Consulting Articles > Consulting Online/Screening Tests > BCG Casey Intuition Question: Deep-Dive Guide for Candidates

The BCG Casey intuition question, often referred to as the INT question, is one of the most distinctive and challenging parts of the BCG online case. Unlike purely analytical tasks, these questions test your ability to apply business judgment and intuition under time pressure. Whether it’s interpreting exhibits or identifying root causes, mastering INT questions requires more than formulas, it’s about developing strategic reasoning. If you’ve ever wondered how to solve intuition questions in BCG Casey or what skills they truly assess, this guide is for you.

TL;DR – What You Need to Know

The BCG Casey intuition question tests candidates’ ability to apply business judgment, interpret data, and make sound decisions when information is incomplete or ambiguous.

• INT questions mirror real consulting tasks that assess logic, pattern recognition, and judgment rather than calculations.
• Each question follows a structured format with a context block, optional exhibits, and multiple or written response options.
• Strong performance depends on reasoning skills, analytical clarity, and understanding how to use business intuition effectively.
• Building business knowledge and graph literacy improves accuracy in interpreting exhibits and deriving insights.
• Effective preparation involves practicing time management, note-taking, and concise communication under real case conditions.

What Are BCG Casey Intuition Questions and Why They Matter

The BCG Casey intuition question evaluates your ability to make sound business judgments based on limited data. Unlike calculation-based questions, it focuses on interpreting information, recognizing patterns, and applying real-world logic to reach conclusions, skills that reflect how consultants think and solve client problems.

Intuition questions, also called INT questions, are one of the core formats in the BCG Casey online case assessment. They are designed to test how you think when the data alone does not provide a clear answer. Instead of relying on math or formulas, these questions assess your ability to connect insights, apply business reasoning, and use judgment effectively under time pressure.

In the BCG Casey test, INT questions typically appear multiple times, making them one of the most frequent and influential sections. They are often presented after data analysis or problem identification questions, challenging you to interpret patterns, propose logical next steps, or identify underlying causes.

You might encounter prompts like:

• “What can you conclude from this?”
• “What are potential causes of this trend?”
• “Which next step should the client take?”

Each of these questions pushes you to combine analytical reasoning with business intuition, a key skill that separates top candidates from average ones.

INT questions differ significantly from other BCG Casey formats such as quantitative (QNT) or critical-thinking (CRI) questions. While those focus on calculation or structured reasoning, INT questions simulate the real consulting experience, where you must make informed recommendations despite ambiguity or incomplete data.

Success in these questions reflects your consulting potential. The ability to interpret exhibits, think logically about business scenarios, and communicate sound judgments mirrors what BCG expects from consultants in real client engagements.

Ultimately, the intuition question is not just about knowing the right answer, it’s about demonstrating that you can think like a consultant: strategic, analytical, and insightful under uncertainty.

How BCG Casey INT Questions Are Structured and Displayed

BCG Casey INT questions follow a consistent structure with four parts: a short case context, optional exhibits, a main question prompt, and clear answer instructions. They are shown in a message-style format, simulating real client communication and testing how well you interpret and respond within a business setting.
 
 Each BCG Casey INT question mirrors the flow of a real consulting exchange. You receive information from a client, interpret it quickly, and respond based on your judgment. This conversational layout is intentional, it assesses not only your analytical ability but also how you process and communicate insights naturally.

A typical INT question includes the following elements:

• Context block: Sets up the business situation and provides background details. It helps you understand what problem or decision the client is facing.
• Exhibits (optional): Often charts, tables, or short data visuals. They are not meant for calculations but for interpretation, spotting patterns, trends, or implications.
• Main question prompt: The core of the task. It might ask you to suggest next steps, identify causes, or draw insights.
• Answer format instruction: Tells you how to respond, usually as multiple select, single select, or short written text.

You will most often see two main answer formats:

1. Multiple Select (MS) – Choose several correct options, such as “select three” or “select all that apply.”
2. Long Text (LT) – Type a short written response, typically 3 to 4 sentences summarizing your insights.

This structured approach is deliberate. It combines analytical clarity with communication precision, the same skills consultants use when summarizing findings to a client.

For example, if an exhibit shows revenue increasing while profit margins decline, an INT question may ask: “What could explain this pattern?” You’re expected to draw logical conclusions, perhaps rising costs or product mix changes, without any explicit numerical calculation.

The message-based format encourages quick, structured thinking under time pressure. Understanding this setup helps you anticipate question flow and respond confidently during the actual test.

What Type of Reasoning and Judgment Do INT Questions Test

The BCG Casey INT question evaluates your ability to combine logic, business intuition, and structured thinking to make decisions when data is incomplete. It tests whether you can think like a consultant, balancing quantitative reasoning with real-world judgment under time constraints.

INT questions assess three main capabilities:

• Analytical reasoning: Understanding relationships within limited data, recognizing trends, and connecting them to business implications.
• Business intuition: Using experience-based judgment to infer likely causes, solutions, or risks that are not directly stated in the exhibits.
• Decision-making under pressure: Prioritizing insights, eliminating noise, and delivering clear recommendations quickly.

Unlike calculation-heavy questions, these focus on your ability to see the “so what.” You are expected to interpret the situation holistically rather than compute exact answers.

For example, if a client’s revenue grows but customer satisfaction declines, the correct reasoning might involve operational trade-offs or product mix issues rather than simple arithmetic.

Strong performance in these questions indicates that you can apply structured reasoning, think critically, and use intuition responsibly, all traits that define successful consultants.

