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McKinsey Case Interview Questions

Practice with real McKinsey case interview questions. These cases cover profitability, market entry, growth strategy, and more — the types of problems McKinsey consultants solve daily.

Total Cases: 84
Easy 1 Medium 59 Hard 24
McKinsey
Medium

Adventure Capital

Merger & Acquisition Archaeology

Your client is Idaho Johnson, an archeologist/adventurer who specializes in rare artifact recovery. They have just learned about the possibility of an …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Medium

Banana Heaven

Profitability Policy/Public Sector Non-profit

The government of Banana Heaven (an island in the Indian ocean) is predominantly an agricultural economy. Majority of the population is involved in …

15 min
ROSS
50
McKinsey
Medium

OldSchool

Profitability GenAI Non-profit

OldSchool is a high school that was founded in 1947 in Delhi, India. It was considered one of the most prestigious schools in the city for many years, …

15 min
Tuck
50
McKinsey
Medium

Sourcing the Sauce

Operations Sourcing Retail

Our client is the CEO of the fast-food chain Hot Indian. Hot Indian brings in $3B in annual revenues around the U.S., with locations in most major …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Medium

Tres Burritos

Profitability Strategic Decision Retail

Your client is a national burrito chain with 100 locations. There has been a widespread flu virus growing in the U.S. which has the potential to hurt …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Medium

Breaking out of Boston

Market Entry Growth Strategy Real Estate

Our client is Future Builders (FB), a Boston-based educational non-profit founded 10 years ago. FB provides intensive STEM and vocational training …

15 min
Duke
50
McKinsey
Medium

Adventure Capital

Merger & Acquisition Archaeology

Your client is Idaho Johnson, an archeologist/adventurer who specializes in rare artifact recovery. They have just learned about the possibility of an …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Medium

Army Hotel

Market Entry Profitability Retail

Our client is a PE firm that has the opportunity to invest in building a 400-room hotel on an army base. The idea was given to the PE firm by the …

15 min
Chicago Booth
50
McKinsey
Medium

Brazilian Highway Concessions

Market Entry Merger & Acquisition Manufacturing

A leading Brazilian highway concessions company is looking to expand internationally. Economic growth in Brazil has stalled, and in order to continue …

15 min
Wharton
50
McKinsey
Medium

Center Stage

Market Entry Profitability Theatre / Producing

You've been approached by a producing team who have a hold on a major Broadway theater for 10 weeks next summer. Theater is a very expensive industry, …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Medium

Cleaning Products

Growth Strategy Consumer Goods

Our client is a prominent manufacturer of household cleaning products such as soap. They feel that an opportunity exists for them to do better in the …

15 min
Chicago Booth
50
McKinsey
Medium

Contact Lenses

Profitability Consumer Goods

Your client is a well-known contact lens provider called BB. BB manufactures and distributes contact lenses in the U.S. While BB is one of the largest …

15 min
Chicago Booth
50
McKinsey
Medium

Curling and Careers

Operations Non-profit

Your client is Curling & Careers (C&C), the New York City chapter of a national non-profit organization. The non-profit aims to provide disadvantaged …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Medium

Dr. Stern's Botanicals

Profitability Merger & Acquisition Consumer Goods

Dr. Stern's Botanicals is a U.S.-based cosmetic and skincare startup and a Gen-Z favorite for "clean beauty." Last year, the company's sales dropped …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Medium

Electric Utility

Profitability Energy

Our client is GPE, a producer of electricity. Here are a few concepts about electricity generation that will help you in this case: • There are …

15 min
Chicago Booth
50
McKinsey
Medium

Great Burger

Merger & Acquisition Profitability Consumer Goods

Let's assume our client is Great Burger (GB) a fast food chain that competes head–to–head with McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, KFC, etc. GB is the …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Medium

Linda's Great Burgers

Merger & Acquisition Retail

Our client is Linda's Great Burgers (GB). GB is a worldwide fast food chain store. Linda's uses the individual franchise model to sell burgers. The …

15 min
Chicago Booth
50
McKinsey
Hard

PyeongChang Winter Olympics

Merger & Acquisition Tech, Media & Entertainment

In the year 2012, we have been retained by a television network that is trying to decide how much to bid for the rights to broadcast the 2018 Winter …

