OC&C Written Case: Format & How Some Offices Test It
The OC&C written case is a less-publicized stage some offices use: instead of talking through a case live, you read a pack of exhibits and produce a written analysis or recommendation under time pressure. Because it is not universal, most candidates never prepare for it. If your office runs an occ written case, walking in cold is an easy way to lose.
What the occ written case Is
In offices that use it, the written case typically gives you a slide pack or document set — market data, company financials, competitor notes — and a fixed window to analyze it and write up your findings, sometimes as short slides or a memo with a clear recommendation. There is no interviewer guiding you, no hints, and no chance to course-correct mid-flow. It tests the consulting deliverable itself: can you turn messy information into a structured, decision-ready answer on your own?
What the occ written case Assesses
The occ written case measures independent analysis and written communication. Without a live interviewer, your structure has to carry itself: clear issue framing, prioritized analysis (not everything, the things that matter), clean math shown transparently, and a recommendation that follows from the evidence. Assessors look for commercial judgment — did you find the two or three insights that change the decision? — and for professional polish: would a partner feel comfortable putting this in front of a client? Candidates who are strong verbally but sloppy on paper get exposed here.
How to Prepare for the occ written case
Practice writing, not just talking. Take a practice case pack and force yourself to produce a one-page written recommendation in 45 minutes: headline answer first, then supporting analysis, then risks. Build a personal template — situation, key findings (max three), recommendation, risks — and reuse it until it is automatic.
Since the written case draws on the same commercial instincts as the rest of the process, grounding yourself in OC&C's real formats helps. Our 2027 OC&C Strategy Consultants Online Test Tutorials (One-Way Video Assessment and Mapped Test) covers the exact online test and one-way video assessment questions and answers for the 2027 intake — the verified foundation to build your case prep on.
The occ written case: the Stage Nobody Sees Coming
Here is the risk: the occ written case is office-dependent and poorly documented, so candidates who only rehearse live cases get blindsided. A surprise written exercise with a ticking clock, no interviewer, and a blank page is where unprepared applicants quietly fail. Check your office's process details on the official careers page, and if a written element exists, prepare for it like it counts — because it does.
FAQ
Do all OC&C offices use a written case? No — it varies by office and intake. Confirm with recruitment or the official careers page for your target office.
How long is the OC&C written case? Formats vary, but expect a timed exercise in the range of under an hour to analyze exhibits and write up a recommendation. Your invitation will specify the exact format.
Is the written case harder than a live case? It is different: no interviewer means no hints and no recovery from a wrong turn. Strong writers with disciplined structure have the advantage.
Preparing for OC&C's written case? Our 2027 OC&C Strategy Consultants Online Test Tutorials (One-Way Video Assessment and Mapped Test) has the exact questions and answers — $79 one-time, instant download.
