Common Challenges in the BCG Online Case and How to Overcome Them

Familiarize yourself with the format. Since the chatbot isn’t interactive in the way a human interviewer is, it’s important to practice responding to structured prompts. Go through practice case questions and write out responses as if you were explaining your thought process to someone who won’t ask for clarification. 

Anticipate common follow-up questions. While Casey won’t engage in a dynamic conversation, it does ask follow-ups based on your responses. This means your answers should be clear, direct, and well-structured. Think about potential follow-up questions and include key details preemptively. 

Practice with chatbot-based platforms. Some online consulting prep tools offer chatbot-style case simulations. Engaging in these exercises will help you become comfortable with the format before test day. 

Use a time allocation strategy. Before starting the assessment, decide how much time to spend on each question type. If the case consists of eight to ten questions in 30 minutes, allocate three to four minutes per question and avoid exceeding that limit. 

Keep your answers structured but brief. In open-ended responses, focus on clarity rather than writing long, overly detailed explanations. Aim for concise, well-structured responses that get to the point quickly. 

Skip and return if necessary. If you’re stuck on a question, move on and come back to it later. Getting stuck on one part of the case could prevent you from completing other important sections. 

Sharpen your business math skills. Many questions require quick calculations, such as profit margins, percentage changes, or break-even points. Being comfortable with these calculations will allow you to focus on insights rather than basic math. 

Look for trends rather than details. Instead of getting stuck on individual numbers, scan the data for high-level trends. For example, is revenue increasing or declining? Are costs growing at a faster rate than sales? 

Practice reading business charts and reports. Get familiar with consulting-style data sets by reviewing industry reports, case studies, or business analysis problems. The faster you can extract key insights, the more time you’ll have to craft strong responses. 

Follow a structured approach. Start with your main conclusion first, then support it with data and reasoning. This ensures your key point is understood immediately. 

Use a simple and structured format. If answering a profitability question, structure your response as follows: 

Conclusion: “The decline in profit is driven primarily by increased costs.” 

Key Data Point: “Variable costs increased by 20% while revenue only grew by 5%.” 

Recommendation: “The company should focus on cost-cutting initiatives in raw materials.” 

Avoid fluff. Long, unclear explanations may dilute your message. Stick to relevant facts and logical arguments. 

Self-monitor your responses. Since the chatbot won’t ask you to clarify or expand on your answer, you must self-check your work before moving on. Ask yourself: Did I directly answer the question? Did I provide supporting reasoning? 

Practice self-reflection. After finishing a practice case, review your answers and refine them. Imagine how an interviewer would react and what questions they might ask in response. 

Simulate the environment beforehand. Take a practice case under timed, test-like conditions so you get used to thinking independently without external guidance.