PricingBlogFAQCasesOnline TestsContact
Start free

Practice for the McKinsey Solve assessment

Solve is the gamified test McKinsey uses to screen early-career candidates before any interview. Candidates currently report two core games, Sea Wolf and the Redrock Study, with Sustainable Futures Lab added in some offices. CaseTutor simulates all three at full length and on the real clock, with original scenarios, so the format holds no surprises on test day.

What you can practise

Sea Wolf

Time:
30 minutes
Format:
3 ocean sites, 10 minutes each
Tools:
Scratchpad, no calculator

Clean contaminated sites by choosing and combining microbes against a set of constraints. It is an optimisation task under uncertainty, and the game candidates most often say cost them points.

Practise Sea Wolf

Redrock Study

Time:
35 minutes
Format:
Research, analysis, report, then standalone cases
Tools:
Calculator and scratchpad

Read a conservation brief, collect the data you will need, run the numbers, write up the findings, then clear a set of mini-cases. The first three phases depend on each other, so an early wrong figure carries forward.

Practise Redrock Study

Sustainable Futures Lab

Time:
20 minutes
Format:
13 decisions in one evolving scenario
Tools:
None

A situational-judgement scenario about an environmental programme that keeps changing. There is no maths and no single right answer. What counts is whether your decisions follow a consistent approach as the pressure builds.

Practise Sustainable Futures Lab

How your attempt is graded

  • Sea Wolf and Redrock are scored deterministically from what you did: every choice, calculation and answer is checked, not estimated.
  • Sustainable Futures Lab is scored on competencies and on how consistent your decisions are across the scenario.
  • Each report shows where you lost points, how you used your time, and a percentile against other CaseTutor candidates.

Tips for the real thing

  • In Sea Wolf, rule microbes out early. Narrowing the pool is worth more than perfecting the first site.
  • In Redrock, write down every figure you collect. Later phases reuse it, and there is no going back.
  • Treat each game's clock separately. A rushed final site or case costs more than a slow first one.

Frequently asked questions

What games are in McKinsey Solve right now?

Candidates currently report Sea Wolf and the Redrock Study as the core games, with Sustainable Futures Lab added in some offices. The mix changes by year and office, so confirm with your recruiter. CaseTutor lets you practise all three.

How long is the McKinsey Solve assessment?

Expect about an hour for the two core games: around 30 minutes for Sea Wolf and 35 for Redrock. Sustainable Futures Lab adds about 20 minutes where it is used. CaseTutor runs each game on that clock.

Can I use a calculator in Redrock?

Redrock has an on-screen calculator, and the CaseTutor simulation includes one. Sea Wolf needs no maths, and our version gives you only a scratchpad.

Are these the real McKinsey Solve games?

No. CaseTutor's games are original simulations that match the format, timing and skills of each Solve game. They do not reproduce McKinsey's questions, artwork or scoring.

Is the practice test free?

Your first full attempt at each module is free with a CaseTutor account, including the full report. Further attempts are part of a CaseTutor membership.

Your first attempt is free

Sit a full, timed simulation and get a scored report on where you lost points.

Start free practice

Other online assessments

CaseTutor is an independent, unofficial resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by McKinsey & Company, BCG, Bain & Company, Harver/pymetrics, SHL, Sova Assessment, TestGorilla, or HireVue. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This is original practice software that emulates the format and skills of third-party assessments; it does not reproduce any assessment’s questions, artwork, or scoring.