BCG Written Case Interview: Format, Timing & How to Prepare
The BCG written case interview is a paper-based case used by some BCG offices — notably in parts of Europe and Australia — where you get 1-2 hours to read a document pack, analyze exhibits, and produce a written recommendation, followed by a discussion with an interviewer.
What the BCG Written Case Interview Is
The BCG written case interview gives you a substantial pack of materials — typically a briefing document plus data exhibits — and a fixed time block, often around two hours, to work through them alone. You produce a structured written recommendation, usually as slides or a memo. Afterward, an interviewer discusses your conclusions with you, probing your logic and testing how you defend your recommendation under questioning.
What the BCG Written Case Interview Assesses
The BCG written case interview assesses analytical depth and written communication — two things live cases can only test indirectly. Without an interviewer feeding you data, you must decide what matters in a large document pack: which exhibits are decisive, which are noise, and what additional analysis the numbers demand.
BCG is testing whether you can independently structure a complex problem, prioritize ruthlessly under time pressure, and write a recommendation a client could actually use. The follow-up discussion then tests the same drive and synthesis skills as a live case: can you defend your numbers, acknowledge gaps honestly, and adjust when the interviewer challenges your assumptions?
How to Prepare for the BCG Written Case Interview
Preparation for the BCG written case interview is about time discipline and written structure.
Get the real question style before you practice. Our BCG prep tutorial includes nine real BCG offline interview cases with full answers, the HireQuo Online Case, the Consulting Career Assessment, and the Quantitative Reasoning Test — all with the exact questions and answers BCG uses. Use the real cases as written-case drills: set a timer, write your full recommendation on paper, then compare against the real solutions to calibrate your structure and math.
Don't assume your office won't use it. BCG written cases appear in European and Australian offices for the 2027 intake, and candidates who only prepped live cases get blindsided. Check your invitation details against BCG's official careers page, confirm your format, and practice the actual written format — a great live-case performer who can't organize a document under time pressure will still fail.
FAQ
Which BCG offices use the written case interview? Mainly European and Australian offices. Your 2027 intake invitation email will specify your format.
How long do I get for the BCG written case? Typically around two hours of solo work plus a follow-up discussion.
Is the written case harder than a live case? It is different: less performance pressure, more demand on written structure and independent prioritization. Candidates who struggle with time management find it harder.
What should the written recommendation look like? A clear executive summary up front — recommendation, key reasons, risks — followed by structured supporting analysis. Think client-ready slides, not an essay.
Preparing for BCG's Written Case Interview? Our 2027 BCG Consulting Career Assessment, Online Case and Quantitative Reasoning Test Tutorials has the exact questions and answers — $79 one-time, instant download.
