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The Complete Guide to the BCG Online Case Experience: Conquering the Casey Chatbot (2024)

Last Updated on March 26, 2024

Cracking the door to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is no easy feat. Out of the numerous hopeful applicants, only 1-3% secure a consulting job offer with the firm. One key stepping stone in this journey is the BCG Online Case Assessment, also known as the Casey Chatbot Interview. The assessment’s pivotal nature has made it a crucial part of the BCG recruiting process.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a part of BCG’s team, understanding this new assessment model is your first step. Looking for how to prepare for the BCG Casey Chatbot Interview? You’re in the right place to start your journey.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unpack everything about the BCG Online Case Experience and the Chatbot interview. From what it entails, the skills it assesses, and how you can most effectively prepare, we’ll cover it all. So, let’s get started!

The content of this article has been updated in January 2024 to reflect the current version of the Casey.

BCG Online Case Experience: A Quick Overview

BCG Online Case Assessment, also known as the Casey Chatbot Interview, is a digital assessment where you’re guided through a specific business case by a chatbot named Casey. This chatbot interview has replaced the BCG Online Case or BCG Potential Test, assessing applicants’ problem-solving skills within a time-constrained environment.

Here are a few quick facts about the assessment:

Refer to practice guides for online case interviews to familiarize yourself with the question types and formats you’ll encounter. Our ultimate guide to BCG assessment preparation is designed to provide you with the resources and strategies you need to excel.

BCG Online Case: The Insider Guide

The BCG Online Case Guide is your resource to ace the Casey Chatbot Guide in no time with targeted preparation and test-taking strategies, skill building, and BCG-like, interactive practice tests.

Understanding the Purpose

The Casey Interview serves two primary goals:

• Efficiency & Cost-effectiveness : As a swift and economical method, it enables the assessment of a vast number of candidates. This additional step in the recruiting funnel lessens the number of candidates moving forward to case interviews, consequently reducing the hours consultants spend on interviewing applicants, thereby reducing the cost of recruitment over time. This is akin to the McKinsey Solve Game or the Bain SOVA test . The convenience of administering this test from home makes this an even more valuable investment for BCG, as HR resources only need to get involved lightly.
• Standardization & Comparability : The test, although involving different cases, is highly standardized with the same evaluation metrics. This enables BCG to compare candidate performance objectively, adding another layer of fairness to the process, a trait highly valued by top-tier consulting firms during recruiting.

Introducing the BCG Casey Chatbot Interview

In 2020, feedback regarding a new testing format that was initiated in Asian BCG offices and later extended to European and North American offices emerged. Since 2023, it appears that almost all offices use the Casey chatbot during the assessment. Nonetheless, we recommend reaching out to the HR department of your desired BCG office before applying to pre-empt any surprises.

The rise of chatbots has paved the way for them to be utilized in the hiring process, and BCG, being a forward-thinking top-tier consulting company, hopped on the bandwagon partnering with Casey, thereby replacing the former BCG Online Case and Potential Test (which was also computer-based but had to be taken from the local office, often in combination with the first-round case interview).

While the new format essentially tests the same skills as the classic online case – problem decomposition, analysis, and providing a recommendation – there are certain nuances to be aware of.

Key Features of the BCG Online Case Assessment

• Fully Online : The assessment is entirely online and can be taken from home before your interviews.
• Duration & Structure : The test lasts around 30 minutes (including the video recommendation) and comprises a maximum of 8-10 questions. This contrasts with the old format’s 45-minute duration and 23 questions.
• Open Questions : Unlike the previous single/multiple-choice questions, there are some open-ended questions.
• Scoring : The scoring of answers isn’t transparent as they also encompass qualitative elements, however, no points are deducted for incorrect answers.
• Use of Calculators : Since the test is taken from home, calculators or the use of Excel are allowed. The emphasis is on quickly devising the right calculation approach.
• Video Recommendation : At the conclusion of the test, a brief, 1-minute video recording is required where you explain your recommendations and analytical approach to a fictional client.

Understanding the Skillset Assessed by BCG’s Casey Chatbot

For those seeking an edge in their consulting job application, mastering the BCG Casey Chatbot strategy is essential.

BCG has developed the Casey chatbot to replicate the dynamic environment of a traditional case interview online. But what exactly are the skills Casey evaluates during an online case assessment? Here’s an in-depth look at each skill and practical examples of how they manifest during the test-taking stage.

Idea Generation and Creativity

Mastering business case analysis for BCG is a key component of your preparation, enhancing your ability to tackle complex problems effectively. The ability to think outside the box and generate innovative ideas is a critical skill assessed by BCG. The firm values individuals who can produce fresh perspectives and creative solutions to complex problems. For example, during the online case assessment, you might be given a scenario where a company is experiencing a decline in sales. A creative solution might involve leveraging untapped markets or developing novel marketing strategies rather than simply reducing costs.

Business Sense and Intuition

A strong business acumen, encompassing an understanding of market dynamics, industry trends, and economic factors, is another vital skill for potential consultants. During the assessment, you might be presented with a case about a firm planning to launch a new product. A test-taker with a keen business sense would consider aspects like potential competition, target audience, and economic conditions before deciding on the feasibility of the product launch.

Analytical Rigor and Logical Thinking

Improving problem-solving skills for consulting is vital, as these skills are at the heart of what BCG looks for in candidates. BCG seeks individuals capable of rigorous analysis and logical reasoning. This skill involves breaking down complex issues into manageable parts, identifying patterns, and making data-driven decisions. For instance, in a case scenario involving a company with declining profits, you would need to analyze different aspects like revenue, costs, market share, and competitors. Using logical thinking, you’d pinpoint the root causes of the problem and suggest appropriate solutions.

Mental Math and Affinity for Numbers

Strong quantitative skills, particularly mental math, and comfort with numbers are crucial in management consulting. BCG’s online case assessment may present you with numerical data, graphs, or charts that you must interpret quickly and accurately. For example, you might be asked to calculate the company’s profit margin or forecast future sales based on given data.

Top-Down Communication

Effective communication, especially the ability to present complex information succinctly, is another skill assessed by BCG. The online assessment may require you to explain your solutions or strategies concisely. In a practical scenario, you might be asked to summarize a complex turnaround strategy for a struggling business in a few key points.

Lastly, BCG values maturity, which they define as the ability to handle pressure, make sound judgments, and demonstrate professional behavior. In a case assessment, this could be reflected in how you handle time management or how you present yourself at the end during the video recommendation. Maturity could also be evaluated indirectly by looking at how you manage a crisis situation for a client or make tough decisions that balance business goals with ethical considerations.

In summary, BCG’s online case assessment evaluates a wide range of skills crucial in the management consulting field. By understanding these key areas and how they might be tested, you can better prepare and enhance your performance in the assessment.

Key Themes in the BCG Online Case Assessment

The Online Case Assessment is an in-depth examination of your consulting skills, drawing parallels to the interviewer-led case interviews used by other top-tier firms like McKinsey. This test revolves around four central themes – each evaluating your skills discussed above. Let’s delve into these themes, provide an understanding of their relevance in the online case assessment, and present practical examples that can appear during the test.

Structuring

At the heart of problem-solving lies the art of structuring. BCG’s online case assessment evaluates your ability to dissect a complex issue into more manageable components. It’s about creating a roadmap at the onset of the case interview that will guide your investigation process. For example, if you’re asked to devise a strategy for boosting a company’s declining sales, you might structure the problem into key areas such as market analysis, competitive landscape, internal processes, and customer behavior.

For more information on case frameworks and structures, read our article here:

The Complete Guide to Case Interview Frameworks and Structuring

Chart Interpretation

An essential aspect of the case assessment is chart or data interpretation. This skill tests your ability to extract vital insights from charts or data sets and relate them back to the case question and the client’s situation. For instance, you might be given a graph showing a company’s sales performance over several quarters. The task could involve identifying trends or anomalies in the data and providing a meaningful interpretation relevant to the client’s challenge.

For more information on chart interpretation, read our article here:

The Complete Guide to Charts and Exhibits in Case Interviews

Case Interview Math

Another theme emphasized in the BCG online case assessment is case interview math. Here, you’re expected to apply mathematical business analysis to a problem, followed by a qualitative investigation of the resulting numerical data or deriving specific recommendations. A practical example could involve determining the breakeven point for a new product launch. You would have to calculate the number of units needed to cover the product’s fixed and variable costs and then derive strategic implications from the result.

For more information on case interview math, read our article here:

The Complete Guide to Case Interview Math

The final theme is synthesis, which demands you compile all your collected insights and formulate a strategic recommendation for your client. Synthesis allows you to showcase your big-picture thinking and your ability to draw conclusions from a wide array of data. For example, after analyzing market trends, customer preferences, and internal capabilities for a product expansion case, you might need to provide a clear and actionable recommendation, such as expanding into a particular market or enhancing certain product features.

For more information on case interview communication, read our articles here:

How to Communicate in a Case Interview

Case Interview Language

The Pyramid Principle: A Guide to Effective Business Communication

The Question Types of the BCG Online Case

Taking up to 30 minutes (with the video recommendation), the BCG Chatbot interview stands as a test of your ability to navigate complex business problems. Unlike the typical candidate-led style at BCG, the Casey chatbot leads you through the case, posing questions that will ultimately guide your analysis to a fruitful conclusion.

The eight to ten questions you’ll encounter are presented in different question formats and revolve around integral aspects of a case study. This includes the structuring of your analysis, identifying the appropriate data needed for problem-solving, employing simple case math, and interpreting exhibits. It’s worth noting that these questions may build upon each other, emphasizing the importance of recalling previous answers as you progress.

Finally, you’ll be given two attempts to record a 1-minute synthesis and recommendation, wrapping up your analysis succinctly and effectively. This finale is crucial in demonstrating your understanding of the case and providing strategic advice akin to a real consulting scenario.

Understanding the various question types in the BCG Online Case Assessment is key to maximizing your performance. This guide will closely examine the different formats and share strategic tips for tackling each type.

Let’s look into the question types and format more closely.

Single-Choice Questions

In the context of the BCG Online Case, a single-choice question is a type of question that presents several options but requires you to select only one correct or most appropriate answer. These questions are used to assess your problem-solving skills, business acumen, or analytical abilities.

For instance, you might be asked, “Which of the following strategies should the client implement to boost their revenue growth?” The options could include various strategic initiatives such as market expansion, product diversification, cost reduction, etc. Your task is to select the single strategy that you believe is the most suitable based on the case information provided.

Multiple-Choice Questions

A multiple-choice question in the BCG Online Case allows you to select more than one correct answer from the options provided. These questions typically surface when there are multiple valid responses to a given problem or scenario in the case.

For example, the question could be, “What data should we gather to analyze the company’s declining profits?” The answer options might encompass various data points such as sales data, cost structure, market trends, and competitor analysis. Here, depending on the context of the case, several of these data types could be relevant, and you would select all that apply to analyze the problem at hand effectively.

Both single-choice and multiple-choice questions can offer a range of 2 to 10 choices. Case queries may adhere to any of the following formats:

• Hypothesis-forming questions: “What assumptions would you make in addressing this issue?”
• Problem-solving queries: “Given these obstacles, what remedies would you propose to our client?”
• Value proposition queries: “What should the client provide to meet their customers’ needs?”
• Evidence-seeking questions: “What information would you like to analyze to understand this better?”

As a general rule, start by eliminating responses that seem irrelevant before focusing on the more plausible answers. Consider using decision tree logic for a structured approach to each question, whether it involves math or a word problem.

1. Carefully Read the Questions and Answers: Before diving into the options, ensure you fully understand the question. A misinterpreted question can lead to an incorrect answer. Similarly, thoroughly read through all the answer choices. Some options may be designed to sound correct but could be misleading.

2. Process of Elimination: If you’re unsure about the correct answer, use a process of elimination. Identify choices that are clearly incorrect or irrelevant and eliminate them. This can narrow down your options and increase your odds of selecting the correct answer.

3. Look for Cues in the Question: Sometimes, the question itself can provide cues or hints towards the correct answer. Watch for any specific words or phrases that could guide you to the correct choice.

4. Don’t Overthink: While you should consider all options carefully, avoid overthinking. Typically, the most straightforward answer is often the correct one.

5. Beware of the “All of the Above” Option: If one of the options is “all of the above” or “none of the above”, consider it carefully. These options can be correct, but they can also serve as distractors.

6. Use Your Case Knowledge: Your understanding of the case and its details can help you make an informed choice. If an option doesn’t align with the case details you’ve studied, it’s likely not the correct answer.

Open-Format Questions

Open-format questions are more interested in your thought process rather than the final result. Unlike multiple-choice questions that provide a product score, these questions allow BCG to gain insight into your analytical thinking and award a process score. You might be asked to describe your logic for a numerical answer or write about your thought process around a particular issue or analysis outcome.

For example, “If you had to prioritize one answer from above, state which one and why?”

Approaching open-format questions in the BCG Online Case requires a blend of critical thinking, clarity in communication, and a solid understanding of the case context. Here are a few tips on how to effectively tackle these questions:

1. Understand the Question Fully: Before you begin to formulate your response, make sure you understand what the question is asking. It may be helpful to rephrase the question in your own words to ensure you’ve grasped the core ask.

2. Prioritize Logical Thinking: Remember, these questions are designed to assess your thought process more than the final outcome. Make sure you showcase your logical and analytical thinking in your responses. For example, if you’re asked to describe your logic for a numerical answer, don’t just provide the number; explain how you arrived at it step-by-step.

3. Be Structured and Coherent: Given these questions often require written responses, it’s crucial to be clear and structured in your explanation. Use clear language, follow a logical flow, and break down complex thoughts into smaller, understandable parts.

4. Justify Your Choices: Whenever you make a decision or a choice, be sure to provide justification. If a question asks you to prioritize an answer, explain why you chose that particular one. Highlight the reasons behind your choice, linking back to the case’s details, objectives, or challenges.

5. Keep it Concise: While it’s important to be thorough in your explanations, avoid being overly verbose. Strive to communicate your thought process as succinctly and directly as possible.

6. Review and Edit: Finally, don’t forget to proofread your response for clarity, grammar, and coherence before moving on. It’s important that your thought process comes across as clear and polished.

Fill-In Questions

Fill-in questions require you to provide a numerical answer or complete a statement. These questions typically assess your ability to understand and interpret data.

An example could be, “Variable manufacturing cost increased by <xx.x%> over the last year.”

1. Understand the Context: Before you start calculating or formulating an answer, ensure that you fully understand the context of the question. Know what’s being asked and how the data you’re working with relates to the overall case.

2. Check the Unit of Measurement: When dealing with numerical answers, it’s crucial to confirm the unit of measurement the question requires. Whether it’s a percentage, a currency, or a unit of volume, getting the unit right is as important as getting the number right.

3. Use a Systematic Approach: When tackling numerical problems, try to break them down into smaller, manageable steps. This will make your calculations easier to handle and also reduce the chance of errors.

4. Review Your Calculations: Double-check your calculations to ensure accuracy. A small computational error can lead to a significantly wrong answer, which could impact your overall performance.

5. Be Concise and Direct: When completing a statement, be concise and direct. Avoid unnecessary jargon or complex sentence structures. The goal is to communicate your answer clearly and effectively.

6. Refer Back to the Case Details: If you’re unsure about your answer, refer back to the case details. There might be information there that can guide you to the correct response.

Video Recommendation

For the video recommendation, you’ll need to record a one-minute statement summarizing the case and offering a recommendation. This closely mirrors the synthesis and summary section of a traditional case interview.

The trick here is to structure your answer using the pyramid principle: start with your recommendation (“Based on our analysis, I recommend the following <x> actions”), signpost your arguments (“because of the following <x> reasons”), provide supporting arguments (First, …, Second, …), and discuss next steps and potential risks (“This entails certain risks,…”, “To mitigate we would need to…”).

Remember, you’re given one attempt for this section. So, make your shots count!

As an example, “Provide a recommendation for the client on resolving their low revenue situation.”

Video recommendations in the BCG Online Case represent an opportunity to bring together all your insights from the case and articulate a cohesive strategy for the client. Here are some tips on how to effectively approach this question type:

1. Practice Clear and Concise Communication: Remember, you only have one minute to deliver your recommendation. Make sure your message is clear and direct. Avoid using jargon or overly complex sentences.

2. Follow a Logical Structure: A well-structured recommendation can significantly boost its effectiveness. A recommended structure might be:

• Begin with a brief summary of the case (not critical for success)
• State your main recommendation.
• Provide supporting arguments or evidence.
• Discuss potential risks and ways to mitigate them.

3. Leverage the Pyramid Principle: The pyramid principle is a communication technique where you start with your most important point (your recommendation) and then provide supporting arguments. This ensures that even if your time is cut short, the most crucial information has been communicated.

4. Be Persuasive: Your recommendation should be persuasive. Clearly articulate why your proposed solution is the best way forward, leveraging data and insights from the case.

5. Showcase Your Presentation Skills: Use this opportunity to demonstrate your presentation skills. Speak clearly, maintain a good posture, and try to appear confident and composed. Remember, your communication style can be as important as the content of your recommendation.

6. Review and Practice: Before you record your final take, practice your recommendation a few times. This can help ensure a smooth delivery and also helps identify any areas that need refinement. You have two attempts to record your video, but it’s best to aim to get it right the first time.

7. Keep Time Constraints in Mind: Keep your recommendation succinct and on-point, respecting the time limit. Having a timer nearby while practicing could be helpful.

If you inadvertently select the “incorrect” choices in the multiple-choice questions or gravitate towards an area with minimal scope for improvement, the chatbot will attempt to guide you back on track through a series of follow-up questions.

The easiest way to spot these questions is to identify if they’re aiming to dispute, modify, or cast uncertainty over your case approach (e.g., “Are you confident you’ve gathered enough information to draw that inference?”).

Sometimes, it could be that you’ve fully explored one aspect of the problem, finding no root cause or potential for improvement. However, in other instances, it may indicate that there’s a flaw in your strategy. So, when confronted with these types of questions, it’s advisable to take a brief pause to ensure you haven’t overlooked any aspects of your case dissection.

Optimize Your BCG Online Case Assessment Preparation

The BCG Online Case Assessment has been a key feature of the interview process for some time now, resulting in candidates being generally well-equipped and leading to a noticeable uptick in overall scores. To truly distinguish yourself and impress Casey in this new landscape, you’ll need to adopt innovative strategies in addition to established ones.

We’ve broken down the preparation process into a manageable 2-step strategy designed to help you outshine your peers in your upcoming assessment. Follow these BCG Online Case prep tips:

• Our comprehensive guide on the BCG Chatbot Case, featuring real sample tests
• BCG Invitation Email and PDF
• BCG Online Case Assessment Practice Test
• This very article
• Sample Tests from StrategyCase.com
• BCG Interactive Case Library
• Previous BCG Online Cases and Potential Tests
• McKinsey interviewer-led cases
• Former McKinsey Problem Solving Tests
• Live case practice with mentors and fellow aspirants
• Business school case compendiums
• Business and financial periodicals

Devote particular attention to developing the following skills:

• Math : Practice creating equations to determine a specific value or figure. Certain questions in the case might require you to calculate a particular number. This could be straightforward arithmetic (for example, calculating a growth rate with three variables), or more complex scenarios where you need to devise an intricate calculation strategy. Hence, honing the skill of constructing formulas in complex systems is key.
• Reading comprehension: Learn to extract key points from intricate business texts and interpret their core statements.
• Chart, table, and data interpretation: Strengthen your ability to comprehend, interpret complex data, and draw accurate conclusions from it.
• Logical reasoning: Perfect your deductive skills to discern correct statements from various information sources. Preparing for GMAT reasoning questions can prove extremely beneficial for this.
• Top-Down Synthesis and Communication : To tackle summary and synthesis questions, you’ll need to master the pyramid principle, similar to a case interview.

