Explanations of McKinsey PST question types

November 2012

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McKinsey PST questions type: FACTS READING

Focus of the question

FACTS reality / data

Typical question formats: Which of the following values is the best estimate of ? Which of the following statements is valid based on the data in ? Which of the following statements can be concluded from Exhibit ? The logic: What is true about the facts itself? Do you understand the facts as presented?

1 Even though the word conclude is used, sometime questions dont require any logical reasoning, just asking your ability t o read facts and perform basic calculations upon. In these cases, I still classify these questions into this Fact reading category. MConsultingPrep

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McKinsey PST questions type: ROOT-CAUSE

Focus of the question

Potential Root-cause 1

Potential Root-cause 2 FACTS reality / data

Potential Root-cause 3

Potential Root-cause 4

Potential Root-cause 5

Typical question formats: Which of the following reasons, if TRUE, will help explain the Facts ? The logic: If a potential Root-cause is true, will the Facts be as shown / provided? Potential Root-cause does NOT need to be supported by the Facts. It just has to be fit well with the facts.

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McKinsey PST questions type: FACT-BASED CONCLUSION

Focus of the question

Potential Root-cause 1

Potential Root-cause 2 FACTS reality / data

Conclusions

Potential Root-cause 4

Potential Root-cause 5

Typical question formats: Based on the information provided by , which of the following statements is a valid conclusion? Which of the following statements, if true, would be the strongest argument for conclusion X ? 1 The logic: The facts / data provided will be enough to conclude what? The conclusion not only need to be fit well with the Facts, it needs to be supported by the facts.

1 Sometimes the question is reversed, the conclusion is preset and mentioned already in the questions. You are asked about what facts needed to make conclusion X (Conclusion X is usually specify clearly). MConsultingPrep

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McKinsey PST questions type: INFORMATION

Focus of the question

Potential Root-cause 1 Additional Facts 2 Potential Root-cause 2 FACTS reality / data

Conclusions 1

Potential Root-cause 4

Potential Root-cause 5

Typical question formats: Which of the following would be LEAST helpful to ? The logic behind: What additional data, if have, will or will not help conclude ..?

1 May or may not be specified 2 Normally just the label of additional facts is asked, not specifying the details / content / value of the fact. MConsultingPrep

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Question classification of 3 official McKinsey practice tests

Question types Project objective

Popularity 8% 38%

Test A A11; A12; A20 A1; A3; A4; A15; A16; A17; A22; A24

Test B B1; B14 B2; B4; B8; B11; B12; B15; B18; B19; B22; B23; B25 B3; B16; B17; B24

Test C C7 C2; C3; C4; C5; C12; C14; C17; C19; C21; C25 C1; C8; C9; C15; C16; C18 C20; C24; C26

Reading Facts

Root Cause Fact-based Conclusions Information question Solution Formula Word Problems

13% 14% 5% 5% 5% 12% 100% A6; A7; A14; A23; A25

A5; A8; A18; A19

A13; A21; A26 A2; A9; A10

B7; B10; B13; B20 B21

C6 B26 B5; B6; B9 C10; C13; C23 C22

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