle - [Key Takeaways](#Key_Takeaways) - [What the McKinsey Solve Game Actually Is in 2026](#What_the_McKinsey_Solve_Game_Actually_Is_in_2026) - [Why McKinsey Replaced the PST](#Why_McKinsey_Replaced_the_PST) - [Where Solve Sits in the McKinsey Funnel](#Where_Solve_Sits_in_the_McKinsey_Funnel) - [How the Solve Scores You (The Part Most Guides Get Wrong)](#How_the_Solve_Scores_You_The_Part_Most_Guides_Get_Wrong) - [The Three Current Solve Modules](#The_Three_Current_Solve_Modules) - [1. Red Rock Study (35 minutes)](#1_Red_Rock_Study_35_minutes) - [2. Sea Wolf Simulation (30 minutes)](#2_Sea_Wolf_Simulation_30_minutes) - [3. Sustainable Future Lab (20 minutes)](#3_Sustainable_Future_Lab_20_minutes) - [The Pass Rate Nobody Talks About](#The_Pass_Rate_Nobody_Talks_About) - [The Three-Layer Prep Model](#The_Three-Layer_Prep_Model) - [Layer 1: Strategy Layer (What to Do and Why)](#Layer_1_Strategy_Layer_What_to_Do_and_Why) - [Layer 2: Realistic Simulation Layer (Pattern Recognition)](#Layer_2_Realistic_Simulation_Layer_Pattern_Recognition) - [Layer 3: Thorough Debrief and Improvements](#Layer_3_Thorough_Debrief_and_Improvements) - [The Mistakes That Wreck Your Process Score](#The_Mistakes_That_Wreck_Your_Process_Score) - [Test Day Tactics That Actually Move the Dial](#Test_Day_Tactics_That_Actually_Move_the_Dial) - [How Solve Fits Into the Full McKinsey Application](#How_Solve_Fits_Into_the_Full_McKinsey_Application) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#Frequently_Asked_Questions) - [How long is the McKinsey digital assessment in 2026?](#How_long_is_the_McKinsey_digital_assessment_in_2026) - [Can I prepare for the McKinsey Solve?](#Can_I_prepare_for_the_McKinsey_Solve) - [What is the pass rate for McKinsey Solve?](#What_is_the_pass_rate_for_McKinsey_Solve) - [Is Solve the same in every country?](#Is_Solve_the_same_in_every_country) - [What happens if I fail Solve?](#What_happens_if_I_fail_Solve) - [Does McKinsey track my behavior during the game?](#Does_McKinsey_track_my_behavior_during_the_game) - [Can I use a calculator or external notes?](#Can_I_use_a_calculator_or_external_notes) - [What to Do Next](#What_to_Do_Next) ## **Key Takeaways** - McKinsey Solve runs 85 minutes across three games: Red Rock Study (35 min), Sea Wolf (30 min), and Sustainable Future Lab (20 min, added in early 2026). - Every click is tracked. McKinsey scores both product (outcome quality) and process (how you got there), which is why “just run more practice games” is the wrong prep approach. - Estimated unaided pass rate is 10 to 20%. Candidates who train strategy first, then drill mechanics, then run realistic simulations, consistently outperform volume-based prep. - You cannot retake Solve for 12 to 24 months after a fail, so treating it as “just part of the funnel” is the costliest mistake I see. ## **What the McKinsey Solve Game Actually Is in 2026** McKinsey retired the old paper Problem Solving Test (PST) in 2019 and replaced it with a gamified assessment built in partnership with Imbellus (later acquired by Roblox in 2020). The test has cycled through multiple formats since. As of April 2026, the live version delivered to all candidates contains three modules: - **[Red Rock Game**](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-solve-game-red-rock-study/), 35 minutes of ecosystem research, quantitative analysis, and rapid-fire mini-cases - **[Sea Wolf Game (Ocean Treatment)**](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-solve-ocean-cleanup/), 30 minutes of multi-constraint optimization across contaminated ocean sites - **[Sustainable Future Lab Game**](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-solve-behavioral-game/), 20 minutes of behavioral judgment scenarios (new, rolled out March and April 2026) Total active test time is 85 minutes. Add 5 to 10 minutes of untimed tutorials before each game, plus tech setup. Plan for more than two hours of uninterrupted focus on test day. ![Collage of online forum posts from candidates discussing failing the McKinsey Solve Game.](https://strategycase.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/image-1-1024x576.png)*The McKinsey Solve Game is a Challenge for Most* The invitation arrives by email after you pass the resume screen. You get a time window, usually 3 to 7 days, to complete Solve at home on your own computer. No interviewer, no proctor, no pause button, no retake inside the lockout window if you fail. ## **Why McKinsey Replaced the PST** Three reasons, in the order that actually drives the decision inside the firm: **1. Bias reduction.