Let’s talk straight. If you’re reading this article, you probably have a case interview coming up in a week, and you’re panicking a bit.

I get it. As a former McKinsey consultant who has both survived these interviews and later conducted them, I can tell you that one week is not the ideal preparation timeline.

But sometimes life happens. Opportunities appear unexpectedly. And suddenly, you find yourself with just seven days to prepare for one of the most challenging interview formats in the business world.

So while I won’t sugar coat it, I will give you a battle plan. Let’s make the most of the time you have.

Is One Week Enough for Case Interview Preparation?

In short? No. But that doesn’t mean you should give up.

Every hour counts in your compressed timeline. Here’s how to make the most of each day.

Day 1: Establishing the Foundation

Today is all about understanding what you’re facing and building your knowledge base.

First, familiarize yourself with the case interview format at the firm you are interviewing for.

Candidate-led cases (common at BCG and Bain) where you drive the structure and analysis, asking for data as needed.

Interviewer-led cases (common at McKinsey) where the interviewer guides you through specific questions while you solve each component.

Next, study these essential frameworks:

Profitability analysis: Revenue minus Costs, with each broken down further 

Market entry: Analyzing market attractiveness, competition, and your capabilities 

M&A framework: Strategic fit, financial analysis, integration considerations 

Marketing framework: Product, Price, Place, Promotion (4Ps) Porter’s Five 

Forces: For industry analysis

Don’t try to memorize 20 different frameworks. Understand these core ones, and practice adapting them for different situations. It is important to not reuse the exact ones every time – if you do so in the interview you will fail.

Also, learn two key problem-solving techniques:

Issue trees: Breaking problems into components in a structured way 

MECE principle: Creating categories that are Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive

Resources like MConsultingPrep and selected YouTube channels can provide quick visual explanations of these concepts.

Finally, find yourself a practice partner to help you throughout the week if possible. This could be:

• A friend with consulting experience
• A classmate also preparing for interviews
• A mentor in the industry
• An online connection from a case practice community

Practicing with someone who can give you feedback can give you an edge in identifying your strengths and weaknesses.

Day 2: Developing Critical Quantitative Skills and Business Acumen

Case interviews require performing calculations quickly and accurately without a calculator. Today is dedicated to sharpening these essential skills.

Start with mental math drills:

• Multiplying and dividing by 5, 10, 25, 100
• Calculating percentages (10%, 20%, 25%, 33%, 50%)
• Working with large numbers (millions and billions)
• Estimating market sizes (e.g., What is the annual market size for apples in Paris (in USD)? How many tennis balls can fit in a cruise ship?)

Practice until you can do these calculations smoothly while explaining your process out loud. We recommend spending at least 15 minutes doing math drills daily – it is the easiest skill to build with practice.

Next, review fundamental business concepts:

• Revenue = Price × Volume
• Profit = Revenue – Costs
• Fixed vs Variable costs
• Margins (Gross, Operating, Net)
• Basic market sizing approaches

Create flashcards for key financial terms you might encounter:

• CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
• ROI (Return on Investment)
• EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization)
• Market share
• Customer acquisition cost

Day 3: Intensive Case Study Practice

As covered, start your day by doing 15-minutes of math drills. Once that’s complete, it’s time to apply your casing fundamentals to actual cases.

Start by selecting 3-4 sample cases from reliable sources:

• One profitability case
• One market entry case
• One M&A or growth strategy case
• One unusual case type (operations, organizational, etc.)

As you work through each case, focus on:

• Properly structuring your approach
• Applying the right framework
• Identifying key insights from the data
• Formulating clear recommendations

Keep a log of patterns you notice across different case types. This will help you recognize similar patterns in your actual interview.

Day 4: Simulating the Interview Experience

Once again, start your day with your math drills. Once done, get ready. Today is crucial: you’ll transition from studying cases to practicing them in an interview setting.

First, if you have a practice partner, ask them to give you a mock interview.

If you cannot find a partner, record yourself working through cases out loud.

For each mock interview:

• Use a timer to maintain realistic conditions
• Practice both the case and the fit portion of the interview
  • If you need help with personal FIT, review our articles here
• Ask for specific feedback on your structure, analysis, and communication
• Take notes immediately after finishing

Focus on areas like:

• How you communicate your thinking
• How structured your approach is
• How smoothly you handle calculations
• How compelling your final recommendation is

Day 5: Refining Your Communication and Presentation Skills

As before, start your day by doing some math practice. Once you are done, focus on honing your communication skills. Communication can make or break your case interview performance. Today, focus on how you present your thinking, not just what you think.

Develop a personal communication framework:

• Opening statements for different case types
• Transition phrases between sections
• Ways to ask for data or clarification
• Methods for presenting your recommendation

Practice active listening techniques:

• Paraphrasing what you hear to confirm understanding
• Taking effective notes
• Asking clarifying questions
• Listening for implicit information

Nonverbal communication matters too:

• Maintaining appropriate eye contact
• Using a confident posture
• Speaking at a measured pace
• Using hand gestures appropriately

Create a personal script with key phrases that feel natural to you. If possible, practice your communication skills with your practice partner. If you don’t have a practice partner, record yourself and watch it back to see where you can improve.

Day 6: Gap Analysis and Targeted Improvement

Start your day off with your daily math practice (by this point, you should be comfortable with doing calculations quickly and accurately). Once done, with just two days left, it’s time to be strategic about where you focus your remaining preparation time.

Conduct an honest assessment of your current abilities:

• Which case types are you most comfortable with?
• Which quantitative skills need more work?
• What feedback have you received consistently?
• What makes you most nervous about the interview?

Based on this assessment, create a targeted improvement plan for your final day of full practice. Focus on no more than 2-3 key areas.

Here’s what you can do:

First, prioritize your biggest weaknesses that could be improved in 24 hours.

Next, intensify your practice in those specific areas with focused exercises.

Finally, review progress to ensure you’re making meaningful improvements rather than just spinning your wheels.

Day 7: Final Preparation and Mental Conditioning

On your last day before the interview, focus on consolidation and mental preparation rather than learning new material.

Start with your math drills as a warm up, then go into a full practice interview that simulates the exact conditions you’ll face tomorrow:

• Dress in your interview attire
• Schedule it for the same time as your actual interview
• Include both fit and case portions
• Record it, if possible, for a final review

Prepare thoughtful questions for your interviewers that demonstrate your interest and research:

• Questions about their personal experience
• Questions about the firm’s approach to specific industries
• Questions about learning and development opportunities

The final piece is mental preparation:

• Visualize success in the interview
• Prepare a pre-interview routine to manage anxiety
• Get everything ready for tomorrow (outfit, directions, materials)
• Plan for a good night’s sleep

Remember that rest is as important as practice at this point.

The Ideal Timeline: What Proper Case Interview Preparation Looks Like

Now let’s talk about what proper preparation would ideally look like.

Why 8 Weeks is the Recommended Preparation Window

The 8-week timeline allows for a more comprehensive and less stressful preparation experience. This timeline provides:

• Sufficient time to learn concepts thoroughly.
• Opportunity to practice 20+ full cases.
• Time to receive and incorporate feedback.
• Chance to identify and address pattern weaknesses.
• Building confidence through repetition and success.

With this timeline, candidates can develop true mastery rather than just familiarity with the material.

My former colleagues at McKinsey often noted that the candidates who performed best seemed relaxed and natural during their cases. This state typically comes from extensive practice.

How to Expand This Emergency Plan When You Have More Time

If you have more than a week, here’s how to expand the emergency plan:

Weeks 1-2:

• Further exploration of frameworks and business concepts
• Building strong quantitative skills through daily practice
• Watching expert videos and demonstrations
• Building a foundation of business knowledge

Weeks 3-4:

• Regular practice cases (2-3 per week)
• Weekly mock interviews
• Personal story refinement

Weeks 5-8:

• Advanced cases and more challenging scenarios
• Feedback from experienced consultants if possible
• Stress testing your skills under pressure
• Final refinement and confidence-building

Programs like High Bridge Consulting Bootcamp can be particularly valuable when you have this longer timeline, as they provide structured learning from ex-MBB consultants who know exactly what firms are looking for.

Expert Consultant Tips: Making the Most of Limited Preparation Time

As someone who’s been through this process and coached others, let me share some insider perspectives on making the most of limited preparation time.

What Former Interviewers Say About Last-Minute Candidates

Having spoken with many former interviewers, here’s what they say about candidates with limited preparation:

Transparency can help. Interviewers can often tell when a candidate is underprepared, but they appreciate honesty without excuses.

Structure trumps content. Candidates with strong structure but limited content knowledge often outperform those with business knowledge but poor structure.

Attitude matters tremendously. Enthusiasm, coachability, and a positive approach can compensate for some knowledge gaps.

First impressions count more when preparation is limited. Strong introductions and clear communication from the start create a positive halo effect.

One former BCG interviewer told me: “I can teach business concepts, but I can’t teach someone to think clearly under pressure. Show me that skill, even with limited preparation, and I’m interested.”

Five Psychological Techniques to Project Confidence Despite Limited Preparation

Here are my techniques for projecting confidence when you’re not fully prepared:

Purposeful breathing: Before and during the interview, use deep breathing to manage stress.

Acknowledge limitations strategically: If stuck, say “Let me take a moment to structure my thoughts” rather than “I don’t know.”

Use what you know well: Leverage your strongest areas of knowledge and preparation.

Structured communication: Always maintain clear, organized communication even when content knowledge is limited.

Engaged body language: Maintain confident posture, appropriate eye contact, and an interested expression.

These techniques help you project confidence authentically without faking expertise you don’t have.

How to Address Your Preparation Timeline If Asked During the Interview

If directly asked about your preparation:

• Be honest about your timeline without apologizing excessively.
• Briefly explain the circumstances if relevant.
• Emphasize your transferable skills, genuine interest, and what you accomplished in your preparation.

For example: “I had about a week to prepare specifically for case interviews, which I devoted to understanding the core frameworks and practicing several cases. My background in financial analysis has also given me experience with structured problem solving, which I believe transfers well to this context.”

Remember that most interviewers are looking for potential as much as polished performance. Show them your best with what you have, and you might just surprise yourself with the results.

When preparation time is limited, what matters most is making the absolute most of the time you have. The structured approach outlined in this article will help you focus on high-impact activities.

Top consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain are looking for candidates who can think clearly under pressure and learn quickly. Even with limited preparation time, you can demonstrate these qualities.

For those who have more time, comprehensive programs like High Bridge Consulting Bootcamp can provide the structured guidance needed to truly excel in these interviews.

Good luck with your interview. Your commitment to preparation, even on a compressed timeline, already says something positive about you as a candidate.