Through Solve and into the McKinsey & Company interviews? Here is how the first and final rounds work for Summer Business Analyst candidates, what the Personal Experience Interview asks, how the case runs and when you hear back.
Key facts
- Format: For most client-facing roles, the interviews are personal experience interviews and problem-solving (case) interviews, usually one of each in every session. Some roles add an expertise interview.1,9,11,13
- Rounds: A first round of two back-to-back interviews, then a final round of three interviews with partners.11,12,13,9
- Length: About 45 to 60 minutes each: around 15 minutes of PEI, then a case of about 30 minutes, then time for your questions.10,11,12,13
- Who: First rounds with associates or engagement managers; final rounds with partners.11,12,13
- In person or virtual: In an Oct 2026 US process, the first round ran as back-to-back virtual interviews and the final round in person at the hiring office. Your recruiter confirms the details in advance.11,1
- PEI themes: McKinsey asks you to bring two examples for each of four areas: Connection, Drive, Leadership and Growth.1,2
- Math: Calculators are not allowed in the case. Keep pen and paper on the desk and talk the interviewer through each step.4,1
- AI interview: Some US offices run an AI interview: a case in which you bring in an AI tool partway through and judge what it gives back. Your recruiter tells you if your office uses it.7,8
The case is a conversation the interviewer steers: a set of questions on one client, from the factors to consider, through a calculation, to reading a chart and making a recommendation. McKinsey says there is no single logical solution, so listen and tailor your answer rather than reach for a standard framework.1,4,5
What the McKinsey & Company interview looks like
Before the interviews
After your application, most consulting roles go through Solve, McKinsey's gamified assessment. In the summer 2027 cycle, the intern window closed on Mar 29, 2026 and interviews ran in April and May. Your recruiter confirms the interview details in advance, and some offices send prep resources and pair you with an interview mentor.1,3,19,9,10
The first round
Two interviews back to back, which can be virtual, with associates or engagement managers. Each is about 15 minutes of PEI and about 30 minutes of case, with time for your questions at the end. The first round tends to feel lighter than the final.11,12,10,9
The PEI
The interviewer asks about one real experience and keeps going deeper: your specific role, your reasoning, what you did and what came of it. McKinsey asks you to lead with reasoning, not actions, and to have a conversation rather than present a rehearsed story.1,2
The case
The interviewer presents a client scenario and leads you through a set of questions: the factors to weigh, a calculation without a calculator, a chart to interpret and a recommendation. Structure your thinking, ask when a question is unclear, and tie each number back to the client's goal.1,4,5
The final round
Three interviews with partners, often in person at the hiring office, in the same PEI and case format. Partners push hard on the PEI: be ready to back up every assumption in the case and every turn in your story.9,11,12
The AI interview
Some US offices add an AI interview. It runs like a case: you frame the problem and work the data, then partway through you may use an AI tool, which has been the free version of ChatGPT, and judge what it gives you. It counts as much as any other interview, and your recruiter tells you if it is part of your process.7,8
One McKinsey interview, step by step
- Hello 2 to 3 min
- A short introduction. Have your pen and paper ready.
- PEI About 15 min
- One story, followed deeper and deeper. Your reasoning at each turn matters as much as the result.
- Case 30 to 40 min
- Factors, a no-calculator calculation, a chart and a recommendation, in the order the interviewer sets.
- Your questions 5 min
- Two questions about the interviewer's work. Some interviewers slip in a fit question here.
The split of about 15 minutes of PEI and 30 to 40 of case comes from US first rounds in 2017 and 2026. The times above are Intervyo's plan for one session.10,11,13
Before your McKinsey interviews
- Two stories for each PEI theme, Connection, Drive, Leadership and Growth, that genuinely mattered to you.
- For each story, your own reasoning at each turn, not only what you did: expect follow-ups on why.
- Pen, paper and water on the desk; no calculator, and say each step of the math out loud.
- Work through McKinsey's own practice cases, such as Beautify and Electro-Light, start to finish.
- For a virtual round: a quiet room, camera on, any background blur off, and AI note-takers switched off.
- A clear reason for McKinsey and for your first-choice office.
- Two questions for each interviewer about their work.
- A few runs with a free AI tool, in case your office uses the AI interview.
