How long is the BCG online case?

Casey runs 25 to 30 minutes end-to-end. Newer CCA variants can stretch to 45 minutes when combined with a cognitive block.

Is the BCG online case timed?

Yes — both an overall window and per-question timers. You cannot go back to a previous question once you submit.

How is the BCG online case scored?

Automated scoring covers structure, math accuracy, and video communication. Human review kicks in for shortlisted candidates.

What score do you need to pass?

BCG doesn't publish thresholds. Historically, the cutoff sits around the 70th–80th percentile of candidates from the same office and cohort.

Do you need a webcam for the BCG online case?

Yes. The 60-second recommendation is recorded on camera, and behavioral signals from the video are part of the scoring.

How is the BCG online case different from a live case?

There's no interviewer to clarify the prompt, throw you a hint, or steer your structure. You commit to a first answer and move on — no backtracking, no conversation.

Can I retake the BCG online case?

Almost never within the same recruiting cycle. Most offices enforce a 12-month cooldown before you can reapply.

How much prep time do you need?

Two to four weeks of focused practice is enough for most candidates: five to eight full timed simulations, mental math drills, and a handful of recorded video pitches.

What's the best way to practice?

Full timed simulations of the exact format — chatbot flow, exhibit questions, and the 60-second video. Partial practice builds bad time-management habits.

BCG Online Case — Format, Scoring & Prep Plan

Q: What is the BCG online case?

It's the pre-interview case exercise BCG uses to screen candidates before any human interview. In most offices it's delivered as Casey — a 25 to 30 minute chatbot case ending in a recorded 60-second video pitch.

The BCG online case is a 25 to 30 minute AI-run case delivered as the Casey chatbot in most offices. It's strictly linear, ends with a recorded 60-second video pitch, and screens most candidates before any human interview. This guide covers what to expect and how to prep in four weeks.

What is the BCG online case?

The BCG online case is a pre-interview screen BCG uses to filter candidates before any human interaction. In most offices it's delivered as Casey, a chatbot-driven linear case. A minority of offices use the newer CCA or the legacy Potential Test.

It typically comes after the CV screen and before the fit/case interviews. Roughly two-thirds of BCG online case candidates do not advance — the online case is the biggest filter in the BCG funnel.

Why BCG uses an online case

BCG designed the online case to test the same skills a first-year consultant uses on a live client project: structured problem-solving, disciplined math, clean chart reading, and executive communication. Delivering it as a chatbot lets BCG screen 30,000+ candidates per cycle at consistent standards without burning partner time.

The formats you might see

Casey (dominant): 25–30 minute linear chatbot with 8–10 questions and a 60-second video pitch. See the full Casey guide.
CCA: Casey-style case combined with a longer cognitive block. See the CCA guide.
Potential Test (retiring): The pre-Casey aptitude test. Still active in a handful of offices. See the Potential Test guide.

Check the invitation email from BCG's recruiting team — it names the exact format.

Walkthrough of a typical online case

Prompt. A client and a decision, in about 100 words.
Structuring. Open text answer laying out your framework.
Quant. Three to five short numeric questions.
Exhibits. One to three charts or tables — pull the insight, not the description.
Synthesis. A short text or multi-select building toward the recommendation.
Video pitch. 60-second recorded recommendation to the client.

What changes vs the in-person case

No interviewer. No one clarifies the prompt or nudges your structure.
Strictly linear. Every submit is final. No going back.
Camera on. The recommendation is recorded and scored on both content and delivery.
Machine-graded first. Only shortlisted candidates get human review.

The recorded video recommendation

Roughly one third of your overall score sits in a 60-second video. The winning structure: Recommendation → 3 reasons → 1 risk → next step. State the recommendation in the first five seconds. Skip preamble. Skip "so, in summary". Behave as if you're the consultant briefing the CEO — because that's exactly what's being scored.

5 mistakes that kill BCG online case candidates

Poor math discipline. Chasing exact numbers instead of rounding fast.
Ignoring exhibits. Describing the chart instead of naming the driver.
Weak video recommendation. Burying the recommendation in the last 10 seconds.
Over-structuring. Five buckets when three would land.
Perfectionism. Spending 4 minutes on structuring and then rushing three math questions.

A 4-week prep plan

The plan below matches the HowTo structured data on this page — Google can surface it directly in AI Overviews.

Week 1 — Format & fundamentals. Read this guide and the Casey guide. One untimed simulation. 20 min/day mental math.
Week 2 — Structured cases. Two timed Casey simulations. Rewrite each structuring answer after review.
Week 3 — Video & synthesis. Five recorded 60-second pitches on old case prompts.
Week 4 — Dress rehearsal. Two full simulations under exact test conditions. Rest the day before.

Free practice options

CaseyPrep's free tier includes full timed Casey-format simulations with AI scoring and a coach report. Paid tiers unlock the full case library and analytics — see pricing.

Related: Casey chatbot · Online assessment hub · Pymetrics · Cognitive Test · CCA.

The BCG online case: format, scoring, and a 4-week prep plan.