What Type of Reasoning and Judgment Do INT Questions Test

The BCG Casey INT question evaluates your ability to combine logic, business intuition, and structured thinking to make decisions when data is incomplete. It tests whether you can think like a consultant, balancing quantitative reasoning with real-world judgment under time constraints.

INT questions assess three main capabilities:

• Analytical reasoning: Understanding relationships within limited data, recognizing trends, and connecting them to business implications.
• Business intuition: Using experience-based judgment to infer likely causes, solutions, or risks that are not directly stated in the exhibits.
• Decision-making under pressure: Prioritizing insights, eliminating noise, and delivering clear recommendations quickly.

Unlike calculation-heavy questions, these focus on your ability to see the “so what.” You are expected to interpret the situation holistically rather than compute exact answers.

For example, if a client’s revenue grows but customer satisfaction declines, the correct reasoning might involve operational trade-offs or product mix issues rather than simple arithmetic.

Strong performance in these questions indicates that you can apply structured reasoning, think critically, and use intuition responsibly, all traits that define successful consultants.

How to Solve Intuition Questions in BCG Casey

To solve a BCG Casey intuition question effectively, start by clarifying the question’s goal, interpret the exhibits carefully, and apply structured business reasoning to reach a concise conclusion. Your task is to show logical thinking and practical judgment, not perfection.

A reliable approach involves five steps:

1. Restate the problem: Understand what the question is asking before reviewing the data.
2. Review exhibits quickly: Identify key trends, relationships, or anomalies.
3. Generate hypotheses: Think through possible causes or next steps based on the data and context.
4. Validate logically: Check whether each hypothesis aligns with the case facts.
5. Select or write your answer: Choose the most logical options or summarize insights clearly.

If it’s a multiple-select question, look for mutually reinforcing options rather than isolated facts. In a long-text question, keep responses structured and concise, typically 3 to 4 lines connecting cause, effect, and recommendation.

Remember, the goal is not to overanalyze but to think strategically within the time limit. Consistent practice with realistic business cases helps you recognize familiar patterns and answer confidently under pressure.

How to Build the Business Knowledge Needed for INT Questions

Building strong business knowledge is essential for performing well in BCG Casey INT questions. Since these test your understanding of real-world dynamics, a solid grasp of basic business principles gives you the foundation to make accurate judgments.

You can strengthen this base by focusing on four areas:

• Core concepts: Understand profitability, market share, cost structure, and growth metrics.
• Financial literacy: Learn how revenue, profit, and cash flow interact on key financial statements.
• Functional awareness: Familiarize yourself with roles of marketing, operations, finance, and supply chain in business decisions.
• Industry exposure: Read about different industries to recognize common drivers, challenges, and success factors.

This knowledge helps you quickly spot what matters in exhibits and avoid unrealistic recommendations. For example, when interpreting a retail case, knowing how pricing and foot traffic affect margins can help you make sharper insights.

Over time, combining theory with exposure to real business cases builds the intuition you need to succeed on test day.

How to Interpret Exhibits and Data in Intuition Questions

In BCG Casey INT questions, exhibits are designed to test how well you extract insights from visual data, not how fast you calculate. The ability to interpret charts and tables accurately is crucial to forming strong, logic-based conclusions.

Here’s a structured approach:

1. Read titles and labels first: Understand what each graph or table represents.
2. Identify key figures and contrasts: Look for changes, outliers, or relationships.
3. Ask “why”: For every major shift, consider possible causes.
4. Connect to the case goal: Tie observations back to the client’s question.

You will often see bar charts, line graphs, or simple tables, each testing your ability to detect patterns. For instance, a line chart showing declining margins despite growing sales may hint at cost inflation or poor pricing strategy.

Practicing with real-world reports or consulting case materials helps improve exhibit interpretation skills and strengthens your business intuition.

Expert Tips to Improve Intuition and Excel on Test Day

Improving performance on BCG Casey INT questions requires consistent practice and awareness of how intuition develops. Focused preparation helps you manage time, extract insights faster, and avoid overthinking.

Key strategies include:

• Practice interpreting one chart daily from a consulting-style report.
• Build mental math accuracy to compare figures efficiently.
• Time yourself, avoid spending more than three minutes per question.
• Write down key insights after each question to track your learning.

Treat each practice session as an opportunity to refine judgment rather than memorize solutions. Over time, your confidence and analytical instincts will align, exactly what the BCG Casey test is designed to measure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How to pass BCG Casey?
A: To pass BCG Casey, focus on mastering each BCG Casey question type, especially the intuition question. Build strong business intuition and logical reasoning skills, practice interpreting exhibits quickly, and develop concise decision-making under time pressure to perform well in the BCG online case.

Q: How is BCG Casey scored?
A: BCG Casey is scored based on accuracy, reasoning quality, and how efficiently you handle each question type. The BCG Casey INT question rewards clear business logic, data interpretation, and sound intuition rather than guesswork.

Q: What is the pass rate for BCG first round?
A: The pass rate for the BCG first round, including the Casey test, is highly competitive, typically around 10 to 20%. Success depends on your ability to solve intuition-based questions in Casey using analytical decision-making and structured business reasoning.

Q: How hard is it to land an internship at BCG?
A: Landing an internship at BCG is challenging due to its selective process and rigorous online case assessment. Candidates must show strong problem-solving, data interpretation, and business judgment across BCG Casey question types to stand out.

Q: Will BCG pay for my MBA?
A: Yes, BCG may pay for your MBA if you perform exceptionally well and return after the program. High-performing consultants and interns who excel in assessments like the BCG Casey test are often eligible for sponsorship opportunities.