Who takes the CCA
BCG's careers pages name the CCA for three groups in 2026. One prep site says it's used across most global offices, but BCG's pages for the UK, the German-speaking offices, the Nordics and Australia and New Zealand describe other tests; see the BCG office-by-office overview.
| Market | What BCG's page says |
|---|---|
| United States, Associate (undergraduate and non-MBA master's) | Everyone who applies through the US application takes the CCA. The invitation arrives 30 to 90 minutes after you submit. It takes about 30 to 35 minutes, with 48 hours to complete it. |
| US and Canada, advanced degree | The invitation comes from SHL within 1 to 2 hours; the CCA is due within 48 hours of applying. US applicants also record a video cover letter. No online case is mentioned. |
| Mexico, Associate | Associates take the CCA and the Online Case Experience (Casey), both on the weekend right after the application deadline. BCG says the CCA takes about 30 minutes and is currently used only in the Associate process. |
What the CCA is
The CCA is built and delivered by SHL, a large assessment company, and BCG's advanced degree page says the invitation email comes from SHL. BCG describes it as a way to learn about you beyond your resume and to get an unbiased read on your potential at BCG. Practical details from BCG's pages:
- It arrives fast. Prepare before you hit submit, not after.
- It counts for a year. BCG's advanced degree page says a CCA taken within the past year carries over; an older one must be retaken.
- Support hours matter. The same page suggests 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern, when technical support is available.
- BCG's Mexico page says no preparation is needed. Fair for the behavioral sections. For the timed reasoning block, knowing the question styles saves time.
BCG doesn't publish a pass mark or say how the CCA is scored.
The reported format
BCG doesn't publish the structure. The most detailed prep-site account, from Prepmatter, describes a sandwich:
| Part | What's in it (reported) | Timing (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral section | Statements about how you work; you pick the ones most like you | Untimed, per one prep site |
| Reasoning block | About 8 questions: sequences, scheduling with constraints, patterns, light arithmetic | About 12 minutes |
| Second behavioral section | More work-style questions | Not reported |
About 8 questions in about 12 minutes works out to roughly 90 seconds each (12 × 60 ÷ 8 = 90). That's generous by aptitude-test standards, but one prep site says candidates find some items ambiguous, and one stubborn question can eat a third of the block.
Treat the counts as approximate. Hacking the Case Interview gives the same 8 in 12 minutes but a different layout: instructions, then behavioral questions, then the reasoning block after about four practice questions, with no second behavioral section. BCG publishes neither version, and we can't tell whether the two sites draw on the same candidate reports, so the counts aren't confirmed by two independent sources. Other reported details:
- Deadline: one prep site says 24 hours; BCG's pages say 48. Your invitation decides.
- Calculator: two prep sites say BCG's CCA FAQ allows one. We couldn't open that FAQ ourselves, so check your instructions.
- Pausing: the same prep sites say you can pause between sections, and that BCG's FAQ encourages finishing in one sitting.
- Camera: one prep site says no webcam or video is involved.
How to approach the behavioral parts
These sections ask you to describe yourself, often by choosing between statements that are all reasonable. Prep sites describe items that show three statements and ask which is most like you. An item in that style might offer "I keep going on a task after others have lost interest", "I say so when I disagree with a decision" and "I like a clear plan before I start".
There's no right answer to game. Forced-choice questions stop you picking every flattering option at once, and prep sites report that the assessment looks for inconsistent answers. Claim to love leading in one item and to avoid taking charge in another, and the profile reads as inconsistent, which looks worse than any single honest trait.
- Answer as yourself at work, on a normal good day, rather than the consultant you imagine BCG wants.
- Don't overthink. Your first honest reading of a statement is usually the consistent one.
- Read every statement fully. Some differ by a single word, such as "always" against "usually".
Example reasoning questions
We wrote these four questions ourselves in the style candidates describe. They aren't real CCA items. Aim for about 90 seconds each.
Example 1: find the meeting slot
Three people need a one-hour meeting that starts on the hour or half hour. Ana is free 9:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00. Ben is busy 10:00 to 11:30 and 15:00 to 16:00, and free otherwise. Chloe is free only from 11:00 to 15:30.
What is the earliest possible start time?
- 11:00
- 11:30
- 14:00
- 14:30
Start from the tightest window, Chloe's 11:00 to 15:30. At 11:00, Ben is still busy until 11:30. At 11:30, the meeting would run to 12:30, but Ana stops being free at 12:00. Ana is then unavailable until 14:00. A 14:00 start runs to 15:00: Ana is free, Ben is free until his 15:00 commitment, and Chloe is free until 15:30. Answer: C, 14:00.
The trap is B: 11:30 suits Ben and Chloe, but the meeting ends after Ana's window closes.
Example 2: a number sequence
What comes next? 2, 6, 7, 21, 22, 66, ?
