BCG SELECTION PROCESS
BCG Cognitive Test,
Casey or CCA?Which online test will you take?
BCG uses different online assessments depending on the location, entry role and recruitment process. An ‘online test’ may mean a cognitive test, a chatbot case or a broader assessment. To choose the right preparation, first check the name in your invitation.
Which test does your invitation name?
The wording in your BCG invitation is crucial. These three assessments differ substantially:
- Cognitive Test / Kognitivtest
- Numerical, verbal and logical reasoning under time pressure. Waymerit is designed specifically for this.
- Casey / Online Case / OCE
- Interactive business case study. This calls for a different approach to preparation, with a stronger focus on cases.
- CCA / Consulting Career Assessment
- A separate assessment with cognitive and behavioural elements. Waymerit does not reproduce the full CCA process.
The specific instructions in your invitation take precedence. The assessments used may differ by location and recruitment process.
THREE ASSESSMENTS, THREE EMPHASES
The tests compared directly.
01 · Cognitive abilities
BCG Cognitive Test
- Test type
- A time-critical ability test with individual multiple-choice questions.
- Use and target group
- Officially described for full-time consulting roles and internships in Germany and Austria, and for graduates and Visiting Associates in Switzerland.
- Skills and questions
- Numerical, verbal and logical reasoning; individual reasoning questions rather than a continuous business case study.
- Useful preparation
- Practise the relevant question formats, confident calculation without a calculator and working under time pressure.
- Preparation with Waymerit
- Specifically designed for this: independently developed questions and an interface and navigation based on the test actually taken.
02 · Interactive case study
Casey / Online Case
- Test type
- A business case conducted in dialogue with a chatbot, also called Online Case Experience (OCE).
- Use and target group
- For example, in consulting recruitment in Mexico. The US Associate page mentions an Online Case for selected applicants.
- Skills and questions
- Analytical problem-solving in a business context. BCG's guide lists multiple-choice questions, short written answers and a final video response.
- Useful preparation
- Practise case interviews, interpret business figures and justify recommendations clearly. Use the practice case supplied by BCG.
- Preparation with Waymerit
- Not complete preparation: Waymerit currently offers no dedicated Casey simulator.
03 · CCA · Cognition and behaviour
Consulting Career Assessment
- Test type
- A multidimensional assessment. According to BCG's FAQ, SHL developed and administers it to assess cognitive functions and behavioural characteristics.
- Use and target group
- Used for US Associate applications and Associates in Mexico, among others; also in the Unlock programme 2026 for eligible candidates interested in US and Canadian offices.
- Skills and questions
- Behavioural questions and a logic section. According to BCG, there are no right or wrong answers to the behavioural questions.
- Useful preparation
- BCG says no preparation is required. Work carefully through the tutorial and practice questions, and answer behavioural questions authentically.
- Preparation with Waymerit
- Not complete preparation: the training reproduces neither the CCA process nor its behavioural component.
A CLOSER LOOK
Four common misconceptions.
‘The Cognitive Test has no verbal questions.’
For Germany and Austria, this contradicts the official information: BCG explicitly lists numerical, verbal and logical abilities. The Swiss careers page also lists all three areas.
‘You can go back in every BCG test.’
The first-hand Cognitive Test experience documented for Waymerit includes free navigation; PTL preparation providers also describe it. BCG does not publicly confirm this feature for Germany and Austria. By contrast, the Online Case guide rules out going back and changing earlier answers. Check your test instructions.
‘CCA is just another name for Casey.’
No: BCG Mexico already lists them separately. The US Associate process can also include both CCA and an additional Online Case. An invitation may therefore cover more than one assessment.
‘A BCG preparation course automatically suits every test.’
The company name alone is not enough to choose preparation. Compare question types, interfaces and test rules. Calculation practice can strengthen core skills, but it replaces neither business case work nor familiarisation with CCA.
PRACTISE THE RIGHT FORMAT
Which preparation
makes sense?
First identify the assessment, then choose your preparation. General IQ and aptitude test exercises can strengthen core skills. However, they do not automatically reproduce the same question formats, timing and navigation. Practising the specific test format helps you become familiar with these requirements in advance.
Waymerit specialises in the BCG Cognitive Test used in German-speaking recruitment processes. The independently developed questions focus on the formats encountered in the test actually taken. The training environment and navigation also closely follow that experience.
For Casey, you need additional case preparation; for CCA, its own instructions take precedence. Waymerit currently provides no dedicated simulator for either.
More about the Cognitive Test format, questions and preparation
WAYMERIT PRACTICE TEST
Preparing for the
BCG Cognitive Test?
Practise the BCG Cognitive Test question formats under realistic time pressure, with an interface and navigation based on the actual test.