That kind of feedback usually means the interviewer found your thinking harder to follow than it needed to be. The root cause can vary, but common patterns are long answers that never land cleanly, structures that are not signposted, weak synthesis, or analysis that is technically fine but poorly communicated.

The best way to diagnose it is to look for moments where you were doing the thinking in your own head but not clearly bringing the interviewer along. Many candidates know what they mean but do not package it well enough.

For re-prep, focus less on ‘sounding polished’ and more on answer architecture. Lead with the point, group ideas clearly, and summarize what the analysis means before moving on. You may also find it helpful to read asking for feedback after a consulting rejection if you want a more structured way to practice this.

Did the recruiter say whether the communication issue came up across both fit and case, or mainly during the case?

For me it was synthesis. My case was fine until the final recommendation got messy.

Communication feedback is broad, but I would start with signposting and shorter answers.