15 min
Chicago Booth
50
McKinsey
Medium

Quahog Public Schools

Non-traditional Performance Improvement Non-profit

Our client is the superintendent of a system of schools in Quahog, Rhode Island. He is concerned because the performance of students from these …

15 min
Chicago Booth
50
McKinsey
Medium

Renewable Diesel

Market Sizing Market Entry Energy

Seashell, one of the world's biggest oil and gas companies, has reached out to you to ask for help with an investment decision. They want to decide if …

15 min
Bauer
50
McKinsey
Medium

Smart Cards

Growth Strategy Technology

Our client, Electronics Inc., is a large diversified Electronics Component manufacturer. One of their businesses is the manufacture of Smart Cards …

15 min
Chicago Booth
50
McKinsey
Medium

Sourcing the Sauce

Operations Cost Reduction Retail

Our client is the CEO of the fast-food chain Hot Indian. Hot Indian brings in $3B in annual revenues around the U.S., with locations in most major …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Medium

Timeless Comfort

Profitability Consumer Goods

Our client, Timeless Comfort, is a luxury household furniture manufacturer that operates across three countries and over 40 cities in Central Asia. …

15 min
Wharton
50
McKinsey
Medium

Tres Burritos

Profitability Retail

Your client is a national burrito chain with 100 locations. There has been a widespread flu virus growing in the U.S. which has the potential to hurt …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Medium

Adventure Capital

Merger & Acquisition Archaeology

Your client is Idaho Johnson, an archeologist/adventurer who specializes in rare artifact recovery. They have just learned about the possibility of an …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Hard

AI

Strategic Decision Growth Strategy Recruitment

Our client, JobJedi, is a major job board in the Philippines that began operating in 2019 and has experienced rapid growth. Currently, the platform …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Alpha Aviation

Profitability Route Planning Transportation

Your client is a large US-based commercial airline that has lost profitability and market share. The company is under pressure to regain its foothold …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Hard

Beta Optics

Strategic Decision Financial Analysis Healthcare (Ops)

Beta Optics is a U.S.-based mid-size prescription eyeglass lens manufacturer. Due to the pandemic their revenues dropped by 30% in 2020 as far fewer …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

British Times

Profitability Growth Strategy Media & Publishing

Create 3 or more ideas for the BritishTimes.com company to increase their revenue through their Internet strategy.

15 min
Harvard
50
McKinsey
Medium

Children Clothes E-Retailer

Digital Strategy Growth Strategy Retail

It's a Friday afternoon. You've just accepted an offer to join our consulting company as a Senior Associate in the Business Strategy Competency. …

15 min
Harvard
50
McKinsey
Hard

Climate change

Growth Strategy Environmental Policy Overall economy

The government of a West European country Franland has been under international pressure recently to accelerate the decarbonization of its economy. …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Confectionery Land

Market Entry Candies

Confectionery Land is a house of major brands of chocolate and sugar confectionery sold primarily in Europe. The company is pursuing an active …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Customer engagement

Customer Engagement Product Launch Retail chain

Texas-based supermarket chain Y-E-S saw a drop in their customer engagement in 2020-21 driven by the pandemic. The customer engagement didn't improve …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Differentiation

Differentiation Growth Strategy Sport shoes

Our client is a privately-held Boston-based sport shoe company New Equilibrium with $6B in sales. New Equilibrium is a beloved brand among …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Digital fitness

Strategic Decision Growth Strategy Gym chain

DoubleSweat is a national low-end gym chain with 2,400 clubs across the U.S. They're concerned about the sky-rocketed demand for digital fitness (e.g. …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Digital transformation

Operations Growth Strategy Healthcare

A global biopharmaceutical company Bio Co focuses on R&D for medications on severe central nervous system disorders, inflammatory disorders, and …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Distribution strategy

Product Launch Operations Fast food chain

A popular fast-casual salad chain Fresh Bites has gained a loyal following for its healthy and customizable salads. The chain has been rapidly …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Fertilizer Company

Strategic Decision Financial Analysis Agriculture

Fertilizer Company is a U.S.-based fertilizer manufacturer that produces 1.5M tons of nitrogen, phosphatic and potash fertilizer annually. They have …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Five Ladies

Profitability Retail

A national fast food restaurant chain, Five Ladies, that sells burgers, reached out to you to get your advice on how to improve profitability. The …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Guyderma