In this preparation journey, both a holistic approach to the test and a strategic response to each individual question are crucial for your success.

Maximize Your Performance During the Test

What habits can boost your performance during the test?

Stay calm. The competencies evaluated and the variety of questions are identical to those in the case interview. Here are some essential tips to adhere to before and during the examination.

Test-Taking Habits for the BCG Online Case

Optimize Your System Setup

• Ensure your computer and internet connection are compatible with the sample test before initiating the actual exam. Have a backup internet connection ready via your mobile device.
• Chrome is the recommended browser for the exam, so make sure it’s ready for use.
• Verify that your webcam is functional and not obstructed by other applications.
• Keep a coffee or water handy before commencing the final segment of the assessment.

Manage Your Surroundings

• Choose a tranquil environment with no background noises for the test.
• Minimize potential distractions and inform those around you to avoid disturbing you for the upcoming 30 minutes.

Focus on the Questions

• Pay close attention to the instructions and question briefs to avoid simple errors and traps.
• Jot down the most crucial facts to keep them accessible throughout the assessment.
• Keep all exhibit tabs open for future reference as you can’t revisit previous answers and exhibits.

Maintain a Finisher Mindset

• Be prepared with a strategy to tackle every question type and decision, such as eliminating incorrect options for multiple-choice questions.
• Progress through each question quickly and accurately. Remember that once an answer is submitted, it’s final, and questions must be answered in the order they appear.

Monitor the Clock

• Stay mindful of the overall test timing and the timing for each question.
• Don’t allow frustration over a previous question to slow your pace for the remainder of the exam.

Avoid Falling into Common Pitfalls

Feedback from our client interviews about the assessment highlighted four primary challenges they encountered:

• The persistent time pressure throughout the assessment.
• The increased difficulty level compared to the BCG’s practice test, particularly for math questions.
• The overall format left some test-takers uncertain about the best way to answer questions.
• The stress induced when an incorrect answer was selected, as the chatbot immediately informs you in order to progress the case in the correct direction.

Your Comprehensive Guide to BCG Online Case Experience

We’ve developed an all-in-one solution for all BCG Aptitude assessments. The BCG assessment guide offers detailed insights into navigating the complexities of the Casey Chatbot Interview. Our extensive 123-page BCG Casey Chatbot Interview guide, created in collaboration with previous test-takers and BCG insiders, covers the chatbot interview, the online case, the one-way video interview, and the Pymetrics. The guide provides:

• A thorough breakdown of each assessment, the skills tested, and tips on the best ways to approach each.
• The most effective preparation advice, tools, and exercises for each assessment.
• Insider strategies for taking the tests to optimize your scores for each test and game.
• 5 sample Casey tests to mirror the real BCG Online Case Assessment experience.

By following this guide, you’ll be able to

• answer all questions accurately within the stipulated time
• present yourself impressively for the recommendation part
• practice most efficiently and save time
• stay confident that you’re always preparing for the most current version

SALE: $ 89 / $54

Frequently Asked Questions about the BCG Online Case

Welcome to our FAQ section, where we aim to address your most pressing queries about the BCG Online Case Experience. Let’s dive in.

What is the BCG Online Case Assessment, and how does it work? It’s a digital assessment tool used by BCG to evaluate candidates’ problem-solving skills through a business case study, guided by a chatbot named Casey.

How can I prepare for the Casey Chatbot Interview effectively? Familiarize yourself with the format, practice case study elements, and drills, improve your data analysis and problem-solving skills, and utilize professional practice resources.

What skills does the BCG Casey Chatbot Interview assess? The assessment focuses on problem-solving, analytical thinking, business acumen, logical reasoning, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.

Are there any tools or resources to help practice for the BCG Online Case? BCG offers specific preparation resources, including sample cases and practice tests. Additionally, we offer useful guides, practice tests, drills, and mock interviews.

How is the BCG Online Case Assessment structured? The assessment includes 8-10 analytical questions, covering multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blanks, open-ended questions, and a final video recommendation, within a 30-minute time frame.

Can I use a calculator or other aids during the BCG Online Case? Yes, the use of calculators and Excel is permitted to help with calculations and data analysis during the assessment. You can even use AI tools such as ChatGPT to help you with your answers.

What happens if I don’t pass the BCG Online Case Assessment? Candidates who do not pass the assessment may have to wait before they can reapply. It’s essential to check with BCG’s specific reapplication policies .

How does the BCG Online Case Experience compare to traditional case interviews? While traditional case interviews involve interactive problem-solving with an interviewer, the online case assessment is digital and self-guided, testing similar skills in a different format.

What are the best strategies for approaching the video recommendation part? Organize your thoughts clearly, start with a strong recommendation, support it with key arguments, and practice delivering your points concisely within the time limit.

Utilize these BCG Casey Chatbot Interview strategies to navigate the digital assessment with confidence and poise. By navigating the BCG Online Case Experience effectively, you’re not just preparing for an assessment; you’re laying the groundwork for a successful career in consulting.

We hope this guide offers you a solid foundation for your BCG Online Case Experience preparation.

If you have any specific questions or need further clarification on any topic mentioned here, please feel free to ask in the comments section below. We are eager to help you conquer the Casey Chatbot and advance in your consulting career journey!

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Florian spent 5 years with McKinsey as a senior consultant. He is an experienced consulting interviewer and problem-solving coach, having interviewed 100s of candidates in real and mock interviews. He started StrategyCase.com to make top-tier consulting firms more accessible for top talent, using tailored and up-to-date know-how about their recruiting. He ranks as the most successful consulting case and fit interview coach, generating more than 500 offers with MBB, tier-2 firms, Big 4 consulting divisions, in-house consultancies, and boutique firms through direct coaching of his clients over the last 3.5 years. His books “The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview” and “Consulting Career Secrets” are available via Amazon.

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• Casey - BCG’s chatbot online case study - 2023 guide

Casey, or the BCG Chatbot Case, is the new iteration of BCG’s Online Case aptitude test.

With Casey, BCG replaces a more traditional test with multiple choice questions with a chatbot meant to more closely mimic a real case interview - if that interview were conducted over WhatsApp rather than over a desk.

Given your performance will be a big part of whether you make it to the next round of selection - and ultimately whether you manage to land your job at BCG - the stakes are high!

To make matters worse, candidates have said that this new test is very difficult, with huge time pressure.

Obviously then, you’re going to want to prepare for Casey properly. Don’t panic - we’ve got you covered!

In this article, we’ll start by getting you up to speed with what Casey is and how BCG implement it in their selection process. We’ll also provide some useful background on why BCG wants to use this kind of test in the first place.

Once you understand what you are up against, we’ll cover how you can prepare for Casey and how this fits into your wider preparation.

Importantly, we’ll include some guidance on how your preparation should change depending on how long you have until test day. An optimal prep will be considerably different if you’re reading this a couple of months before you apply, versus just after BCG have sent you your invitation to sit the test. Either way though, there is a lot you can do to improve your chances!

Let’s dive right in…

What is Casey?

In short, Casey is a business case study administered automatically. The idea is that it should simulate a traditional case interview but with a chatbot standing in for the human interviewer.

Generally, you will be asked to sit Casey at home on your own computer rather than come in to a BCG location, as was sometimes required with previous tests.

Casey splits a single focal case study into eight to ten questions to be completed in 30 minutes.

As part of this, your last task is to deliver your final recommendation in a 60-second video, recorded on your webcam. The time limit here is very strict, and candidates have noted being automatically cut off when they ran beyond it.

Casey’s interface looks quite like Slack or even WhatsApp or SMS, with the characteristic text balloons from you and the chatbot displayed over a background image.

As such, Casey is presented much like a real conversation. However, despite the very naturalistic look, for the time being, this appears not to be some advanced AI you are chatting with. Instead, the chatbot will ask a series of standardised questions without giving you any feedback or notable interaction etc in between. Given the obvious, and well publicised, advances in AI chatbots , though, this seems likely to change in future iterations of Casey.

As it is, the current lack of feedback from the Casey chatbot has some important implications for the nature of this test and how you approach it - which we will explain in more detail shortly.

Question formats

Unlike the previous BCG Online Case and similar assessments like the old McKinsey PST, Casey is not only limited to multiple choice questions, but contains a mix of different question formats.

Some questions are indeed multiple choice (sometimes allowing you to pick more than one answer), others require you to fill in a number or write a single sentence in a box and others still require you to record your full rationale and/or mathematical working.

Of course, most distinct of all is the final recommendation to be delivered as a strictly timed 60-second video recorded on your webcam.

The previous BCG Online Case used negative scoring for wrong answers. Thus it was better not to guess for a question where you really didn’t have a clue, as wrong answers actively deducted points from your final score.

However, this is no longer a consideration in Casey, as there is no option to skip giving an answer to questions. An answer is required for you to move on to the next question, so you have no choice but to give your best guess, even if you aren’t sure.

One important point to note for time management is that questions are not necessarily singular, but can be subdivided into multiple smaller sub-questions. Thus, you cannot necessarily assume that you will be able to get through the next question in the same time you did the last, as it might be subdivided into more parts. The only thing to do is to work as fast as you can all the time .

Related to the above, you cannot navigate between questions in Casey. You simply complete one and are moved to the next. You cannot return to change your answers to previous questions, nor can you preview questions you haven’t seen yet. This is an important difference versus some other tests and interfaces like Typeforms that Casey might otherwise resemble.

Question interdependence

BCG claims that the questions in Casey are all independent, such that if you mess up one, that shouldn’t stop you from getting the subsequent questions right.

However, this is not how test-takers have experienced Casey.

In practice, those invited to sit Casey find that making mistakes in earlier questions will seriously influence whether you are able to get the correct answers for later questions.

It might be that Casey questions are separable at a strict, logical level but that, in practice, your initial approach to the case will often set you up for success or failure throughout. This would seem more likely to be true in practice with a test where heavy time pressure will realistically prevent a candidate from starting again from an entirely new framing of the overarching case study. Instead, test takers will be forced to rely on their same overall interpretation and structuring of the case throughout - such that getting off to a bad start will make it likely they approach subsequent questions wrongly.

Whatever the underlying truth of the matter, the practical takeaway remains the same - even though you’re up against the clock, you need to work as carefully as possible and check your working as far as time allows . In particular, you need to double-check all your maths, as making a mistake at the start can mean inputting the wrong numbers into all your subsequent calculations.

This issue is exacerbated by the fact that, as discussed below, Casey does not provide feedback or prompts in response to wrong answers, so there is nothing to nudge you onto the correct path again if you take a wrong turn.

Prep the right way

How is casey different from a case interview.

Since BCG and other firms are increasingly conducting at least some fraction of their live case interviews via video call rather than in person, one might be excused for wondering if there is really any meaningful difference between Casey and “real” case interviews beyond working in text rather than verbally.

Certainly, the two are pretty similar in terms of their requirements on the candidate. After all, as we’ll discuss below, Casey is fundamentally a cost-effective stand-in for one or more live interviews. Much the same skills are tested, and your preparation for both Casey and standard case interviews will very heavily elide.

However, Casey isn’t a perfect simulation of a traditional case interview and, importantly, those points of difference actually impose some distinct and notable challenges that you need to bear seriously in mind for a successful preparation and test day.

Let’s take a closer look:

• More Time Pressure - Case interviews can already be pretty time-pressured, but candidates often note that Casey is even worse. As opposed to the McKinsey Solve assessment, which is designed to give ample time and not overly hurry candidates, Casey piles on the pressure. There are even captions regularly reminding you how much time you have remaining and candidates are simply cut off if they don’t finish recording their final video recommendation in time.
• No Interviewer Feedback - This might seem trivial if you are new to case studies, but the fact that the Casey chatbot does not supply appropriate prompts/hints if you get stuck or point out minor mistakes before you move on is a major difference. In a traditional case interview, the interviewer can somewhat coach a candidate to get them through a question. This isn’t simply charitable but gives the interviewer a fuller view of how you think at each step of the problem rather than stopping as soon as you make one error. The fact this isn’t present with Casey means that initial calculation errors or mistakes with initial structuring can easily mess up your whole approach to a question. This ideally means checking twice and working in a more methodical, careful manner - though this is easier said than done under such heavy time pressure…
• Calculators Allowed - A glaring difference versus a standard case interview is that calculators and other, similar tools are allowed. Much like the McKinsey Solve assessment, with your Casey test completed at home, BCG make no attempt to stop you having whatever you like on hand at your desk. This might seem like a ray of hope to candidates with less of a quantitative background. However, this actually makes things tougher…
• Heightened Demands on Mathematical Skills - An increased demand on your mathematical ability in Casey versus a traditional case interview emerges as a result of the previous two points. The fact that you have basic arithmetic covered by your calculator means that Casey is free to test your mathematical skill in other dimensions. Thus, there will generally be a significantly increased demand - at least versus the average case interview - on your ability to form equations and generally to think through more complex, multi-step calculations. The real challenge is likely to be how you set up your approach to the question and the specific route you take through calculations rather than simply manipulating the numbers. This might suit those from an “academic maths” background a little more than a standard interview.
• Interpret Text Fast - Whilst a case interview is verbal, Casey requires you to read, digest and understand relatively substantial blocks of text very quickly. In this regard, Casey is more similar to a GMAT or the old McKinsey PST than the rest of BCG’s selection process.

How is Casey implemented in the BCG selection process?

At time of writing, Casey appears to be used differently by different BCG offices. However, it is not clear if this is simply a comparative trial of different methods for one pipeline to subsequently be adopted across the firm, or if this is simply a case of different offices exercising latitude in how they operate their own selection processes. Time will tell.

Currently, though, there appear to be two main ways in which Casey is used:

Casey as gatekeeper

Many offices will employ Casey as part of one or more pre-interview stages of selection that must be passed before being invited to a live interview.

Casey might be employed alone at this stage or might be leveraged alongside an HR phone screen and/or additional online selection tools, potentially including the SparkHire automated fit interviews, the Pymetrics Test or the BCG Potential Test.

Accounts from applicants suggest significant inter-office variation here. However, one relatively consistent feature of this MO is that subsequent live case interviews will tend to be conducted in person, on location. In this case, Casey will have straightforwardly acted to thin down the candidate pool before any interviews are conducted by real humans at all.

There is also some evidence that this use of Casey-as-gatekeeper might be more prevalent where offices are selecting candidates for internships or lower-ranking positions than for more senior roles.

Casey as interview supplement

Possibly more common is using Casey as part of the first round of case interviews. Casey will thus be deployed alongside one or more live case interviews, presumably replacing one or more additional live interviews that might be performed otherwise.

With this MO, the entire first round will typically be conducted online and candidates will often be asked to sit Casey on the same day as they attend one or more live interviews via Zoom.

This usage of Casey is interesting, though, as the fact they still employ Casey beside a live interview at all suggests that BCG finds some utility in their online chatbot beyond it being a pale, cost-cutting imitation of a real interview. We explore some possible synergies between Casey and “real” interviews below.

Does everyone get the same case?

This is very hard to confirm for sure, but the short answer is “yes and no”.

It does seem that BCG will often make use of at least very similar cases for all the applicants in a particular geographic region over a particular period of time.

Thus, everyone in South East Asia might get the same case in a particular hiring cycle, whilst everyone in North America might get another.

However - and this is important - even if everyone applying this year to the same office as you are saying they got, for example, the same case study about an airline with a profitability problem, that doesn’t mean these cases are actually exactly the same.

One of the touted features of Casey is to be able to score candidates on fundamental traits, so that those candidates can still be robustly ranked despite being given different questions.

This would be very similar to McKinsey’s approach with their Solve assessment (also known as the PSG) where, at time of writing, every candidate will get slightly different versions of the same two basic games. For some candidates, the settings of the games will change - the same challenges might be set in an alpine, aquatic or jungle environment, for instance. For other test takers though, simply the raw parameters in the game will change. So an ostensibly very similar scenario might contain different numbers of species to work with, have different stats associated with those species etc.

These arbitrary differences stop any candidate from having an unfair advantage because they heard some details from someone else who took the test before them. However, the differences are simultaneously not sufficiently profound to mean that candidates cannot be usefully ranked - McKinsey is able to look through the minor differences in the exact games and rank candidate performance regardless.

Information is still relatively scant for the time being, and it seems that changes are being made more frequently than the more established Solve assessment. However, the key takeaway is that, whilst you should pay attention to what other test takers are saying, you shouldn’t assume that will get the same case as them - and you should absolutely not plan to simply enter someone else’s answers into your own Casey test!

Why do BCG use this kind of assessment?

Casey is effectively a modernised iteration of BCG’s older Online Case.

BCG is far from the only big consulting firm starting to leverage reasonably advanced modern aptitude tests as part of their selection process. At high level, McKinsey’s Solve assessment and the Pymetrics test leveraged by a number of consulting firms (sometimes including BCG) fulfil much the same function.

In the past, all these firms used more traditional aptitude tests. These would typically be multiple choice, broadly GMAT-style tests, conducted on pen and paper in exam rooms supervised by company staff. Latterly, candidates would be asked to sit similar tests on company computers rather than on paper.

However, as these tests became digital, it became possible to have candidates sit them at home rather than on location, and this at-home testing has since become the norm.

Notably, other major firms - in particular McKinsey and Bain - have gone in a somewhat different direction to BCG in terms of the specific tests they have adopted. Elsewhere, the move has largely been towards tests that assess the same fundamental cognitive traits as a case interview, but outside of a business context and requiring little or no mathematics. However, BCG has been moving to a more and more direct simulation of a case interview, with obviously high demands on business knowledge and mathematical competence.

What do modern aptitude tests offer?

Importantly though, all these tests fill the same basic role. Let’s take a quick look at a few things modern aptitude tests offer consulting firms:

Cost-Cutting

Bluntly put, for all these firms, the primary reason for employing these tests is as a straightforward cost saver.

Whilst the theory and computational methods underpinning aptitude tests are improving at a formidable pace, it seems fairly certain that the real-life case interview will continue to be the gold standard means of selecting new consultants until such time as an AI can replace human consultants entirely.

The problem for BCG and similar firms is that real case interviews are expensive in terms of both staff time and disruption to projects.

Conducting in-person case interviews involves pulling consultants off active engagements, potentially requiring them to fly back to their home office if they are working on-site. Make this issue exponentially worse for second-round interviews requiring a partner to lead them.

The result is that consulting firms want to minimise the number of case interviews conducted per new hire as far as possible.

This problem is of course all the more pressing in light of the sheer volume of applications per position top-end firms like BCG receive. For sure, the majority will always be cut at the resume screen, but there will still be far more high-quality candidates than can ever be given multiple case interviews.

