Tips for Preparing for a Take-Home Case Interview

Hi Kim,

This assessment takes on average 90 minutes and typically comprises two main components:

1. Analytical, Problem solving test: This segment assesses your abilities in specific areas, such as verbal abstract reasoning and logical-analytical capacities (e.g., quick math, graph reading, verbal logical reasoning ...)

2. Personality behavioural questionnaire: This part provides insights into your behavioral preferences and competencies (e.g., strengths, weakness, leadership, group dynamic ...) . It's important to answer honestly and reflect on your professional behavior.

The preparation for both is very similar compared to a consulting interview.

Feel free to reach out to discuss in more detail.

Mattijs

Hi there!

Aim for covering the same parts of a live case interview, namely: structuring, math, chart reading, brainstorm and recommendation and do all the extra miles possible, considering you’ll have access to external information. E.g.: in brainstorm session, besides creating a solid structure to organize your ideas, mention sources that reinforce why an idea is to be considered; in the quant session, use the external data to come up with good insights, such as comparison with competitors’ numbers), market trends, etc - always mention the source. Usually there are some twists in the math part, meaning, non-obvious insights to be covered. Pay attention to that. Make sure to finish with a structured recommendation, stating what should be done next (execution, risk mitigation and further research) and a plan to achieve it.

Good luck!

Mari

Hi,

Thanks for your question.

My response is for take home cases, not specific to KPMG cases.

What to expect:

In general, for take home cases you would probably have a lot of content to cover and a main question/problem you need to answer for. The problem statement could be vague or broad, depending on the case and company.

Alternatively, I have done take home cases where the major part of my work was to do own research, come up with assumptions and solve the case, primarily using excel. Presentation was mainly a discussion.

It depends on the type of case, company and what they are looking to assess.

Some tips:

1. Assuming you get a lot of content to process - Given so much content, it is easy to get lost. That is why having an initial hypothesis or "answer first approach" helps. You can use your initial hypothesis to guide you on what data to look for. If you cannot find the appropriate the data to validate your hypothesis , then you may have to come up with a new hypothesis and repeat.

2. Make sure you present the case in the format they want - mostly would be Powerpoint. Check with them if you don't know. 

3. If you need to present the case to a panel, then be ready to answer any questions stemming from your recommendation/solution, outside of detailed understanding of the study content.

Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss more. You can book a free 15 min consult using the "book intro" button on my profile.

Thanks,

Soh

Hi,

For a take-home case, they can either explicitly say there is no need to prepare a short presentation, or you that you should. 

Either way, I recommend that you do prepare a short 3-5 slide presentation on powerpoint if you can because it shows you’re dedicated, prepared and you know how to structure (which is part of the job you’re applying for) because remember…Same principles to a live case apply so approach it in the same way:

Your presentation should follow a basic structured format:

Slide 1: Problem statement and hypothesis (summarizes your understanding of the question and provide your answer)

Slide 2-3: Data and analysis: Use desktop research, any data they gave you and use charts, or data infographics to back up your hypothesis (You can use AI tools to conduct research and create charts or graphics..I sometimes like to use the free napkin AI to make cool charts)

Slide 4 or 5: Next Steps 

Key things to note:

• Slide structure: Each slide will have a title, a “so-what” description and a some infographic (with a label above) and a source
• Manage your time: Try knock out a draft in the first 1-2 days to use the next couple of days to refine and practice. A week goes by very quickly!
• Confirm with recruiters: Also try to send an email to the recruiting team to confirm if a presentation is required/ and if yes, then how long will you present, will you need to send it to the recruiting team beforehand etc.

Let me know if you’d like to chat further (My first session is free)

Hey Kim! 

For the take-home case, preparation is key, as you’ll need to analyze, structure, and present your findings effectively. Here’s how I normally approach it with my mentees:

1. Understand the Case Prompt – Identify the key question (e.g., market entry, profitability improvement, operational efficiency). Break it down into main issues and sub-components.
2. Conduct Research – If external research is allowed, use industry reports, market trends, and benchmarks to strengthen your analysis.
3. Data Analysis & Insights – If given data, focus on trends, financial implications, customer behaviors, and key KPIs. Keep calculations clear and ensure they directly support your recommendations.
4. Build a Clear Storyline – Your structure should be logical: Executive Summary → Problem Statement → Key Findings → Recommendations → Implementation & Impact.
5. Create a Professional Slide Deck – Use concise text, impactful visuals (charts, tables), and a clear, visually appealing format. KPMG values structured, well-communicated insights.
6. Rehearse Your Presentation – Be ready to present and defend your findings in a structured way, anticipating potential follow-up questions.

Let me know if you need a review or further guidance—happy to help! 😊

Alessa

Hi Kim,

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

• First of all, since only the communication/presentation part of written case studies is different, I would highly advise you to prepare exactly as you would for regular case studies, although it would be beneficial to practice one or two written case studies.
• Moreover, one written case study that I like is Monitor Deloitte's "Footloose" case study.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming written case study, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi Kim,

For the written case practice I'd recommend you to look at regular case interview samples (there is a ton here on PL) and then work through them on your own. Look at the prompt and core question you are trying to solve, then look at the data provided and work on your recommendation.

Follow these rules:

#1 Already have a plan when you go in for the written case

Since time is usually limited, you should have a plan on how long you want to spend on each task of the assignment beforehand. For practice, use 20 minutes for the analysis and 5 minutes for the recommendation communication. For the real case adapt accordingly based on the time budget provided.

#2 Focus – quickly separate crucial information from the noise

Written cases usually present you with an information overload that you need to sort out

#3 Graphs and charts – interpret and distill key insights from graphs and charts

Written cases bombard you with charts, graphs, tables, and other visual depictions of data that you should use to test your hypotheses. Learn how to quickly read and interpret them

#4 Math – quickly draft equations and conduct pen-and-paper math

Get into the habit of quickly setting up and simplifying calculations

#5 Storyline – draft a compelling storyline and tell it with visually appealing outputs

Create a top-down storyline of your recommendations. State your primary recommendation, then use supporting arguments to strengthen your position

#6 Presentation and defense – communicate and defend your recommendation top-down

If you have to present your findings at the end of the case, follow the top-down approach of your slide deck. Be confident and engaging when going through your recommendation and supporting arguments.

All the best!

Cheers,

Florian