Hello community,
I will be soon taking the new McKinsey Imbellus Problem Solving Game.
Has anyone on this platform gone through this same testing? If so, could you please provide any raccomandations/ tricks to keep in mind during the assesment?
Thank you in advance!
Lidia
Hi Lidia,
Imbellus’ psychologists designed the game to evaluate candidates across five cognitive abilities:
McKinsey says that the game tracks every move of the mouse, hesitation, and time spent on every action. It then uses data science to score the candidate across the five abilities.
How does it work?
The assessment consists of two scenarios, each taking approximately 30 minutes, with the second scenario broken into three parts. While the time limits are recommended, it has been reported that candidates who spend more time in the first scenario, have less time for the second one.
1. Ecosystem Management: candidates are expected to create a sustainable ecosystem either on a mountain ridge or a coral reef. The first step is to select the best location based on a range of attributes, such as wind speed, pH of the soil, and temperature; next choose 8 species of animals and plants from a selection of 40 based on a range of characteristics, such as number of calories needed to survive and ideal environment.
The most complex part is matching the animals to each other by calculating the number of calories they need to consume vs the number of calories they offer when consumed. Working down the food chain, starting from the predators can simplify the task.
2. Protect the Plant: candidates need to protect a plant from invading species through six rounds of play, using the provided tools, such as predators and terrain barriers, to stop or slow them down.
One of the challenges is deploying the majority of tools before knowing where the invasion will start or what the effect of the measures will be on the invaders. The key is to experiment, carefully record the results, and leverage the learnings in subsequent rounds.
How to succeed?
No-one really knows how to “win” in the game just yet, but one thing not to do, is to try and replicate the actions of someone who has taken the assessment before. The game has enough variability to prevent any attempt of cheating. Every user sees a unique version of the scenarios.
It is especially important to read the instructions carefully and take the time in the tutorials. There are a lot of details that can feel overwhelming. Think 80/20 and get comfortable with making decisions in conditions of ambiguity, and partial information, while always rooting the decisions in the facts.
How to prepare?
One of the reasons for switching to Imbellus is that candidates can prepare for the PST. Multiple previous and mock tests available online can get you in order for the old 1 hour, 26 questions test. McKinsey found a strong bias towards applicants with the time and resources to purchase mock tests and practice for the PST.
The Digital Assessment is meant to be a novel scenario for applicants, which is still evolving and changing between recruitment cycles. In theory, the game should prevent candidates with exact sciences background from having an advantage. Instead, it tests logic, decision-making, and clarity of thought.
If you are into video games, you are in luck! If not, it might be a time to start. Candidates report that the Imbellus assessment reminds them of the popular category of “tower defense” games, in particular, Kingdom Rush and Planet Zoo. Worst case, this is another, potentially useful way to spend time during the quarantine.
Please get in touch if you'd like to discuss in more detail.
Hi Andrew,
McKinsey Digital Assessment is based on a game developed by an American start-up Imbellus that uses Artificial Intelligence to place candidates in a range of lifelike scenarios and assess their decision-making skills and cognitive processes. Thus far it has been only deployed at McKinsey, but rest assured that other top tier consultancies will be quick to follow with a digital game-based assessment of their own.
Imbellus’ psychologists designed the game to evaluate candidates across five cognitive abilities:
McKinsey says that the game tracks every move of the mouse, hesitation, and time spent on every action. It then uses data science to score the candidate across the five abilities.
How does it work?
The assessment consists of two scenarios, each taking approximately 30 minutes, with the second scenario broken into three parts. While the time limits are recommended, it has been reported that candidates who spend more time in the first scenario, have less time for the second one.
1. Ecosystem Management: candidates are expected to create a sustainable ecosystem either on a mountain ridge or a coral reef. The first step is to select the best location based on a range of attributes, such as wind speed, pH of the soil, and temperature; next choose 8 species of animals and plants from a selection of 40 based on a range of characteristics, such as number of calories needed to survive and ideal environment.
The most complex part is matching the animals to each other by calculating the number of calories they need to consume vs the number of calories they offer when consumed. Working down the food chain, starting from the predators can simplify the task.
2. Protect the Plant: candidates need to protect a plant from invading species through six rounds of play, using the provided tools, such as predators and terrain barriers, to stop or slow them down.
One of the challenges is deploying the majority of tools before knowing where the invasion will start or what the effect of the measures will be on the invaders. The key is to experiment, carefully record the results, and leverage the learnings in subsequent rounds.
How to succeed?
No-one really knows how to “win” in the game just yet, but one thing not to do, is to try and replicate the actions of someone who has taken the assessment before. The game has enough variability to prevent any attempt of cheating. Every user sees a unique version of the scenarios.
It is especially important to read the instructions carefully and take the time in the tutorials. There are a lot of details that can feel overwhelming. Think 80/20 and get comfortable with making decisions in conditions of ambiguity, and partial information, while always rooting the decisions in the facts.
How to prepare?
One of the reasons for switching to Imbellus is that candidates can prepare for the PST. Multiple previous and mock tests available online can get you in order for the old 1 hour, 26 questions test. McKinsey found a strong bias towards applicants with the time and resources to purchase mock tests and practice for the PST.