** The PST disadvantaged non-native English speakers and candidates from certain academic backgrounds. Gamified simulations score reasoning without literacy penalties and reduce business-background bias. **2. Cost and scale. **McKinsey reviews more than 1 million applications per year. A self-serve digital test cuts first-round screening costs by an order of magnitude. **3. Signal quality.** The assessment captures process data (click streams, backtracks, time-on-task) that a paper test cannot. That gives recruiters a second dimension to evaluate beyond “did they get the right answer.” That third point is the one most candidates miss, and it is why generic “do more questions” prep fails. I will come back to it. If you want to learn more about McKinsey’s rationale for the Solve Game, [Fortune](https://fortune.com/2023/02/10/mckinsey-hiring-recruiting-talent-labor-market-job/) spoke with Katy George, McKinsey & Company’s chief people officer, regarding the impact of prevailing labor market trends on the consulting firm’s talent strategy. ## **Where Solve Sits in the McKinsey Funnel** Solve is the second gate, right after the resume screen and before any human interviewer is involved. Pass Solve and you move to the first-round [McKinsey Case Interview](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-case-interview/) and [Personal Experience Interview](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-personal-experience-interview-the-only-post-you-need-to-read/). The assessment is employed across all offices and roles, and sometimes even used to screen candidates for recruiting events. Fail it and the application cycle ends, typically with an automated rejection email and no feedback on your performance. This is why candidates who plan to “wing it and see what happens” usually regret that choice. One weak 85-minute window ends a recruitment cycle [you spent months preparing for](https://strategycase.com/how-long-should-you-prepare-for-consulting-interviews/). If you complete the McKinsey Solve Game remotely, feedback typically arrives within 1 to 14 days, depending on office processes and candidate volume. Delays are more common in regions with batch-based recruiting decisions, and rare outliers may wait longer. ## **How the Solve Scores You (The Part Most Guides Get Wrong)** Solve uses a **dual-scoring system**: a product score (the quality of your answers) and a process score (how you arrived at them). Both matter. They are weighted roughly equally, which is why the assessment resists brute-force volume prep. **Product signals** include: - Whether your final output is correct or within an optimal range - How close your quantitative answers fall to the target band - Whether your choices satisfy all constraints in the brief - If you improve across different variations of the same game **Process signals** include: - Time spent reading the brief vs jumping to action - Number of data sources opened (too many and too few both raise flags) - Back-and-forth between screens (excessive backtracking reads as indecision) - Consistency of approach across similar tasks - Use of in-game tools (calculator, notepad) vs silent off-screen work A candidate who pastes a correct answer from an external calculator but leaves the in-game notepad blank looks analytically sloppy to the scoring engine, even if the number is right. The system is built to watch how a consultant thinks, not just what they conclude. The Solve Game is designed to assess capabilities that cannot be reliably inferred from a resume or cover letter. It evaluates how candidates identify problems, explore information, develop solutions, and make decisions in unfamiliar situations. Rather than testing business knowledge, the assessment focuses on core cognitive and behavioral skills. Specifically, it measures: - Problem identification: The ability to recognize the underlying issue that requires resolution - Information analysis: The skill to source, filter, and interpret data from multiple inputs - Strategic solution development: The ability to form, test, and refine hypotheses - Decision making: The capacity to draw sound conclusions under time pressure - Adaptability: The agility to adjust approach when conditions change - Quantitative reasoning: The ability to interpret and apply numerical data. ![the image shows how solve game performance correlates with success in case interviews at McKInsey](https://strategycase.