Many BCG offices appear to use Casey in precisely the same manner as other firms use Solve, Sova or Pymetrics. That is, to significantly reduce the candidate pool before proceeding those who remain on to the case interview round of selection. Clearly, this hugely reduces the number of interviews needed to finally winnow down the pool. Even for those BCG offices using Casey in parallel with real case interviews, at the same stage in the selection process, having candidates sit Casey will be replacing one or more traditional interviews and thus keeping costs down.

The demands of the Covid pandemic accelerated a general trend towards at-home testing and interviews, making more of the selection process for major corporates remote. However, even before the pandemic, there were other reasons to move recruitment online.

One of these reasons for at-home testing was the ability to cast a wider net in finding new talent - allowing those candidates living outside major cities with BCG offices and/or target universities to get a foot in the door in the selection process without having to find the time and money for trains, planes and automobiles to make it to BCG’s physical location.

Importantly, this isn’t just an ethical matter but makes good raw business sense. Expanding the pool of candidates competing for roles should, all things being equal, increase the quality of those being selected at the end of the process. BCG and similar firms’ business models ultimately rely on recruiting the very best talent available - and they simply can’t rely on this being located a stone’s throw from their own office.

Environmental

Another advantage of moving to a more remote selection process is a reduction in carbon emissions - and especially air miles - associated with the recruitment process. Thus, tests like Casey not only allow BCG and similar firms to save money on interviews but also derive some PR gain around their ESG credentials.

Casey might be better for BCG than just another case interview

An interesting consideration is that the differences between Casey and a real interview aren’t just shortcomings of Casey as a lower-cost simulation of an in-person interview, but might also be leveraged as positive advantages by BCG when employed in synergy with traditional case interviews.

In simpler terms, it might well be that some aspects of Casey allow BCG to gather useful information they wouldn’t have been able to access via case interviews alone.

An easy example from above is that Casey allows BCG to get an assessment of the candidate’s mathematical skills in a different dimension to a case interview. The traditional interview will largely test mental arithmetic and particularly the ability to make estimations and conduct quick calculations.

Casey then allows BCG to assess the same candidate’s mathematical reasoning at a higher level, separated from the need to conduct raw calculations.

However, there are potentially more significant synergies with in-person interviews.

BCG notes that Casey offers more of an objective, absolute assessment, and thus ranking, of candidates. This can have some real advantages in, for instance, taking account of the differences between individual interviewers.

In effect, the absolute scores generated by Casey could let BCG “calibrate” the assessments offered by different human interviewers - ironing out the differences between those who are more or less demanding - or potentially even helping account for systematic biases.

Since Casey is employed globally, there might also be some utility for BCG in making a similar examination of differences in recruitment between different offices. Thus, BCG would be able to notice if the calibre of candidates, as scored by Casey, was notably lower at certain locations - possibly allowing for ameliorative action from headquarters if large differentials started to develop.

We can expect that a firm like BCG, which needs to be at the cutting edge and sells itself to clients based on having exceptionally high-quality staff, will care a great deal about maintaining high standards across a global operation. Indeed, this is an issue other large firms explicitly contend with - as we see with Amazon dispatching its “ Bar Raisers ” even to the most far-flung locations to make sure that only the best new employees are hired. Casey might help BCG accomplish some measure of the same quality control.

Impress your interviewer

How can i prep for casey.

Your best options to prep for Casey depend on how long you have until test day. Here, we’ll start by outlining what an optimal prep would look like, with unlimited time on your hands. We’ll then see how things change if you are on a tight time frame - for example, if you only found out Casey existed when you were asked to take the test in the near future.

Finally, at the most immediate end, we’ll take a look at some fundamental tips for test day itself.

Optimal, Long-Term Prep

At a fundamental level, case cracking is case cracking, regardless of the specific format. Success when facing a chatbot or a video or in-person interview will ultimately depend on your being able to understand the case they give you and efficiently work through to a correct solution.

If you want to land a job at BCG, you will very likely have to get through five or possibly more live case interviews, conducted either via video call or in person. If you are asked to complete Casey, you can think of this as simply an idiosyncratic wrapper around what is basically just another case session.

Ideally then, your prep for Casey will simply be a more specific subset of your wider preparation for case interviews at BCG and any other firms to which you are applying.

We have excellent articles on all aspects of case cracking and related skills. A great place to start is our introduction to the case interview , where you can read about our recommended, MBB-style case cracking method in some detail in the collection of articles here, including particularly Casey-relevant skills like consulting maths .

We also have a great free case library for you to test your skills against and a free meeting board , where you can find fellow applicants from around the world to practice with.

These articles and free resources will give you an excellent foundation. However, to step things up to a higher level, the best place to go for a fully rounded, high-quality guide to case solving is our Case Academy course .

You can get full Case Academy access on its own with the MCC Bundle. However, you can lock in more value by getting course access along with some coaching sessions with real BCG consultants.

Having a real consultant put you through your paces will help immeasurably with both Casey and your live case interviews. Not only will this be great practice for tackling BCG cases, but receiving detailed feedback from experienced professionals is the single best way to identify your problem areas and iterate to make genuine progress and truly hone your case-cracking competence.

A great option for the basis of a decent prep would be our Bridge to Consulting, which is a bundle of five one-hour coaching sessions and full course access. You can find this package here:

Bridge to Consulting

Now, if you are going to make time for a genuinely thorough prep and want to leave nothing to change, the best option of all is one of our comprehensive mentoring programmes, where a 5+ year experienced consultant takes charge of your whole journey into consulting - advising on networking, helping draft your applications and planning your whole approach to case interviews and the consulting selection process as a whole.

You can read more about our mentoring programmes and apply to join here:

Mentoring Programmes

Specific Casey Prep

Whilst the bulk of your case prep will always be focussed on general skill building and simulating live case interviews with peers and/or coaches, it’s still a good idea to do some Casey-specific activities.

You can do these alongside your general case prep from the start, but it will make sense to throw in more Casey-specific work as you get towards the end of your prep, nearer to test day.

Some ideas to help build specific skills and practice for Casey are as follows:

Solo Cases Using a Calculator

You can do a reasonable simulation of Casey simply by working through cases solo, keeping within a strict time limit and using a calculator for the calculations. Our case bank is a great place to start, with a further compendium of free cases linked in this article. Ideally, select interviewer-led , “McKinsey-style” cases, as these will have a more similar structure to Casey. Cases with a strong mathematical component will also be particularly useful.

Practice Video Recommendations

Practice 60 second final recommendation videos. In particular, when working through cases solo, you can practice delivering your final recommendation into your webcam. If you find you struggle with any aspect of this, you might want to specifically practice delivering recommendations to camera in a more focused manner, iterating and improving until you are confident.

Zero Feedback Cases

Even when working with case partners and/or a coach, you can ask that they simulate the feel of Casey by not giving you feedback as you work, but prompting you to work faster and holding you against strict time limits.

PST and Similar Questions

A closer simulation, though, would be to work through some PST-style multiple-choice business questions. The Problem Solving Test, or PST, was McKinsey’s old aptitude test before they moved to the Solve assessment. We have many of these format of questions included in our Case Academy course and, with a free account on our site, you can work through some for free here . These questions embedded in the course are particularly relevant as simulations, as they are presented digitally and have a clock running with a tight time limit imposed.

If you simply want to secure some questions on their own, we have a free downloadable PST practice paper and some more PDFs to purchase in our main PST article .

Mathematics

Almost all the points above will build in a fair bit of mathematics - which you can perform with a calculator to yield more Casey-relevant practice. However, given both the heightened salience of maths within Casey, as well as the slightly different character of that maths, it will likely pay to put in some more focused maths practice.

It might sound trivial, but if it’s been a few years since you’ve used a calculator (a lot of folk won’t have touched one since university, or possibly even since leaving secondary school), then practising working through even trivially easy calculations quickly will help restore some muscle memory and help you avoid “fat finger” errors on the day.

As noted above, our consulting math article is a great jumping-off point.

Help, I’m in a hurry!

So, you’ve applied to BCG and you’ve just found out you’re going to have to sit Casey very soon. You didn’t know the chatbot interview existed until you got the email from BCG and now you’re scrabbling to prepare.

Perhaps, to make matters even worse, you have a busy work and/or academic schedule between now and test day, cutting down your time to prepare even further.

What to do next depends primarily on how much general case prep you have already done:

I have done minimal/no case prep

If you also haven’t started your general case interview prep yet and are green when it comes to case cracking in general, we won’t lie to you - this isn’t an optimal position to be in. This is doubly true if you have a live case interview on the same day or very shortly after.

However, hope is certainly not lost!

In this situation, you will want to think in terms of the Pareto Principle . You need to ramp up your basic knowledge and skillset as much as possible in the time you have available. This is not the time to focus a lot on a little, but to get an understanding of the fundamentals of one topic and move on to the next.

The best single resource here to bring you up to speed on case cracking quickly, as well as give you a truckload of PST-style questions and maths practice material, is our Case Academy course .

You can purchase the MCC Bundle to get access to our course material by itself. However, it will be more economical to get that same material along with some coaching sessions, which will let you work through mock case interviews with real BCG consultants, who will be able to give you pointers on what your weak points are and how to bring these up ASAP. A great option here is a discounted package of our course plus three coaching sessions:

Discounted - Course Plus Three Coaching Sessions

Importantly, this course material and any coaching sessions you get won’t just be useful for Casey but will continue to be useful as you go through the rest of the interview process at BCG and any other firms to which you are applying. You aren’t going to get a consulting job anywhere without convincing case skills and likely multiple rounds of challenging case interviews. You need to get good at case cracking, and top-tier learning material plus coaching is the way to do this .

I’ve done general case prep, but nothing Casey specific

This is a much better position in which to be. If you are already a decent case cracker, then there is a fairly strong chance you’ll be able to pass Casey without any further work - it’s the same fundamental skillset after all.

However, by the same token, there are plenty of accounts of decent casers fluffing Casey because they weren’t used to the format and simply made a mess of things as a result.

As such, it’s a good idea to do at least a bit of case prep - and if you’ve been diligent enough with your prep to learn case solving already, then why stop now?

Really you should try to get through as much of the Casey-specific activity suggested in the optimal prep section as you have time for.

The most useful elements will likely be working through the PST questions , doing some solo cases with a calculator where you practice video recommendations and doing some calculator practice if you need it. These will help transfer the skills you have over to the Casey format - hopefully helping you feel more relaxed and ready to demonstrate your existing competence on test day.

Test Day Fundamentals

Beyond your preparation to get you ready to deal with the questions themselves, there are a few basic tips to take on board before sitting down to do your Casey assessment.

A lot of this is going to be the same as the standard advice for getting ready for more normal Zoom interviews. Indeed, this is already salient as, depending on your target office, you might very well have a video case interview on the same day as your Casey.

• Make sure you have a decent wifi connection. If anything tends to mess this up (using the microwave or vacuum cleaner, for example), make sure any housemates/family know not to do that during your test.
• Check with your webcam in advance that your lighting is on point for the final recommendation video. This might well mean moving around some curtains and/or lamps.
• Similarly, ensure your background is professional or at least contains nothing incredibly sloppy (it seems unlikely that Casey will blur your background for you as you might be used to on Zoom).
• Dress as you would for an in-person interview. If you have a Zoom interview the same day, just dress the same for both. However, if you only have Casey, you should still look fully professional for your 60 seconds of fame at the end.

Now, let’s be more specific…

• First up, don’t do Casey on your phone. This is apparently possible, but will just make life difficult for no particular benefit to you and runs the risk of making your video recommendation at the end look sloppy.
• Use a proper computer and do so at a desk where you have some space for the other items you’ll need. Do not try to sit Casey from a sofa and end up juggling your laptop, calculator, paper etc between your lap and a coffee table (seems obvious, but someone will try it…).
• Finally, make sure you have everything you might need at your desk before you start. Just as basics, you’ll want a pad of paper, a pen and a calculator (you could use a calculator app on your phone here, but you’ll probably be faster with a real calculator). Remember that you can’t pause Casey, so if you kick things off and then remember you left your calculator downstairs, that dash through the house is time you won’t be getting back. Similarly, make sure that your computer is plugged in so you don’t have to do a panicked hunt for a charger halfway through when your battery starts to die.

Now over to you - Good Luck!

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The BCG Online Case & Chatbot Interview - How to Prepare

• Last Updated January, 2024

What Is the BCG Online Case?

What Skills Does It Assess?

What Does the Online Case Look Like?

6 Steps to Prepare for the Online Case

The BCG Chatbot Interview

Links to Preparation Resources

If you’ve applied to the Boston Consulting Group, you might get an invitation to interview that mentions not only live case interviews but an online case interview or chatbot interview as well. 

Are you wondering what BCG’s online case interview looks like and how you should prepare? 

Don’t worry! We’ve got all the details here to make sure you pass. 

If you’re applying to BCG New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, London, or an office in Southeast Asia , be sure to see our section about differences in those versions of the test. In fact, we suggest everyone take a look at this section because BCG is preparing to roll out the chatbot interview more broadly .

Let’s get started!

What is the BCG Online Case?

The BCG online case is a business problem you’re asked to solve on a computer rather than in a one-on-one discussion with an interviewer. 

Via the computer, BCG candidates are given an overview of a client, their business problem, and data relevant to the client’s business and the overall market (revenues, costs, business lines, market size, etc.) 

They’re asked questions with multiple-choice answers. Many of the questions in the online test are quantitative.

There are several different formats of the online case being used in different offices. We have specifics on several offices below.

What Skills Does the BCG Online Assessment Test?

BCG is using the online test to give candidates an in-depth example of the types of problems they help their clients to solve. 

This means you should consider whether you’d enjoy solving problems like this.

They’re also using the online case questions to assess the following skills:

• Business judgment; 
• Logical reasoning; and
• Quantitative aptitude.

What Does the BCG Online Case Look Like?

Above is a screenshot of a practice BCG online test question. While this format represents only one of several versions BCG uses, it is helpful for understanding the types of questions you’ll face.

If you have taken or prepared for the GMAT test, you might notice the similarities in appearance and also skills tested.

The screen is split into 2 windows. The left window has a question as well as multiple-choice answers. 

In the right window, there is data you can use to answer the question.

During the actual test, you’ll have more than 20 questions to answer and 45 minutes to complete the test.

During this time, you’ll be able to move forward and backward through the case to review data. You may also change your answers.

The online case is conducted as part of a round of interviews. 

In the round, you’ll interview one-on-one with 2 BCG interviewers as well.

What Types of Questions Are Being Asked in the BCG Online Test?

Many of the questions on the BCG online case are quantitative. The sample cases we’ve seen include:

• A gasoline pricing strategy for a fuel retailer in a country that has recently deregulated gas prices and
• A revenue growth study for a ferry line serving islands with a tourism-based economy.

Quantitative questions included:

• Gross margin calculation,
• Determining the price that would maximize sales (using a supply and demand graph),
• Determining the price that would maximize profit (using a supply and demand graph and other data), and
• GDP growth rate calculation.

In addition to the quantitative questions, there are also logical reasoning questions.

In these questions, you’ll be asked things like explain trends in the data based on the information provided.

During the test, you’re not allowed to use a spreadsheet program on the computer to calculate answers. 

You will be allowed to use a simple calculator. 

You can also use a pen and paper to take notes.

BCG’s Online Case Tests Similar Concepts to the GMAT

Our team of former McKinsey, Bain, and BCG consultants includes consultants who were also former GMAT tutors. 

We had our team evaluate the BCG online case and here is what we found…

Common types of questions include:

Mathematical reasoning questions:

• Percentages,
• Ratios, and 
• Weighted averages.

Verbal reasoning questions:

• Drawing inferences and
• Strengthening and weakening arguments.
• Supply and demand,
• Maximizing revenue, and
• Maximizing profit.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

Differences in the BCG Online Assessment Used in Various Offices

The BCG online case study simulation assessment and interviewing process are different for candidates in several US offices, London, and Southeast Asia. As we find out more about the formats other offices are using, we’ll provide that information here.

Here are the differences:

BCG Online Case Study (AKA the BCG chatbot interview)

• Offices using the chatbot interview: New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Mexico. We are hearing about the chatbot interview getting rolled out in more offices.
• The recruiting process is: In the first round of interviews, candidates have 1 interview with an interviewer and 1 chatbot interview.
• The chatbot case is conducted by “Casey” the chatbot. Where live BCG cases are interviewee-led, the chatbot case is interviewer-led.
• Candidates are given 25 minutes to answer 12 questions . There is a short introductory video in which Casey the chatbot introduces a business problem. The chatbot interview asks multiple-choice and short answer/fill-in questions. The last question is on structuring the problem, then there is a 1-minute video recording at the end in which you provide your recommendation for the client.
• People report that the chatbot interview is harder than a normal case. The questions heavily use exhibits and there is a good bit of math, though it’s pretty straighforward. All answers are final. You can not change previous answers later in the test. The time limit for your answers is tight. BCG’s instructions say each question is independent so that if you get one wrong, you still have a good shot on subsequent questions, but candidates who’ve taken the test report that’s not true. 
• You will have 1 minute to prepare and 1 minute to record your video at the end, your recommendation to the client. You will not be able to re-record your recommendation. (Be sure to complete the case on a laptop with a webcam.)
• K eep note of relevant case details as you would during a live interview because you will not be able to go back to review exhibits.

Sample Case Questions:

• Our client is a furniture manufacturer who could offer a promotion for a sports game. Should they do this?
• Our client is the 2nd largest player in its industry. The 3rd & 4th largest players plan to merge. How should our client respond?
• Our client wants to acquire a downstream player in their market and integrate vertically. What factors should they consider?
• Our client has 2 manufacturing plants, Plant A and Plant B. They face rising costs due to labor issues in plant A. How will you help our client?
• Our client is an insurance company. They want to assess whether they should offer a fitness watch to clients to help them to live healthier lives and reduce insurance premiums.

Examples of Quantitative Questions:

• Calculate post-merger profitability for 2 merging companies factoring in economies of scale gained from the merger. This calculation involves weighing the current margins of each company by its share of post-merger revenue and adding additional margins gained from economies of scale.
• Should our client vertically integrate?  Determine whether this makes financial sense by calculating current profitability and comparing that to the future profitability if the client acquires raw material at cost.

Examples of Qualitative Questions:

• For a business problem, choose the factors the client should consider from a list of options. There may be a free-response follow-up question asking why the candidate chose those factors.

BCG Online Behavioral Questions

• After the chatbot interview, there is a separate 25-minute video interview with fit questions.
• This includes 5 fit questions.
• You don’t need to take the entire time to answer each question. Short, structured answers will serve you better than long, rambling answers.
• See our article on Consulting Behavioral Interviews for tips on acing these questions.

BCG London Online Case Study Simulation Assessment

• The recruiting process is:  1) first round: the online case study simulation + one 45-minute video conference case interview, 2) second round: video conference interviews, 3) final round: video conference interviews.
• 1-hour interview preparation webinars are provided in advance of interviews,
• The online case study simulation will be sent to you. You’ll have 24 hours to complete it .

BCG Southeast Asia Online Case

• The recruiting process is:  1) the online case, 2) 2R (or 2nd round) – 2 in-person interviews assessing case and behavioral skills, and 3) DR (or decision round) – 2 in-person interviews with partners assessing case and behavioral skills. 
• The online case comes before any in-person interviews as a separate interview round,
• The test takes under 1 hour to complete,
• It includes 2 sections, one with questions and then one with a video recording ,
• In the recording, candidates will explain their analytic process and provide recommendations to the “client.”
• This online case is used for both experienced hire applicants and those graduating from degree programs.

