New here? Start with this.
A 5-minute read. Plain language. No jargon-without-explanation. Skim the terms below, then start an AI case practice or browse the competitions.
A 30-45 minute conversation in which a consultant gives you a business problem and watches how you think. You ask clarifying questions, lay out a structure, work through numbers, and end with a clear recommendation. Used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Kearney, Strategy&, and most strategy firms.
Why it matters · Consulting placements at top firms are decided 70-90% by case-interview performance. The CV gets you the slot. The case decides the offer.
A live mock interview with an AI playing the role of the interviewer. It presents a real case, answers clarifying questions, pushes back on weak hypotheses, and at the end scores you on five dimensions (Structure, Hypothesis, Data, Communication, Creativity).
Why it matters · A live partner is hard to find at 11pm before your slot. AI practice removes the scheduling friction so you can run 5 cases in a week instead of 5 in a month.
A timed business problem-solving contest. Companies (or B-schools on behalf of companies) post a real strategic problem; teams of 2-5 MBA students propose a solution as a slide deck and present it to a panel.
Why it matters · Recruiters watch them. A good run on Mahindra War Room or HUL L.I.M.E. shows up on resumes for years.
A full-time job offer extended to a winner before the regular placement season. You get to skip every interview and choose: take it, or shop the open market with a guaranteed fallback.
Why it matters · The single highest-leverage outcome of any case comp. One PPO from a top firm reorders your entire 2nd year.
A guaranteed final-round interview slot, bypassing the usual CV shortlist. Not a job, but a fast-track to one.
Why it matters · Worth chasing even if you have a strong CV · competitive firms get hundreds of applicants and the shortlist is brutal.
Cash prizes typically run ₹50,000 - ₹10 lakhs for the winning team, split among members. Bigger comps add Singapore/Goa offsites, mentor sessions with C-suite, and the PPO/PPI tracks.
Why it matters · Money is rarely the point. The recruiting signal and resume line are what compound.
The 1-3 page problem statement organizers release at the start. Read it 3 times. Note the exact ask. Most teams lose by solving the problem they wished was asked, not the one that was.
Why it matters · Half of judging is "did you answer the actual question?" · not "did you have the most elegant framework?".
Most comps allow any MBA / PGDM / PGP-1 / PGP-2 student from any AICTE-recognised B-school. Some are restricted to specific tier-1 institutes (IIM A/B/C/L/I, ISB, XLRI, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, IIFT).
Why it matters · Always check the eligibility tab before investing 20 hours in a deck · being disqualified at submission is the worst outcome.
Annual collections of past cases plus sample solutions, published by consulting clubs at top global B-schools. Free, public, and the single best prep resource.
Why it matters · Every framework you will use in a real comp is illustrated in 3+ casebooks. Read 5-10 before your first comp; they teach pattern recognition no class can.