If you’re applying to McKinsey, chances are you’ll face the mckinsey game early in the hiring process. This unique assessment is not your typical aptitude test. It’s interactive, strategy-based, and unlike anything most candidates have encountered before.
This step-by-step guide will help you understand what to expect and how to prepare effectively, even if you’re starting from scratch.
What Is the McKinsey Solve?
The McKinsey Solve, also referred to as the Problem Solving Game, is a gamified assessment designed to evaluate how you think. Instead of answering multiple-choice questions, you’ll solve real-world-style problems in a simulated environment.
The test measures cognitive skills like systems thinking, decision-making, and pattern recognition. Your answers are not just about getting the right result — the process you follow also matters.
Step 1: Understand the Structure
The test typically includes three interactive challenges:
Ecosystem Building
This game asks you to build a stable ecosystem using a set of species. You’ll have to meet certain criteria like calorie balance, terrain compatibility, and food chain continuity.
Red Rock Study
Here, you analyze business exhibits to answer data-related questions. You’ll drag, sort, calculate, and interpret charts — all under time pressure.
Sea Wolf (Ocean Cleanup)
This section tasks you with selecting microbes that can clean polluted ocean zones. You’ll work with both numerical and binary traits to match microbes to environmental requirements.
Each section comes with its own rules and time limits. Tutorials are provided, but practicing in advance makes a big difference in performance.
Step 2: Learn the Scoring Criteria
What makes the McKinsey Solve different is how it’s scored. You are evaluated not just on final answers, but on your decision process, time management, and logical reasoning.
That means guessing or clicking randomly can lower your score, even if you end up with the correct result. Every move is tracked — from how long you take to how systematically you solve each problem.
Step 3: Start With Conceptual Familiarity
Before you dive into simulations, take time to understand the objectives of each game. Knowing what you’re expected to do can prevent overwhelm once the timer starts.
Read breakdowns of each section and watch walkthroughs if possible. Learn how traits interact in the ecosystem game, how calculations work in Red Rock, and how microbial traits impact the Ocean Cleanup game.
Step 4: Practice With Realistic Simulations
Once you understand the basics, the best way to improve is through hands-on practice. Choose tools or platforms that simulate the test interface as closely as possible.
Simulations allow you to:
- Build strategies for each game
- Get used to the time pressure
- Practice filtering important vs. irrelevant data
- Develop a step-by-step approach that is repeatable and efficient
Practicing also builds confidence, which is essential during a timed assessment.
Step 5: Strengthen Core Skills
While the games are unique, they rely on familiar skills. Focus your prep on the following:
Mental Math
Quickly calculating percentages, ratios, and differences is crucial in Red Rock Study.
Logical Flow
The mckinsey game requires reasoning from both top-down and bottom-up perspectives, especially in food chain or data mapping exercises.
Pattern Recognition
The Ocean Cleanup section rewards candidates who can spot which traits consistently lead to success.
You don’t need to be perfect at everything, but improving these core areas can significantly raise your overall score.
Step 6: Recreate Test Conditions
In your final stages of preparation, do a full practice run under real test conditions. Set a timer, avoid using notes, and simulate the pressure of the actual Solve Test.
This helps reduce surprises on test day. You’ll be familiar with the format, know what to prioritize, and have a plan for how to approach each section.
Final Thoughts
The assessment is not something you can wing. While it is designed to be intuitive, top performers tend to be those who took the time to understand the structure, sharpen their skills, and practice under pressure.
Treat it as a serious part of the recruiting process. It is your first opportunity to demonstrate how you think, and that matters just as much as what you know.