The questions
Every session has two halves: a personal experience interview on one story, and a problem-solving case. McKinsey publishes its four PEI themes and a set of practice cases, so you know the shape of both before you walk in.1,2
- PEI: Connection: Working through a disagreement or a challenging relationship with someone who saw it differently.
- PEI: Drive: Reaching a hard goal in tough circumstances.
- PEI: Leadership: Working effectively with people from different backgrounds despite challenges.
- PEI: Growth: Learning something new fast to handle a challenging situation.
- Case: A client problem worked through factors, math, charts and a recommendation.
- Fit: Why McKinsey, why this practice or office, and sometimes a quick question during your Q&A.
Which division question you get
- Summer intern, Chicago (May 2026)
- A simple first round, then a hard final round of three partner interviews. In one, the partner spent the whole time testing whether the PEI story held up.9,20
- Energy intern, New York (Jan 2026)
- Three rounds of case interviews, with tell me about yourself, why McKinsey, why energy, three or four behavioral questions and a case of an hour to an hour and a half.16
- Summer Associate, Detroit (Oct 2026, MBA track)
- Virtual first rounds with associates, 15 minutes of PEI and 30 of case; three in-person partner interviews in the final round. One asked about a biggest weakness during the Q&A.11,20
- Sophomore Summer Business Analyst, San Francisco (Oct 2024)
- Two 45-minute interviews with associates, then three 45-minute interviews with partners.12
- Summer Business Analyst, Washington DC (Nov 2017)
- Two one-hour sessions, each a 15-minute PEI and a 30 to 40 minute case, then three one-hour sessions with partners or senior partners, all at the office.13
The format is the same across offices and tracks; what changes is how virtual the first round is and how hard the partners push. The Detroit report is from the MBA Summer Associate track.
Using McKinsey & Company's values in your answers
McKinsey calls itself a values-driven firm and says it is particularly excited about people who resonate with its values. You may hear stories about them in your interviews, such as the expectation to engage and dissent.6,1
- Engage and dissent
“uphold the obligations to engage and dissent”6
Connection stories. Show a time you disagreed openly and respectfully, and what changed because you did.
- Apprenticeship
“develop one another through apprenticeship and mentoring”6
Growth stories. Show feedback you asked for and acted on, or someone you taught.
- Diverse perspectives
“embrace diverse perspectives with curiosity and respect”6
Leadership stories about people from different backgrounds. Show how you brought out views that would have been missed.
- High ethical standards
“observe high ethical standards”6
Any judgment question, and the AI rules: your answers and your stories must be your own.
- Client interests first
“put client interests ahead of our firm's”6
The case recommendation. Tie your answer back to what is best for the client.
The quotes are McKinsey's own. Matching them to questions is Intervyo's advice: use one value as the reason your story matters, rather than reciting the list.
Example questions and how to answer them
PEI: Connection"Explain a challenging situation you encountered when working with someone with an opposing opinion."1,2
- 1Pick one real disagreement that mattered, where the other person had a fair point.
- 2Set it up in two sentences: what was at stake and where you differed.
- 3Spend most of the time on your reasoning: how you worked out what they cared about and why you changed your approach.
- 4Say what you said and did, in order, and how the other person responded.
- 5Close on the result and what it taught you about working with people who disagree.
Tip: Expect the interviewer to stop you and ask why at each turn. Lead with reasoning, not a list of actions, and keep it a conversation.
Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)
Written by Intervyo as an example. As treasurer of our club, I wanted to cut the spring trip to fund a mentoring program; our president thought that would kill membership. Before arguing again, I asked her what she was worried about. It was turnout: the trip was the one event that brought in first-years. So I changed the question from trip or mentoring to how we keep first-years. I pulled three years of sign-in sheets, which showed most first-years who came on the trip never came back, while the few who had a mentor stayed. I brought her the data first, privately, and we agreed to a shorter trip plus a pilot of 12 mentoring pairs. Ten of the 12 mentees were still active a year later. What I took from it is to find out what the other person is protecting before I try to persuade them.
PEI: Drive"Talk about a time when you worked hard to achieve excellence in particularly tough circumstances."2,9,20
- 1Choose a goal you set high yourself, with a real obstacle in the way.