Differences in the Online Case Format Between Offices

We wanted to highlight these differences in the recruiting process and online cases between different BCG offices because if you are planning on just answering questions on a computer and then are given a simulation or asked to record your answers on video, this would be a big surprise.

But don’t worry. Really, your task is not that different.

As we get more information on offices using the online case, we’ll update that information here.

6 Steps to Prepare for the BCG Online Assessment

Based on the similarity between the online case questions and the GMAT questions, here is how our team recommends preparing  before your interview:

1. Study the sample online case questions and answers provided by BCG and/or attend their interview prep webinar (for offices that offer it).

These cases are your best guide to what the online test will look like. Recent candidates have noted, however, that the practice case was easier than the actual online case.

The BCG interactive case library is also a good resource.

2. Study using practice questions for the GMAT test.

The online case does not cover exactly the same material as the GMAT so this isn’t a perfect study guide, but it’s quite good. 

Pay particular attention to questions in the quantitative and integrated reasoning sections (especially ratios, percentages, linear and simultaneous equation word problems.) See our resource section below for recommended test-prep guides.

3. Review your GMAT test practice questions for trends in the types of questions you missed.

If your mistakes were careless errors , ask yourself what habits you can develop to limit those types of mistakes in the future. 

If your mistakes were based on a gap in your understanding of a concept , spend more time studying that concept.

Most people simply do practice questions without reviewing their results for how they can study smarter. Don’t do this. 

Focus on the types of problems you struggle with until you can consistently get them right.

4. Reviewing Economics 101 principles could help your score if you’re weak in this area.

The online case expects you to have more in-depth knowledge of economics principles such as supply and demand and profit maximization than the GMAT does.

5. If you’re short on time before your test, focus effort on the types of questions most likely to come up on the BCG online case . 

Integrated reasoning, multi-source reasoning, table analysis, and graphic interpretation are the types of questions that come up most frequently. Focusing on these areas will improve your score the most.

6. Know the optimal strategy for maximizing your score on this test. 

BCG’s practice test is graded by giving 3 points for a question answered correctly, 0 points for a skipped question, and taking 1 point away for an incorrect answer. 

From this, we can infer that guessing is not a good idea unless you can narrow a question down to 2 potential choices. If you can’t eliminate at least 2 answers, then skip.

7. Manage your time during the test. 

Candidates who’ve taken the test report being pressed for time. Make sure you don’t get bogged down on one difficult question, taking no more than about 1.5 minutes/question.

Skipping a difficult question can ensure you have time to complete simpler questions you haven’t yet gotten to. If you have extra time at the end of the test, you can return to difficult questions.

Example of BCG’s Online Case

The screenshot above is an example of a practice question that requires the candidate to interpret text and graphical data.

Links to Resources for Prepping for the BCG Online Assessment

The best resources to practice with are the 2 BCG practice online cases. If you need more practice materials to feel confident with your preparation, we recommend the following:

• A GMAT test-prep book . The book we recommend using to practice for the online case is this book.  Do keep in mind that the BCG test is similar, but not the same .
• A GMAT test-prep book focused on quantitative questions. This is the best resource to use if you’re having problems with the quantitative questions. We recommend this book . 

In particular, look at chapters 4, 7, 13, 17, and 18. You’ll want to work on the word problems and problem-solving, but filter out for ONLY the questions related to business problems and not, for example, the geometry and symbolic algebra.

• If you haven’t taken an Economics 101 course, you’ll need to learn some basic principles. Khan Academy has a great series on microeconomics  here .
• If you’re running short on time, focus on integrated resource questions. Specifically, this will help with multi-source reasoning, table analysis, and graphics interpretation questions.

Want to study even more??

• If you’re having trouble with integrated reasoning questions,  use this . 
• If you’re struggling with the math questions, we recommend  this book .
• For another integrated reasoning test-prep book we like ,  click here .

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about BCG’s online case, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them.

Other people preparing for the BCG online case found the following pages helpful:

• The BCG Case Interview: Preparation Advice from a Former-BCG Consultant
• BCG One Way Interview
• BCG Pymetrics Test
• Case Interview Prep

Schedule a Mock Practice Before Your BCG online case.

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on the BCG online case. We’ve helped over 800 people get offers in consulting. We want you to be our next success story.

For example, here is how Conor went on to get a BCG offer.

© My CONSULTING Offer

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• AI Case Study Generator

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Case Study Generator

Unlock the power of our case study creator tool—Generate compelling case studies effortlessly with our creator and captivate your audience. With just a few clicks, our smart technology helps you understand data, find trends, and make insightful reports, making your experience better and improving your SEO strategy.

What is a Case Study

A case study is like a detailed story that looks closely at a particular situation, person, or event, especially in the business world. It's a way to understand how things work in real life and learn valuable lessons. For instance, if a business wanted to figure out how another one became successful, they might study that business as a case study.

Let's say there's a small company that started selling handmade products online and became successful. A case study about this business could explain the challenges they faced, the strategies they used to grow, and the results they achieved. By reading this case study, other businesses could learn useful tips and apply them to their situations to improve and succeed.

7 Tips For Writing Great Case Studies

• Pick a Familiar Topic: Choose a client or project that your audience can relate to. This makes it easier for them to see how your solutions might work for their situations.
• Clear Structure: Start with a concise introduction that sets the stage for the case study. Clearly outline the problem, solution, and results to make your case study easy to follow.
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What is a Case Study Creator

A free case study generator is a tool or system designed to automatically create detailed case studies. It typically uses predefined templates and may incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to generate comprehensive analyses of specific situations, events, or individuals.

This tool streamlines the process of crafting informative case studies by extracting key details, analyzing data, and presenting the information in a structured format.

Case study generators are valuable for businesses, students, or professionals seeking to efficiently produce well-organized and insightful case studies without the need for extensive manual effort.

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In today's competitive landscape, showcasing your product or service successes is vital. While case studies offer a compelling way to do this, starting from scratch can be time-consuming. That's where case study generators step in, providing a robust solution to streamline the process and unlock various advantages.

• Easy and Quick: A case study generator makes it simple to create detailed studies without spending a lot of time. It's a fast and efficient way to compile information.
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• Free of Cost: Many case study creators are free to use, eliminating the need for any financial investment. This makes it budget-friendly for businesses or individuals.
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• Improve Your Writing Skills: Free AI Case study generators act as learning tools, offering guidance on structure, content, and storytelling. Studying generated drafts refines your writing skills for crafting impactful case studies in the future.

How AI Case Study Generator Works

An online case study generator works by leveraging artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze and synthesize information, creating comprehensive case studies. Here's a simplified explanation of its functioning:

Data Input:

Algorithm analysis:, content generation:, language processing:, who needs a case study creator.

Anyone looking to create informative and detailed case studies can benefit from using an online case study generator. This tool is useful for

Businesses:

Professionals:, individuals:, marketing professionals:, researchers:, why opt for our case study creator.

Are you on the lookout for a top-notch case study generator that combines outstanding features with user-friendliness, all at no cost and without the need for registration? Your search ends here. Our AI-driven case study generator is the ideal solution for you. Here's why you should choose our tool:

Craft Case Study in 50+ Languages:

Incorporate keywords in case study:, user-friendly interface:, 100% free, no registration:, 20+ diverse tones for versatile styles:, how much does your case study creator cost, do i need any writing experience to use a case study generator, what types of case studies can i create with a case study creator, what are some common mistakes people make when creating case studies.

• Not focusing on the benefits to the reader.
• Not using data and results to support their claims.
• Not telling a compelling story.
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Can I customize the generated case study?

Is the generated content unique.

Online Case Study

• Why Talentate

Online Case Study is an assessment in which the candidate is asked to analyze a problematic issue with the given data and advise on possible solutions.

• Competency-based assessment
• Assessing Presentation Skills
• Detailed assessment guide for each
• 60- to 75-minute completion time
• Online administration

What Is Case Study?

Case study, a virtual assessment center tool, is used to narrow a large area of research into an easily searchable and quickly understandable area. In the case study exercise, which is widely used in human resources processes, an organizational problem that may be encountered in business life is given, and in the light of the available data, the opinions of the candidates on the subject, solution recommendations and/or analysis are requested. In this exercise, which can be applied in written or oral form, opinions and suggestions are requested from the candidate, again in the form of a report, mostly with an oral presentation.

A case study can be used in a situation where a candidate is asked to play a specific role in a case. The recruiter sees how the candidate reacts in any given case and completes different tasks.

What Are the Advantages of Online Case Study?

With the case study exercise, companies can learn about many skills and competencies of candidates and employees, such as their theoretical knowledge, their ability to put them into practice, their inadequacies, and weaknesses, problem-solving, presentation, time management, analytical thinking, and data analysis.

Conducting this process online helps recruiters both to easily adapt to the digitalizing world and to save time.

Why Use Case Study in Assessment Processes?

Case study, unlike scientific studies, does not contain strict rules and this makes the studies more practical and fluent; irrelevant issues are left out, people are enabled to focus on the result. The case study allows candidates to discover ways to develop solutions to the problems they face, enabling the recruiters to gain an impression of the candidates' quality of work and learn more about the product of their work, their interactions, and their thinking processes.

By assessing your candidates with a highly capable and virtual assessment tool, you can measure how they will follow a strategy in a crisis.

What Is Talentate Online Case Study?

Talentate Online Case Study is a virtual assessment center tool that is assigned to candidates via the system, allowing them to perform the exercise at the desired place and time, as well as the recruiter to assess the exercise at the desired time and place.

With Talentate Online Case Study, candidates are prepared to a sample case scenario, analyze the case, put into report form, and present it. The whole process proceeds through Talentate's web-based online system. In this way, processes become more practical and fluent. It is ensured that the recruiters focus directly on the candidates and their results.

With case study, it is aimed to make an accurate analysis of the competencies required by the positions applied by the candidates. It is possible to measure competencies related to  analytical thinking, problem solving, planning, strategic thinking, agility, and presentation skills .

Case Studies in the system measure different competencies and behavior indicators. However, in all case studies, candidates are expected to reach conclusions by making analyses and presenting them. By this way, the presentation skills of the candidates are evaluated with the dimensions of  language-expression, content, visual, and body language-voice .

Talentate Online Case Study is designed to measure the competencies prioritized by the business world. Each case study exercise measures different competencies such as  analytical thinking, detail-orientation, agility, planning, decision-making, strategic perspective, and presentation skills .

It is possible for companies to apply their own case study exercises by adding them to the system.

The presentation skills of the candidates can be evaluated with the language-expression, content, visual, body language-voice dimensions which clearly defined in the assessment guide.

Each competency and its levels are defined in detail in the assessment guides. In this way, it is possible to carry out an objective assessment by minimizing the subjectivity.

Why is Case Study used, what are the advantages?

Which levels and/or positions can the talentate online case study be applied to, are photos taken of candidates who solve the talentate online case study, how the competencies are evaluated, is there a booklet that assessors can use during the assessment stage, can companies use their own case study exercises by adding them to the system.

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Career in Consulting

Acing the BCG Online Case Interview – 2023 Guide

What’s the BCG Online Case Interview?

It’s a business problem you must solve.

But unlike the traditional case interview, you must solve this problem by interacting with a chatbot, Casey, on your computer.

No more one-to-one discussion with an interview.

For this chatbot case, you’re on your own.

And acing the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Online Case interview is no easy feat.

Not only does it require adapting to a unique interview format, but also having case-cracking skills that outshine the other candidates.

Hence, in this comprehensive guide, we will explore the ins and outs of the BCG Online Case, discussing its components, differences from traditional case interviews, and tips for success.

Let’s dive in right now.

Table of Contents

Key takeaways.

• The BCG Online Case is an assessment used to simulate real-life problem-solving scenarios. This is a case simulation via chatbot followed by a one-way video assessment.
• It assesses various skills, including problem-solving, business judgment, mathematical aptitude, graph reading, and logical reasoning.
• BCG uses this test during the screening phase to select the candidates who will be invited for interviews.
• The BCG Online Case is mainly used in the US offices right now (but seems to be rolled out worldwide). Alternative screening tests include the BCG Potential Test (also known as BCG online assessment) or the BCG Pymetrics Test.
• After a presentation of a client’s context and problem, candidates have 25 to 30 minutes to answer 8 to 12 questions (the time and number of questions might change, so be careful).
• Also, candidates must record a one-minute video to answer a final question and end the BCG online assessment.
• The online case must usually be performed within 3 days after receiving the link. Candidates hear back within 2 weeks.
• Candidates who fail the test are usually banned for 12 to 18 months.
• Time management is an important factor in acing the BCG online case assessment.

Understanding the BCG Online Case

The BCG Online Case (also called the BCG chatbot case or BCG Casey) plays a significant role in the recruitment process of the Boston Consulting Group.

Because the BCG Online Case evaluates if applicants have the skills to become best-in-class consultants before interviewing those applicants.

During this unique assessment, candidates engage with a chatbot, Casey, that presents a business case study.

Then, the case includes 8 to 12 questions assessing applicants’ critical thinking, data analysis, and strategic insights.

This online case experience aims to challenge candidates by offering a snapshot of the actual case interview process, simulating real-life problem-solving scenarios encountered by BCG consultants daily.

Finally, the candidates who fail the test are not invited for interviews.

Plus, they are usually banned for a 12 to 18-month period.

Key Components

The BCG Online Assessment is composed of a mix of question formats, ranging from multiple-choice to open questions, and culminates in a final video recommendation.

Candidates must complete the 8 to 12 questions within the 30-minute window, followed by a precisely timed 1-minute video on their webcam, presenting their final recommendation.

A sample multiple-choice question:

A sample open question:

A sample one-way video question:

This unique format tests the candidate’s ability to think on their feet and communicate their ideas effectively, similar to a live case interview, making it an essential part of the interview process.

Important : The candidates must answer the questions one by one. In other words: there is no possibility to skip a question or pause the test.

Skills Assessed

A wide range of skills are evaluated in the BCG Online Case, including:

Problem-solving (structuring)

Business judgment

Logical reasoning

Mathematical aptitude

Graph reading and interpretation

Candidates must demonstrate their understanding of business principles and showcase their overall business knowledge to excel in this assessment.

The BCG Online Case emphasizes proficiency in basic math concepts, data interpretation skills, and tackling math questions, all of which are crucial in solving real-life business problems.

Later in this guide, we’ll discuss how to master the different types of questions used to test those 5 skills.

But first, let’s have a quick overview of how the BCG Casey case compares to the aptitude tests used by the other top-tier consulting firms.

Next, let’s talk about the differences between the BCG Casey case and the traditional case interviews.

Differences Between BCG Online Case and Traditional Case Interviews

While the BCG Online Case shares some similarities with traditional case interviews, such as presenting a business problem to be solved, there are notable differences.

The most significant distinction is the use of Casey, a chatbot, which eliminates the need for a human interviewer and offers a more interactive experience through the BCG Interactive Case Library, which features various online cases.

Additionally, the online interview format presents unique time management challenges, as candidates do not receive the same level of interviewer feedback as in traditional case interviews.

Interaction with Casey Chatbot

In the BCG Online Case, success hinges on adapting to interaction with Casey, the non-human interviewer.

Candidates must navigate through questions without guidance, relying on their problem-solving skills and ability to structure their thoughts effectively.

Given the lack of feedback from the chatbot, a solid initial structure and a well-prepared approach are necessary to ensure smooth progression through the questions.

Time Management Challenges

In the BCG Online Case, time management is crucial as candidates must balance accuracy and speed within strict time limits.

The lack of interviewer feedback and the need to think and respond swiftly create a demanding situation, requiring candidates to prioritize questions, avoid getting stuck on difficult problems, and know when to skip or guess.

Calculator are allowed

Candidates can use a calculator during the BCG Casey test. 

While it seems to make the test easier, especially for candidates with limited quantitative backgrounds, remember that calculators are not allowed during live case interviews.

Hence, sooner than later, all candidates must develop strong calculation skills.

Okay, now let’s talk about how to ace the different types of questions asked in the BCG online cases:

• Structuring questions
• Business acumen questions
• Math questions
• Chart questions
• One-way video (or synthesis) questions

Mastering the structuring questions

The structuring questions are most likely asked at the beginning of the assessment.

In this type of question?

The chatbot asks you to choose 2-4 answers among 8 different options.

This is similar to creating an issue tree at the beginning of a live case interview. 

Check this article if you don’t know what an issue tree is.

How to correctly answer Structuring questions

Use the following approach to answer the structuring questions:

Step 1: Understand which metric the client wants to optimize

Step 2: Read each option provided one by one and select ALL the options that can influence this metric

For example, the client wants to optimize its profits.

And the factors that influence the client’s profits include “total costs per segment,” “the number of products per segment sold by the client,” and “the price of products per segment sold by the client.”

How to develop this skill

Refining problem-solving skills is crucial for success in the BCG Online Case.

Practicing mock case interviews is the best way to develop your structuring skills.

All case interviews include structuring questions.

For instance, when developing an issue tree at the beginning of the case.

Or during the case, when answering brainstorming questions such as “Which factors influence the market growth?”

You can practice independently, with friends, or with an expert.

Regardless of how you practice, you must track your mistakes and improvement.

Practice Resources

You can find a library of 280 case examples on this page .

These case examples?

They are directly from top-tier firms’ websites or case books from prestigious universities like Wharton, Harvard, or INSEAD.

Get 4 Complete Case Interview Courses For Free

You need 4 skills to be successful in all case interviews: Case Structuring, Case Leadership, Case Analytics, and Communication. Join this free training and learn how to ace ANY case questions.

Acing the business acumen questions

Strong business judgment is what separates the good from the best consultants.

And BCG wants to assess how strong your business judgment is.

In other words:

They want to know if you understand how “business forces” can influence a situation or an environment.

But these “business forces” can take many forms, such as supply & demand, competition dynamics, regulation, etc.

Hence, you must develop a strong business culture to be able to understand how these “business forces” work.

How to correctly answer Business Acumen questions

Use the following approach to answer the business acumen questions:

Step 2: Select, from the list of options provided, the factors that can influence this metric

For example, the client wants to optimize its pricing.

And the factors that influence the client’s pricing include “the willingness to pay of the customers” and “the sales of competitors for different price levels.”

One of the useful tactics for learning to ‘think business’ is when you learn about recent business events, try to figure out the (direct and indirect) implications of the event.

For example, imagine that the OPEC nations have decided to restrict oil supply. 

A first direct implication can be that gas prices will increase, which means that oil company revenues will increase as well. 

An indirect implication can be that the sales of SUVs will decrease, which means that  Auto companies will be offering more sales promotions on SUVs.

Another indirect implication can be that the use of public transportation will increase.  

And so on… you can think of dozens of other implications. 

If you want to learn more about developing your business acumen, check out our coaching program on this page or sign up for our free case interview training.

I recommend reading business articles from the following websites:

McKinsey.com

Business insider ( the strategy section )

When reading these articles, try to understand the underlying business forces that created or solved a problem.

