FTI 15-Minute Case Study Round 2027: How to Structure Fast
The FTI 15-minute case study round for the 2027 intake compresses a full case interview into a quarter of an hour: you get the prompt, structure your approach, work through the analysis, and deliver a recommendation — all in 15 minutes. The FTI 15-minute case rewards candidates who structure in under 3 minutes and prioritize ruthlessly. There is no time for elegant frameworks; there is only time for clear thinking, fast.
The FTI 15-Minute Case Study Format
Fifteen minutes typically breaks down as: 1-2 minutes to absorb the prompt and ask clarifying questions, 2-3 minutes to structure, 7-8 minutes of analysis (working through data, doing math, testing hypotheses with the interviewer), and 2 minutes to synthesize and recommend. Every minute spent over-structuring is stolen from analysis; every minute spent over-analyzing is stolen from the recommendation. The candidates who fail this round usually fail on pacing, not on intellect.
How to Structure Fast in the FTI 15-Minute Case
Minute 0-2: Clarify, don't assume. Ask 2-3 sharp clarifying questions: what is the objective, what is the timeline, what data do we have. This prevents solving the wrong problem — the costliest mistake in a short case.
Minute 2-5: Structure simply. Pick a basic, MECE structure — no exotic frameworks. Profitability = revenue minus cost; market entry = market, competition, capabilities, economics. State it, draw it, move on. Three minutes maximum. If your structure is not done by minute 5, abandon perfection and start analyzing.
Minute 5-13: Analyze with priority. You cannot analyze everything in 8 minutes, so sequence by impact: tackle the biggest driver first. Do the math out loud, cleanly. When the interviewer offers data, use it immediately — do not file it away for later.
Minute 13-15: Recommend decisively. State your recommendation in one sentence, give 2-3 supporting reasons, name the key risk. Never end a 15-minute case with "it depends" — the format demands a call.
Drilling the FTI 15-Minute Case Study
Practice with a timer, always. Do short cases back-to-back: prompt, 15 minutes, done, review. The skill being trained is not cleverness — it is the discipline of moving through phases on schedule. Most candidates discover their structuring takes 6 minutes, not 3; the drill fixes that before the real interview.
Also practice the transitions: "My structure has three parts," "Let me start with the largest driver," "Based on this, my recommendation is." These signposts keep you and the interviewer oriented when the clock is crushing.
Fifteen minutes, one case, one shot at showing you think like a consultant under extreme time pressure. The candidates who pass are not smarter — they are faster at the boring parts (structuring, math, synthesis) so they have time for the valuable parts (judgment, recommendation). FTI's 2027 intake interviews run during the 2026 application season (check exact timelines on FTI's official careers page). Start timing your practice cases now.
FAQ
How long is FTI's short case study round? Around 15 minutes: prompt, structuring, analysis, and recommendation in one compressed session.
What is the ideal time split for a 15-minute case? Roughly: 2 minutes clarifying, 3 minutes structuring, 8 minutes analysis, 2 minutes recommendation.
Should I use a fancy framework in a 15-minute case? No. Use a simple, MECE structure and move fast. Elaborate frameworks eat the clock. Preparing for FTI Consulting's Case Interview - Timed? Our 2027 FTI Consulting Pre-recorded Video Interview & Online Assessment Tutorials has the exact questions and answers — $79 one-time, instant download.
