Consulting Articles > MBB Online/Screening Tests > BCG Pymetrics Test: The Ultimate Guide [2024]

Table of Content:

  1. What is the BCG Pymetrics Test?
  2. How does BCG use the Pymetrics Test?
  3. What traits is BCG assessing in the Pymetrics Test?
  4. What Games Are Included in the Pymetrics Test?
  5. Tips to Prepare for the BCG Pymetrics Test


The BCG Pymetrics Test is a pre-interview screening test designed by Pymetrics for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). If you're a candidate pursuing a consulting role at BCG, you might encounter the Pymetrics test in your application process. (Click to see all screening tests by McKinsey, BCG and Bain!)


What is the BCG Pymetrics Test?

The BCG Pymetrics Test is structured as a series of mini-games lasting around 20-30 minutes. The test is accessible on both computers and smartphones. In this test, you'll engage with 12 mini-games, each taking 1-3 minutes to complete.


brain training games


In general, the games will seem like the ones you find in brain-training apps. The various games you'll play are easy to understand. You don't need to know about business or have played video games before to do well.


How does BCG use the Pymetrics Test?

The BCG Pymetrics Test is part of the the hiring process.


McKinsey, BCG, and Bain Consulting Interview Prep Plan

(Click here to download Full MBB Study Plan)


It goes along with reviewing your resume and cover letter. Once BCG recruiters get your resume, they will ask you to go through any or both of these tests

  1. BCG Pymetrics Test
  2. BCG Casey Chatbot


The BCG Pymetrics Test assesses your personality and general cognitive abilities, in contrast to BCG Casey, which is outcome-oriented and emphasizes the testing of problem-solving, mathematical skills, and understanding of business concepts. So, there aren't right or wrong answers. BCG looks at your responses to understand your traits.


What traits is BCG assessing in the Pymetrics Test?

BCG Pymetrics Test looks at a wide range of 91 traits. These traits are classified into 9 categories.


The 9 categories are:

  1. Attention: Do you follow a systematic approach when finishing tasks, or do you lean towards working quickly?
  2. Decision Making: Do you rely on gut instinct and intuition for decision-making, or do you prefer making decisions through careful planning?
  3. Effort: Do you handle tasks in a selective manner? Do you concentrate on assignments that offer the greatest rewards for the time you put in?
  4. Emotion: Do you gather emotions primarily from facial expressions or from the context of the situation?
  5. Fairness: Do you tend to view most situations as fair or unfair?
  6. Focus: Are you quick to think and adept at managing changes in your surroundings? Can you juggle multiple tasks simultaneously? Do you demonstrate efficiency in adapting to shifting circumstances?
  7. Generosity: Do you prioritize achieving personal goals, or are you inclined to share resources willingly with others?
  8. Learning: Do you swiftly grasp lessons from mistakes? Are you skilled at recognizing patterns in your surroundings? Do you easily adjust your behavior and respond to feedback?
  9. Risk Tolerance: Do you thoroughly assess options and opt for the safest approach? How much do negative outcomes concern you?

What Games Are Included in the BCG Pymetrics Test?


Mini Game 1: Balloons Game

Traits Measured: Risk Tolerance and Decision-Making

Balloon Game Practice


What is the game: 

Your objective is to pump balloons and maximize your earnings. 


In this game, you are asked to push a button to pump the balloon. Each pump adds to your earnings, and you can decide when to stop and collect your money. The bigger the balloon gets, the more reward you will receive. However, if you over-pump, the balloon bursts, and your earnings for that balloon will vanish.


The challenge is the different colors of the balloons, each with its own rules about when it will explode. Your task involves reading the rules, studying the behavior of each color and identifying when to stop before it explodes.


How to tackle the game: 

  1. Use the first 4 to 5 balloons to test how large a balloon can grow before it explodes.
  2. In the second half of the game, apply insights from the test to determine when to stop pumping for the remaining balloons and maximize earnings.
  3. Remember: Larger balloons yield more rewards, but an exploded balloon results in no earnings.

Mini Game 2: Arrows Game

Traits Measured: Focus


Arrows Game Practice

What is the game:

Your objective is to determine the arrow directions from quick flashing arrows.


In this game, you will encounter different sets of flashing arrows that are displayed for only a split second. Each set usually includes 5 arrows. Press the cursor key corresponding to the arrow's direction displayed on the screen. Your response will vary for each set, following two rules:

  • For blue or black arrows, indicate the direction of the middle arrow.
  • For red arrows, indicate the direction of the side arrows.


 How to tackle the game:

  1. You only need to look at 2 arrows: one in the center; one to left of right from the center (pick one).
  2. Due to the rapid flashing, you have 2 methods to determine arrow directions: 1) look at both simultaneously, or 2) focus on the center arrow and use peripheral vision for the side arrow. 
  3. Keep in mind: this game can strain your eyes and is quite challenging due to its demanding focus. You'll encounter approximately 135 sets of arrows in just 3 minutes. 