The Digital Assessment is meant to be a novel scenario for applicants, which is still evolving and changing between recruitment cycles. In theory, the game should prevent candidates with exact sciences background from having an advantage. Instead, it tests logic, decision-making, and clarity of thought.
If you are into video games, you are in luck! If not, it might be a time to start. Candidates report that the Imbellus assessment reminds them of the popular category of “tower defence” games, in particular, Kingdom Rush and Planet Zoo. Worst case, this is another, potentially useful way to spend time during the quarantine.
Get in touch if you would like to discuss further.
Hi there,
This is probably too late for you, but hopefully useful for someone else.
I did an in-depth study on the Imbellus. Most of the comments I found online are something like this:
Not sure what you think, but I don’t believe that’s very useful. Nor did the several people I coached who had to do the test.
So I worked hard with the candidates that actually did the test and created a guide with everything you need to know on the Imbellus.
This guide will:
This guide will cover every single part of the Game, so you can be 100% confident the day of the assessment, without worrying “I should have prepared better for this”. You won’t need any additional material to prepare after it.
You can download the guide instantly here:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/mckinsey-imbellus-game-secrets-48
As an extra bonus, I am offering for a limited time the Consulting Industry Cheat Sheet (worth $29) for free with the guide. You will get access to key insights of the 17 most common industries in case interviews.
If you need additional support or have any questions on the guide please feel free to PM me, I am happy to provide extra tips for free.
Best,
Francesco
Hi,
it's a gamified test for which different environments are been developed. It's pretty easy and no preparation is needed: only pay attention to time and instructions. It's usually divided into 2 games and you have 1h to complete both of them (you can decide when passing to the next game).
- In the first one you are going to create a balanced ecosystem based on the rules of the environment you choose (e.g. in a mountain scenario you fix a point with certain values of elevation, humidity, wind, ... and then you have to choose animals and plants that can survive each other and in the environment).
- In the second game, you have to defend an object (usually a plant) from the enemies (usually rodents) with the help of slowers (barriers) or killers (predators). I developed some good strategies to handle it, feel free to text me.
Hope it helps,
Antonello
Hi,
Whilst you don't have to be a gamer to perform well, the game will certainly test your problem solving ability and your ability to navigate in challenging circumstances.
Which skills are tested?
The game records all of the candidate’s actions (e.g., every movement of the mouse, time spent to choose an action) and uses machine learning to assess candidates’ way of thinking. It’s as much about how close candidates come to the best solution as about how they tackle the problem through. During the game McK assesses 5 cognitive abilities that are critical for a career in consulting:
How to cultivate these skills?
Let’s break down each skillset and find ways to improve.
Critical thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your critical thinking I would suggest using mind mapping technique. It exploits the fact that our brains process information visually much more effectively than they do when it’s presented in a written document.
The idea behind mind mapping is that you start with a central theme or idea, typically drawn in a box in the middle of the page, and then from that you create branches, which lead to other ideas, or to supporting evidence or ancillary information.
Decision making could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your decision making skills I would suggest that you start applying it to your everyday life situations and start developing small decision making frameworks for each situation (e.g. going to the shop)
Self-awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
The best way to improve your self-awareness is to reduce your EGO barrier and blind spots. You can read Ray Dalio Principles for more details.
Situational awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your situational awareness I suggest that you take typical life situation and:
Systematic thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
This skill could be largely improved by solving business cases.
ALSO I suggest that you should start investing your time into playing different computer/mobile game, where you can practice applying these skills.
Hope it helps!
Anton
Hi,
Whilst you don't have to be a gamer to perform well, the game will certainly test your problem solving ability and your ability to navigate in challenging circumstances.
Which skills are tested?
The game records all of the candidate’s actions (e.g., every movement of the mouse, time spent to choose an action) and uses machine learning to assess candidates’ way of thinking. It’s as much about how close candidates come to the best solution as about how they tackle the problem through. During the game McK assesses 5 cognitive abilities that are critical for a career in consulting:
How to cultivate these skills?
Let’s break down each skillset and find ways to improve.
Critical thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your critical thinking I would suggest using mind mapping technique. It exploits the fact that our brains process information visually much more effectively than they do when it’s presented in a written document.
The idea behind mind mapping is that you start with a central theme or idea, typically drawn in a box in the middle of the page, and then from that you create branches, which lead to other ideas, or to supporting evidence or ancillary information.
Decision making could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your decision making skills I would suggest that you start applying it to your everyday life situations and start developing small decision making frameworks for each situation (e.g. going to the shop)
Self-awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
The best way to improve your self-awareness is to reduce your EGO barrier and blind spots. You can read Ray Dalio Principles for more details.
Situational awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your situational awareness I suggest that you take typical life situation and:
Systematic thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
This skill could be largely improved by solving business cases.
ALSO I suggest that you should start investing your time into playing different computer/mobile game, where you can practice applying these skills.
Hope it helps!
Anton
It is a time-pressured gamified-environment test. Candidates are allotted 60 minutes, the recommended amount of time excluding cases of learner accommodation, to complete the three scenarios. It is done on laptop in a controlled environment.
