BCG Cognitive Test: 80 questions, 30 minutes, live-proctored.
BCG's Cognitive Test is a live-proctored aptitude screen introduced in early 2024: about 80 numerical and logical questions in 30 minutes, camera on, one sheet of scratch paper, no calculator. It rewards speed, disciplined skipping, and clean mental math — there is no verbal reasoning section.
By CaseyPrep editors · Last updated
- Questions
- 80 questions (reported)
- Time
- 30 min (reported)
- Sections
- Numerical + logical — no verbal section
- Calculator
- Not allowed
- Negative marking
- Not confirmed
- Proctoring
- Live via Zoom, camera on
- Regions
- Germany + expanding EU/APAC
What is the BCG Cognitive Test?
The BCG Cognitive Test is a live-proctored, timed multiple-choice aptitude test introduced in early 2024 as a pre-interview filter. Roughly 80 questions across numerical (~60–70%) and logical (~30–40%) reasoning — 30 minutes total, no calculator, no verbal section. Proctoring runs over Zoom: camera on, room scan, one sheet of blank paper.
Elsewhere, BCG uses Casey or the CCA. Check your invitation email to confirm which assessment you'll face — see the online assessment hub.
Format at a glance
- ~80 multiple-choice questions in a single 30-minute block.
- Two sections: numerical reasoning (~60–70%) and logical reasoning (~30–40%). No verbal section.
- No calculator. Mental math and rounding only.
- Live-proctored over Zoom. Camera on, room scan, one sheet of blank paper allowed.
- Negative marking not confirmed. Current candidate reports don't describe penalties for wrong answers — attempt everything you plausibly can.
- 22 seconds per question is the average budget.
Numerical reasoning
Tables, ratios, percentages, growth rates. The traps: multi-step conversions between units, and questions where the "obvious" answer is close but wrong. Drill rounding — knowing 12% of 487 is "about 58" in two seconds beats computing 58.44 in twenty.
Sample numerical question
A store's revenue grew from €4.2m to €5.3m in one year. What is the closest annual growth rate?
- A. 18%
- B. 22%
- C. 26%
- D. 30%
Answer: C. (5.3 − 4.2) / 4.2 ≈ 26%.
Logical reasoning
Sequences, matrices, and syllogisms. Pattern recognition speed matters more than depth of proof. If you can't see the pattern in 10 seconds, flag and move on.
Scoring
BCG doesn't publish the scoring model. Current candidate reports don't describe wrong-answer penalties — the dominant strategy is to maximise attempted correct answers within the 30-minute window. (Don't confuse this with the retired Potential Test, which did penalise wrong answers.)
Live proctoring — what to expect
The test is delivered live over Zoom. Expect a webcam check, a room/desk scan, and a strict "one sheet of blank paper, one pen, nothing else" rule. Water is usually fine. Any second screen, phone, or tab-switching is grounds for invalidation.
Timing strategy
- First pass, fast. Answer everything you can solve in under 20 seconds. Flag the rest.
- Second pass, patient. Return to flagged items only after clearing the fast wins.
- Skip discipline. If a question isn't yielding after 10 seconds on the first pass, move on. Sunk cost is your enemy.
2-week study plan
- Days 1–3: Numerical fluency — mental math drills 30 min/day at exam pace.
- Days 4–7: Logical sequences and matrices.
- Days 8–12: Two mixed 30-minute simulations (numerical + logical only).
- Days 13–14: One final simulation focused on skip discipline. Rest the day before.
Related: Casey · CCA · Pymetrics · Online assessment hub.
Frequently asked questions
A timed multiple-choice aptitude test covering numerical and logical reasoning — there is no verbal section. It is live-proctored over Zoom (camera on, room scan, one sheet of scratch paper allowed). Introduced in early 2024 and used across BCG's German offices and a growing set of European and Asia-Pacific offices.