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/McKinsey-imbellus-skills-tested-1024x576.png)*Source: Imbellus (the original test creator of the Solve Game)* This is also why candidates who do 50 random online “PSG simulators” often still fail. Volume trains your fingers to click fast. It does not train you to click in a way that signals structured thinking. For a deeper read on why this approach fails at McKinsey specifically, see our piece on [the gap between consulting preparation and what firms want](https://strategycase.com/when-preparation-misses-the-mark-the-gap-between-applicants-and-consulting-firms/). ## **The Three Current Solve Modules** The 2026 Solve runs three modules back to back, each scored on its own. Here is what each one is, with a link to the full walkthrough when you want to go deep. ### **1. Red Rock Study (35 minutes)** Red Rock is the closest Solve gets to a digital case interview. You play a wildlife researcher studying an endangered species, moving through an investigation stage, a quantitative analysis stage, a report, and a round of rapid-fire mini-cases. It rewards reading the objective before you open any data and committing to one clean analytical path. Our [Red Rock Game guide](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-solve-game-red-rock-study/) breaks down all four stages and what the scoring engine rewards. ### **2. Sea Wolf Simulation (30 minutes)** Sea Wolf is a multi-constraint optimization game where you match microbes to three contaminated ocean sites under time pressure. It is built so you cannot necessarily find a perfect answer in 30 minutes, so the winning move is to treat each site as its own case, budget your time, and lock in a strong-enough solution before moving on. Our [Sea Wolf game guide](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-solve-ocean-cleanup/) covers the four phases, the common traps, and the per-site strategy. ### **3. Sustainable Future Lab (20 minutes)** Added in early 2026 and rolled out globally, Sustainable Future Lab is behavioral rather than analytical. Across 13 scenario-based questions you rank priorities and make trade-off decisions inside an environmental research team, and the module scores your judgment and consistency rather than any math. Our [Sustainable Future Lab guide](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-solve-sustainable-future-lab/) walks through the scenarios and how each one is scored. ![Professional infographic titled “McKinsey Solve 2026,” showing the three assessment modules: Red Rock Study, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Future Lab. Each module includes its duration, what it tests, and common candidate risks. The visual highlights that McKinsey Solve consists of 85 minutes of active test time, plus tutorials and setup, and must be completed at home within the candidate’s test window. StrategyCase.com logo appears in the top right.](https://strategycase.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/McKinsey-Solve-Game-Current-Games-1024x683.png) ## **The Pass Rate Nobody Talks About** McKinsey does not publish Solve pass rates. Based on candidate reports and discussions since November 2019: - **Unaided pass rate (no structured prep): **roughly 10 to 20% - **With random online simulators only: **roughly 40 to 50% - **With strategy-first structured prep and realistic simulations:** 75 to 90% The gap between “grinding simulators” and “structured preparation” is the entire point of this article. More reps alone do not fix a weak approach. They make a weak approach faster. ![Professional infographic titled “McKinsey Solve Scoring Logic,” explaining that McKinsey Solve evaluates both product score, meaning final answer quality, and process score, meaning how candidates work through the assessment. The visual contrasts correct outputs, target-range answers, and quantitative accuracy with process signals such as reading the objective, selecting data selectively, using the in-game calculator and notepad, limiting backtracking, and staying consistent. A warning section shows weak process behaviors, including skipping the brief, opening everything, leaving the notepad blank, repeated backtracking, and doing math off-screen. StrategyCase.com logo appears in the top right.](https://strategycase.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/McKinsey-Solve-Scoring-Logic-1024x683.png) ## **The Three-Layer Prep Model** After watching candidates either pass or get filtered at this stage, the pattern is clear. Candidates who pass build their prep in three layers, not three stacks of practice games. ### **Layer 1: Strategy Layer (What to Do and Why)** Before you touch a simulator, write a game-by-game strategy playbook (or use one that has been written for you). It should read like a consulting workplan, not a study guide. **For Red Rock:** *I will read the research objective for 60 seconds before selecting any data. I will select the key data sources, not everything available. I will budget 5 minutes for the Investigation, 10 minutes for analysis, 5 minutes for the report stage, and 10 minutes for the mini-cases. I will use the in-game calculator for every calculation.