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What is the usual part of a Mckinsey interview in which they test my English?

I am applying for a Spanish speaking office, already landed an interview but don't know the date yet. I imagine that they are going to test my english at some point of the interview process. Where can i expect this? In the PEI or in the case? 

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Alessa
Coach
on Jan 24, 2025
xMcKinsey & Company | xBCG | +200 individual & group coachings | feel free to schedule a 15 min intro call for free

Hey!

McKinsey typically tests your English during both the PEI (Personal Experience Interview) and the case interview. They may switch to English at any point to assess your fluency, especially if the role requires it. Be prepared for questions or case discussions in English, even if applying for a Spanish-speaking office.

Alessa

Han
Coach
on Jan 25, 2025
Ex-Mckinsey EM| Experienced round 1 interviewer | Free 15mins intro call

Hi, 

I am not familiar with Spanish-speaking offices but heard from some colleagues in Asia offices that it depends by the interviewer. 

Typically they would conduct interviews in English regardless, due to the possibility of serving clients that speak English. Given the uncertainty, I highly recommend to confirm with your recruiter to prep ahead. Especially if you are more comfortable in one language than the other, live translation could be tricky and affect your performance. 

 

Hope this helps!

Han

Ian
Coach
on Jan 26, 2025
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate
Evelina
Coach
on Jan 27, 2025
EY-Parthenon (6 years) l Ex BCG l 97% success rate l 30% off first session l free 15' intro call l LBS

Hi Isabella,

At McKinsey, when applying to a Spanish-speaking office, your English skills are typically assessed informally throughout the interview process. This may occur during the PEI, where you could be asked to share examples or respond to questions in English, or in the case interview, especially if case materials involve English-language content or if you’re asked to explain your thought process in English. Some offices may also include a written component or exercises in English, particularly in later rounds. While not a primary focus, demonstrating proficiency is important for collaborating with global teams.

Best,
Evelina

Nikita
Coach
on Jan 27, 2025
MBB & Tier2 preparation | 100+ offers | 7 years coaching | 2000+ sessions

Hey Isabella,

They can test your English both at PEI and case interview parts, therefore you should always be prepared as the interviewer may ask to switch to English rather unexpectedly (mid case or your storytelling process).

Good luck!
Nick
 

Florian
Coach
on Jan 30, 2025
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hi there,

Can be both for a PEI dimension/interview or a case so I would recommend you practice in both languages.

All the best,

Florian

Thabang
Coach
on Feb 01, 2025
Ex-McKinsey Consultant | McKinsey Top Coach & Interviewer | Special Offer: Buy 1 Session Get 1 Free (Limited time!)

Hey Isabella, 

This could really be at any part of the interview. It could be during the ice-breaking introduction stage, or even after the case where you ask questions. So just to cover all bases, be prepared for all :-) 

All the best

on Feb 03, 2025
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer

In the interview, if the interviewer starts using English. 

For MBB level firms, it is very rare that you do not need English. At BCG, at least one interview is done in English for most geographies. 

Hagen
Coach
on Mar 03, 2025
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience

Hi Isabella,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation from McKinsey!

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

  • McKinsey usually tests English throughout the process, rather than in a single dedicated part. Your interviewer might switch to English at any moment to assess fluency.

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 McKinsey pre-interview assessment and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

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