Multiple scenarions have been developed by Imbellus, but the one i have been hearing about is a simulated world where there are species of animals and plants are dying to an unknown illness and you need to you to figure out what to do in order to protect them.
Here (just for fun reading) I shared the paper of the pilot test results they have done within McK: https://www.dropbox.com/s/77x9sxi3rye14je/EDM2018_paper_19.pdf?dl=0
Evaluation of your score will be done on these codified criteria:
1) Critical Thinking
2) Decision Making
3) Metacognition
4) Situational Awareness
5)Systems Thinking
No specific preparation needed. As general tips:
- Have a good sleep before the test
- Keep an eye on time
Best
Riccardo
Hi,
Whilst you don't have to be a gamer to perform well, the game will certainly test your problem solving ability and your ability to navigate in challenging circumstances.
Which skills are tested?
The game records all of the candidate’s actions (e.g., every movement of the mouse, time spent to choose an action) and uses machine learning to assess candidates’ way of thinking. It’s as much about how close candidates come to the best solution as about how they tackle the problem through. During the game McK assesses 5 cognitive abilities that are critical for a career in consulting:
How to cultivate these skills?
Let’s break down each skillset and find ways to improve.
Critical thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your critical thinking I would suggest using mind mapping technique. It exploits the fact that our brains process information visually much more effectively than they do when it’s presented in a written document.
The idea behind mind mapping is that you start with a central theme or idea, typically drawn in a box in the middle of the page, and then from that you create branches, which lead to other ideas, or to supporting evidence or ancillary information.
Decision making could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your decision making skills I would suggest that you start applying it to your everyday life situations and start developing small decision making frameworks for each situation (e.g. going to the shop)
Self-awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
The best way to improve your self-awareness is to reduce your EGO barrier and blind spots. You can read Ray Dalio Principles for more details.
Situational awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your situational awareness I suggest that you take typical life situation and:
Systematic thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
This skill could be largely improved by solving business cases.
ALSO I suggest that you should start investing your time into playing different computer/mobile game, where you can practice applying these skills.
Hope it helps!
Anton
Hi,
Whilst you don't have to be a gamer to perform well, the game will certainly test your problem solving ability and your ability to navigate in challenging circumstances.
Which skills are tested?
The game records all of the candidate’s actions (e.g., every movement of the mouse, time spent to choose an action) and uses machine learning to assess candidates’ way of thinking. It’s as much about how close candidates come to the best solution as about how they tackle the problem through. During the game McK assesses 5 cognitive abilities that are critical for a career in consulting:
How to cultivate these skills?
Let’s break down each skillset and find ways to improve.
Critical thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your critical thinking I would suggest using mind mapping technique. It exploits the fact that our brains process information visually much more effectively than they do when it’s presented in a written document.
The idea behind mind mapping is that you start with a central theme or idea, typically drawn in a box in the middle of the page, and then from that you create branches, which lead to other ideas, or to supporting evidence or ancillary information.
Decision making could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your decision making skills I would suggest that you start applying it to your everyday life situations and start developing small decision making frameworks for each situation (e.g. going to the shop)
Self-awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
The best way to improve your self-awareness is to reduce your EGO barrier and blind spots. You can read Ray Dalio Principles for more details.
Situational awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your situational awareness I suggest that you take typical life situation and:
Systematic thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
This skill could be largely improved by solving business cases.
ALSO I suggest that you should start investing your time into playing different computer/mobile game, where you can practice applying these skills.
Hope it helps!
Anton
Hi Lidia,
it's a gamified test for which different environments are been developed. It's pretty easy and no preparation is needed: only pay attention to time and instructions. It's usually divided into 2 games and you have 1h to complete both of them (you can decide when passing to the next game).
- In the first one you are going to create a balanced ecosystem based on the rules of the environment you choose (e.g. in a mountain scenario you fix a point with certain values of elevation, humidity, wind, ... and then you have to choose animals and plants that can survive each other and in the environment).
- In the second game, you have to defend an object (usually a plant) from the enemies (usually rodents) with the help of slowers (barriers) or killers (predators). I developed some good strategies to handle it, feel free to text me.
Here the introductory McK video about it: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/mckinsey-digital-assessment
Hope it helps,
Antonello
Hi Lidia,
You can keep in mind the following tips for the Digital Assessment.
Hope it helps,
André
Hey!
I took the test sometime in February. I'm not sure if I can offer that much of good advice as I didn't prepare beforehand. It is supposed to measure the skills that you should already have. Anyway, my advice for the first part:
I got the coral reef situation, it had lots of data with species and plants. I started by looking at all of them and checked which category was the biggest in terms of temperature. When I selected that I looked between species and plants a lot and note down the calorie intake. The amount of data can be overwhelming and I actually changed the strategy after 5 minutes in the game. You should spend most of the time on this case (I think the game suggests half of the time), read through the data, write down some important information (for example a lot were useless and didn't have an impact on the question).
