McKinsey Solve time runout.

Hi there,

1) Does that mean that if my answer is right I will pass. 

That depends on the rest of the game. In theory, you have not completed the Ecosystem game, but assuming the steps completed were correct, you will get credit for them.

2) Also, does time running out penalize me?

It is very likely that time impacts the score. Therefore the fact that you run out of time will probably have a negative impact. However, it doesn’t mean you won’t pass if the overall performance in the game was good.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there, 

If your final selections were correct before time ran out, they should still be considered in your score. McKinsey states that all relevant selections are saved, so your work likely counts. However, running out of time might impact your overall performance, as time management is an assessed skill. While it doesn’t automatically disqualify you, it could affect your ranking compared to other candidates.

Best, 
Sebastian

It looks like your work will count, but running out of time will likely impact your final score.

You can check how the rest of the recruiting process works at McKinsey here: MBB Hiring Hacks – Behind the Curtain Secrets

Good luck with the process!

Best,

Alberto

—

Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: TitanTrail - Operations Outsourcing

Hey there 😊,

Don’t worry—you’re definitely not the only one who’s had that experience! For McKinsey’s Ecosystem Game, here’s how it typically works:

✅ If you made valid selections before time ran out (i.e. all species + a valid location), those inputs should be saved and scored—even if you didn’t manually hit “submit.” That’s exactly what the message means when it says: “relevant selections will be saved.”

🚫 There’s no penalty for time running out itself—as long as you had a complete ecosystem in place. McKinsey scores based on how optimized and viable your solution is (e.g. number of surviving species, calorie flow, chain structure), not how quickly you submitted.

That said, if the ecosystem wasn’t viable (e.g. species couldn’t survive together), it might affect your score—but not submitting manually won’t hurt you by default.

Fingers crossed 🤞 and let me know if you want help with next steps (interviews etc.) if you pass!

Best,
Alessa 😇

"Does that mean that if my answer is right I will pass. Also, does time running out penalize me?"

It means you didn't finish. But that your current answer will be considered.

Time running out most likely hurts your score.

Having said this, not finishing does not mean you will not pass.

Hi there,

If the chain was sustainable it should count - even though there might be some deductions. As for the overall outcome, it depends on the rest of the game.

Fingers crossed!

Cheers,

Florian