Mastering the Math questions

For all consulting firms, including BCG, a strong correlation exists between a candidate’s quantitative skills and the probability that this candidate will become a best-in-class consultant.

That’s why top consulting firms love asking quantitative questions in case interviews.

And the Casey chatbot interview is no exception.

Hence, you’ll have to answer Math questions like this one:

How to correctly answer Math questions

Use the following approach to answer the math questions:

Step 1: Understand the objective and the data presented (units, titles, etc.)

Step 2: Develop the formula you need to answer the question

Step 3: Plug the numbers provided in your formula and do the Math

Step 4: If you have time, do a quick sanity check of your answer

For example, the client wants to optimize its pricing to maximize revenues.

Since revenues are equal to volumes times price, you need to add all the units per price level and multiply the total volumes by the price levels.

The answer will be the price level that maximizes the client’s revenues.

Note : calculators are allowed during the BCG test.

To sharpen your quantitative skills, practice with mock quantitative tests such as:

Mock GMAT Tests: These tests are excellent for practicing various quantitative problems.

Case Interviews: Simulate the real experience using case interviews that include math questions.

Mock McKinsey PST or BCG Potential Test .

Don’t limit yourself to traditional methods.

Various online platforms and apps are designed to help you practice mental calculations and case-specific math problems.

By mastering case interview math, you’re not just showcasing your ability to crunch numbers.

You’re proving that you can think critically, make data-driven decisions, and lead a case to its logical conclusion.

Acing the Chart questions

Analyzing lots of data is part of the daily routine of a consultant.

And these data come in many forms: charts, data tables, texts, etc.

Hence, you’ll have to answer Chart questions like this one:

To answer a chart question, you might have to analyze more than one chart.

How to correctly answer Chart questions

Use the following approach to answer the chart questions:

Step 3: Find the data you need in the charts presented

Step 4: Plug numbers from these charts into your formula and do the math.

This is important to do step 2 before step 3.

You don’t want to jump aimlessly in the chart.

Instead, have a clear goal (know what you’re looking for) before wasting your precious time reading the chart.

As for the Math questions, you can practice with mock quantitative tests like GMAT, McKinsey PST, or BCG Potential test.

Additionally, this article shares more tips on developing your analytical skills (including chart reading).

First, you can practice with GMAT tests.

Here are some examples .

Besides, visit websites full of charts like The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, etc.

Find charts, draw conclusions from these charts, and read the article to check if your conclusions make sense. 

Also, practice with the case examples you can find in these case books .

Additionally, here are more resources:

• SHL practice tests ( here )
• SHL verbal reasoning questions ( here )
• SHL numerical reasoning questions ( here )
• SHL inductive reasoning questions ( here )
• Free aptitude test examples ( here )
• Kearney mock recruitment test ( here )
• McKinsey PST examples ( here , here , and here )

Finally, you can use a platform like JobTestPrep to practice with tests that mimic real tests.

Tackling the one-way video question

With this question, BCG will test your communication skills and capacity to synthesize your work.

Most of the time, the one-way video question asks you to give a recommendation to the client’s CEO.

The one-way video question looks like this:

How to correctly answer One-Way Video questions

Use the following approach to answer the one-way question:

Step 1: Repeat the objective

Step 2: Provide an answer-first conclusion (following the pyramid principles)

Step 3: Discuss potential next steps and risks

Your answer is very similar to the conclusion you must provide in a real-life case interview.

For instance:

“ Our objective was to understand why profits declined and how to fix this problem. The drop in profits comes from an increase in our client’s labor costs. A solution is outsourcing some administrative activities in a low-labor-cost country such as [X]. For the next steps, I would estimate the impact of our client’s labor costs and analyze the potential risks, such as the impact on our client’s brand image and quality of services. “

There is a must-read book if you want to become a consultant.

The pyramid principle by Barbara Minto.

If you don’t have this book in your library, buy it now.

As for structuring questions, use this library of 280 case examples to practice giving recommendations and improving your communication skills.

Frequently Asked Questions (and final tips)

Is the online case important for bcg.

The Online Case is an integral part of the BCG recruitment process and provides the firm with a way to evaluate essential consulting skills, such as structuring, business sense, math skills, graph interpretation, and synthesis. As such, it is highly important for BCG.

What is BCG online case experience?

BCG Online Case Experience is a 25-minute assessment that challenges candidates with a fictional client case presented by the online chatbot ‘Casey’, requiring them to answer 8-12 questions to demonstrate their business skills.

How much does the BCG online case matter?

BCG online case is important because if your performance on the test isn’t up to the mark, then it doesn’t matter what other documents you provide; you won’t be invited to the first round of interviews.

What is the passing score for the BCG online case?

BCG’s online test is not used to filter candidates, but an average performance would be considered a good result with 70% of questions answered correctly.

What is the role of the chatbot, Casey, in the BCG Online Case?

Casey is an AI-powered chatbot that facilitates the BCG Online Case, assessing candidates’ critical thinking, data analysis, and strategic insights through various question formats.

Will I have to take the test from home?

Yes. BCG will send you a link to take the test.

Can I pause the game once it has started?

No. You must go through all the questions at one time once you have started.

Hence, it’s important to have an effective time management strategy.

Effective time management strategies for the BCG Online Case include avoiding getting stuck on difficult problems and knowing when to skip or guess.

Any last advice?

Before starting the test, ensure you are in a silent room (mute your phone) and check your internet connection.

BCG online case: final words

In conclusion, acing the BCG Online Case requires thorough preparation, mastery of relevant skills, and effective time management.

So, I hope you enjoyed this guide about the BCG online case.

And that you feel more confident about taking this online test, paving your way to a successful career with the Boston Consulting Group.

Now, I’d like to hear from you: What’s your biggest challenge in answering the 10 questions?

Managing your time effectively?

The one-way video assessment?

The numerical questions?

Let me know by leaving a quick comment below right now.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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• McKinsey Problem Solving Game

BCG Online Case Assessment (Chatbot)

• Bain SOVA Assessment
• Math Drills

Many BCG offices have recently shifted to the Online Case Assessment (Chatbot) to better simulate the "real-life" case experience, which is the most ideal way to assess candidates’ core consulting skills, such as problem solving & insight, and communication & presence.

Sample Chatbot Case

What is included.

BCG Online Assessment (Chatbot) package includes 8 case studies covering market entry, investment, M&A, product launch, growth strategy, competitive response strategy, profitability and pricing. Each case study is carefully crafted by former BCG consultants and is adaptive to the test taker’s answers to give you the perfect simulation of your upcoming assessment. Many Prepmatter trainees also use these chatbot cases for self-study. 

Assessment Details

The Chatbot-led assessment opens with a short prompt explaining the client’s situation and request. Following this, the Chatbot (Casey) prompts applicants to answer 8-10 questions, which they cannot go back to once they have been answered.

Questions include how to frame the solution to the client’s question, profitability (or any other numerical) analysis, estimation, exhibit interpretation, and so on. Candidates have the chance to either the right answer from a set of multiple choices, or write in a free text form.

The final section requires candidates to record a 1-minute video presenting their recommendation. Numerous Prepmatter candidates reported that the assessment feels just like a case study, except it’s with an AI interviewer.

The purpose of the BCG Online Case Assessment

We often get asked what is the purpose of the AI-driven BCG Online Case Assessment? Why did BCG feel compelled to add this step to the applicant winnowing process? There are two reasons. The first is financial. Like McKinsey and Bain, BCG receive an overwhelming number of applications each year. The online Case Assessment chatbot provides a cost-effective way to reduce the number of applicants that move on to expensive face-to-face interviews.

The second reason behind implementing the BCG Online Case Assessment chatbot is that it enhances the degree of objectivity involved in the recruitment process. And objectivity is something the top firms place a premium on. Yes, different cases are presented to different candidates, but the metrics used to assess those candidates stay the same.

Some Fast Facts About the BCG Online Case Assessment

• The Online Case Assessment is conducted using an AI interface (the chatbot) that posits questions related to specific business cases.
• There are typically 8-10 questions related to a hypothetical case that is intended to mirror the type of situations business consultants face on a daily basis.
• The BCG Chatbot Case Assessment is 30 minutes in length and, once started, cannot be paused.
• At the end of the Q&A session, the candidate is given the chance to produce a 1-minute video detailing their recommendations.
• Questions can take the form of multiple-choice, fill-in, or open format questions.
• The chatbot will review your answers and compute a score. You will also be evaluated on your communication skills.
• The Chatbot Assessment does not test for leadership, entrepreneurial drive or personal impact. Such assessments are reserved for the in-person interview.
• The Online Assessment can be done from your home on your laptop or PC as long as you have a working webcam.

If you hope to progress to the next stage of the BCG recruitment process it will be imperative you engage in BCG Online Case Assessment practice. Prepmatter can help.

What our trainees say

How else can i prepare.

BCG Online Case Chatbot: Reports, Examples, Guide (2024)

BCG recently developed a new iteration of Online Case aptitude test called BCG Casey - a chatbot simulating a traditional case interview. This tool is being used more by BCG as it is still proving effective and is gradually becoming a mandatory test when applying to BCG in almost every office at present.

There are a lot of uncertainties around it since this online assessment is a novel experience for prospective BCG consultants. Hence, this paper will provide you with more details regarding the format, interface, and nature of the content so that you can comprehend and become accustomed to this online chatbot interview.

Please remember that all images of the chatbot interface in the article are taken from the BCG Casey Simulation tool of MConsultingPrep

What is BCG Online Case Experience (BCG Casey)?

You will be interviewed by a chatbot named casey.

BCG Online Case Experience or “Casey” is a business case under a conversation format including a set of questions regarding interactive chatting environment . It is an online test that was developed in 2020 and used more frequently in 2021. Candidates can do it from any location where they feel most comfortable.

Time limit is 25-30 minutes with 6-8 questions

The duration of the BCG Casey test ranges from 25 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of questions involved (normally 6-8 questions). It is important to note that once the assessment begins, you will not have the option to pause it, and you will experience tremendous time pressure.

The BCG Casey test lasts 25-30 minutes, with 6-8 questions. You cannot pause during the test. Every five minutes, the bot notifies you of the remaining time (e.g. “15 minutes left”); this adds to the already-stressful time pressure.

Video record section at the end

After finishing your conversation with the chatbot, you will receive a prompt to record yourself on camera and present your final pitch for the entire case. You will be given 60 seconds for preparation and an additional 60 seconds to deliver your presentation . It is important to note that this time allocation is separate from the 30 minutes provided in the previous section.

The case context provided is typically concise and uncomplicated, usually involving a client who is facing emerging concerns or news. You will be provided with the necessary information regarding the context before you do anything further.

There are four answer formats

Eventually, there will be four types of answer format that will appear when you take the test including: multiple-select multiple choice, single-select multiple choice, long-text freeform, short-text freeform. Each answer format will typically have different material and approach methods, which I will elaborate on later in the article.

BCG Casey Simulation

Pass the BCG Online Case Experience (also known as the Casey / Chatbot Interview) with a comprehensive, interactive mock test and practice environment

Interface & answer format

Multiple-select multiple choice.

This is the most popular question format in the BCG Online Case Experience accounting for 40% to 60% of all questions. This type of format is displayed like the below image. After reading the question, click on see options to pop up all the choices. Some questions like the example below can have up to 10 choices so it is going to take up the whole screen.

In terms of strategy, notice that in every question of the multiple-select multiple choice format the question always gives you a clue as to how many choices to select. Sometimes it gives you an exact number like select three best, but sometimes it is just a hint. 

Single-select multiple choice

This particular format closely resembles the multiple-select multiple choice format, with the key distinction being that there is only one correct choice. Unlike the previous multiple-select type, all available options will be displayed directly within the answer box. It is essential to note that there is a single correct option, and once you click on any choice, your answer will be immediately submitted without the option to revise it.

Long-text freeform 

The user interface for this answer format is relatively simple. It features a message box reminiscent of messaging applications, with a send icon located on the right-hand side, allowing for submission by pressing the enter key. 

It is important to note that special text formatting options are not available, thus the use of hyphens and capitalizations serves as the preferred means of emphasizing ideas. BCG explicitly emphasizes that the optimal answers should be concise and adhere to a limit of no more than four to six lines.

Short-text freeform 

On the other hand, the short text answer format only allows you to enter in numbers. It often comes with math questions and the question will always clearly instruct you on rounding or how many decimal places to include. Hence, be careful when pressing the enter key into this answer format as it will submit the answer and there is no undo.

Final pitch (video answer)

Once you finish chatting with the AI, your final assignment entails recording yourself on camera and delivering your ultimate recommendation in the form of a pitch for the entire case. You will be granted 60 seconds for preparation and an additional 60 seconds for the actual presentation. 

It is essential to note that this timeframe is separate from the 30 minutes allocated for the preceding section.The time limit here is very strict as candidates have reported instances of automatic cutoffs when exceeding the allotted duration.

Question types by content logic

Structuring/Information question

These questions often present a scenario or problem and ask candidates to identify the most helpful option or the type of information that should be gathered . While they may appear to be data-focused questions on the surface, they actually require candidates to employ structuring techniques and create an issue tree.

Every BCG online case starts with a structuring or information question, for instance:

• Which of the following would be most helpful
• What statistics about ABC should the team gather
• Which piece of information would help ECG move forward with the project and Etc

When approaching these questions, it is advisable to carefully read through the provided options and mentally construct an issue tree based on the available choices. The issue tree helps in organizing the different aspects of the problem and identifying the most comprehensive and relevant options among the choices.

Candidates should aim to select options that collectively cover the issue tree and address the various components of the problem. This demonstrates their ability to think critically, analyze complex situations, and identify the most relevant information or factors to consider when structuring a case.

Quantitative question

Each case typically includes approximately two quantitative/mathematical questions. These questions are usually presented in a short text answer format, with occasional instances of single select multiple choice. 

The majority of quantitative questions are accompanied by an exhibit, providing around 20 data points, of which approximately half may be extraneous information.

It is not necessary to possess knowledge in accounting or finance, as the calculations and formulas involved are generally straightforward. Common mathematical concepts revolve around weighted averages, probabilities, and compound percentages . Familiarizing yourself with these types of mathematical problems through practice can greatly enhance your performance.

In these quantitative questions, you can typically determine whether your answer is correct or incorrect based on the follow-up question. If you are asked to provide further elaboration on how you arrived at the answer, it indicates that your response is correct. However, if the chatbot prompts you to address specific calculations or smaller steps, there is a possibility that your initial attempt was incorrect.

Critical thinking & logical question

The critical thinking and logical questions in the BCG Casey chatbot test assess your ability to analyze a given scenario, apply logical reasoning, and make informed judgments. 

These questions often involve evaluating different courses of action, determining cause-and-effect relationships, or identifying the most logical conclusion based on the provided information.

An example of critical thinking & logical questions is: which of the following course of action would likely make you more rich? However, you need to pay attention to the wording and notice if there is any “qualifier”, which is how airtight the logic has to be? The example question can be asked with several different qualifiers from weak to strong: 

• Which of the following courses of action would LIKELY MAKE you more rich?
• Which of the following courses of action would MAKE you more rich?
• Which of the following courses of action would CERTAINLY MAKE you more rich? 

This is important because we would grade each of the answer choices on the following scale. 

In some cases, the context of the scenario may influence the logic and reasoning behind your answer choices. Take into account relevant factors, constraints, or specific conditions mentioned in the question when evaluating the options.

Intuition/Insight question

The final category of questions in the assessment consists of intuition or insights questions. These particular questions are highly popular but also the most challenging to master. There is no predefined formula or universal strategy to approach them, and improving in this area requires diligent practice. 

As the name implies, these questions require you to generate or select a range of insights, elements, factors, and so on, based on a given context . The specific insights, elements, or factors can vary significantly, encompassing root causes, effects, solutions, and more.

For instance, in the aforementioned example of how to become rich, some examples of Intuition or Insights questions include:

• What are some personal expenses that tend to increase after getting married
• How can one become more disciplined in saving money?
• What are effective talking points to persuade a life partner to reduce spending on clothing?
• What are potential reasons for the underperformance of the stock market in the past six months?
• In what situations would one need to utilize an emergency fund?

These questions highlight the nature of intuition or insights questions, which demand thoughtful analysis and the ability to derive meaningful conclusions based on given scenarios

Scoring and criteria 

Other BCG online assessment tools utilized a negative scoring system for incorrect answers. Consequently, it was advisable to abstain from guessing when encountering a question for which one lacked any relevant knowledge, as incorrect responses would directly result in point deductions from the final score.

However, this aspect is no longer a factor in Casey, the current iteration of the online case format. In Casey, the selection of candidates is not solely based on the accuracy of their answers, but also on their approach to problem-solving and their ability to break down complex issues. 

Candidates are obligated to provide an answer for each question in order to progress to the subsequent one, leaving no alternative but to make an educated guess even when uncertain of the correct response.

Regarding the evaluation criteria, while BCG does not disclose official information, insights can be gleaned from the BCG Interactive Case Library. The majority of criteria focus on the problem-solving aspect of the consulting role:

Problem-structuring

In the BCG Casey chatbot, candidates are evaluated based on their problem-structuring skills. This involves approaching problems in a structured and mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive (MECE) manner.

Additionally, the test evaluates the candidate's capability to gather data and test hypotheses during the problem-solving process . This is one of the most visible criteria in this test that highlights its importance in demonstrating strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, a crucial skill for management consultants. 

Qualitative and quantitative processing

In the BCG Casey chatbot Test, candidates' math and analytical skills are evaluated, specifically their ability to analyze and process both qualitative and quantitative information within the case.

This assessment tests their proficiency in performing relevant mathematical calculations, with an emphasis on common business-world calculations such as percentages, averages, and working with large numbers. The test aims to determine how effectively candidates can apply these processing skills to the given scenarios and derive meaningful insights.

Business intuition 

Another trait that also falls into the grading criteria of the BCG Casey chatbot is candidates' business intuition. The test focuses on their capacity to evaluate potential costs and benefits, make informed decisions, and provide sound conclusions and recommendations based on their business knowledge and experience.

The objective is to determine how well candidates can apply their business intuition toward complex scenarios and provide relevant insights and directions tailored to the specific business context presented in the case.

Data synthesis & interpretation

Last but not least, candidates' aptitudes for data synthesis and interpretation are also a criteria assessed in the BCG Casey chatbot. This entails their proficiency in summarizing and synthesizing all relevant information to derive viable solutions for the client. Hence,  it measures their ability to draw meaningful conclusions from data, adopting a hypothesis-driven mindset. 

Candidates are expected to either incorporate their conclusions into existing hypotheses or generate new hypotheses that are relevant to the case at hand. The test aims to assess candidates' ability to analyze and interpret data effectively to make informed decisions and provide valuable insights to the client (in the case).

Casey vs actual case interview

“How similar is this compared to an actual case interview?" is always one of the most asked questions by candidates. Initially, this assessment uses the case structure and flow quite similar to an actual case interview, it even utilizes a chatbot to create a feeling of two-way communication like in the case interviews.

However, in reality, there are still clear distinctions between it and a real case interview . A few of these distinctions are as follows:

More time pressure

Case interviews are typically characterized by time constraints, but candidates frequently express that Casey, in particular, intensifies this pressure. Unlike the McKinsey Solve assessment, which allows for sufficient time and avoids rushing candidates excessively, Casey adds to the sense of urgency. 