* **For Sea Wolf:** *I will follow the rules of the game that set me up for success, already at the first task. I will set the right filters first, then shortlist, then pick. I will allocate 10 minutes per site and stop when time is up, even if I think I could do better. I will not backtrack after committing to a treatment plan.* **For Sustainable Future Lab:** *I will rank priorities around stakeholder impact and project viability, not personal preference. I will answer decisively and not revisit earlier answers. Consistency across scenarios matters more than any single response.* This layer is the basis of your approach and game-taking strategy. Skip it, and everything below is wasted effort. ### **Layer 2: Realistic Simulation Layer (Pattern Recognition)** Now drill the strategies and key skills. Run full-length simulated games, first individually and then back-to-back to simulate the full 85-minute Solve Game. This layer builds the reflexes needed to execute your strategy without cognitive overhead. A common issue candidates report is encountering the Solve scenarios for the first time during the actual assessment. As a result, they must simultaneously learn the interface and layout while solving the underlying problems. If you have practiced with simulations modeled after the McKinsey games, you already know what to expect. This allows you to focus on execution rather than orientation, applying your plan with speed and consistency. ### **Layer 3: Thorough Debrief and Improvements** Run them with reflection built in. After each simulation, look at your score, compare sample answers with your answers. Also, consider your process: What did it look like? Where did you backtrack? Where did you run over on time? Where did you guess without structure? A handful of well-run, reflected-on simulations beats 50 random attempts every time. Our [McKinsey Solve Game Guide and Simulations](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-imbellus-digital-assessment-guide/) are built around exactly this three-layer model. ## **The Mistakes That Wreck Your Process Score** In order of how often they show up in debriefs with candidates who failed: **1. Skipping the brief.** Opening data before reading the objective signals unstructured thinking. Budget the first 45 to 60 seconds of each game for reading or organizing only. **2. Having no plan or strategy. **The scoring engine rewards selective, hypothesis-driven actions and decisions. **3. Leaving the notepad empty.** No process footprint equals no evidence you thought through the problem. Use the in-game tools. **4. Excessive backtracking. **Changing screens multiple times reads as indecision. Select, commit, and move on. **5. External tool reliance. **Candidates doing all math on their phone or on scrap paper leave no in-game process signal. The scorer cannot see your reasoning. **6. Ignoring the tutorial.** Tutorials are untimed. If you did not practice with a simulation, use them to memorize the interface. Candidates who skip tutorials burn a few minutes per game just orienting themselves. **7. Treating Sustainable Future Lab like the other games.** There is no right-answer grid. Consistent judgment across scenarios matters more than any single response. ## **Test Day Tactics That Actually Move the Dial** **Sleep beats one more practice run. **Cognitive performance drops 20 to 40% when fatigued. If you are torn between another simulation the night before and an extra hour of sleep, sleep wins. **Start in the morning if you can. **Peak cognitive performance for most candidates is 2 to 4 hours after waking. Schedule Solve inside that window when possible. **Test your setup the day before.** Run a browser check on the machine you will use. Close background apps. Have water and a snack within reach. Phone off the desk, in another room if you can. **No Zoom, no email, no notifications. **Solve takes 85 active minutes plus tutorials. A single interruption can cost you a full game. **Reset between modules. **Five deep breaths between games. Do not let Red Rock frustration bleed into Sea Wolf. Each game is scored independently. **Read every instruction twice. **Interface quirks differ by module. A missed instruction in Sea Wolf about forced selections has cost more than a few candidates the offer. ## **How Solve Fits Into the Full McKinsey Application** Solve is one filter in a multi-stage funnel. To put it in context, the full process usually runs: **1. Resume screen.