The second part was the maze game - I think it was similar to traditional chess games as you could select your move after your opponent. I guess even some strategic games on the Internet could be relevant in this case. What was important was to think of every move and that the game continues AFTER you finish your moves (which I didn't know and messed up the first part). So basically it'll count how many moves the opponent needs to destroy whatever your protecting (I think it was some sort of plant), e.g. if you get 6 moves then the game can continue until 6, 8 or even 50 if your strategy was really good. Having said that out of my three round one was really high, one was quite low (as I didn't know the games continue) and one was quite okay.
I found from my local Mck office that you need to be above 75th percentile to pass (at least in Warsaw). I also was told I scored one of the highest score recorded in the game which was really surprising - as I mentioned above I did not prepare and took the game with just some paper notes after reading the instruction provided. Honestly, the best way to prepare (if you want to) is to play those strategic games online as it actually felt a lot like games I played as a kid.
PS: Make sure you have a good computer, my old Macbook Air really heated up after a few minutes.
Hello!
It´s much better than the old test used to be.
It´s fun and there is not really a "way" to prep for it.
My advise would be to be fresh when you do it and pick a right enviroment -during my BCG test in their office there was construction in the patio and the screen was even shaking-.
Hope it helps!
Cheers,
Clara
Hi A,
You will be given 1 hour to make your Imbellus test and there is no way to prepare it. Although, you can keep in mind the following tips for the Digital Assessment.
Hope it helps,
André
Hello Lidia,
I have had the chance to follow several candidates taking this test and I have written (together with them) a detailed guide on how to successfully approach Imbellus test.
The guide includes:
On top of that, you will receive an interesting paper on Imbellus valuation metrics and a coupon code for a session with your purchase!
Feel free to text me if you are interested. You can find a screenshot of the excel model below.
Best,
Luca
Hello!
I understand you totally, you need to feel that at least you made all that was in your hands to get ready.
However, truly, this one is very hard to prep for the following.
Cheers,
Clara
Hi Chi,
it's a gamified test for which different environments are been developed. It's pretty easy and no preparation is needed: only pay attention to time and instructions. It's usually divided into 2 games and you have 1h to complete both of them (you can decide when passing to the next game).
- In the first one you are going to create a balanced ecosystem based on the rules of the environment you choose (e.g. in a mountain scenario you fix a point with certain values of elevation, humidity, wind, ... and then you have to choose animals and plants that can survive each other and in the environment).
- In the second game, you have to defend an object (usually a plant) from the enemies (usually rodents) with the help of slowers (barriers) or killers (predators).
Here the introductory McK video about it: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/mckinsey-digital-assessment
Hope it helps,
Antonello
The McKinsey Imbellus Problem Solving Game (PSG) is a unique assessment tool designed to evaluate a candidate's problem-solving skills, cognitive abilities, and adaptability in a game-based format. Here are some tips and lessons learned from those who have taken the test:
Understanding the Imbellus Game
The Imbellus game is divided into different scenarios that test various cognitive abilities such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. Common scenarios include:
Ecosystem Creation: You need to create a balanced ecosystem by placing different species and plants in an environment while considering their interactions.
Disease Outbreak: You need to manage resources to contain a disease outbreak effectively.
General Tips
1.Familiarize Yourself with the Game Format:
Understand the types of scenarios you might encounter. This helps in reducing anxiety and allows you to focus on problem-solving rather than figuring out the rules.
Practice Strategic Thinking:
Play strategy-based games or puzzles to enhance your critical thinking and decision-making skills. Games like Sudoku, chess, and resource management games can be helpful.
Stay Calm and Focused:
The game is designed to test your problem-solving skills under pressure. Stay calm, read the instructions carefully, and think logically about the best course of action.
Manage Your Time Wisely:
While the game is not strictly timed, being efficient with your decisions can help you perform better. Avoid spending too much time on one aspect of the scenario.
Pay Attention to Details:
Details matter in these scenarios. Make sure to consider all the factors and interactions in the ecosystem or any resources and constraints in other scenarios.
Specific Tips for the Ecosystem Scenario
Understand Species Interactions:
Each species and plant has specific needs and interactions. For example, predators need prey, and plants might require certain environmental conditions. Ensure you balance these elements.
2. Maintain Balance:
The goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem. Avoid having too many predators without enough prey or too many plants without enough pollinators.
Think Long-Term:
Consider the long-term sustainability of your ecosystem. Think about how changes over time might affect the balance and make decisions accordingly.
Specific Tips for the Disease Outbreak Scenario
Prioritize Resources:
Resources are usually limited. Prioritize them effectively to contain the outbreak. Focus on areas with the highest need or potential for the greatest impact.
Monitor Spread Patterns:
Pay attention to how the disease spreads and allocate resources to contain it effectively. Use logical patterns and anticipate future outbreaks based on current data.
Adapt Strategies:
Be flexible with your strategies. If something isn't working, be ready to change your approach and try a different method to contain the disease.
Lessons Learned
3. Experience Matters:
Those with experience in strategy games or similar problem-solving tasks often find the Imbellus game less daunting. Practice with relevant games can help improve your performance.