- 2Name the obstacle plainly: time, resources, a setback partway through.
- 3Walk through the choices you made, and why, when it got hard.
- 4Give the result in numbers if you can, and what you would do differently.
Tip: Partners in the final round can spend a whole interview testing one story, so pick one you can defend in detail.
Case: calculation"How many years would it take until this investment turns profitable?"4
- 1Write down every number the interviewer gives you before you start.
- 2Find the yearly gain: extra revenue minus the new yearly costs.
- 3Take off any yearly charge, such as depreciation, to get adjusted yearly profit.
- 4Add up the upfront investment, then divide it by the adjusted yearly profit for the payback period.
- 5State the answer in years and months, then say what it means for the client.
Tip: McKinsey's Beautify practice case asks this kind of question. No calculator: round sensibly and say each step out loud.
Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)
Intervyo example with round numbers, not McKinsey's own.
A retailer with $2 billion of revenue expects a new service to add 5% in revenue, so $100 million a year. Running it costs $20 million a year, leaving $80 million.
The upfront spend is $60 million on technology, $40 million on training and $20 million on store refits, so $120 million. The technology depreciates at 10% a year, which is $6 million, so adjusted profit is $74 million a year.
$120 million divided by $74 million is about 1.6 years, or roughly 1 year and 7 months. That is a fast payback, so the investment looks worth pursuing, as long as the 5% revenue gain holds. I would test that assumption next.
Case: structure"What key factors should a beverage company consider when deciding whether to launch a new sports drink?"5,1
- 1Restate the goal: launch only if the drink can reach a target share profitably.
- 2Market: size and growth of the category, and who the customers are.
- 3Competition: who leads, how they would respond, and what would make this drink different.
- 4The company: production capacity, distribution to retailers and brand fit.
- 5Economics: price, cost per unit and how long until it pays back. Then say which factor you would test first and why.
Tip: Mirrors McKinsey's Electro-Light practice case. Build the structure for this client, not a memorized framework.
Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)
Written by Intervyo as an example. I would look at four areas. First, the market: how big the sports drink category is, how fast it is growing and which customers are moving toward lower-sugar options. Second, competitors: the leading brands, their share, and whether they could copy a lower-sugar formula quickly. Third, our own capabilities: whether our plants can make it without new lines, and whether our retail agreements give us shelf space. Fourth, the economics: price, unit cost, launch marketing and how long it takes to pay back. I would start with the market and competitors, because if a low-sugar drink cannot take meaningful share, the rest does not matter.
More McKinsey & Company interview questions
PEI
“Share an example where you worked effectively with people with different backgrounds despite challenges.”2
McKinsey's own Leadership prompt
“Revisit a time when you had to rapidly learn something new to tackle a challenging situation.”2
McKinsey's own Growth prompt
“Tell me about a time...”15
One question per interviewer, then a few minutes of follow-ups before the case; Miami, 2017
“Tell me about a time you changed someone's mind on an important decision.”17
A prep site's practice prompt for the Connection theme
Case
“What factors should a beauty company consider before moving its in-store consultants to virtual selling?”4
Reworded from McKinsey's Beautify practice case
“What would a new drink need to do to win its target share of the market?”5
Reworded from McKinsey's Electro-Light practice case
“What do these figures tell you, and what would you recommend next?”4
The chart question that closes the Beautify practice case
“Should a truck maker invest in producing and selling electric trucks?”1
McKinsey's summary of its Talbot Trucks practice case
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How long to hear back after the interview
McKinsey moves quickly once interviews start. In the summer 2027 cycle, intern interviews ran in April and May 2026, and several processes took less than a month from first round to final.9,10,12
Nov 2017
Summer Business Analyst, Washington DC
An interviewer called within two weeks of the first round with the result and feedback. A partner called with the final decision the same evening.13
Feb 2016
Summer Business Analyst, Stamford
Two back-to-back first-round interviews, then three back-to-back at the office, all in less than a month.14
Oct 2024
Sophomore Summer Business Analyst, San Francisco
Both rounds in less than a month.12
Jan 2026
Energy intern, New York
Resume, three rounds of case interviews and an accepted offer in less than a month.16
May 2026 (summer 2027)
Summer intern, Chicago
First round and a three-interview final round in less than a month.9,20
Oct 2026
Summer Associate, Detroit (MBA track)
Solve, a virtual first round and an in-person final round over one to two months.11
Your recruiter confirms each round's details in advance, so ask them about timing if it is not in your invitation.1
Best guessExpect first-round results within about two weeks, and a final-round decision within a few days, often by phone. If a week passes after the final round, a short note to your recruiter is reasonable.