** Our [consulting resume guide](https://strategycase.com/consulting-resume/) covers what survives. **2. McKinsey Solve (Digital Assessment)**, often in combination with the resume screening, or, in some offices combined with a single first-round interview. **3. First-round interviews**, two to three cases and two to three PEI interviews **4. Second-round (final) interviews**, two to three cases and PEIs Compound the probabilities of passing each round and you land at the roughly 1% overall acceptance rate McKinsey publicly reports. Solve alone removes four out of five candidates. Preparation here makes all the difference for the entire funnel. ## **Frequently Asked Questions** ### **How long is the McKinsey digital assessment in 2026?** 85 minutes of active test time across three modules (Red Rock, Sea Wolf, Sustainable Future Lab), plus 5 to 10 minutes of untimed tutorials per game. Budget more than two hours of uninterrupted focus from start to finish. ### **Can I prepare for the McKinsey Solve?** Yes, despite McKinsey’s official line that “no preparation is needed.” Candidates who prep with structured strategy and realistic simulation consistently pass. What does not help is grinding random simulators without reflection. ### **What is the pass rate for McKinsey Solve?** McKinsey does not publish it. Based on StrategyCase survey data across thousands of users and discussions with case coaching clients, unaided pass rates sit around 10 to 20% (depending on office and recruiting demand). Structured preparation pushes that to 75 to 90% depending on the prep depth. ### **Is Solve the same in every country?** Yes. The 85-minute three-module version is currently standard across all countries and roles. ### **What happens if I fail Solve?** You cannot retake it for 12 to 24 months depending on office. A Solve fail typically ends the application cycle for that window with no feedback. ### **Does McKinsey track my behavior during the game?** Yes. Every click, hover, backtrack, and tool usage feeds the process score alongside your final answers. This is why process-aware preparation outperforms volume-based prep. ### **Can I use a calculator or external notes?** Use the in-game calculator and notepad as your primary tools. External tools leave no process footprint and weaken your scoring profile. A single off-screen sheet for quick side calculations is fine. Doing all your math off-screen is not. ## **What to Do Next** The McKinsey Solve assessment is conquerable, but only if you treat it like a structured skill to develop, not a game to play more of. Three actions to take this week: **1. Build your game-by-game playbook first.** Strategy before simulation, every time. **2. Drill the mechanics daily for a few days to a week. **Working through simulations of the game and gaining familiarity with the interface, questions, and answer patterns beats guessing or just reading about the assessment every time. **3. Reflect after every practice run. **What did your process look like, not just how did you score? If you want the strategy, mechanics drills, and realistic simulations built into one structured program, our [**McKinsey Solve Game Guide and Simulations**](https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-imbellus-digital-assessment-guide/) walk through exactly that. You get one shot per 12 to 24 months at Solve. Prep like it matters. Even when a formal reapplication [wait period](https://strategycase.com/ban-period-in-consulting-applications/) varies by program and office, a weak result typically means you must [return later with a stronger profile and a better story](https://strategycase.com/how-to-comeback-after-a-failed-application-or-interview/). --- ***About the Author: ***Florian Smeritschnig is a former McKinsey Senior Consultant who spent five years at the firm and evaluated candidates on the other side of the recruiting table. When McKinsey replaced its paper test with the digital Solve assessment in 2019, he launched the first prep resource dedicated to it, starting with a written guide and later building the realistic Solve simulations StrategyCase uses today. Since then he has delivered 2,200+ mock interviews and coaching sessions and helped 700+ candidates win offers at McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other top firms. Learn more [about Florian](https://strategycase.com/about/), or [work with him one-on-one](https://strategycase.com/florian-coaching/). 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