Mini Game 3: Stop Game

Traits Measured: Attention


Stop Game Practice


What is the game: Your objective is respond as quickly as possible when a specific color of a shape flashes on screen.



In this game, you will see 2 shapes in 2 colors. Press the button when red shapes appear and refrain from pressing for green ones. The challenge is that red and green shapes appear rapidly and that demands both speed and accuracy. The pressure of the test makes it quite challenging.

How to tackle this game:

This game is very straight forward

  1. Grasp the rules: which colors require button presses and which ones shouldn't.
  2. Pay attention as the shapes appear in a split second so that you can react as quickly as possible
  3. Keep in mind: this is another game that can strain your eyes and demand focus. Practice will help train your attention.

Mini Game 4: Tower Game

Traits Measured: Decision Making


Tower Game Practice


What is the game:

Your objective is to rearrange the disks to match the model, using as few moves as you can.


In this game, you will be given a target tower that you are supposed to build, comprising 5 different colored disks. These disks follow a specific top-to-bottom sequence. You will have three tower slots at your disposal to relocate the disks, with the restriction that only the top disks can be moved. You'll have a two-minute time limit to solve the puzzle, and you won't see the target tower arrangement before commencing the game


How to tackle this game:

  1. Plan First: Instead of random moves, take a few seconds to strategize at the start of the two minutes. It tests your ability to form a plan before acting, a vital skill for top jobs.
  2. Precision Matters: Pay attention to disk order and target slot. A mistake like placing the correct tower in the wrong slot can be detrimental.
  3. Sequential Rebuild: Clear your target slot, uncover and move the bottom target disk, then proceed sequentially to rebuild the tower efficiently.

Mini Game 5: Money Exchange #1

Traits Measured: Risk Tolerance and Fairness


Money Exchange #1 Game Practice


What is the game:

Your objective is to send any amount of money to your virtual partner and rate the fairness level based on your partner’s actions. 


In this game, you're paired with a virtual partner. You start with $10 and can choose to send any sum to your partner, which triples on arrival. Then, your partner decides how much to return. Finally, you are prompted to assess the fairness of your game partner using a scale from zero to ten.


How to tackle this game:

  1. You must strike a balance between giving nothing and giving everything. Giving nothing portrays lack of generosity, while giving everything may indicate insensitivity to circumstances.
  2. You can start by sending half of your total, which is $5. After the initial step, you will be left with $5, while your partner will have $15 (tripled from the $5 you sent).
  3. Next, you'll assess your virtual partner's fairness level based on how much higher or lower the amount they received is compared to your $5 contribution. For instance, if the returned amount is slightly less than $5, you might rate the transaction fairness slightly below 5 on the scale.

Mini Game 6: Money Exchange #2

Traits Measured: Generosity and Fairness


Money Exchange #2 Game Practice


What is the game:

The second Money Exchange game has similar objective to the first but with 2 rounds and there is no tripling in the amount and no return transfer.


There are 2 rounds in this game:

  1. In the first round, both you and your paired partner begin with $5, but one of you has an additional $5. If you are the recipient in this scenario, you are asked to send an amount ranging from $0 to $5.
  2. In the second round, which is independent of the first round, both you and your partner begin with $5. However, this time, you have the option to either give or take an amount ranging from $0 to $5 from your partner.


At the end of each round, you are asked to rate the fairness of the transaction on a scale from 0 to 10.


How to tackle this game:

  1. Like the first money exchange game, you need to find a middle ground between giving nothing and giving everything.
  2. In both rounds, you can give $2.50 to your partner, resulting in both you and your partner having an equal amount of $7.50.
  3. Afterward, you can assign a high fairness rating to the transaction.

Mini Game 7: Length Game

Traits Measured: Attention

Length Game Practice


What is this game:

Your objective is to see a picture of a face with a short or a long mouth. You need to figure out which one it is and react. 


In the game, you'll be shown two types of faces for a brief moment. If a face has a short mouth, press the left cursor key; if it has a long mouth, press the right cursor key. The challenge is that the faces look identical.


How to tackle this game:

  1. Spot the difference. Differentiate between faces and remember the correct button for each type.
  2. Pay attention: Similar faces flash briefly. Observe and quickly press the right button for each face.

Mini Game 8: Cards Game

Traits Measured: Risk Tolerance, Decision-Making, and Learning


Cards Game Practice


What is this game:

Your objective is to conclude the game with the highest possible amount of money.


In this game, your task involves drawing cards from four distinct decks. Each draw can lead to either a gain or a loss in money. During card draws, outcomes can swing in either a winning or losing direction. There is no time constraint.