Throughout the assessment, there are constant reminders displaying the remaining time, and candidates are abruptly stopped if they fail to complete the recording of their final video recommendation within the allocated time frame.

There is no interviewer feedback

In a conventional case interview, the interviewer has the ability to guide and support the candidate to navigate through a question. This is not only about supporting, but it also allows the interviewer to gain a comprehensive understanding of the candidate's thought process at each stage of the problem, rather than stopping the assessment immediately after one mistake is made. 

However, in the case of Casey, this supportive element is absent, which means that initial calculation errors or mistakes in structuring the problem can significantly disrupt the candidate's approach to a question or even impact the overall performance in the entire test.

Calculators are allowed

One notable distinction from a traditional case interview is the allowance of calculators and other similar tools in the Casey test. Similar to the McKinsey Solve assessment, BCG does not impose any restrictions on the resources you have at your disposal while taking the Casey test from the comfort of your own home. 

This may initially appear as a glimmer of hope for candidates with limited quantitative backgrounds. However, it is important to note that this provision actually introduces additional difficulties  when you take a real-life case interview.

Heightened demands on Mathematical Skills 

The heightened emphasis on mathematical proficiency in Casey compared to a traditional case interview is a direct consequence of the previous factors. With basic arithmetic being facilitated by the calculator, Casey has the freedom to assess your mathematical abilities in other aspects. 

The true challenge lies in your ability to devise a well-structured approach to the question and the specific path you navigate through the calculations, rather than solely focusing on number manipulation. This particular aspect may be advantageous for individuals with a background in "academic math" compared to a standard interview.

Interpret Text Fast

Last but not least, even though a case interview is verbal, Casey demands you to swiftly read, comprehend, and grasp fairly lengthy amounts of text. Combined with the above time pressure factor, this might be seen as a significant obstacle for the contenders of this online assessment since it requires more in terms of soft skills in computing.

BCG Casey chatbot vs others online assessments

It will be challenging to judge whether an assessment is difficult or easy because it is based on each person's subjective perspective. Thus, this section will place more emphasis on clarifying the difference of BCG Casey chatbot from other online assessments of MBB consulting firms.

Logic & Structuring and Business intuition are the two criteria that BCG Casey chatbot requires candidates to meet at the highest level . This is consistent given that the BCG Casey seeks to imitate an interviewer-led case and that the two criteria are the two major traits in the consultant case interview.

The BCG Casey chatbot places a stronger priority on testing these two areas than the majority of other online tests from McKinsey or Bain, as well as their own product - potential tests. 

However, it is also comparable to other online assessments in that they put a strong emphasis on time management, frequently setting a time limit that is tightly associated with the amount of queries . This is a difficult point of BCG Casey chatbot that candidates are often frightened.

On the contrary, the 2 criteria that are said to be the easiest of BCG Online Case Experience are numerical and verbal reasoning. This tool is less focused on accuracy or presentation as well as more on business than math compared to other tests like BCG potential test or McKinsey PST.

Finally, interface complexity of Casey chatbot is also reported as being on the more difficult side of the spectrum . The majority of candidates are concerned since they do not know which button will actually submit their answer while there is no reverse button.

Nevertheless, this issue can be solve by practicing the BCG Casey simulation to get used to the interface before doing the real test

BCG Online Case Experience vs BCG Potential test

I have to separate a part about the BCG potential test because there are similarities and confusion between these 2 assessments.

Although the BCG Casey chatbot takes the place of the BCG Potential Test, they are fundamentally different – the Online Case Experience, as the name suggests, is a virtual, chatbot-based interview, while the Potential Test is a standardized test similar to GMAT, GRE or PST.

The biggest implication of this information is that the candidate must prepare for case interviews sooner than before – however, this should be viewed as good news, since instead of having to spread the time and effort between case interview and test practice, the candidate can focus on the case interview side only and still pass through the whole recruitment process.

Additionally, the chatbot interview seems to have a more dynamic time constraint – good judgment and good luck will lead to lower numbers of questions (since there’s no need for “redirection”).

Some useful tips! 

Prepare everything within reach.

One of the most basic things that many candidates overlook and neglect to adequately prepare for is to ensure that you have all the necessary tools and resources readily available during the BCG Online Case Experience. Before starting the test, make sure you have your calculator, paper, pen, and any other materials that you may require. 

Although this is only at a basic level, being well-prepared will ensure that you perform your best on the assessment. Having all relevant tools at hand will save you valuable time and enable you to navigate through the test seamlessly.

Find a comfortable seat

Secondly, creating a conducive environment is essential for optimizing your performance during the BCG Casey chatbot. Remember you are at your house, find a comfortable seat that provides proper back support and ensures ergonomic comfort. 

Additionally, try to select a bright place where it will not interfere with your work process. Also, a strong and stable internet connection is also crucial to avoid any disruptions during the test. By selecting a suitable seat, you can eliminate unnecessary distractions and maintain your focus on the assessment.

Take Notes After Each Question

As you progress through the BCG Casey chatbot, it is advisable to take notes after completing each question. This practice is particularly important because some questions may require insights or data from previous questions within the same case. By jotting down key points, important calculations, or relevant information, you can quickly refer back to them when needed. 

In addition, taking notes helps you maintain a logical flow of thought and ensures that you provide accurate and well-structured answers. It also allows you to keep track of your progress and easily review your responses before submitting them.

Do Not Be Distracted by the Time Limit

Maintaining concentration and avoiding getting distracted by the time limit of the BCG Casey chatbot is indeed significant but it is challenging to execute. The reminders about the remaining time can create a sense of urgency, but it is important to maintain a steady pace and not rush your decisions. 

Prioritize accuracy and thoughtful analysis, taking time to understand each question and approach it strategically. Effective time management is key - allocate sufficient time to each question while keeping the overall time limit in mind.

Stay composed, think critically, and deliver well-structured responses. By staying focused and managing your time effectively, you can optimize your performance in the test.

Professionalism

Although the BCG Casey Chatbot is conducted online, it is crucial to maintain a certain level of professionalism throughout the assessment. Remember that at the end of the test, you will be required to record a video presenting your final pitch for the entire case. 

Dress appropriately and ensure that your background is clean, tidy, and free from any distractions. Creating a professional appearance and setting reflects your dedication and commitment to the assessment. It also contributes to a positive first impression, which can make a difference in how your responses are perceived.

Scoring in the McKinsey PSG/Digital Assessment

The scoring mechanism in the McKinsey Digital Assessment

Related product

The BCG Online Case (also known as the Casey Chatbot) is a challenging, 20-30 minute test with 6-8 questions of the case interview and GMAT types

The BCG Pymetrics Test has 12 mini-games to measure 9 key traits (risk-taking, emotional intelligence, fairness, etc.) reflective of a BCG consultant.

Case interview is the last round of BCG hiring process with 3 phases: resume, online tests and interviews. Candidates will have 4-6 interviews in 4-8 weeks.

Use Our Resources and Tools to Get Started With Your Preparation!

Bcg online case, the bcg online case is a web-based chatbot that mimics a real case interview.

The BCG Online Case has now been rolled out globally and has replaced the BCG Potential Test in all but a few offices. So if you're applying to BCG, you'll probably have to take the new BCG Online Case.

In the BCG Online Case (also called the Chatbot Interview), a chatbot named Casey presents you with a real case, similar to the one you might receive from human interviewers

However, because it's a chatbot interview, the case is not guided by an interviewer, which means you have little to no control over the process.

The case contains 8 to 10 questions that are asked through an instant messenger-like interface and must be solved in 25 to 30 minutes. These questions take 2 forms:

• Multiple-choice questions where candidates must select what data they need to move forward, what analysis they want to do next, or what their findings/conclusions are
• Open-ended questions where candidates must explain their answers to the previous multiple-choice questions or answer a math or creative question

After this procedure, there is a one-page video interview question at the end where you are asked to make a recommendation. You have 1 minute to prepare and another minute to present your conclusion to the client. Because there are open-ended explainer questions, your score is not as easy as other, more traditional screening tests like the McKinsey Imbellus and the BCG Potential Test. Instead of a standardized score (i.e., how many questions a candidate answered correctly), you will likely be evaluated holistically on the key consulting competencies mentioned earlier, and your performance will be compared to that of other candidates.

You will receive your results within 2 weeks. In some cases, the test is given as part of the first round interviews. Your performance in the test will be evaluated together with your performance in the case interview . You will then be notified of the results accordingly.

You only have one chance to pass the new test - if you don't pass, you can't try again for another 1 to 2 years. Therefore, it is important that you prepare yourself very well to master the case.

The differences from the BCG Potential Test are as follows:

• Calculators are allowed
• Only 25-30 minutes to solve the case instead of 45 minutes
• 8-10 questions instead of 23
• Open-ended questions instead of multiple-choice questions
• It ends with a video summary

The skills that will be assessed are math skills, structuring, interpreting graphs, business acumen, and synthesis

BCG's basic hypothesis in introducing this test is that if you do well in these areas, you should also do well in a real case interview and in live situations with the client.

You should master the following key skills:

• Structured Thinking : You must be able to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable pieces and develop a clear structure for solving the problem.
• Analytical Skills: You must be able to quickly analyze and interpret data to gain insight and make informed decisions.
• Creativity: you must be able to develop creative solutions and find alternative approaches to solve complex problems.
• Communication: You must be able to communicate your thoughts clearly and concisely, and explain complex concepts in an understandable way.
• Time Management: You must be able to plan and prioritize effectively to make efficient use of the time available.
• Collaboration: you must be able to work with others and foster effective teamwork to develop collaborative solutions.

If you master these key skills and prepare specifically for the BCG Online Case interview, your chances of a successful interview are good.

Related Cases

Bain Case: Old Winery

MBB Final Round Case - Smart Education

Espresso, Whatelse?

McKinsey Digital / BCG Platinion: Oil & Gas Upstream Technology

Bain + bcg - hot wheels with video solution.

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Why Do Employers Use Case Studies at Assessment Centers?

What to expect from a case study exercise, how to prepare for the case study exercise in 2024, how to approach a group exercise, how to approach a presentation, case study exercises at assessment centers (2024 guide).

Updated November 21, 2023

Should you be invited to be tested at an assessment center as part of an employer's recruitment process, one of the exercises you may face is a case study .

A case study exercise presents you with a scenario similar to what you would experience in the job you have applied for.

It will generally be accompanied by documents, emails or other forms of information.

You are asked to make business decisions based on the data you have been provided with, either alone or as part of a group of candidates.

A case study enables employers to assess your skill-base and likely performance in the job, providing them with a more rounded view of the type of employee you would be and the value you would bring to the company.

Commonly used in the finance, banking, legal and business management industries, the main advantage to employers of using case study exercises is to see candidates in action, demonstrating the skills they would be expected to use at work.

The skills assessed when participating in a case study exercise will vary depending on the employer, the industry and the job applied for, but may include:

• Analytical skills
• Strategic thinking
• Decision making
• Problem-solving
• Communication
• Stress tolerance
• The ability to assimilate information quickly and effectively
• Organisational skills
• Situational judgment
• Commercial awareness
• Time management
• Team working
• Knowledge pertinent to the industry or job, for example, marketing skills

Despite the skills that the employer is actively assessing, such as those mentioned above, success in a case study exercise relies on your ability to:

• Interpret and analyze the information provided
• Reach a decision
• Use commercial awareness
• Manage your time
• Communicate well

Practice Case Study Exercises with JobTestPrep

There are generally two types of case study exercise that you may face as part of a selection process:

• Subject-related case studies pertinent to the job you are applying for and the related industry
• General case studies that assess your overall aptitude and skills

The actual scenario of the case study exercise you face will vary, but examples of typical case studies include:

• Expanding a team or department
• Deciding whether an acquisition or merger is advisable
• Investigating whether to begin a new product line
• Re-organisation of management structure
• The creation of an advertising campaign
• Responding to negative publicity
• Choosing from three business proposals
• Developing a social media presence

Prepare for Case Study Exercises with JobTestPrep

For example: You are presented with the scenario of an IT company that went through an expensive re-brand one year ago. At that time, the company moved to bigger premises in a better area, and two new teams of developers were recruited to work with two new clients. The IT company has recently lost one of those clients and is facing increasing costs as the rent is raised for their premises. The company's directors have concluded that they must make one of the following changes: Make staff redundancies and offer the chance to several employees to change to part-time hours Move to less expensive premises in a less desirable area Combine a move to a flexible working business model where employees work part of the week from home and desk-share in the office along with a physical move to smaller premises in the same area where the IT company is currently based

You are asked to advise the directors on which change would provide the greatest benefit.

Here is another example:

A multi-national environmental testing organization buys out an oil-testing laboratory. A gap test is carried out on whether: The oil-testing lab should be brought in line with the rest of the organization concerning its processes, customer interface, and testing procedures The oil-testing lab should be closed down and its clients absorbed into the rest of the organization The oil-testing lab should be allowed to continue as it is, but new processes put in place between it and the larger organization

You are asked to consider the findings of the gap test and suggest the best course of action.

Just as you would prepare before a job interview, it is always in your best interests to prepare before facing a case study exercise at an assessment center.

Step 1 . Do the Research

There is a whole range of research you can look into to prepare yourself for the case study exercise:

• The job description and any other literature or documents forwarded to you
• The employer's website and social media
• Industry related news stories and developments

Any of the above should provide you with a better understanding of the job you have applied for, the industry you will work within, and the culture and values of the employer.

Step 2 . Use Practice Case Studies

Practicing case study exercises in the run-up to the assessment day is one of the best ways you can prepare for the real thing.

Unless the employer provides sample case studies on their website or as part of their recruitment pack, you will not know the exact format that the exercise will take; however, you can build familiarity with the overall process of a case study through practice.

You can find plenty of practice case study exercises online. Most of these come at a cost, but you may also be able to find free sample case studies too.

For case study resources at a cost, have a look at JobTestPrep .

For two free sample case study exercises, you might like to visit Bain & Company's website .

Scroll down to the Associate Consultant Case Library. Europa also offers an extensive and detailed sample case study .

Step 3 . Timed Practice

Once you have sourced one or more practice case studies, take the opportunity to practice to a time limit.

The case study may come with a time limit, or the employer may have already told you how long you will have to complete the real case study exercise on the day.

Alternatively, set your reasonable time limit.

Timed practice will improve your response time and explain exactly how much time you should allocate to each stage of the case study process.

Step 4 . Improve Your Reading Comprehension

One skill that is key to handle a case study exercise successfully is your reading comprehension, that is, your ability to understand written information, interpret it and describe it in your own words.

In the context of a case study, this skill will help you to assimilate the information provided to you quickly, analyze it and ultimately reach a decision.

In the run-up to your assessment day, put aside time to improve your reading comprehension by reading a wide variety of material and picking out the key points of each passage.

You might find it especially helpful to read professional journals and news articles related to the job you have applied for and the related industry.

Try to improve the speed at which you can read but still retain information too. This will prove helpful during the real case study exercise.

Step 5 . Practice Mental Math

The case study exercise may include prices, area measurements, staff numbers, salaries and other numeric values.

It is important that you can complete basic mental math calculations, such as multiplication and percentages.

Practice your mental math using puzzle books, online math resources and math problems that you create yourself.

You can find plenty of online business math resources, for example:

• The University of Alabama at Birmingham Math and Business Guide
• Money Instructor
• Open Textbook Library

If you need to prepare for a number of different employment tests and want to outsmart the competition, choose a Premium Membership from JobTestPrep . You will get access to three PrepPacks of your choice, from a database that covers all the major test providers and employers and tailored profession packs.

Get a Premium Package Now

Top Tips for Approaching Case Study Exercises

Now that you have prepared yourself, you can further improve your chances of a successful outcome by following our top tips on approaching case study exercises on the day.

Read the Information Carefully

Read all of the information provided as part of your case study exercise to understand what is being asked of you fully.

Quickly identify the key points in the task and the overall decision you have been asked to make, for example:

• Has the exercise provided you with a choice of outcomes you must decide between, or must you create the outcome yourself?
• What information do you need to make your decision?
• Are there calculations involved in the task?
• What character are you playing in the task (for example, HR manager or business consultant) and what are that character's motivations?
• Who is your character presenting their response to? Company directors, client or HR department?

Prioritize the Information

Prioritize the information by importance.

Which pieces of information are most pertinent to the task, and what key data do they provide?

Can any of the information be dismissed? Does any of the information contradict or sit in conflict with others?

Divide Up the Tasks and Allocate Time

You will generally be asked to come to a conclusion or advise a course of action regarding your case study exercise; however, you may have to carry out several tasks to arrive at this result.

Once you have read through the information, plan out what tasks the exercise will entail and allocate time for each one.

Do Not Be Distracted by Finding the Only 'Right' Answer

Where you are provided with several outcomes, and you must decide on one, do not assume that anyone's outcome is the only right answer to give.

It may be that any of the outcomes could be correct if you can sufficiently support your decision from the information provided.

Keep the Objective in Focus

• What does the task ask you to do?
• Must you choose between three business acquisitions?
• Are you providing advice on whether or not to invest?
• Are you putting together a plan for a staff redundancy situation?

Keep the objective of the case study exercise in mind at all times.

Support Your Decision With Evidence

The conclusion you come to may seem obvious to you, but you must be able to support your decision with evidence.

Why would it be better for the company to invest in property overstock? What is the benefit to the company of entering a new market?

It is not sufficient to know which outcome would be the best. As in the real-life business world, you must be able to support your claims.

If you are assessed as part of a group, you must arrive at a conclusion as a team and bear in mind your strengths.

For example, do you have a good eye for detail and would therefore be suited to the analytical part of the task?

Arrive at a list of tasks together and then assign the tasks to different members of the group.

Please make sure you contribute to the group discussions but do not dominate them.

Group assessments are generally used by employers who place value on leadership, teamwork and communication skills.

If you are asked to present your findings or conclusion as part of a case study exercise, bear in mind to whom the task has asked you to make that presentation.

For example, a business client or a marketing manager.

Make sure that you can fully support the reasons that you came to your conclusion.

If you are presenting as a group, make sure that each group member has their role to play in the presentation and that everyone knows why the group came to that conclusion.

Act professionally to suit the job you have applied for. Be polite, confident and well-spoken.

Case study exercises are just one of the many methods that employers use to assess job applicants, and as with any other aspect of the selection process, they require a degree of consideration and preparation.

The best way to improve your chances of a successful outcome and reduce exam tension is to research the job and the industry, practice case study exercises and improve your skills.

You might also be interested in these other Psychometric Success articles:

Or explore the Aptitude Tests / Test Types sections.

• Numerical Reasoning
• Verbal Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Diagrammatic Reasoning
• Logical Reasoning
• Mechanical Reasoning
• Situational Judgement
• Deductive reasoning
• Critical thinking
• Spatial reasoning
• Error checking
• Verbal comprehension
• Reading comprehension
• Psychometric tests
• Personality test
• In-Tray exercise
• E-Tray exercise
• Group exercise
• Roleplay exercise
• Presentation exercise
• Analysis exercise
• Case study exercise
• Game based assessments
• Competency based assessment
• Strengths based assessment
• Strengths based interview
• Video interview
• Saville Assessment
• Talent Q / Korn Ferry
• Watson Glaser
• Test Partnership
• Clevry (Criterion)
• Criteria Corp
• Aon / Cut-e
• Sova Assessment
• For Practice
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• Case Study Exercise

Case Study Exercises are commonly used in assessment centres, and often are unique to each company.

