Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Case Partners to connect and practice with!

Anonymous A

on Mar 08, 2021

Global

I did McKinsey's Imbellus digital assessment recently. Ask me anything :)

I did the test today and I think it went very well. I had 70 mins to finish both games and finished 20 mins early. First game was an eco-system on a mountain. Took me 35 mins to choose 8 species and the right location. I started by choosing the plants with same characteristics (Temperature, soil PH, .. etc) total 3 plants. Then chose the 1st level predators also 3 species. Last 2nd level predators of 2 species. The eating rules are: The specie with highest calories PROVIDED eats first, then the 2nd and so on. The plants don't eat as they are based on sunlight or so. I drew on a paper the species I chose and numbered them who eats first and so. Was fairly easy so don't stress over it too much. The 2nd game was much easier. You defend a plant from attackers (rats, .. etc) by placing on their way obstacles (rocks, trees,..etc) or attack them (by cats, falcons,..etc). I finished this one in 10-15 mins. The tutorials were very intuitive. Haven't heard back from HR yet. Feel free to ask :)

6 Answers

5.9k Views

Be the first to answer!

Nobody has responded to this question yet.

Top answer

Ian

Coach

on Mar 08, 2021

Great intel here :)

Contact coach

Anonymous E

on Mar 19, 2024

I have a new online test coming up in a few days. I did the test last year (2023) and did not get an interview. I see that you mention the sunlight/waste factor, and I remember that I didnt really use it.

Anyone have a good tip on the solving in 2024 with regards to the plants and waste/sunlight?

Anonymous B

on Mar 08, 2021

Do you think using an excel tool would make it easier?

Thinking if I should purchase the guide on preplounge, since I'm often overwhelmed by data dump and am not a gamer

3 comments

Anonymous A

on Mar 09, 2021

I was able to finish the eco-system in time and felt a pen and paper were perfectly fine. I think the time is not really the calculations as they were very simple, but the matching of species. Therefore I don't think an excel would be much of help but rather it will limit you. For the eco-system, keep this in mind: 1) The species have 4 environment characteristics (Temperature, soil PH, .. etc). There are not so many variations of these so you could easily notice that all species can be grouped in 2-3 categories. You will notice that very quickly. 2) Start by choosing plants which are fed by sunlight or waste. I chose 3 ones which have a lot of calories to give and have the same characteristics. The list wasn't too big (maybe 7-8 different plants) and again, you will easily notice how they can be grouped. 3) then, I chose the 1st level predators which are essentially the ones mentioned in the plants descriptions as their predators (total 4 but I excluded one of them because it needed more calories than the plant they feed on. 3) Then I chose 2nd level predators (total of 2, the ones that feed on the 1st level predators). Same logic, choose the ones that need an amount of calories which the 1st level predators can provide. 4)Then, test the system. On your paper, decide which animal eats first. The plants don't eat so focus on the animals. The animal with highest calories PROVIDED eats first. Draw the 1st eating process and check if the animal/specie fed on will have above zero calories. Then it's successful. Then the next one with 2nd highest calories provided and so on. My total processes were 5 as I had 5 animals. 5) The time for the 2nd game is much more than what you need. I was recommended by the game to spend 30 mins on 3 rounds (10 mins each) but that's way too much than what you need. You will not need more than 5-6 mins per round so feel free to use a bit of extra time for the eco-system on the expense of the 2nd game. Best of luck :)

Francesco

Coach

on Mar 09, 2021

#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there, addressing your question: I A/B tested with my mentees using pen and paper vs Excel, and using the Excel should save you approximately 5 minutes during the game. The reasons are: (i) you can copy/paste instead of writing everything; (ii) you are going to be more organized and won’t get lost in your notes. Besides the Excel, the McKinsey Imbellus Game Secrets guide will also offer you (i) Template to organize the food chain (ii) The exact rules to follow for the Ecosystem Management (there are 7 and you should be aware of all of them) (iii) Examples of Chains working and not working so that you can practice in advance. If you have other doubts please feel free to PM, I will reply within 12 hours. Best

Anonymous D

on Mar 09, 2021

Great report! Do let us know if you passed.

Anonymous

edited on Mar 09, 2021

I did mine on Saturday and I had the same options as you. Unfortunately I completely forgot about the eating patterns and just did a chain based on predator chain. No wonder I completed earlier than normal. Sad seeing your explanation lol.

How long do you think we would have to wait for feedback?

Also, is the game a prerequisite for the interview or is it usually together with the interview.

So I mean, since I got an invite for the game (for an analyst role), am I certain to participate in the interview or do I need to pass the game first?

2 comments

Anonymous B

on Mar 10, 2021

I failed the test for the analyst role and didn't get interview invite then, so probably a pre-requisite (could differ from location to location?)

Anonymous

on Mar 10, 2021

Thanks for the feed back. Are you the same person as the poster above or the OP of this thread? Also did you feel you performed well in the game? And hence surprised by the regret mail. I made a big mistake by not considering eating rules. Really worried. Also how long did It take for you to get the regret mail? Thanks

Gaurav

Coach

on Mar 09, 2021

#1 MBB Coach(Placed 750+ in MBBs & 1250+ in Tier2)| The Only 360° coach(Ex-McKinsey+Certified Coach+Active recruiter)

Hi there,

You’re sharing useful information here. It can be helpful :)

Cheers,
GB

Contact coach

Clara

Coach

on Mar 10, 2021

McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

This is really kind of you, thanks for sharing :)

Contact coach

Top answer by

Ian

Coach

10 Answers

2.7k Views

The Ultimate Guide to MBB: McKinsey, BCG, and Bain

Find everything you need to know about McKinsey, BCG, and Bain — from their history to insider tips for landing a job at these top firms.

View article

McKinsey Imbellus Game

The McKinsey Imbellus Game has proven to be very effective in providing a more holistic assessment of applicants. At the same time, it reduces bias against those unfamiliar with standardized testing and helps expedite recruitment during pandemic-related closures. As of May 2020, this has resulted in 15,000 McKinsey applicants being tested in more than 30 countries. Those numbers have undoubtedly grown exponentially since then as more cohorts take the test and McKinsey expands it to the rest of its network of firms.The Imbellus Game is based on the use of simulations that measure candidates' cognitive abilitiesThe McKinsey Imbellus Game typically includes 4 parts: Digital Skills: This part tests your skills in using technology and digital tools. You have to solve tasks like sorting files and performing simple programming tasks.Abstraction: This part is about recognizing abstract patterns and relationships. For example, you identify a series of shapes and match them up or solve abstract problems.Spatial reasoning: This part tests your ability to process and manipulate spatial information. Tasks such as designing 3D objects or solving spatial problems are included.Behavioral skills: This part tests your ability to interact with other people and your emotional skills. You have to solve tasks like recognizing emotions in facial expressions or interpreting social interactions.In summary, the McKinsey Imbellus Game is a comprehensive test that measures applicants' cognitive abilities in various areas. The McKinsey digital assessment is played on a desktop, not on a smartphone like other games. It looks and feels like a PC game and is very intuitive for the user.*box-open* In our shop you will find everything you need to prepare for your case interview at McKinsey! Among other things, you can get the McKinsey Imbellus Solve Combo and the helpful McKinsey Imbellus Solve Game Secrets.*box-close* As with the BCG Online Case, the Bain Sova Test or the Pymetrics Game, the McKinsey Imbellus Game tests a wide range of skills and attributes of the applicantQualities and skills that are still tested in the McKinsey Digital Assessment are:Critical ThinkingDecision makingMetacognitionSituational AwarenessSystems-oriented thinking

View article