How long is "too long" for structuring?

Time is takes is secondary. Quality is paramount! But you are following the right process, so keep doing this and you'll become faster as you practice.

Having said this, 2 minutes for the type of question you are mentioning here feels a bit long if we assume that you refer just to the initial structure. On the other hand, you seem to be including in those two minutes the time you take to read the question - but in a real interview setting you won't be needing that time because the question was asked verbally by the interviewer (and discussed) before "the timer starts". 

My guess is that if you only consider the time you are really taking for structuring it will be around 1 minute which is perfectly fine. 2 minutes is ok'ish assuming it is a somewhat complex structure.

Hi,

Thanks for your question.

The example you have given is too specific maybe for a market sizing case, or a more direct problem solving scenario.

In most cases, the case prompt will not be this specific or lets say it will be broad/vague and it will be given verbally. You will be given some background of your client, situation and problem statement. The structure is these cases is not an equation but a framework you want to use to solve for your case or problem statement. 

So #1, you should not have to spend any time reading the question (in most cases). You should be taking notes when the interviewer is giving you the prompt.

#2 Understanding the question should be happening when the interviewer is giving you the prompt, and if you have any clarifying question, you ask at the end of the prompt before you start working on the structure. So that should not take much time either. (Clarifying questions are important so you are solving the right problem but should be asked only if required)

At this point you start working on the structure. A general ballpark for building you structure is ~1-1.5 mins and another 1 to 1.5 minutes to explain your structure. If its a more complex structure, it may take a bit longer but mostly you should try to stick to this guideline since you want to avoid long periods of silence. What the structure shows the interviewer is how you are thinking through the process of solving the problem at hand, not boiling the ocean. You don't have to write every single detail in your structure. You focus on creating the initial framework and go deeper when you speak to it. At the end of the day, if you took to long to create your framework and it is not meaty enough, it will not show well.

Hope this helps. Refer to Case interview secrets by Victor Cheng for a foundational content on structuring.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks,

Soh

Hey there 😊

Great that you’re prioritizing accuracy—but yes, in MBB interviews, taking around 2 minutes before speaking might be slightly too long. Ideally, aim to keep your structuring and setup phase within 1–1.5 minutes max ⏱️. After that, interviewers often expect you to start walking them through your thinking.

You can still pause briefly before crunching numbers to double-check logic (totally fine!)—just try to engage earlier so they see how you’re thinking step by step.

Let me know if you want to practice this or work on pacing—I’d be happy to help! 😊

Best,
Alessa 🌟

Hi there,

Pedro is absolutely right!

Most case math is designed to be structured within about a minute from the candidate's side. If it takes you a bit longer, you should stay transparent and let the interviewer know you need an extra moment to organize your thoughts.

Your overall approach sounds solid. As long as your execution and interpretation are swift and correct, taking a bit more time upfront shouldn’t be a major issue.

On the other hand, you could invest into math structuring with coach/course/on your own and try to get the time down to 1 minute. There are certain tricks and shortcuts you should employ.

All the best,

Florian



 

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, I wonder what there is to read for two minutes in a case study. Are you referring to solving case studies on your own? If not, there is usually no information to read.
• Moreover, however, explaining your equation verbally to the interviewer before calculating is an excellent practice. It demonstrates your logical thinking and communication skills, which are crucial in consulting.

You can find more on this topic here: Speed reading techniques.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen