Are you gearing up for a McKinsey interview? I know the feeling. The stack of resources can seem overwhelming, and the pressure to pick the right ones is real.

After coaching hundreds of candidates through this process, I can tell you that having the right preparation materials makes all the difference.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most effective resources to prepare for McKinsey interviews in 2025, based on what works for successful candidates.

McKinsey Interview Structure

McKinsey interviews consist of two main components: the case interview and the Personal Experience Interview (PEI).

The case interview tests your problem-solving abilities, business acumen, and analytical thinking. This is where you’ll solve a business problem in real time.

The PEI assesses your soft skills and past experiences. McKinsey wants to see evidence of leadership, personal impact, and entrepreneurial drive.

Some candidates may also face a problem-solving test, depending on the office and role.

Knowing this structure helps you prioritize which materials to focus on. Now, let’s explore the best resources for each component.

Essential Free Resources for McKinsey Interview Preparation

First, let’s talk about the free resources that can help you get started and build the basics:

McKinsey’s Official Practice Cases

McKinsey’s website offers four practice cases that mirror the format and complexity of their actual interview cases:

1. Diconsa case – A nonprofit case about leveraging convenience stores for financial services in rural Mexico
2. GlobaPharm case – An acquisition case about a pharmaceutical company potentially acquiring a startup
3. Electro-light case – A new product launch case for a sports drink
4. National Education case – A nonprofit case about improving an Eastern European school system

Working through these cases multiple times can help candidates understand the expected format and refine their analytical approach.

However, these are just basic resources to get you started; you would need more expert-created guides and materials.

High-Quality YouTube Tutorials

Visual learners may benefit from our comprehensive Case Interview Workshop available on the High Bridge Academy YouTube channel. Our tutorials cover case interview fundamentals, structural approaches, and practical insights from experienced consultants.

The channel features solved example cases that demonstrate the analytical thinking process in real time, allowing viewers to observe effective problem-solving techniques.

Our video content is designed to provide clear, actionable guidance for case interview preparation in an accessible format.

MBA Consulting Casebooks

A gold mine of practice materials comes from MBA consulting clubs. These casebooks contain hundreds of practice cases, many based on actual McKinsey interviews.

Top casebooks include:

1. Wharton (2017)
2. Darden (2019)
3. Kellogg (2012)
4. Fuqua (2018)
5. Sloan (2015)

While these casebooks are valuable, their quality varies. Some cases may not perfectly represent current McKinsey interview styles. Use them for additional practice, not as your primary resource.

After helping dozens of candidates secure McKinsey offers, I’ve developed what I call the P.R.E.P. Method. This stands for:

• Prioritize expert-created materials
• Replicate interview conditions
• Evaluate your performance
• Perfect one skill at a time

This method ensures you’re not just accumulating knowledge but building practical interview skills. The candidates who follow this structured approach consistently outperform those who simply consume massive amounts of content without a plan.

Premium Courses for McKinsey Interview Mastery

For those seeking more structured guidance, case interview courses offer distinct advantages over self-study.

Courses represent the next level of preparation investment, typically costing $500-2000. The best courses offer:

1. Video lessons that break down complex concepts
2. Practice cases with detailed solutions
3. Frameworks specific to different case types
4. Guidance on communication techniques

According to recent data, candidates who use structured courses report 40% higher confidence levels going into interviews. The visual learning and expert guidance accelerate the learning curve dramatically.

When evaluating courses, look for ones created by former McKinsey interviewers or consultants who understand the firm’s specific approach. The instructor’s background matters tremendously.

High Bridge Academy offers one of the most comprehensive preparation programs available today.

With 60+ ex-McKinsey, Bain, and BCG consultants on their faculty and a proven 60% placement rate (compared to typical 1-2% approval rates), their Consulting Bootcamp provides exceptional preparation specifically tailored to McKinsey’s interview style.

What makes courses worth the investment is the compressed learning timeline. Most candidates can achieve in two weeks with a course that might take two months with books alone.

Personal Experience Interview (PEI) Preparation Materials

The PEI component is equally important yet often receives less attention from candidates. This is a mistake. Many qualified candidates fail because they underprepare for this crucial interview component.

 

For PEI preparation, I recommend using the Highbridge Storytelling Framework:

1. Headline – A compelling one-sentence summary that captures interest
2. Context – Brief background information to set the scene
3. Challenges – The specific obstacles you faced
4. Alternatives – Options you considered before acting
5. Actions – Steps you personally took to address the situation
6. Results – The measurable outcomes achieved
7. Reflection – Insights gained and how they shaped your professional development

This framework helps you craft stories that not only demonstrate the qualities McKinsey seeks but also reveal your structured thinking process, that something interviewers specifically look for when evaluating candidates.

For effective PEI preparation, you need to develop stories in three key areas:

1. Entrepreneurial drive – Times you set and achieved difficult goals
2. Leadership – Examples of leading teams through challenges
3. Personal impact – Situations where you influenced others

For each category, prepare at least two strong stories using the Highbridge Storytelling Framework. Practice delivering them in under 5 minutes while highlighting the key qualities McKinsey seeks.

Record yourself telling these stories and watch the playback. This helps identify areas for improvement in your delivery and content.

Creating Your Customized Preparation Strategy

Now that we’ve covered the available resources, let’s build your preparation plan.

For optimal results, I recommend starting preparation at least 8 weeks before your interview:

Weeks 8-7: Foundation Building

• Study case interview fundamentals using online resources
• Master basic business concepts (profitability, market entry, etc.)
• Begin identifying potential stories for your PEI responses
• Practice basic mental math for 20 minutes daily

Weeks 7-5: Framework Development

• Learn how to structure problems without relying on memorized frameworks
• Complete 1-2 practice cases daily, focusing on structure rather than speed
• Draft and refine your personal stories using the Highbridge Storytelling Framework
• Start practicing chart and data interpretation

Weeks 5-3: Skill Building

• Increase to 2-3 practice cases daily
• Record and review your performance
• Conduct regular peer practice sessions for feedback
• Develop hypothesis-driven thinking in your case approaches
• Practice explaining your thought process clearly

Weeks 3-2: Simulation Phase

• Conduct full-length mock interviews with partners
• Practice under time pressure
• Seek diverse case types to broaden your experience
• Consider professional coaching for targeted feedback

Weeks 2-1: Intensive Practice

• Focus on your specific weak areas identified in previous weeks
• Conduct industry-specific case practice
• Refine your communication style and presence
• Practice answering unexpected questions

Final Week: Refinement

• Maintain regular but lighter practice (1-2 cases daily)
• Practice mental preparation techniques
• Review key concepts without overwhelming yourself
• Focus on confidence-building and stress management

This timeline can be adjusted based on your starting skill level and whether you’re balancing preparation with other commitments.

Practice Partner Strategy

Finding quality practice partners is crucial for McKinsey interview success.

The ideal practice partner:

1. Has similar goals and commitment level
2. Provides honest, constructive feedback
3. Can simulate interview pressure effectively
4. Is familiar with McKinsey’s interview style

University consulting clubs, online forums, and LinkedIn groups are good places to find suitable partners. Aim to practice with at least 3-4 different partners to experience varied interviewing styles.

During practice sessions, take turns playing interviewer and candidate. When interviewing, stay in character and avoid breaking to give advice mid-case. Save feedback for the end to maintain realistic pressure.

Advanced Preparation Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, these advanced techniques will help you stand out. They add polish to your performance.

First Principles Thinking

Rather than memorizing frameworks, successful McKinsey candidates develop the ability to break down any business problem to its fundamental elements.

• Train yourself to identify the true objective behind any case question
• Practice questioning assumptions that may limit solution spaces
• When facing a new problem, ask “What would we need to know to solve this?” before jumping to solutions
• Develop comfort with ambiguity by working through cases without clear paths forward
• Learn to design custom frameworks tailored to the specific problem at hand
• Practice explaining your approach in simple, logical terms that demonstrate clarity of thought
• Challenge yourself to identify multiple paths to solving the same problem
• When analyzing data, focus on finding insights rather than just describing what you see

This approach demonstrates intellectual horsepower and adaptability, qualities that McKinsey values more than knowledge of pre-packaged frameworks.

The MECE Mastery Drill

MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) thinking is fundamental to McKinsey’s approach. It’s the structure that supports your analysis.

To master this skill, practice breaking down everyday objects and concepts into MECE categories. Start simple and progress to complex topics.

For example, categorize ways to increase revenue (price increases, volume growth, new products, new markets). Ensure no overlap and no gaps.

Classify types of customers for a business (by size, industry, geography, needs). Check that each customer fits exactly one category.

List potential market entry strategies (organic growth, acquisition, partnership, licensing). Verify that all possibilities are covered.

This trains your brain to think in the structured manner McKinsey values. It becomes automatic with practice.

Mental Math Acceleration

McKinsey interviewers expect strong quantitative skills. Numbers should be friends, not enemies.

Practice mental math daily using techniques like rounding and approximation. Exact figures matter less than directional accuracy and speed.

Master percentage calculations, which appear in virtually every case. Know how to find percentages and percentage changes quickly.

Practice growth rate computations. Understand compound growth. Calculate simple growth rates in your head.

Learn break-even analysis fundamentals. How many units must be sold to cover fixed costs? How does a price change affect the break-even point?

Aim to solve basic calculations in under 30 seconds without paper or calculator. Speed builds confidence.

Remember that mental math in cases isn’t about being a human calculator. It’s about making reasonable estimates quickly to support decision-making.

Final Preparation Checklist

In the two weeks before your interview:

1. Review all key frameworks and concepts
2. Practice delivering your PEI stories concisely
3. Complete at least 15 full-length mock interviews
4. Get sufficient sleep and exercise to maintain mental sharpness
5. Research your specific interviewers if their names are provided

On interview day, arrive early, dress professionally, and focus on maintaining a positive, confident mindset.

Balancing Preparation Materials for McKinsey Success

The most successful candidates use a mix of resources rather than relying on just one type. This balanced approach ensures you develop all necessary skills.

Start with free resources to build fundamentals, invest in books for structured learning, consider courses for acceleration, and use coaching for refinement if needed.

Programs like High Bridge Academy’s Consulting Bootcamp offer a structured preparation path that combines all these elements. Their curriculum, designed by ex-MBB consultants, focuses on both case skills and PEI preparation with a proven track record of success.

The total investment can range from zero to several thousand dollars, but the return on a McKinsey offer makes even the higher end worthwhile. The average first-year compensation at McKinsey is often 50% higher than the market pay.

Remember that McKinsey is looking for how you think, not what you know. The best preparation materials teach you thinking processes rather than formulas.

Trust your preparation, stay calm under pressure, and show the authentic thinking that makes you valuable. The right preparation materials can open the door, but it’s your mind that will walk through it.

What questions do you have about preparing for McKinsey interviews? Schedule a discovery call with us to discuss your specific preparation needs and learn how our personalized coaching can help you stand out in McKinsey interviews.