Market Entry Beauty Products

Your client is a big-name beauty product company Guyderma. They enjoy a developed product portfolio of creams, lotions, cleansers, syrups, masks and …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

K-12 teachers

Workforce Retention Policy Implementation Education

Around a quarter of U.S. K-12* teachers are thinking of leaving their jobs (~900k educators). 9% of teachers left the profession in 2022 (e.g. …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Kitchen World

Profitability Loyalty Program Retailers

Kitchen World is a high-end retail chain offering a wide variety of kitchenware - cookware, bakeware, dinnerware, electrics, and tools. With 100 …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Lasio virus

Market Entry Growth Strategy Healthcare

Not explicitly labeled in provided pages - Case concerns increasing Lasio virus vaccination rates in a country, with two main questions: Q3 asks for …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

New York Shmankees

Profitability Growth Strategy Sports/Entertainment

The year is 2013. Your client is a large New York based professional baseball team, the New York Shmankees. The owner, Baby Ruth is by no means cheap, …

15 min
Duke
50
McKinsey
Medium

North Sun

Profitability Growth Strategy Electric Cars

North Sun, a Japanese leading manufacturer of electric passenger vehicles, has been struggling with a low market share in the B2B segment. North Sun …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Okay Mobile

Market Entry Telecommunications

Okay Mobile is an Australian provider of mobile phone plans and operates as a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) on one of top-3 cellphone service …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Online training

Operations Training Program Design Financial Services

Our client is Shey Investment, SI, a British-American global asset management group. They offer a range of financial products to individuals, …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Plant-based meat

Strategic Decision Growth Strategy Fast food chain

The CEO of a $1B regional fast-food chain Up-N-Down Burger (UDB) has asked your team to help her prepare for the annual strategy meeting with the …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Premier Oil

Profitability Cost Reduction Energy

Given there is not much Premier Oil can do to increase sales, the manager wants us to focus on costs. To begin with, what are Premier Oil's major …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Presence at Amazon

Market Entry Product Launch Pet supplies

Paw Pet Products (PPP) is a U.S. major premium dog toy manufacturer with $50M in revenue (2022). With over 300 items, they offer many puzzle toys and …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

PubU

Environmental Strategy Financial Analysis Energy

You are the Dean of a large public university in the Midwest. Your tenure has focused on raising the profile of the university through various …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Hard

Reputation

Reputation Management Growth Strategy Education

Robert Sandler School of Drama (RSSD), an internationally recognized top U.S. acting school, would like to retain their standing as a reputable and …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Sustainability

Growth Strategy Sustainability Home supplies

Curex, one of top-5 laundry detergent brands in the U.S., has been experiencing pressure from their parent company to push the sustainability of their …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Traditional Toy Maker (2016)

Growth Strategy Merger & Acquisition Private Equity

Our client, a private equity firm, is considering acquiring a company that manufactures traditional toys. Toy Co., the potential acquisition, was …

15 min
Columbia
50
McKinsey
Medium

University Program

Growth Strategy Market Entry Education

Your client is a university in an African country that is thinking of launching a new Global Bachelor of Management (GBM) Program. The university …

15 min
Wharton
50
McKinsey
Easy

WeShare

Profitability Real Estate

Your client is a shared office space provider – WeShare. WeShare offers office spaces to freelancers, entrepreneurs, and companies in 10 major cities …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Whale Hotel

Profitability Merger & Acquisition Real Estate

Our client is a real estate company that owns and operates luxury hotels around the world. They've previously owned 3 resorts in Dubai and are …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Hard

Women's equality

Wild card Growth Strategy Overall economy

You're working on an internal project for McKinsey Global Institute (MGI). Your team is preparing a report on advancing women's equality in Africa. …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Almond farm

Merger & Acquisition Market Entry PE firm

Your client is a PE firm and they consider purchasing a U.S.-based almond farm. They brought your team in to advise on whether it is a wise idea.

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Benjamin Carpet

Profitability Financial Analysis Manufacturing

Your client is the family owner of a company that serves residential and commercial markets and operates 5 days/week and 16 hours/day. The owner is …

15 min
Cornell
50
McKinsey
Medium

Diesel truck manufacturer

Market Entry Pricing Manufacturing

How would you evaluate if they should produce and sell e-trucks?