4. Critical Thinking is Key:
The game assesses your ability to think critically and adapt to new information. Focus on honing these skills through various exercises and real-life problem-solving scenarios.
5.Understand the Purpose:
Remember that the game is designed to measure your natural problem-solving abilities rather than your knowledge or memorization skills. Approach it with a problem-solving mindset.
Hi Minh,
You are right, there is no possible to prepare, but you can keep in mind the following tips for the Digital Assessment.
Hope it helps,
André
Hi,
I believe there is no way to prepare, so just relax and have a good rest before that
Best
Hello,
I have an interesting paper on Imbellus valuation metrics that I would suggest to read.
More over, I have had the chance to follow several candidates taking this test and I have written (together with them) a detailed guide on how to successfully approach Imbellus test.
Feel free to text me if you are interested.
Best,
Luca
Hi,
I believe there is no way to prepare, so just relax and have a good rest before that
One thing to know - it's not about winning the game, it's about how you do that. ML algorithms literally track the movements of your cursor and compare it vs the best consultants
Best
Hello Minh,
I have an interesting paper about imbellus and the valuation rationals.
Feel free to text me if you are interested.
Best,
Luca
Hi,
Whilst you don't have to be a gamer to perform well, the game will certainly test your problem solving ability and your ability to navigate in challenging circumstances.
Which skills are tested?
The game records all of the candidate’s actions (e.g., every movement of the mouse, time spent to choose an action) and uses machine learning to assess candidates’ way of thinking. It’s as much about how close candidates come to the best solution as about how they tackle the problem through. During the game McK assesses 5 cognitive abilities that are critical for a career in consulting:
How to cultivate these skills?
Let’s break down each skillset and find ways to improve.
Critical thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your critical thinking I would suggest using mind mapping technique. It exploits the fact that our brains process information visually much more effectively than they do when it’s presented in a written document.
The idea behind mind mapping is that you start with a central theme or idea, typically drawn in a box in the middle of the page, and then from that you create branches, which lead to other ideas, or to supporting evidence or ancillary information.
Decision making could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your decision making skills I would suggest that you start applying it to your everyday life situations and start developing small decision making frameworks for each situation (e.g. going to the shop)
Self-awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
The best way to improve your self-awareness is to reduce your EGO barrier and blind spots. You can read Ray Dalio Principles for more details.
Situational awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your situational awareness I suggest that you take typical life situation and:
Systematic thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
This skill could be largely improved by solving business cases.
ALSO I suggest that you should start investing your time into playing different computer/mobile game, where you can practice applying these skills.
Hope it helps!
Anton
Hi,
There is no way to prepare, it's just a game-test where you have to do your best to make it work ;p
It's not difficult, though, I'm sure is going to be ok!
To add to the other mentions, there is indeed not much to prepare, but you can refresh logic and brainteaser a bit. This is not so much about studying but more having it top of mind.
It's in addition to your casing + fit interview
There really isn't any material on it (it's an immersive simulation, so hasn't been replicated). However, there is a good Q&A here on what to keep in mind: https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/imbellus-test-mckinsey-5682
You should prepare to be open-minded, flexible, turn on your problem-solving, and pay careful attention to the time + instructions
Hi there,
I did an in-depth study on the Imbellus. I can tell you that most of the comments you will find are something like this:
Not sure what you think, but I don’t believe that’s very useful. Nor did the several people I coached who had to do the test.
So I worked hard with the people that actually did the test and created a guide with everything you need to know on the Imbellus.
This guide will:
This guide will cover every single part of the Game, so you can be 100% confident the day of the assessment, without worrying “I should have prepared better for this”. You won’t need any additional material to prepare after this.
Here is a screenshot of the guide:
You can download the guide instantly here:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/mckinsey-imbellus-game-secrets-48
As an extra bonus, I am offering for a limited time the Consulting Industry Cheat Sheet (worth $29) for free with the guide. You will get access to key insights of the 17 most common industries in case interviews.
If you need additional support or have any questions on the guide please feel free to PM me, I am happy to provide extra tips for free.
Best,
Francesco
Hi!
You probably already took the test, but I thought I'd add to this thread!
I took the assessment two days ago. I just found out that I passed and scored really well. I didn't practice anything at all, I just made sure to read all the articles I could find about the assessment to understand what they're looking for.
The first part I got was the island ecosystem creation game, which took me around 30 mins. I took another 5 mins just to check my answers and make sure the numbers all added up. This is not new information, but I definitely recommend starting from the top with predators and moving down the chain. Make sure you read the instructions clearly and watch out for the consumption rules in the system (it's all outllined in the game). You want the chain to be the most optimal. Don't change your animals around too much. You kind of have to commit, the software records everything.
My second part was defending a plant from invaders. I found this way more challenging, so I would heavily recommend dividing your time 50/50 between the ecosystem creation and this part. I ran out of time in my last round. As others have already said, remember that each round of play is supposed to last beyond what's shown. The game would show 5 or 6 moves, but will extend to 15 and beyond if your strategy is good. It's hard to explain if you haven't seen it, but you'll know once you begin. Don't hectically click around.
