Community Forum

Ask anything about cases, applications and recruiting. Members and coaches answer.

SortVideo responses Recent activity Newest post Most liked

Does a referral help you skip McKinsey Solve, or does everyone still have to do it?

Online Assessments
McKinsey Solve

I heard from someone that a strong referral can sometimes help you skip parts of the process, but I cannot tell if that is actually true or just recruiting mythology. Specifically wondering about McKinsey Solve. If you have a referral, do you still get Solve like everyone else? And if yes, does the referral help at all beyond getting you to that stage?

Jul 21, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

In most cases, a referral does not let you skip McKinsey Solve. Solve is usually a standard part of the process, and referrals are far more likely to influence application visibility than to remove required assessment steps.

Best way to prepare for McKinsey Solve if you only have a short amount of time?

Online Assessments
McKinsey Solve

I might get Solve soon and I do not have a huge prep window. There is a lot of advice online, but I cannot tell what is actually worth spending time on versus what is just noise. If you only had maybe a week or two, what would you focus on most for McKinsey Solve?

Jul 7, 2026Germany

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

If time is short, prioritize familiarity with the format, decision speed, and staying calm under imperfect information. Solve is not just about raw intelligence. It is also about how efficiently you process information and make choices.

How should I practice switching between information panels in McKinsey Solve without losing my place?

McKinsey Solve

When a practice task has several screens or information areas, I sometimes waste time reopening things just to remember where I was.

Nov 8, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Practice using a simple retrieval routine instead of repeatedly scanning every panel.

How should I practice McKinsey Solve if I keep rushing the last few decisions?

McKinsey Solve

My main issue in practice is not understanding the game, it is pacing. I start carefully and then rush near the end because I am worried about time. What should I change in practice so I make better decisions without becoming too slow?

Nov 4, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Practice pacing as a decision process, not merely by trying to move faster. Identify where you spend time without improving the quality of the decision.

If I finish a McKinsey Solve task early, should I review my work or submit immediately?

McKinsey Solve

If I have time left in a Solve task, is it better to use every remaining minute checking decisions, or can over-review hurt by making me second-guess correct choices?

Oct 30, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Use the remaining time according to the current task instructions and what the interface actually allows. McKinsey Solve formats can change, so your invitation and the official instructions for the version you receive should be the source of truth for navigation, review, and submission behavior.

Should I redo the same Solve practice game or always use a new one?

McKinsey Solve

When practicing for McKinsey Solve, is there value in repeating the exact same simulation to improve decision quality and timing, or does that create false confidence because I already know the scenario?

Oct 27, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Repeating a practice simulation can be useful for process improvement, but it should not be the only kind of practice you do.

Should I use a timer from my very first McKinsey Solve practice attempt?

McKinsey Solve

I am starting Solve prep and I am unsure whether to learn the format slowly first or simulate real timing from day one. Does using a timer immediately build better habits, or does it make the first few practice attempts less useful?

Oct 24, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Start by learning the current format, then introduce timing quickly rather than treating every early practice as a full simulation.

Can taking too many notes during McKinsey Solve slow me down?

McKinsey Solve

I like writing things down during assessments, but I am worried I will spend too much time copying information in Solve. How much note-taking is actually useful?

Oct 17, 2026Australia

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Use notes only when they reduce cognitive load or prevent you from repeatedly searching for the same information.

What should I do if the current McKinsey Solve invitation does not match older prep guides?

McKinsey Solve

My invitation seems to describe a format that is different from some guides I found online. Should I ignore the older material completely, or are there still useful skills and strategies that transfer across Solve versions?

Oct 16, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Use the current invitation and official instructions as the source of truth. McKinsey Solve has changed over time, so an older guide can describe tasks or interfaces that are no longer current.

If my internet is stable, should I still avoid Wi-Fi for McKinsey Solve?

McKinsey Solve

My Wi-Fi is normally reliable, but I keep seeing advice to use Ethernet for online assessments. I can set up a wired connection, but it is inconvenient. Is that actually worth doing for Solve if I rarely have connection issues?

Oct 5, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Use the most reliable connection you can reasonably set up, especially for a timed assessment.

UK candidates, is this really the new McKinsey SFL?

McKinsey Solve

I thought Sustainable Future Lab was still the short scenario-style game. Now I'm seeing a 30-minute version with Day 1 to Day 3 and Explore, Assign, Support and Reflect. Are UK candidates getting this new format now?

Oct 4, 2026United Kingdom

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Yes. UK candidates can also encounter the updated Sustainable Futures Lab, and it is very different from the older SFL format many candidates still find in older prep discussions.

Wait, did McKinsey change the SFL game in the US?