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

European Beauty Company

Profitability Consumer Goods

Your client is a European beauty company that offers fragrance, makeup, and skincare. Their profitability has been decreasing recently. They have …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Female executives

Diversity & Inclusion Operations Wild card

You have a U.S.-based retail client that would like to more closely mirror its clientele and its workforce. Currently 25% of their executive team are …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Great Burger

Merger & Acquisition Profitability Retail

Let's assume our client is Great Burger (GB) a fast food chain that competes head–to–head with McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, KFC, etc. GB is the …

15 min
NYU
50
McKinsey
Hard

High-End Fashion Boutique Chain

Merger & Acquisition Financial Analysis Retail/Fashion

Your client, a PE firm, is considering the acquisition of a seven-store high-end fashion boutique chain located on the West Coast. The owner would …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Medium

Orange Bank Co

Merger & Acquisition Financial Services

Our client, an Amsterdam based retail bank, has seen exceptional growth in the last 5 years. They are involved in commercial banking, investment …

15 min
ROSS
50
McKinsey
Medium

ShopOn Retail

Profitability Retail

Our client, a US based e-commerce company, ShopOn, has seen a rise in customer returns over the last few quarters. Even though its revenue and market …

15 min
ROSS
50
McKinsey
Medium

Spanish Airlines

Profitability Cost Reduction Transportation

A Spanish low-cost airline has been facing declining profitability. They run six domestic routes. Several newcomers have entered the low-cost airline …

15 min
PeterK
50
McKinsey
Hard

Opus Two

Market Sizing Operations Consumer Goods

Our client, Opus Two, is one of the most prestigious wineries in Napa Valley. The winery is renowned for crafting a single, exceptional wine – a …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Medium

A-Plus School District

Education

Your client is A-Plus School District (APSD), a large public school district in the Southeast United States. A-Plus' superintendent has been concerned …

15 min
Duke
50
McKinsey
Medium

AI in the Clouds

Growth Strategy AI Implementation Technology

Our client, AVS Cloud, is one of the leading cloud service providers globally. Despite strong market demand for cloud infrastructure, AVS Cloud has …

15 min
Duke
50
McKinsey
Medium

Colombian Hippos

Strategic Decision Non-profit

At the height of his criminal activity in the 1980s, Pablo Escobar imported a menagerie of exotic animals to Colombia to show off at his personal zoo. …

15 min
Duke
50
McKinsey
Hard

Water Provision Scheme

Strategic Decision Non-profit

As of March 2021, the Education Ministry (EM) in India believes that more than 42,000 government schools across the country don’t have drinking water …

15 min
Duke
50
McKinsey
Medium

Thomas the Tank

Profitability Industrial/Railroad

Your client is Iron Peak Rails, a railroad operator in a developing Latin American country, providing domestic transportation for both passengers and …

15 min
Wharton
50
McKinsey
Medium

Maxicure

Profitability Operations Healthcare

Your client, Maxicure, manufactures and sells an over-the-counter cough and cold medicine. Their sole plant in Kentucky is aging, and its increasing …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Hard

Rubber Bumper Laboratories

Profitability Product Launch Manufacturing

Rubber Bumper Co is a small family owned producer of rubber products. It prides itself on producing a limited range of products but producing the …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Medium

Whale Hotel

Market Entry Merger & Acquisition Real Estate

Our client is a real estate company that owns and operates luxury hotels around the world. They’ve previously owned 3 resorts in Dubai and are …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Medium

Alpha Aviation

Profitability Growth Strategy Transportation

Your client is a large US-based commercial airline that has lost profitability and market share. The company is under pressure to regain its foothold …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Medium

Alpha Aviation

Profitability Transportation

Your client is a large US - based commercial airline that has lost profitability and market share. The company is under pressure to regain its …

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Medium

Case 1

McKinsey

15 min
wharton
50
McKinsey
Medium

Case 1

Potfolio trans

background1

15 min
wharton
50
McKinsey
Hard

Insurance for the underserved in India

Market Sizing Profitability Financial Services

The Indian insurance market is heavily underpenetrated. The majority of insurable, adult population either is not insured and this has serious …

15 min
Wharton
50
McKinsey
Medium

PubU

Energy

15 min
Darden
50
McKinsey
Hard

US Manufacturing

Operations Profitability Manufacturing

A major U.S. shoe manufacturer is currently manufacturing its entire product line domestically. Because of increased labor costs and competitive …

15 min
Wharton
50