- 67
- 68
- 132
- 198
The steps alternate: 2 × 3 = 6, then 6 + 1 = 7, then 7 × 3 = 21, then 21 + 1 = 22, then 22 × 3 = 66. The next step is + 1, so 66 + 1 = 67. Answer: A, 67.
When the differences (4, 1, 14, 1, 44) show no pattern, try alternating operations.
Example 3: moving a budget
A team has a budget of $48,000. 25% goes to travel. One third of what's left goes to software, and the rest goes to contractors. The team then cuts the travel budget by a quarter and moves the savings to contractors.
What share of the total budget now goes to contractors?
- 50%
- 56.25%
- 62.5%
- 68.75%
Travel is 25% × $48,000 = $12,000, leaving $36,000. Software is one third of that, $12,000, so contractors start at $24,000. Cutting travel by a quarter saves $12,000 × 0.25 = $3,000, so contractors rise to $27,000. As a share of the total, $27,000 ÷ $48,000 = 0.5625. Answer: B, 56.25%.
Option D is the misread: cutting travel to a quarter would save $9,000 and give contractors $33,000, which is 68.75%.
Example 4: what must be true
Four projects have different budgets. Birch's budget is larger than Cedar's. Aspen's is smaller than Cedar's. Dune's is larger than Aspen's.
Which statement must be true?
- Birch has the largest budget.
- Aspen has the smallest budget.
- Dune's budget is larger than Cedar's.
- Cedar has the second-largest budget.
Aspen is below Cedar, which is below Birch, and Dune is also above Aspen, so all three others beat Aspen. Dune could sit anywhere above Aspen, so A, C and D each depend on where Dune lands. Answer: B.
How the CCA relates to Casey
They're separate tests. In the US Associate process, every applicant takes the CCA shortly after applying, and a selected group is invited to the online case with Casey (about 35 minutes) roughly two weeks after the application deadline. BCG adds that anyone who has taken the online case before won't take it again. In Mexico, Associates do both on the same weekend. For US and Canadian advanced degree candidates, BCG mentions only the CCA.
The preparation barely overlaps. The CCA rewards careful reasoning on small puzzles and honest self-description. Casey is a full business case with exhibits, case math and a one-minute recorded recommendation. In the US, prepare for the CCA first, then read the Casey guide and Casey math while you wait.
A short prep plan
Because the invitation can land within the hour, the useful preparation happens before you apply.
- Three to five days before applying: do two or three short timed sets of logic and numerical questions (scheduling, sequences, percentages) at 90 seconds a question.
- Two days before: spend 15 minutes noting how you actually work, such as how you handle deadlines and criticism. It keeps your behavioral answers consistent.
- When you apply: choose a time when you can sit the CCA within a day, inside support hours. Check spam for the SHL email.
- On the day: laptop, quiet room, notifications off, and a calculator if your instructions allow one. Use any practice questions properly.
- In the reasoning block: if a question hasn't cracked after about a minute, make your best choice and move on.
SolveForge doesn't have BCG practice yet; BCG practice explains what's planned. Our logical and numerical reasoning guides and Bain practice cover overlapping skills now. No practice score predicts your CCA result.
FAQ
How long is the BCG Consulting Career Assessment?
BCG's US page says about 30 to 35 minutes and its Mexico page about 30. The timed reasoning part is reported at about 12 minutes.
How long do I have to complete the CCA?
BCG's US and advanced degree pages both give 48 hours. One prep site says 24 hours, so go by the deadline in your own invitation.
Who has to take the BCG CCA?
According to BCG's careers pages: every US Associate applicant, US and Canadian advanced degree applicants, and Associate applicants in Mexico. Other offices describe different tests.
Can I retake the CCA?
Prep sites say there are no retakes. BCG's advanced degree page says a CCA taken within the past year carries over, and one taken more than a year ago must be retaken.
Can I use a calculator on the CCA?
Two prep sites say BCG's CCA FAQ allows one. We couldn't read that FAQ directly, so follow the instructions in your invitation.
What score do I need to pass the CCA?
BCG doesn't publish a pass mark or explain how the CCA is scored. Answer the behavioral questions honestly and get as many reasoning questions right as you can.
Keep going
Back to the BCG online assessment overview. If you're selected for the online case next, read the BCG Casey guide. Applying in Germany, Austria or Switzerland instead: the BCG cognitive test guide. Wondering about older tests: the Potential Test and Pymetrics. Applying to more than one firm: the MBB online assessments compared.
Sources we checked: BCG's careers pages for US Associate recruiting, advanced degree candidates and Mexico, and prep-site reports from Prepmatter, Hacking the Case Interview, MyConsultingCoach, Management Consulted and PrepLounge. BCG's CCA FAQ document could not be opened, so details attributed to it are secondhand.
SolveForge is an independent practice tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Boston Consulting Group or SHL. Every example on this page was written by us; none is a real test item. "BCG" and "Boston Consulting Group" are trademarks of their owner. Nothing here guarantees any assessment result.