My biggest advice would be to really get into the game and forget that it's a test. You could also watch youtube videos of gameplay if you have a lot of time, but I didn't find that extra helpful.
Hope this helps! Good luck to everyone taking it :)
Dear Andrew,
It's gamplified test for 1 hour long. And the thing is that there is no way to prepare for it. But here are some tips, you can follow:
Hope it helps,
André
Hi Oisin,
it is an addition to your application. It's a gamified test for which different environments are been developed. It's pretty easy and no preparation is needed: only pay attention to time and instructions. It's usually divided into 2 games and you have 1h to complete both of them (you can decide when passing to the next game).
- In the first one you are going to create a balanced ecosystem based on the rules of the environment you choose (e.g. in a mountain scenario you fix a point with certain values of elevation, humidity, wind, ... and then you have to choose animals and plants that can survive each other and in the environment).
- In the second game, you have to defend an object (usually a plant) from the enemies (usually rodents) with the help of slowers (barriers) or killers (predators). I developed some good strategies to handle it, feel free to text me.
Here the introductory McK video about it: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/mckinsey-digital-assessment.
Hope it helps,
Antonello
Hello Chi,
I have had the chance to follow several candidates taking this test and I have written (together with them) a detailed guide on how to successfully approach Imbellus test.
The guide includes:
On top of that, you will receive an interesting paper on Imbellus valuation metrics and a coupon code for a session with your purchase!
Feel free to text me if you are interested. You can find a screenshot of the excel model below.
Best,
Luca
Hi there,
There are some great prior answers here!
https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/imbellus-mc-kinsey-6041
https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/mckinsey-imbellus-test-6802
https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/mckinsey-imbellus-is-it-gono-go-6792
https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/mckinsey-imbellus-game-7063
Hi Andrew,
This is probably too late for you, but hopefully useful for someone else.
I did an in-depth study on the Imbellus. Most of the comments I found online are something like this:
Not sure what you think, but I don’t believe that’s very useful. Nor did the several people I coached who had to do the test.
So I worked hard with the candidates that actually did the test and created a guide with everything you need to know on the Imbellus.
This guide will:
This guide will cover every single part of the Game, so you can be 100% confident the day of the assessment, without worrying “I should have prepared better for this”. You won’t need any additional material to prepare after it.
You can download the guide instantly here:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/mckinsey-imbellus-game-secrets-48
As an extra bonus, I am offering for a limited time the Consulting Industry Cheat Sheet (worth $29) for free with the guide. You will get access to key insights of the 17 most common industries in case interviews.
If you need additional support or have any questions on the guide please feel free to PM me, I am happy to provide extra tips for free.
Best,
Francesco
Hi Chi,
This is probably too late for you, but hopefully useful for someone else.
I did an in-depth study on the Imbellus. Most of the comments I found online are something like this:
Not sure what you think, but I don’t believe that’s very useful. Nor did the several people I coached who had to do the test.
So I worked hard with the candidates that actually did the test and created a guide with everything you need to know on the Imbellus.
This guide will:
This guide will cover every single part of the Game, so you can be 100% confident the day of the assessment, without worrying “I should have prepared better for this”. You won’t need any additional material to prepare after it.
You can download the guide instantly here:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/mckinsey-imbellus-game-secrets-48
As an extra bonus, I am offering for a limited time the Consulting Industry Cheat Sheet (worth $29) for free with the guide. You will get access to key insights of the 17 most common industries in case interviews.
If you need additional support or have any questions on the guide please feel free to PM me, I am happy to provide extra tips for free.
Best,
Francesco
Hi Lidia,
Great to hear that you're preparing for the McKinsey Imbellus Problem Solving Game. I can highly recommend Francesco's PSG Secrets course. Besides that here some tips:
Practice Cognitive Skills: The Imbellus game assesses cognitive skills, so practice puzzles, brain teasers, and logic games to sharpen your cognitive abilities. Games like Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and even chess can help.
Stay Calm and Focused: The game may present complex
Rest and Relax: Ensure you're well-rested and relaxed on the day of the assessment. A clear mind can make a significant difference.
Remember that McKinsey is interested in assessing your problem-solving abilities and cognitive skills, so focus on honing these areas during your preparation. Good luck with your assessment, Lidia!
Warm regards, Frederic
Not much to study. They will test you in a way which is hard to prepare for. If you have the chops you´ll be fine. If you dont its probably for the best!
Then get to stressed out about it.
Hi,
I believe there is no way to prepare, so just relax and have a good rest before that
One thing to know - it's not about winning the game, it's about how you do that. ML algorithms literally track the movements of your cursor and compare it vs the best consultants
Best
Hello Oisin,
I have an interesting paper about the Imbellus test, feel free to text me if you want to have a look.
Best,
Luca
Hi Oisin,
Yes, it's addition to your application. To pass successfully this test, you can keep in mind the following tips:
Hope it helps,
André
Hello!
It´s much better than the old test used to be.
It's a gamified test
Divided into 2 games, 1h to complete both of them:
1st one is a game about keeping an ecosystem balanced
2nd one is a defense game
It´s fun and there is not really a "way" to prep for it.
