The four steps BCG publishes, and what they leave out
BCG describes its process globally in four steps: application, skill interview, case interview, team interview. The skill interview is framed as "your chance to go beyond your resume," and both the case and team interviews are used for client-facing roles to assess problem-solving, analytical and communication skills.
What that global page does not mention is any online assessment. Those appear only on regional pages and in BCG's candidate FAQ, which says: "for some positions, you may be asked to complete an online assessment, and in certain cases, a team member may reach out." This is the single most useful thing to understand about BCG screening. There is no one global BCG test. What you sit depends on where you apply.
The online case
BCG's US campus page confirms the step in the firm's own words: candidates "complete the online case (~35 minutes)," and "a select group of candidates will be invited to complete the online case ~2 weeks after the application deadline." Usefully, it also confirms that "candidates that have previously taken the online case will not be prompted to take it again."
BCG has published a full preparation document for the online case, including a 23-question practice case. It describes a scenario built from several documents, with more than 20 questions, and a scoring rule candidates should take seriously: three points for a correct answer, zero for an unanswered one, and minus one for an incorrect one. The document also gives BCG's own advice, which is to skip a question you find too difficult in order to save time for others.
One caveat worth stating plainly. That preparation document dates from 2019 and gives 45 minutes, while the current US page gives roughly 35. Whether negative marking still applies in today's version is not something BCG has restated. Treat the scoring rule as a reason to be decisive rather than as a confirmed feature of the 2026 format.
The name "Casey" is now official in at least one market. BCG Mexico describes the step in its own words: "The Online Case Experience (OCE) is an interactive exercise where you solve a business case guided by Casey, a chatbot," adding that "the OCE takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, and everything is conducted in English." Elsewhere, BCG's pages simply say the online case, so treat the chatbot format and the exact timing as market-specific rather than global.
The Consulting Career Assessment and the cognitive test
The CCA is officially confirmed for US campus hiring, and the logistics are published precisely: "the assessment will be sent 30-90 minutes after you submit your application. The assessment will take ~30-35 minutes and you will have 48 hours to complete it once you receive the invitation." BCG says only that it "will help us learn more about you, above and beyond what's on your resume and application," and publishes nothing about question types or scoring.
The cognitive test is confirmed for Switzerland: a 30-minute test covering numerical, verbal and logical skills, mostly multiple choice, to be answered "without any tools or resources." In the UK, the equivalent step is described simply as "a short numerical assessment." Switzerland also publishes its full round structure, which is the clearest BCG has ever been about interview volume: a virtual cognitive test, one virtual 45-minute first-round case, then a final round of three in-person case interviews.
BCG's recruitment privacy policy adds a reassurance that matters if you are screened out early: the firm uses "data analytics, algorithms, and artificial intelligence tools," but results are "considered in tandem with, and not in lieu of, human judgement," and "no automated decision-making takes place under applicable data privacy laws."
What BCG gives you to prepare with
BCG's case interview preparation page is more specific than most firms'. It tells you to clarify assumptions, think structurally, communicate clearly and show your reasoning, and it publishes an explicit list of things not to do: panic, rush, overcomplicate, ignore feedback, stay silent, interrupt. The firm's stated priority is "how you approach the problem and the quality of your reasoning," not the answer.
The other resource worth your time is OneDay@BCG, the firm's free virtual experience programme. It runs 13 modules, has had more than 700,000 participants, and awards digital badges that BCG itself positions as a way to stand out on your application.
Timing
Deadlines are regional and move every cycle. As of late August 2026, UK Associate applications open on 9 September and close on 18 October, with BCG noting that "all decisions are made after the deadline, so you are not at a disadvantage if you apply later in the application window." US 2027 summer and full-time applications have closed. Switzerland accepts applications year-round with no deadline, and advises applying at least six months before your desired start date.
If you take one thing from this page: find your own market's careers page before you prepare for a test, because the step you are about to sit may not be the one described in the guide you are reading.
Official sources: BCG Mexico (Online Case Experience and Casey) · BCG interview process · Case interview preparation · US Associate opportunities · Switzerland application and interviews · UK Associate jobs · BCG online case preparation (PDF) · OneDay@BCG · Recruitment privacy policy