What happens after the interview
Online application
Done. One application, up to three offices, a resume and your education history.3
Solve
Done. McKinsey's gamified assessment, used for most consulting roles.1,3
First-round interviewsYou are here
This page. Two back-to-back interviews, each a PEI and a case, which can be virtual.11,12
Final-round interviews
Also on this page. Three interviews with partners, often in person, and in some US offices an AI interview.9,11,7
Offer
Final-round decisions can come the same evening, by phone from a partner.13
First round vs final round
Both rounds use the same PEI and case format. What changes is who you meet, where, and how hard they push.
FAQ
How many interviews does McKinsey have?
Usually five across two rounds: two back-to-back interviews in the first round, then three with partners in the final round. Each pairs a personal experience interview with a case.11,12,13
What is the McKinsey PEI?
The Personal Experience Interview: about 15 minutes on one real experience, followed deeper with questions on your role and reasoning. McKinsey asks for two examples in each of four areas: Connection, Drive, Leadership and Growth.1,2,10
Can I use a calculator in the McKinsey case?
No. Calculators are not allowed; work on paper and talk the interviewer through each step. For a virtual interview, keep pen and paper within reach.4,1
Is the McKinsey first round virtual?
It can be. In an Oct 2026 US process the first round was back-to-back virtual interviews with associates, and the final round was in person at the hiring office. Your recruiter confirms the details in advance.11,1
What is the McKinsey AI interview?
An interview some US offices use: it runs like a case, and partway through you can use an AI tool, which has been the free version of ChatGPT, then judge what it gives you. McKinsey says it is as important as any other interview, and your recruiter tells you if your office uses it.7,8
How should I prepare for the McKinsey case?
Work through McKinsey's own practice cases, such as Beautify and Electro-Light, out loud and without a calculator. McKinsey says there is no single logical solution, so practice building a structure for each client rather than reciting standard frameworks.1,4,5
Interview at other firms
Sources
Firm pages first, then dated candidate reports. Last checked Nov 4, 2026.
- 1McKinsey & Company: Interviewing at McKinsey
- 2McKinsey & Company, on Ceros: Careers interviewing module (PEI themes)
- 3McKinsey & Company: Campus application deadlines
- 4McKinsey & Company: Beautify (practice case)
- 5McKinsey & Company: Electro-Light (practice case)
- 6McKinsey & Company: Our purpose, mission, and values
- 7Management Consulted: How McKinsey Is Using AI in Case Interviews: A Conversation with Simone Jacobi, Director of Talent Assessment (Jul 2026) · prep site
- 8Management Consulted: McKinsey AI Interview Being Piloted As A Part of Final Round Interviews (Dec 2025) · prep site
- 9Candidate report on a public forum: Summer Intern interview, Chicago (May 2026)
- 10Candidate report on a public forum: Summer Consultant interview, Chicago (Apr 2026)
- 11Candidate report on a public forum: Summer Associate intern interview, Detroit (Oct 2026)
- 12Candidate report on a public forum: Sophomore Summer Business Analyst interview, San Francisco (Oct 2024)
- 13Candidate report on a public forum: Summer Business Analyst interview, Washington DC (Nov 2017)
- 14Candidate report on a public forum: Summer Business Analyst interview, Stamford (Feb 2016)
- 15Candidate report on a public forum: Business Analyst Intern interview, Miami (Oct 2017)
- 16Candidate report on a public forum: Power and Gas intern interview, Energy, New York (Jan 2026)
- 17Road to Offer: McKinsey PEI: Questions, Example Answers & the 4 Dimensions (2026) · prep site
- 18McKinsey & Company: US Undergraduate & Masters schools
- 19McKinsey & Company, via the Wayback Machine: US Undergraduate & Masters schools (Jul 2026 capture)
- 20Candidate reports on a public forum: McKinsey & Company interview questions (Nov 2026 listing)
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