• Buy Full Practice Tests
• What is a Case Study exercise

Page contents:

How do case study exercises work.

Updated: 08 September 2022

Assessment Centre Exercises:

• Analysis Exercise
• Role Play Exercise
• Group Exercise
• Presentation Exercise

During an assessment day, it is common that you need to undertake a case study exercise . These exercises place candidates in real-life situations where they are tasked with solving problems faced by professionals in the real world. A case study typically involves being given various documents containing different information, either detailing a problem or situation that needs dealing with and requiring the candidate to resolve the issue at hand by formulating a plan. The problems or situation in the case study will be similar if not identical to problems encountered in the role itself. Candidates are also provided with background information to the elements of the case study, whether these be details of fictitious companies or sales figures, or other. The resolutions or solutions provided by the candidate regarding the problems are part of the assessment centre performance rating.

Why are case study exercises used?

Case study exercises are proficient predictors of role performance as they will resemble the work being done on the job. Therefore, case study exercises typically tilt highly on an assessment centre rating for candidates. Likewise, if a presentation exercise is required after the case study, based on details brought up during the case study, then your case study rating will likely impact your presentation exercise rating. Equally, this may manifest into the role play exercise which will do a similar thing to the presentation exercise – carrying on the case study situation. It is also entirely possible for the case study to be continued in a group exercise – which evaluate a candidate’s ability to work in a team. Given all this, you will need to perform well in the case study exercise to ensure a high rating.

What will the case study exercise be like?

As mentioned, the case study exercise you will be asked to perform will be similar to the type of work you will have to do in the role you are applying for.

The case study exercise may be purchased off the self from a test provider who specialize in the test style. This will mean that it won't be fully specific to the company you are applying to, but will be related to the role. Likewise, it can be designed bespoke if the organization requires specific role assessment. It's likely the larger and harder to get into the company is, the more tailored their exercises will be.

How can I prepare for the case study exercise?

Analysing technical documents and company reports may be helpful practice in preparation for a case study exercise. This will give a chance to familiarize yourself with the types of information typically found in these documents, and thus the case study exercise. Practicing case study exercises will also act as great preparation and they will provide a great insight into how they work and how they are to be handled. This will also prevent any unnecessary unknowns you could have before taking a case study exercise, as you will have already experienced how they work in practice.

We have an assessment centre pack which contains an example of the exercises you could face.

• Open access
• Published: 22 April 2024

Artificial intelligence and medical education: application in classroom instruction and student assessment using a pharmacology & therapeutics case study

• Kannan Sridharan 1 &
• Reginald P. Sequeira 1  

BMC Medical Education volume  24 , Article number:  431 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are designed to create or generate content from their trained parameters using an online conversational interface. AI has opened new avenues in redefining the role boundaries of teachers and learners and has the potential to impact the teaching-learning process.

In this descriptive proof-of- concept cross-sectional study we have explored the application of three generative AI tools on drug treatment of hypertension theme to generate: (1) specific learning outcomes (SLOs); (2) test items (MCQs- A type and case cluster; SAQs; OSPE); (3) test standard-setting parameters for medical students.

Analysis of AI-generated output showed profound homology but divergence in quality and responsiveness to refining search queries. The SLOs identified key domains of antihypertensive pharmacology and therapeutics relevant to stages of the medical program, stated with appropriate action verbs as per Bloom’s taxonomy. Test items often had clinical vignettes aligned with the key domain stated in search queries. Some test items related to A-type MCQs had construction defects, multiple correct answers, and dubious appropriateness to the learner’s stage. ChatGPT generated explanations for test items, this enhancing usefulness to support self-study by learners. Integrated case-cluster items had focused clinical case description vignettes, integration across disciplines, and targeted higher levels of competencies. The response of AI tools on standard-setting varied. Individual questions for each SAQ clinical scenario were mostly open-ended. The AI-generated OSPE test items were appropriate for the learner’s stage and identified relevant pharmacotherapeutic issues. The model answers supplied for both SAQs and OSPEs can aid course instructors in planning classroom lessons, identifying suitable instructional methods, establishing rubrics for grading, and for learners as a study guide. Key lessons learnt for improving AI-generated test item quality are outlined.

Conclusions

AI tools are useful adjuncts to plan instructional methods, identify themes for test blueprinting, generate test items, and guide test standard-setting appropriate to learners’ stage in the medical program. However, experts need to review the content validity of AI-generated output. We expect AIs to influence the medical education landscape to empower learners, and to align competencies with curriculum implementation. AI literacy is an essential competency for health professionals.

Peer Review reports

Artificial intelligence (AI) has great potential to revolutionize the field of medical education from curricular conception to assessment [ 1 ]. AIs used in medical education are mostly generative AI large language models that were developed and validated based on billions to trillions of parameters [ 2 ]. AIs hold promise in the incorporation of history-taking, assessment, diagnosis, and management of various disorders [ 3 ]. While applications of AIs in undergraduate medical training are being explored, huge ethical challenges remain in terms of data collection, maintaining anonymity, consent, and ownership of the provided data [ 4 ]. AIs hold a promising role amongst learners because they can deliver a personalized learning experience by tracking their progress and providing real-time feedback, thereby enhancing their understanding in the areas they are finding difficult [ 5 ]. Consequently, a recent survey has shown that medical students have expressed their interest in acquiring competencies related to the use of AIs in healthcare during their undergraduate medical training [ 6 ].

Pharmacology and Therapeutics (P & T) is a core discipline embedded in the undergraduate medical curriculum, mostly in the pre-clerkship phase. However, the application of therapeutic principles forms one of the key learning objectives during the clerkship phase of the undergraduate medical career. Student assessment in pharmacology & therapeutics (P&T) is with test items such as multiple-choice questions (MCQs), integrated case cluster questions, short answer questions (SAQs), and objective structured practical examination (OSPE) in the undergraduate medical curriculum. It has been argued that AIs possess the ability to communicate an idea more creatively than humans [ 7 ]. It is imperative that with access to billions of trillions of datasets the AI platforms hold promise in playing a crucial role in the conception of various test items related to any of the disciplines in the undergraduate medical curriculum. Additionally, AIs provide an optimized curriculum for a program/course/topic addressing multidimensional problems [ 8 ], although robust evidence for this claim is lacking.

The existing literature has evaluated the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of adopting AI in medical education. Integration of AIs in medical education is the need of the hour in all health professional education. However, the academic medical fraternity facing challenges in the incorporation of AIs in the medical curriculum due to factors such as inadequate grounding in data analytics, lack of high-quality firm evidence favoring the utility of AIs in medical education, and lack of funding [ 9 ]. Open-access AI platforms are available free to users without any restrictions. Hence, as a proof-of-concept, we chose to explore the utility of three AI platforms to identify specific learning objectives (SLOs) related to pharmacology discipline in the management of hypertension for medical students at different stages of their medical training.

Study design and ethics

The present study is observational, cross-sectional in design, conducted in the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Kingdom of Bahrain, between April and August 2023. Ethical Committee approval was not sought given the nature of this study that neither had any interaction with humans, nor collection of any personal data was involved.

Study procedure

We conducted the present study in May-June 2023 with the Poe© chatbot interface created by Quora© that provides access to the following three AI platforms:

Sage Poe [ 10 ]: A generative AI search engine developed by Anthropic © that conceives a response based on the written input provided. Quora has renamed Sage Poe as Assistant © from July 2023 onwards.

Claude-Instant [ 11 ]: A retrieval-based AI search engine developed by Anthropic © that collates a response based on pre-written responses amongst the existing databases.

ChatGPT version 3.5 [ 12 ]: A generative architecture-based AI search engine developed by OpenAI © trained on large and diverse datasets.

We queried the chatbots to generate SLOs, A-type MCQs, integrated case cluster MCQs, integrated SAQs, and OSPE test items in the domain of systemic hypertension related to the P&T discipline. Separate prompts were used to generate outputs for pre-clerkship (preclinical) phase students, and at the time of graduation (before starting residency programs). Additionally, we have also evaluated the ability of these AI platforms to estimate the proportion of students correctly answering these test items. We used the following queries for each of these objectives:

Specific learning objectives

Can you generate specific learning objectives in the pharmacology discipline relevant to undergraduate medical students during their pre-clerkship phase related to anti-hypertensive drugs?

Can you generate specific learning objectives in the pharmacology discipline relevant to undergraduate medical students at the time of graduation related to anti-hypertensive drugs?

A-type MCQs

In the initial query used for A-type of item, we specified the domains (such as the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, adverse reactions, and indications) so that a sample of test items generated without any theme-related clutter, shown below:

Write 20 single best answer MCQs with 5 choices related to anti-hypertensive drugs for undergraduate medical students during the pre-clerkship phase of which 5 MCQs should be related to mechanism of action, 5 MCQs related to pharmacokinetics, 5 MCQs related to adverse reactions, and 5 MCQs should be related to indications.

The MCQs generated with the above search query were not based on clinical vignettes. We queried again to generate MCQs using clinical vignettes specifically because most medical schools have adopted problem-based learning (PBL) in their medical curriculum.

Write 20 single best answer MCQs with 5 choices related to anti-hypertensive drugs for undergraduate medical students during the pre-clerkship phase using a clinical vignette for each MCQ of which 5 MCQs should be related to the mechanism of action, 5 MCQs related to pharmacokinetics, 5 MCQs related to adverse reactions, and 5 MCQs should be related to indications.

We attempted to explore whether AI platforms can provide useful guidance on standard-setting. Hence, we used the following search query.

Can you do a simulation with 100 undergraduate medical students to take the above questions and let me know what percentage of students got each MCQ correct?

Integrated case cluster MCQs

Write 20 integrated case cluster MCQs with 2 questions in each cluster with 5 choices for undergraduate medical students during the pre-clerkship phase integrating pharmacology and physiology related to systemic hypertension with a case vignette.

Write 20 integrated case cluster MCQs with 2 questions in each cluster with 5 choices for undergraduate medical students during the pre-clerkship phase integrating pharmacology and physiology related to systemic hypertension with a case vignette. Please do not include ‘none of the above’ as the choice. (This modified search query was used because test items with ‘None of the above’ option were generated with the previous search query).

Write 20 integrated case cluster MCQs with 2 questions in each cluster with 5 choices for undergraduate medical students at the time of graduation integrating pharmacology and physiology related to systemic hypertension with a case vignette.

Integrated short answer questions

Write a short answer question scenario with difficult questions based on the theme of a newly diagnosed hypertensive patient for undergraduate medical students with the main objectives related to the physiology of blood pressure regulation, risk factors for systemic hypertension, pathophysiology of systemic hypertension, pathological changes in the systemic blood vessels in hypertension, pharmacological management, and non-pharmacological treatment of systemic hypertension.

Write a short answer question scenario with moderately difficult questions based on the theme of a newly diagnosed hypertensive patient for undergraduate medical students with the main objectives related to the physiology of blood pressure regulation, risk factors for systemic hypertension, pathophysiology of systemic hypertension, pathological changes in the systemic blood vessels in hypertension, pharmacological management, and non-pharmacological treatment of systemic hypertension.

Write a short answer question scenario with questions based on the theme of a newly diagnosed hypertensive patient for undergraduate medical students at the time of graduation with the main objectives related to the physiology of blood pressure regulation, risk factors for systemic hypertension, pathophysiology of systemic hypertension, pathological changes in the systemic blood vessels in hypertension, pharmacological management, and non-pharmacological treatment of systemic hypertension.

Can you generate 5 OSPE pharmacology and therapeutics prescription writing exercises for the assessment of undergraduate medical students at the time of graduation related to anti-hypertensive drugs?

Can you generate 5 OSPE pharmacology and therapeutics prescription writing exercises containing appropriate instructions for the patients for the assessment of undergraduate medical students during their pre-clerkship phase related to anti-hypertensive drugs?

Can you generate 5 OSPE pharmacology and therapeutics prescription writing exercises containing appropriate instructions for the patients for the assessment of undergraduate medical students at the time of graduation related to anti-hypertensive drugs?

Both authors independently evaluated the AI-generated outputs, and a consensus was reached. We cross-checked the veracity of answers suggested by AIs as per the Joint National Commission Guidelines (JNC-8) and Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (2023), a reference textbook [ 13 , 14 ]. Errors in the A-type MCQs were categorized as item construction defects, multiple correct answers, and uncertain appropriateness to the learner’s level. Test items in the integrated case cluster MCQs, SAQs and OSPEs were evaluated with the Preliminary Conceptual Framework for Establishing Content Validity of AI-Generated Test Items based on the following domains: technical accuracy, comprehensiveness, education level, and lack of construction defects (Table  1 ). The responses were categorized as complete and deficient for each domain.

The pre-clerkship phase SLOs identified by Sage Poe, Claude-Instant, and ChatGPT are listed in the electronic supplementary materials 1 – 3 , respectively. In general, a broad homology in SLOs generated by the three AI platforms was observed. All AI platforms identified appropriate action verbs as per Bloom’s taxonomy to state the SLO; action verbs such as describe, explain, recognize, discuss, identify, recommend, and interpret are used to state the learning outcome. The specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound (SMART) SLOs generated by each AI platform slightly varied. All key domains of antihypertensive pharmacology to be achieved during the pre-clerkship (pre-clinical) years were relevant for graduating doctors. The SLOs addressed current JNC Treatment Guidelines recommended classes of antihypertensive drugs, the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, indications/contraindications, dosage adjustments, monitoring therapy, and principles of monotherapy and combination therapy.

The SLOs to be achieved by undergraduate medical students at the time of graduation identified by Sage Poe, Claude-Instant, and ChatGPT listed in electronic supplementary materials 4 – 6 , respectively. The identified SLOs emphasize the application of pharmacology knowledge within a clinical context, focusing on competencies needed to function independently in early residency stages. These SLOs go beyond knowledge recall and mechanisms of action to encompass competencies related to clinical problem-solving, rational prescribing, and holistic patient management. The SLOs generated require higher cognitive ability of the learner: action verbs such as demonstrate, apply, evaluate, analyze, develop, justify, recommend, interpret, manage, adjust, educate, refer, design, initiate & titrate were frequently used.

The MCQs for the pre-clerkship phase identified by Sage Poe, Claude-Instant, and ChatGPT listed in the electronic supplementary materials 7 – 9 , respectively, and those identified with the search query based on the clinical vignette in electronic supplementary materials ( 10 – 12 ).

All MCQs generated by the AIs in each of the four domains specified [mechanism of action (MOA); pharmacokinetics; adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and indications for antihypertensive drugs] are quality test items with potential content validity. The test items on MOA generated by Sage Poe included themes such as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) system, beta-adrenergic blockers (BB), calcium channel blockers (CCB), potassium channel openers, and centrally acting antihypertensives; on pharmacokinetics included high oral bioavailability/metabolism in liver [angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)-losartan], long half-life and renal elimination [angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)-lisinopril], metabolism by both liver and kidney (beta-blocker (BB)-metoprolol], rapid onset- short duration of action (direct vasodilator-hydralazine), and long-acting transdermal drug delivery (centrally acting-clonidine). Regarding the ADR theme, dry cough, angioedema, and hyperkalemia by ACEIs in susceptible patients, reflex tachycardia by CCB/amlodipine, and orthostatic hypotension by CCB/verapamil addressed. Clinical indications included the drug of choice for hypertensive patients with concomitant comorbidity such as diabetics (ACEI-lisinopril), heart failure and low ejection fraction (BB-carvedilol), hypertensive urgency/emergency (alpha cum beta receptor blocker-labetalol), stroke in patients with history recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack (ARB-losartan), and preeclampsia (methyldopa).

Almost similar themes under each domain were identified by the Claude-Instant AI platform with few notable exceptions: hydrochlorothiazide (instead of clonidine) in MOA and pharmacokinetics domains, respectively; under the ADR domain ankle edema/ amlodipine, sexual dysfunction and fatigue in male due to alpha-1 receptor blocker; under clinical indications the best initial monotherapy for clinical scenarios such as a 55-year old male with Stage-2 hypertension; a 75-year-old man Stage 1 hypertension; a 35-year-old man with Stage I hypertension working on night shifts; and a 40-year-old man with stage 1 hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

As with Claude-Instant AI, ChatGPT-generated test items on MOA were mostly similar. However, under the pharmacokinetic domain, immediate- and extended-release metoprolol, the effect of food to enhance the oral bioavailability of ramipril, and the highest oral bioavailability of amlodipine compared to other commonly used antihypertensives were the themes identified. Whereas the other ADR themes remained similar, constipation due to verapamil was a new theme addressed. Notably, in this test item, amlodipine was an option that increased the difficulty of this test item because amlodipine therapy is also associated with constipation, albeit to a lesser extent, compared to verapamil. In the clinical indication domain, the case description asking “most commonly used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure” is controversial because the options listed included losartan, ramipril, and hydrochlorothiazide but the suggested correct answer was ramipril. This is a good example to stress the importance of vetting the AI-generated MCQ by experts for content validity and to assure robust psychometrics. The MCQ on the most used drug in the treatment of “hypertension and diabetic nephropathy” is more explicit as opposed to “hypertension and diabetes” by Claude-Instant because the therapeutic concept of reducing or delaying nephropathy must be distinguished from prevention of nephropathy, although either an ACEI or ARB is the drug of choice for both indications.

It is important to align student assessment to the curriculum; in the PBL curriculum, MCQs with a clinical vignette are preferred. The modification of the query specifying the search to generate MCQs with a clinical vignette on domains specified previously gave appropriate output by all three AI platforms evaluated (Sage Poe; Claude- Instant; Chat GPT). The scenarios generated had a good clinical fidelity and educational fit for the pre-clerkship student perspective.

The errors observed with AI outputs on the A-type MCQs are summarized in Table  2 . No significant pattern was observed except that Claude-Instant© generated test items in a stereotyped format such as the same choices for all test items related to pharmacokinetics and indications, and all the test items in the ADR domain are linked to the mechanisms of action of drugs. This illustrates the importance of reviewing AI-generated test items by content experts for content validity to ensure alignment with evidence-based medicine and up-to-date treatment guidelines.

The test items generated by ChatGPT had the advantage of explanations supplied rendering these more useful for learners to support self-study. The following examples illustrate this assertion: “ A patient with hypertension is started on a medication that works by blocking beta-1 receptors in the heart (metoprolol)”. Metoprolol is a beta blocker that works by blocking beta-1 receptors in the heart, which reduces heart rate and cardiac output, resulting in a decrease in blood pressure. However, this explanation is incomplete because there is no mention of other less important mechanisms, of beta receptor blockers on renin release. Also, these MCQs were mostly recall type: Which of the following medications is known to have a significant first-pass effect? The explanation reads: propranolol is known to have a significant first pass-effect, meaning that a large portion of the drug is metabolized by the liver before it reaches systemic circulation. Losartan, amlodipine, ramipril, and hydrochlorothiazide do not have significant first-pass effect. However, it is also important to extend the explanation further by stating that the first-pass effect of propranolol does not lead to total loss of pharmacological activity because the metabolite hydroxy propranolol also has potent beta-blocking activity. Another MCQ test item had a construction defect: “A patient with hypertension is started on a medication that can cause photosensitivity. Which of the following medications is most likely responsible?” Options included: losartan, amlodipine, ramipril, hydrochlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene. The explanation states that hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) can cause photosensitivity, which is increased sensitivity to sunlight that can cause skin rashes and sunburns. Losartan, amlodipine, ramipril, and HCTZ/triamterene are less likely to cause photosensitivity. However, it is irrational to claim that HCTZ/triamterene, one of the wrong options, is less likely to cause photosensitivity. The difficulty index of such test items is likely unacceptable in high-stake tests to make equitable psychometric decisions.