My advise would be to be fresh when you do it and pick a right enviroment -during my BCG test in their office there was construction in the patio and the screen was even shaking-.
Hope it helps!
Cheers,
Clara
Hi Edward,
I did an in-depth study on the Imbellus. Most of the comments I found online were something like this:
Not sure what you think, but I don’t believe that’s very useful. Nor did the several people I coached who had to do the test.
So I worked hard with the candidates that actually did the test and created a guide with everything you need to know on the Imbellus.
This guide will:
This guide will cover every single part of the Game, so you can be 100% confident the day of the assessment, without worrying “I should have prepared better for this”. You won’t need any additional material to prepare after it.
You can download the guide instantly here:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/mckinsey-imbellus-game-secrets-48
As an extra bonus, I am offering for a limited time the Consulting Industry Cheat Sheet (worth $29) for free with the guide. You will get access to key insights of the 17 most common industries in case interviews.
If you need additional support or have any questions on the guide please feel free to PM me, I am happy to provide extra tips for free.
Best,
Francesco
Hi Lidia,
This is probably too late for you, but hopefully useful for someone else.
I did an in-depth study on the Imbellus. Most of the comments I found online are something like this:
Not sure what you think, but I don’t believe that’s very useful. Nor did the several people I coached who had to do the test.
So I worked hard with the candidates that actually did the test and created a guide with everything you need to know on the Imbellus.
This guide will:
This guide will cover every single part of the Game, so you can be 100% confident the day of the assessment, without worrying “I should have prepared better for this”. You won’t need any additional material to prepare after it.
You can download the guide instantly here:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/mckinsey-imbellus-game-secrets-48
As an extra bonus, I am offering for a limited time the Consulting Industry Cheat Sheet (worth $29) for free with the guide. You will get access to key insights of the 17 most common industries in case interviews.
If you need additional support or have any questions on the guide please feel free to PM me, I am happy to provide extra tips for free.
Best,
Francesco
In additional to all of this, make sure to not exit out of full screen if you are doing the test on a Mac laptop. I have heard that your laptop could freeze and you won't be able to complete the assessment.
Hello!
On top of the descriptions below, the only thing that could indeed help you prep are logic test or games (GMAT perhaps, or some MENSA tests)
Hope it helps!
Good luck,
Clara
Hi Minh,
it's a gamified test for which different environments are been developed. It's pretty easy and no preparation is needed: only pay attention to time and instructions. It's usually divided into 2 games and you have 1h to complete both of them (you can decide when passing to the next game).
- In the first one you are going to create a balanced ecosystem based on the rules of the environment you choose (e.g. in a mountain scenario you fix a point with certain values of elevation, humidity, wind, ... and then you have to choose animals and plants that can survive each other and in the environment).
- In the second game, you have to defend an object (usually a plant) from the enemies (usually rodents) with the help of slowers (barriers) or killers (predators). I developed some good strategies to handle it, feel free to text me.
Here the introductory McK video about it: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/mckinsey-digital-assessment
Hope it helps,
Antonello
Hello!
It´s much better than the old test used to be.
It's a gamified test
Divided into 2 games, 1h to complete both of them:
1st one is a game about keeping an ecosystem balanced
2nd one is a defense game
It´s fun and there is not really a "way" to prep for it.
My advise would be to be fresh when you do it and pick a right enviroment -during my BCG test in their office there was construction in the patio and the screen was even shaking-.
Hope it helps!
Cheers,
Clara
Did you end up taking the test ? anyone else ?
Dear A,
You will be given 1 hour to make your test. To get more information, just keep in mind the following tips for the Digital Assessment.
Focus on the process
Follow time tracking. It is easy to get lost in the details and the sheer complexity of information overload the test presents.
Look into the key skills that are being assessed by Imbellus and if you find any weaknesses - then work on them in advance.
Get ready to make 80/20 decisions based on incomplete information. Likely you won’t reach the best answer within 60 minutes, however, you should reach a good answer, demonstrating a clever problem-solving strategy along the way.
Take notes of your observations on the mechanics of each scenario so that you can analyze it.
Get comfortable to calculate with pen and paper math.
Enjoy
Hope it helps,
André
Hi,
it's a gamified test for which different environments are been developed. It's pretty easy and no preparation is needed: only pay attention to time and instructions. It's usually divided into 2 games and you have 1h to complete both of them (you can decide when passing to the next game).
- In the first one you are going to create a balanced ecosystem based on the rules of the environment you choose (e.g. in a mountain scenario you fix a point with certain values of elevation, humidity, wind, ... and then you have to choose animals and plants that can survive each other and in the environment).
- In the second game, you have to defend an object (usually a plant) from the enemies (usually rodents) with the help of slowers (barriers) or killers (predators). I developed some good strategies to handle it, feel free to text me.
Here the introductory McK video about it: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/mckinsey-digital-assessment
Hope it helps,
Antonello
Hi Oisin,
This is likely too late for you, but hopefully useful for someone else.
The test is used at the moment before the first round as screening for it. This means you have to pass it to move to interviews. This may change in the future though.
I did an in-depth study on the Imbellus. Most of the comments I found online are something like this:
Not sure what you think, but I don’t believe that’s very useful. Nor did the several people I coached who had to do the test.