McKinsey Solve

I was preparing for the older Sustainable Future Lab and just found out there may be a completely different version now. Are US candidates getting the new 30-minute SFL?

Oct 4, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Yes. US candidates can now encounter a substantially updated Sustainable Futures Lab, so preparing only for the older version can leave you looking at the wrong game structure.

Does taking notes slow you down enough that it is better to avoid them in Solve?

McKinsey Solve

I naturally write things down when I am working through complex information, but during timed assessments I worry that note-taking itself costs too much time. For McKinsey Solve, is it better to rely mostly on the screen or keep a short written record of key information?

Sep 27, 2026Italy

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Use notes selectively. Writing down a few key variables or decisions can save time if it prevents you from repeatedly searching the screen.

Should I practice McKinsey Solve on the same laptop I will use for the real test?

McKinsey Solve

I have been practicing on a larger desktop monitor, but I will probably take the real assessment on my laptop. The screen size and trackpad feel different enough that I am wondering whether I should switch my practice setup now. Does that matter, or is the content all that matters?

Sep 23, 2026Germany

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

It is useful to do at least some practice on the same device and setup you plan to use for the real assessment.

Should I take McKinsey Solve right after a practice run or leave a break first?

McKinsey Solve

My test window is flexible and I was thinking of doing one final practice simulation, then starting the real Solve assessment immediately while everything is fresh. Is that smart, or is it better to leave some time between practice and the actual test?

Sep 21, 2026Canada

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Avoid going straight from an exhausting full practice run into the real assessment. Being mentally fresh is more valuable than having the practice interface fresh in your memory.

My McK Solve result is 7th decile. Is an interview still possible?

McKinsey Solve

I got my Solve result back and it's 7th decile. I know that's not terrible, but most of the scores people post online seem much higher. Is 7th decile still competitive enough to get R1, or should I assume the assessment will hold the application back?

Sep 19, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

A 7th-decile Solve result does not automatically remove you from consideration. McKinsey evaluates the assessment together with the rest of the application, and there is not a public rule that only 9th- or 10th-decile candidates can interview.

Should I wait a year to retake McK Solve if my current score is 9th decile?

McKinsey Solve

I have a 9th-decile Solve score from last year and I'm applying again. I'm debating whether to apply now or wait until the retake window opens so I can try for 10th decile. Would you delay the application for a potentially better score?

Sep 18, 2026Japan

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

A 9th-decile Solve result is already strong. Waiting a full recruiting cycle solely to chase the 10th decile can create a larger opportunity cost than the potential score improvement.

How do you actually get your McK Solve score after taking the test?

McKinsey Solve

I finished Solve and keep seeing people post their exact score and decile, but I never got anything like that automatically. Do you have to email the recruiter for it, and how long after taking Solve should you wait before asking?

Sep 16, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

McKinsey does not always send the detailed Solve score automatically. Candidates who receive it often request it from the recruiting contact associated with the assessment.

Strong McK Solve score but no interview. Does that mean my resume was the problem?

McKinsey Solve

I asked for my Solve result and got a strong score and decile, but I still didn't get an interview. I assumed doing well on Solve would move me through. If the Solve score is competitive but there's no R1, is it usually the resume, school, or just overall applicant competition?

Sep 15, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

A strong Solve result does not guarantee an interview. McKinsey uses the assessment alongside the rest of the application, so a candidate can perform well on Solve and still not advance.

Search CaseBasix

Community Forum

Does a referral help you skip McKinsey Solve, or does everyone still have to do it?

Best way to prepare for McKinsey Solve if you only have a short amount of time?

How should I practice switching between information panels in McKinsey Solve without losing my place?

How should I practice McKinsey Solve if I keep rushing the last few decisions?

If I finish a McKinsey Solve task early, should I review my work or submit immediately?

SFL assessment

Should I redo the same Solve practice game or always use a new one?

Should I use a timer from my very first McKinsey Solve practice attempt?

Can taking too many notes during McKinsey Solve slow me down?

What should I do if the current McKinsey Solve invitation does not match older prep guides?

If my internet is stable, should I still avoid Wi-Fi for McKinsey Solve?

UK candidates, is this really the new McKinsey SFL?

Wait, did McKinsey change the SFL game in the US?

Does taking notes slow you down enough that it is better to avoid them in Solve?

Should I practice McKinsey Solve on the same laptop I will use for the real test?

Should I take McKinsey Solve right after a practice run or leave a break first?

My McK Solve result is 7th decile. Is an interview still possible?

Should I wait a year to retake McK Solve if my current score is 9th decile?

How do you actually get your McK Solve score after taking the test?

Strong McK Solve score but no interview. Does that mean my resume was the problem?