How to tackle this game:

  1. Learn the pattern: At first, it may appear random, but with progress, you'll likely notice an underlying pattern and spot the most rewarding decks.
  2. Maximize your gains: After grasping the pattern, select decks that optimize gains while minimizing losses.

Mini Game 9: Easy or Hard Task Game

Traits Measured: Decision-Making and Risk Tolerance


Easy or Hard Task Game Practice


What is this game:

Your objective is to earn as much reward as you can under 2 minutes from doing either easy or hard tasks in each round.


In this game, you will be presented a choice between easy or hard task with a probability of earning a reward if you perform the task successfully. Below are the details of the 2 tasks:

  • For the easy task, you have 3 seconds to hit the spacebar 5 times and you can earn $1.
  • For the hard task, you have 12 seconds to hit the spacebar 60 times and you can earn between $1.24 and $4.30. 


In each round, the profitability of winning rewards and hard task rewards vary. You need to choose one task in 5 seconds, else the game will choose it for you.


How to tackle this game:

  1. Choose the easier task when the chances of earning a reward are generally low and the reward for the harder task is close to its lower limit.
  2. If both the hard-task reward and probability are high, choose the hard task.
  3. Keep in mind that screens prompting task selection between rounds could also consume some of your overall playtime. So, try to minimize the time in making decision.

Mini Game 10: Digits Game

Traits Measured: Attention


Digits Game Practice


What is this game:

In this game, your goal is to remember as many digits as possible.


These digits will swiftly appear on your screen, and once they're done, you'll need to remember and type them in the right order. The number of digits will increase by one for a correct sequence and decrease by one for an incorrect one. The game concludes after three failed attempts.


How to tackle this game:

There are 2 methods we recommend to tackle this game:

  1. Write the digits down on a paper. Why memorize when you can write them? The digits flash quickly, so you might not have time to jot them down. Secondly, the game explicitly indicates that writing answers during play is prohibited, so you may want to avoid this method to prevent penalties.
  2. Read them out loud. Reading numbers out loud can aid in better memorization because your voice involvement adds an auditory and kinesthetic element that can enhance memory retention.

Mini Game 11: Keypresses Game

Traits Measured: Attention


Keypresses Game Practice


What is this game?

Your objective is to press a key on your keyboard as many times as you can within a specified time.


In this game, your task is simple - press a key on your keyboard as many times as you can within a specified time.


This game evaluates how well you can comprehend and follow instructions. You need to start pressing the key only when you're told and stop right when you're told.


How to tackle this game:

This game is simple and straight forward.

  1. Pay attention to instruction.
  2. Hit the indicated key as fast as possible when you are asked to do so.

Mini Game 12: Faces Game

Traits Measured: Emotion


Faces Game Practice


What is this game:

Your objective is to recognize emotions expressed through a person’s facial expressions.


You will view pictures of individuals displaying various facial expressions. You will be presented with 14 facial expressions and your task is to select the word that you think best describes the person's emotions. Certain pictures might come with a brief story explaining a situation.


Photographs paired with situation descriptions allow 30 seconds to answer, while those without description allow only 7 seconds.


How to tackle this game:

  1. When you are given a brief story of the person’s feelings, focus more on the text story than the facial expression in the picture. Often, the text story offers you less ambiguous clues than the faces.
  2. When a text story is not presented, start by eliminating options that do not closely describe the expression in the picture. Then, use your judgment to select the expression that best describes the feeling.

Tips to Prepare for the BCG Pymetrics Test

Tip 1: Practice on other brain training apps

Many of the mini-games in the BCG Pymetrics Test are like the games you find in free brain training apps online. These games won't be exactly the same as the Pymetrics test, but they can help you understand how the games work. This can make the real test less confusing when you take it.


A few brain training apps are: Elevate, Lumosity, Peak, Mensa Brain Training, and Fit Brains Trainer


Tip 2: Understand the qualities that BCG seeks in candidates.

Before you take the BCG Pymetrics Test, make sure you familiarize yourself with the traits BCG is seeking in this assessment. You can refer to the "What trait is BCG assessing in the Pymetrics Test?" section in this article.


Tip 3: Reinforce the Desirable Traits Every Day

The best way to get ready is to practice the skills you want and use them every day. When you face everyday problems, try using strategic thinking, careful decision-making, and other skills you want to improve. The more you do this, the stronger these traits will become, making the Pymetrics test easier for you.


Tip 4: Understand the instructions for each game

For each of the Pymetrics Games or activities, there are specific guiding instructions. Take time to read and reread these instructions to understand what's required and the game's goal. 

Also, be sure to anticipate the outcome of every move you make during the game.


Tip 5: Rest well before taking the test

The games in the BCG Pymetrics Test might seem easy, but they can be mentally exhausting. Make sure you get enough rest before taking the test. Your mind needs to stay fresh and focused as you need to think quickly and make decisions in each game.