If you’re applying to McKinsey for the first time, you’ve probably heard of the McKinsey Problem Solving Game. Unlike any traditional assessment, this game-based evaluation doesn’t test business knowledge, it tests how you think. Understanding what to expect can help you perform better and feel more confident. In this guide, you’ll find a clear overview, plus practical mckinsey solve game tips to get started.
Whether you’re from a business background or not, the game focuses more on logic, adaptability, and critical thinking than industry expertise.
What Is the McKinsey Problem Solving Game?
The McKinsey Problem Solving Game (PSG), often referred to simply as the Solve Game, is an online assessment tool used during early rounds of the consulting application process. It’s designed to measure how you solve problems in ambiguous, unfamiliar environments.
A Game Instead of a Test
Unlike typical verbal or numerical assessments, the PSG uses gamified simulations to evaluate your decision-making. It presents you with dynamic scenarios that challenge your ability to observe patterns, analyze data, and make choices under pressure.
There are no business terms or strategy frameworks involved, just logic, reasoning, and adaptability.
What Skills It Measures
The game is structured to assess:
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Pattern recognition
- Decision-making under uncertainty
These are the core skills McKinsey believes define a strong consultant, regardless of educational background.
What Happens in the Game?
The game consists of different modules, each simulating a real-world type of problem, though they are set in fictional or scientific environments.
Ecosystem Building
You’ll be given a list of species and asked to construct a stable food web. Each organism eats or is eaten by others, and your job is to find a balance where all species can survive. It’s about understanding dependencies and simulating outcomes based on changes.
Red Rock Study
This module gives you a dataset from a fictional geological study. You’ll need to spot patterns, filter irrelevant information, and draw logical conclusions from it, often under time pressure. It’s like a data-heavy puzzle.
Ocean Cleanup (Sea Wolf)
In this scenario, you manage a boat tasked with collecting ocean waste. Each move consumes fuel, and weather conditions shift. Your challenge is to optimize efficiency while navigating constraints and unpredictability.
Why McKinsey Uses This Format
The game’s purpose is not just to screen resumes, it’s to see how you think in action.
Leveling the Playing Field
Because the game doesn’t involve business concepts, it gives equal footing to candidates from all disciplines ,arts, science, engineering, and beyond. What matters most is your ability to think clearly and solve problems creatively.
Reducing Coaching Bias
Unlike traditional interviews or case prep, the PSG is unfamiliar to everyone. That means prior coaching or exposure doesn’t offer a big advantage, which helps McKinsey assess your raw, unfiltered thinking skills.
How to Prepare (Even Without a Business Background)
While you can’t “study” for the Solve Game in the traditional sense, you can build the skills it measures.
Practice Logic and Pattern Recognition
Engage in activities like logic puzzles, pattern games, and brainteasers. These help sharpen the same parts of your brain you’ll use in the PSG. Apps like Flow Free or logic grid puzzles are great low-effort tools.
Learn by Simulating the Game
While there’s no official practice test, some third-party resources have developed simulations based on candidate reports. Just be careful, stick to platforms that explain the reasoning process instead of promising shortcuts.
To dive deeper, check out this guide with practical solve McKinsey game strategies and insights from real test-takers.
Improve Time Awareness
You don’t need to rush, but awareness of time is useful. Practice making decisions within short timeframes. Simple exercises like playing Sudoku with a timer or completing brainteasers within a few minutes can help improve your efficiency under pressure.
What to Expect on Game Day
Knowing the format ahead of time can make game day far less stressful.
Logistics and Format
- Platform: The game is delivered online, often via a third-party provider.
- Duration: Typically around 60 minutes.
- Modules: You’ll play two or three different scenarios.
- No Results Shared: McKinsey does not disclose your score, you’ll simply find out if you passed.
You Only Get One Shot
Unless you’re reapplying in a future cycle, you only get one chance at the game. That’s why preparation matters, not cramming facts, but building comfort with uncertainty and logic-driven thinking.
Final Thoughts
The McKinsey Problem Solving Game might seem intimidating at first, especially if you’re not used to gamified assessments. But it’s also one of the fairest parts of the consulting recruitment process. It allows you to show how you think, not just what’s on your resume.
By focusing on logic, staying calm under pressure, and applying what you’ve learned from these mckinsey solve game tips, you can approach the game with confidence. Your ability to think clearly in complex situations is exactly what McKinsey wants to see, and that’s something you can absolutely train for.
Good luck, and don’t forget: the best preparation is understanding how the game works and trusting your problem-solving instincts.