So I worked hard with the candidates that actually did the test and created a guide with everything you need to know on the Imbellus.
This guide will:
This guide will cover every single part of the Game, so you can be 100% confident the day of the assessment, without worrying “I should have prepared better for this”. You won’t need any additional material to prepare after it.
You can download the guide instantly here:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/mckinsey-imbellus-game-secrets-48
As an extra bonus, I am offering for a limited time the Consulting Industry Cheat Sheet (worth $29) for free with the guide. You will get access to key insights of the 17 most common industries in case interviews.
If you need additional support or have any questions on the guide please feel free to PM me, I am happy to provide extra tips for free.
Best,
Francesco
Hi Minh,
I have done an in-depth study on the Imbellus. Most of the comments I found online are something like this:
Not sure what you think, but I don’t believe that’s very useful. Nor did the several people I coached who had to do the test.
So I worked hard with the candidates that actually did the test and created a guide with everything you need to know on the Imbellus.
This guide will:
This guide will cover every single part of the Game, so you can be 100% confident the day of the assessment, without worrying “I should have prepared better for this”. You won’t need any additional material to prepare after it.
You can download the guide instantly here:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/mckinsey-imbellus-game-secrets-48
As an extra bonus, I am offering for a limited time the Consulting Industry Cheat Sheet (worth $29) for free with the guide. You will get access to key insights of the 17 most common industries in case interviews.
If you need additional support or have any questions on the guide please feel free to PM me, I am happy to provide extra tips for free.
Best,
Francesco
Hi,
I believe there is no way to prepare, so just relax and have a good rest before that
Best
Dear A,
It's gamplified test. So no way to prepare for it.
You will be given 1 hour to make your test. To get more information, just keep in mind following tips for the Digital Assessment.
Hope it helps,
André
Hi,
The games change a bit every recruitment season - so it’s difficult to predict what exactly will you get.
Whilst you don't have to be a gamer to perform well, the game will certainly test your problem solving ability and your ability to navigate in challenging circumstances.
Which skills are tested?
The game records all of the candidate’s actions (e.g., every movement of the mouse, time spent to choose an action) and uses machine learning to assess candidates’ way of thinking. It’s as much about how close candidates come to the best solution as about how they tackle the problem through. During the game McK assesses 5 cognitive abilities that are critical for a career in consulting:
How to cultivate these skills?
Let’s break down each skillset and find ways to improve.
Critical thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your critical thinking I would suggest using mind mapping technique. It exploits the fact that our brains process information visually much more effectively than they do when it’s presented in a written document.
The idea behind mind mapping is that you start with a central theme or idea, typically drawn in a box in the middle of the page, and then from that you create branches, which lead to other ideas, or to supporting evidence or ancillary information.
Decision making could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your decision making skills I would suggest that you start applying it to your everyday life situations and start developing small decision making frameworks for each situation (e.g. going to the shop)
Self-awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
The best way to improve your self-awareness is to reduce your EGO barrier and blind spots. You can read Ray Dalio Principles for more details.
Situational awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your situational awareness I suggest that you take typical life situation and:
Systematic thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
This skill could be largely improved by solving business cases.
ALSO I suggest that you should start investing your time into playing different computer/mobile game, where you can practice applying these skills.
Hope it helps!
Anton
Hi,
The games change a bit every recruitment season - so it’s difficult to predict what exactly will you get.
Whilst you don't have to be a gamer to perform well, the game will certainly test your problem solving ability and your ability to navigate in challenging circumstances.
Which skills are tested?
The game records all of the candidate’s actions (e.g., every movement of the mouse, time spent to choose an action) and uses machine learning to assess candidates’ way of thinking. It’s as much about how close candidates come to the best solution as about how they tackle the problem through. During the game McK assesses 5 cognitive abilities that are critical for a career in consulting:
How to cultivate these skills?
Let’s break down each skillset and find ways to improve.
Critical thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your critical thinking I would suggest using mind mapping technique. It exploits the fact that our brains process information visually much more effectively than they do when it’s presented in a written document.
The idea behind mind mapping is that you start with a central theme or idea, typically drawn in a box in the middle of the page, and then from that you create branches, which lead to other ideas, or to supporting evidence or ancillary information.
Decision making could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your decision making skills I would suggest that you start applying it to your everyday life situations and start developing small decision making frameworks for each situation (e.g. going to the shop)
Self-awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
The best way to improve your self-awareness is to reduce your EGO barrier and blind spots. You can read Ray Dalio Principles for more details.
Situational awareness could be broken down into the following subskills:
In order to improve your situational awareness I suggest that you take typical life situation and:
Systematic thinking could be broken down into the following subskills:
This skill could be largely improved by solving business cases.
ALSO I suggest that you should start investing your time into playing different computer/mobile game, where you can practice applying these skills.
Hope it helps!
Anton
Hi Lidia,
Can you please share your experience with the Problem Solving Game? is there any guide you recommend to purchase?
Hey Lidia can you recommend to me what you know. I have the test in less than 2 days
Expert case by