The responses from Sage Poe, Claude-Instant, and ChatGPT on guidance for standard-setting methods are listed in the electronic supplementary materials 13 – 15 . Sage Poe offered this information with the caveat that “the results of this simulation were purely hypothetical and do not reflect the actual performance of any real students”. The simulation estimates of examinees correctly answering test items ranged from 60 to 90% for the mechanism of action, 65–85% for pharmacokinetics, 60–80% for adverse reactions, and 75–90% for clinical indications of antihypertensives.

In contrast, Claude-Instant admitted that “Performing a full simulation with 100 medical students is beyond the scope of what I can do as an AI assistant. I can generate sample MCQ questions and answers, but I do not have access to a population of medical students to administer the questions. A true simulation that administers questions to real students and analyzes the results would require access to a database of medical students, a platform to deliver the questions, and code to analyze the responses. As an AI assistant, I lack these capabilities. While I cannot perform a full simulation, here are some considerations for administering MCQ questions to medical students: provide details on the purpose and instructions for the test to ensure students understand what is expected out of them; consider including some easier questions in addition to more challenging ones to boost students’ confidence and motivation; avoid ambiguous wording and ensure each question has only one unambiguously correct answer option; when analyzing results, look for questions factors that may have impacted performance, like unclear wording or answer options that are too similar. Focusing on weak questions can help improve future tests; compare performance across different student groups to identify areas where more teaching may be needed; provide detailed answer explanations and review sessions after the test to help students learn from any errors and reinforce correct concepts”. However, ChatGPT offered the simulation result estimates for the 20 MCQ on antihypertensive drugs: mechanism of action ranged from 67 to 92%, pharmacokinetics 63–86%, adverse effects 65–82%, and clinical indications 64–89%. Furthermore, it also stated that “Overall, the performance of the students was quite good, with most questions having a response rate of over 70%. However, there were some questions where the projected correct response rate was rather low, such as Question #5 (Mechanism of Action of Hydrochlorothiazide; see Electronic Supplementary Material 12 ) and Question 18 (Indications for Verapamil; see Electronic Supplementary Material 10 ). This may suggest areas where students need more focused education or review.”

We asked AI assistants to generate 20 integrated case cluster MCQs with 2 test items in each cluster with five options for undergraduate medical students in the pre-clerkship phase integrating pharmacology and physiology related to systemic hypertension with a case vignette and the responses by Sage Poe, Claude-Instant, and ChatGPT are listed in the electronic supplementary materials ( 16 – 18 ). In all instances, the test items generated had focused case descriptions in the form of a clinical vignette, and horizontal integration across the pathophysiology of hypertension and pharmacology of antihypertensive drugs. These test items mostly targeted the ‘knows (knowledge)’ or ‘knows how (competence)’ level on Miller’s pyramid and are suitable for assessing the clinical competence of pre-clerkship medical students, especially in an integrated PBL curriculum. Both the AI assistants generated excellent clinical vignettes and themes; however, most of the cluster MCQs by ChatGPT had “None of the above” as an option, which is often considered a test item construction flaw. Notwithstanding these limitations, case cluster integrated test items are valuable for learners to integrate their knowledge of different basic medical sciences and their application to clinical sciences. This integrated approach can be used for both instructional and student assessment purposes to make the course more meaningful. Indeed, one of the basic tenets of PBL is curriculum integration.

In the next query, we asked AI assistants to write integrated case cluster MCQs with 2 test items in each cluster with 5 options for undergraduate medical students at the time of graduation integrating pharmacology and physiology of hypertension with a case vignette. The responses are listed in the electronic supplementary materials 19 – 21 . Claude-Instant has provided only partial responses to both the queries. Overall, the information provided in case vignettes requires the learner to interpret the clinical information and make therapeutic decisions. Such test items are appropriate for assessing the minimum competency of medical school graduates to start internship or residency programs; these MCQs are generally comparable to test items used in USMLE Part 2. The evaluation of the integrated case cluster test items provided by all the AI platforms is summarized in Table  3 . In general, the AI outputs had at least one construction defect, and did not include all the core sub-topics to a sufficient degree.

When asked to simulate the above-generated test items to 100 undergraduate medical students at the time of graduation and provide a percentage of students who are likely to correctly answer each item, the AI assistant responded:

“ As an AI language model, I cannot simulate the responses of 100 undergraduate medical students likely to obtain the correct answer for each question. However, I can provide some general information about the difficulty level of each question based on the complexity of the concepts being tested and the level of integration between pharmacology and physiology ”.

AI assistant went on to clarify that questions that require knowledge of basic pharmacology principles, such as the mechanism of action of specific drugs, are likely to be easier for students to answer correctly. Test items that require an understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying hypertension and correlating with symptoms are likely to be more challenging for students. The AI assistant sorted these test items into two categories accordingly. Overall, the difficulty level of the test item is based on the level of integration between pharmacology and pathophysiology. Test items that require an understanding of both pharmacological and physiological mechanisms are likely to be more challenging for students requiring a strong foundation in both pharmacology and physiology concepts to be able to correctly answer integrated case-cluster MCQs.

Short answer questions

The responses to a search query on generating SAQs appropriate to the pre-clerkship phase Sage Poe, Claude-Instant, and ChatGPT generated items are listed in the electronic supplementary materials 22 – 24 for difficult questions and 25–27 for moderately difficult questions.

It is apparent from these case vignette descriptions that the short answer question format varied. Accordingly, the scope for asking individual questions for each scenario is open-ended. In all instances, model answers are supplied which are helpful for the course instructor to plan classroom lessons, identify appropriate instructional methods, and establish rubrics for grading the answer scripts, and as a study guide for students.

We then wanted to see to what extent AI can differentiate the difficulty of the SAQ by replacing the search term “difficult” with “moderately difficult” in the above search prompt: the changes in the revised case scenarios are substantial. Perhaps the context of learning and practice (and the level of the student in the MD/medical program) may determine the difficulty level of SAQ generated. It is worth noting that on changing the search from cardiology to internal medicine rotation in Sage Poe the case description also changed. Thus, it is essential to select an appropriate AI assistant, perhaps by trial and error, to generate quality SAQs. Most of the individual questions tested stand-alone knowledge and did not require students to demonstrate integration.

The responses of Sage Poe, Claude-Instant, and ChatGPT for the search query to generate SAQs at the time of graduation are listed in the electronic supplementary materials 28 – 30 . It is interesting to note how AI assistants considered the stage of the learner while generating the SAQ. The response by Sage Poe is illustrative for comparison. “You are a newly graduated medical student who is working in a hospital” versus “You are a medical student in your pre-clerkship.”

Some questions were retained, deleted, or modified to align with competency appropriate to the context (Electronic Supplementary Materials 28 – 30 ). Overall, the test items at both levels from all AI platforms were technically accurate and thorough addressing the topics related to different disciplines (Table  3 ). The differences in learning objective transition are summarized in Table  4 . A comparison of learning objectives revealed that almost all objectives remained the same except for a few (Table  5 ).

A similar trend was apparent with test items generated by other AI assistants, such as ChatGPT. The contrasting differences in questions are illustrated by the vertical integration of basic sciences and clinical sciences (Table  6 ).

Taken together, these in-depth qualitative comparisons suggest that AI assistants such as Sage Poe and ChatGPT consider the learner’s stage of training in designing test items, learning outcomes, and answers expected from the examinee. It is critical to state the search query explicitly to generate quality output by AI assistants.

The OSPE test items generated by Claude-Instant and ChatGPT appropriate to the pre-clerkship phase (without mentioning “appropriate instructions for the patients”) are listed in the electronic supplementary materials 31 and 32 and with patient instructions on the electronic supplementary materials 33 and 34 . For reasons unknown, Sage Poe did not provide any response to this search query.

The five OSPE items generated were suitable to assess the prescription writing competency of pre-clerkship medical students. The clinical scenarios identified by the three AI platforms were comparable; these scenarios include patients with hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance in a 65-year-old male, hypertension with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a 55-year-old woman, resistant hypertension with obstructive sleep apnea in a 45-year-old man, and gestational hypertension at 32 weeks in a 35-year-old (Claude-Instant AI). Incorporating appropriate instructions facilitates the learner’s ability to educate patients and maximize safe and effective therapy. The OSPE item required students to write a prescription with guidance to start conservatively, choose an appropriate antihypertensive drug class (drug) based on the patients’ profile, specifying drug name, dose, dosing frequency, drug quantity to be dispensed, patient name, date, refill, and caution as appropriate, in addition to prescribers’ name, signature, and license number. In contrast, ChatGPT identified clinical scenarios to include patients with hypertension and CKD, hypertension and bronchial asthma, gestational diabetes, hypertension and heart failure, and hypertension and gout (ChatGPT). Guidance for dosage titration, warnings to be aware, safety monitoring, and frequency of follow-up and dose adjustment. These test items are designed to assess learners’ knowledge of P & T of antihypertensives, as well as their ability to provide appropriate instructions to patients. These clinical scenarios for writing prescriptions assess students’ ability to choose an appropriate drug class, write prescriptions with proper labeling and dosing, reflect drug safety profiles, and risk factors, and make modifications to meet the requirements of special populations. The prescription is required to state the drug name, dose, dosing frequency, patient name, date, refills, and cautions or instructions as needed. A conservative starting dose, once or twice daily dosing frequency based on the drug, and instructions to titrate the dose slowly if required.

The responses from Claude-Instant and ChatGPT for the search query related to generating OSPE test items at the time of graduation are listed in electronic supplementary materials 35 and 36 . In contrast to the pre-clerkship phase, OSPEs generated for graduating doctors’ competence assessed more advanced drug therapy comprehension. For example, writing a prescription for:

(1) A 65-year- old male with resistant hypertension and CKD stage 3 to optimize antihypertensive regimen required the answer to include starting ACEI and diuretic, titrating the dosage over two weeks, considering adding spironolactone or substituting ACEI with an ARB, and need to closely monitor serum electrolytes and kidney function closely.

(2) A 55-year-old woman with hypertension and paroxysmal arrhythmia required the answer to include switching ACEI to ARB due to cough, adding a CCB or beta blocker for rate control needs, and adjusting the dosage slowly and monitoring for side effects.

(3) A 45-year-old man with masked hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea require adding a centrally acting antihypertensive at bedtime and increasing dosage as needed based on home blood pressure monitoring and refer to CPAP if not already using one.

(4) A 75-year-old woman with isolated systolic hypertension and autonomic dysfunction to require stopping diuretic and switching to an alpha blocker, upward dosage adjustment and combining with other antihypertensives as needed based on postural blood pressure changes and symptoms.

(5) A 35-year-old pregnant woman with preeclampsia at 29 weeks require doubling methyldopa dose and consider adding labetalol or nifedipine based on severity and educate on signs of worsening and to follow-up immediately for any concerning symptoms.

These case scenarios are designed to assess the ability of the learner to comprehend the complexity of antihypertensive regimens, make evidence-based regimen adjustments, prescribe multidrug combinations based on therapeutic response and tolerability, monitor complex patients for complications, and educate patients about warning signs and follow-up.

A similar output was provided by ChatGPT, with clinical scenarios such as prescribing for patients with hypertension and myocardial infarction; hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary airway disease (COPD); hypertension and a history of angina; hypertension and a history of stroke, and hypertension and advanced renal failure. In these cases, wherever appropriate, pharmacotherapeutic issues like taking ramipril after food to reduce side effects such as giddiness; selection of the most appropriate beta-blocker such as nebivolol in patients with COPD comorbidity; the importance of taking amlodipine at the same time every day with or without food; preference for telmisartan among other ARBs in stroke; choosing furosemide in patients with hypertension and edema and taking the medication with food to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse effect are stressed.

The AI outputs on OSPE test times were observed to be technically accurate, thorough in addressing core sub-topics suitable for the learner’s level and did not have any construction defects (Table  3 ). Both AIs provided the model answers with explanatory notes. This facilitates the use of such OSPEs for self-assessment by learners for formative assessment purposes. The detailed instructions are helpful in creating optimized therapy regimens, and designing evidence-based regimens, to provide appropriate instructions to patients with complex medical histories. One can rely on multiple AI sources to identify, shortlist required case scenarios, and OSPE items, and seek guidance on expected model answers with explanations. The model answer guidance for antihypertensive drug classes is more appropriate (rather than a specific drug of a given class) from a teaching/learning perspective. We believe that these scenarios can be refined further by providing a focused case history along with relevant clinical and laboratory data to enhance clinical fidelity and bring a closer fit to the competency framework.

In the present study, AI tools have generated SLOs that comply with the current principles of medical education [ 15 ]. AI tools are valuable in constructing SLOs and so are especially useful for medical fraternities where training in medical education is perceived as inadequate, more so in the early stages of their academic career. Data suggests that only a third of academics in medical schools have formal training in medical education [ 16 ] which is a limitation. Thus, the credibility of alternatives, such as the AIs, is evaluated to generate appropriate course learning outcomes.

We observed that the AI platforms in the present study generated quality test items suitable for different types of assessment purposes. The AI-generated outputs were similar with minor variation. We have used generative AIs in the present study that could generate new content from their training dataset [ 17 ]. Problem-based and interactive learning approaches are referred to as “bottom-up” where learners obtain first-hand experience in solving the cases first and then indulge in discussion with the educators to refine their understanding and critical thinking skills [ 18 ]. We suggest that AI tools can be useful for this approach for imparting the core knowledge and skills related to Pharmacology and Therapeutics to undergraduate medical students. A recent scoping review evaluating the barriers to writing quality test items based on 13 studies has concluded that motivation, time constraints, and scheduling were the most common [ 19 ]. AI tools can be valuable considering the quick generation of quality test items and time management. However, as observed in the present study, the AI-generated test items nevertheless require scrutiny by faculty members for content validity. Moreover, it is important to train faculty in AI technology-assisted teaching and learning. The General Medical Council recommends taking every opportunity to raise the profile of teaching in medical schools [ 20 ]. Hence, both the academic faculty and the institution must consider investing resources in AI training to ensure appropriate use of the technology [ 21 ].

The AI outputs assessed in the present study had errors, particularly with A-type MCQs. One notable observation was that often the AI tools were unable to differentiate the differences between ACEIs and ARBs. AI platforms access several structured and unstructured data, in addition to images, audio, and videos. Hence, the AI platforms can commit errors due to extracting details from unauthenticated sources [ 22 ] created a framework identifying 28 factors for reconstructing the path of AI failures and for determining corrective actions. This is an area of interest for AI technical experts to explore. Also, this further iterates the need for human examination of test items before using them for assessment purposes.

There are concerns that AIs can memorize and provide answers from their training dataset, which they are not supposed to do [ 23 ]. Hence, the use of AIs-generated test items for summative examinations is debatable. It is essential to ensure and enhance the security features of AI tools to reduce or eliminate cross-contamination of test items. Researchers have emphasized that AI tools will only reach their potential if developers and users can access full-text non-PDF formats that help machines comprehend research papers and generate the output [ 24 ].

AI platforms may not always have access to all standard treatment guidelines. However, in the present study, it was observed that all three AI platforms generally provided appropriate test items regarding the choice of medications, aligning with recommendations from contemporary guidelines and standard textbooks in pharmacology and therapeutics. The prompts used in the study were specifically focused on the pre-clerkship phase of the undergraduate medical curriculum (and at the time of their graduation) and assessed fundamental core concepts, which were also reflected in the AI outputs. Additionally, the recommended first-line antihypertensive drug classes have been established for several decades, and information regarding their pharmacokinetics, ADRs, and indications is well-documented in the literature.

Different paradigms and learning theories have been proposed to support AI in education. These paradigms include AI- directed (learner as recipient), AI-supported (learner as collaborator), and AI-empowered (learner as leader) that are based on Behaviorism, Cognitive-Social constructivism, and Connectivism-Complex adaptive systems, respectively [ 25 ]. AI techniques have potential to stimulate and advance instructional and learning sciences. More recently a three- level model that synthesizes and unifies existing learning theories to model the roles of AIs in promoting learning process has been proposed [ 26 ]. The different components of our study rely upon these paradigms and learning theories as the theoretical underpinning.

Strengths and limitations

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the utility of AI platforms in generating test items related to a discipline in the undergraduate medical curriculum. We have evaluated the AI’s ability to generate outputs related to most types of assessment in the undergraduate medical curriculum. The key lessons learnt for improving the AI-generated test item quality from the present study are outlined in Table  7 . We used a structured framework for assessing the content validity of the test items. However, we have demonstrated using a single case study (hypertension) as a pilot experiment. We chose to evaluate anti-hypertensive drugs as it is a core learning objective and one of the most common disorders relevant to undergraduate medical curricula worldwide. It would be interesting to explore the output from AI platforms for other common (and uncommon/region-specific) disorders, non-/semi-core objectives, and disciplines other than Pharmacology and Therapeutics. An area of interest would be to look at the content validity of the test items generated for different curricula (such as problem-based, integrated, case-based, and competency-based) during different stages of the learning process. Also, we did not attempt to evaluate the generation of flowcharts, algorithms, or figures for generating test items. Another potential area for exploring the utility of AIs in medical education would be repeated procedural practices such as the administration of drugs through different routes by trainee residents [ 27 ]. Several AI tools have been identified for potential application in enhancing classroom instructions and assessment purposes pending validation in prospective studies [ 28 ]. Lastly, we did not administer the AI-generated test items to students and assessed their performance and so could not comment on the validity of test item discrimination and difficulty indices. Additionally, there is a need to confirm the generalizability of the findings to other complex areas in the same discipline as well as in other disciplines that pave way for future studies. The conceptual framework used in the present study for evaluating the AI-generated test items needs to be validated in a larger population. Future studies may also try to evaluate the variations in the AI outputs with repetition of the same queries.

Notwithstanding ongoing discussions and controversies, AI tools are potentially useful adjuncts to optimize instructional methods, test blueprinting, test item generation, and guidance for test standard-setting appropriate to learners’ stage in the medical program. However, experts need to critically review the content validity of AI-generated output. These challenges and caveats are to be addressed before the use of widespread use of AIs in medical education can be advocated.

Data availability

All the data included in this study are provided as Electronic Supplementary Materials.

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RPS– Conceived the idea; KS– Data collection and curation; RPS and KS– Data analysis; RPS and KS– wrote the first draft and were involved in all the revisions.

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Sridharan, K., Sequeira, R.P. Artificial intelligence and medical education: application in classroom instruction and student assessment using a pharmacology & therapeutics case study. BMC Med Educ 24 , 431 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05365-7

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Received : 26 September 2023

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05365-7

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