BCG Casey: Intuition Question Deep-Dive

In this third article of our Casey Question Type Series, we’ll take a deep dive into the Intuition question, or INT questions for short. 

These questions aren’t necessarily the hardest in the BCG Casey, but they are often considered the most difficult to master. 

Why? As the name suggests, these questions rely heavily on your business intuition.

And they DO NOT come with a one-size-fits-all guide.

That said, mastering INT questions isn’t impossible. In this article, we’ll show you how to build the skills needed to excel at this unique and demanding question. 

As with the previous Casey Question Type Deep Dive articles, this article will once again serve as your complete and utter description of INT questions.

Use the links attached to each section in this article to read more about each specific topic (you will need that), as well as the banner on the right to learn more about our product - the BCG Casey All-in-One.

Please read the main article on the BCG Casey if you haven’t done so.

Overview of intuition questions

To better understand what an INT question looks like in the BCG Casey test, let’s examine a real example from the Trial Case: Spicy Ramen Truck. You can try the full test at this link.

To summarize, Brother Hai runs a spicy instant ramen truck in downtown Saigon at night. Last month, his customer numbers dropped significantly, and his revenue was cut in half. Our task is to find out what caused this and suggest solutions. 

By the end of Question 4, we’ve identified the root cause: recent news reported that the sausage used in Brother Hai’s ramen contained cancer-causing substances. As a result, customers consciously avoided ramen dishes with that ingredient. In response, Brother Hai decides to replace the sausage.

At this point comes Question 5, which we refer to as an INT question. We’ll use this to break down and clarify the nature of this question type.

INT questions require candidates to provide answers based on business knowledge and intuition

Usually, the INT question is phrased “What can you conclude from this?” or "What are potential root causes/effects/solutions/next steps/risks?" Depending on the question, your answer could include a range of insights, elements, or factors.

These insights, elements, or factors cannot be directly deduced from the case information alone. Instead, they rely heavily on your business knowledge and intuition. 

This is what makes this question type particularly challenging and why BCG Casey is considered tougher than other tests, such as McKinsey Solve or Bain’s online assessments.

For example, Question 5 requires candidates to draw meaningful conclusions from two exhibits. While the exhibits provide data and numbers, they are not meant for calculations. Instead, you must use them, together with your business knowledge and intuition, to generate insights and determine which type of sausage Brother Hai should choose.

INT questions are often considered the hardest to practice in the BCG Casey

These questions appear frequently throughout the test and play a crucial role in assessing a candidate’s business judgment. However, they are also the most challenging to master. 

The main reason lies in their open-ended nature: unlike other question types, which we can follow clear guidelines or “formulas”, INT questions don’t have a fixed approach or step-by-step method to follow.

Instead, they require you to rely heavily on your business intuition - the ability to make sound judgments based on limited data, context, and experience. That’s precisely what makes them tricky to practice. You can’t simply memorize a method and apply it, you need to develop your judgment over time.

Improving in this area requires focused, consistent effort. With the right strategies and plenty of exposure to different case situations, you can gradually sharpen the intuition and reasoning skills needed to succeed.

However, INT is also the most common question type alongside QNT

Most cases feature 2 to 3 INT questions, making them more common than any other type. So while they may be difficult to prepare for, you’ll encounter them often, making it essential to build comfort and confidence with this question type.

INT questions may include exhibits

INT questions are often accompanied by exhibits, such as charts, diagrams, or tables.

When this happens, the question typically asks candidates to extract meaningful insights from the data presented. The goal is not to perform calculations, but rather to interpret the information, connect it to the broader case context, and draw logical conclusions.

This format is designed to assess candidates’ ability to analyze data, think critically, and make informed business decisions, just as you would when advising a real client.

For example, Question 5 in the Spicy Ramen Truck case requires you to review two exhibits and determine which sausage Brother Hai should choose based on your interpretation of the data and your business judgment.

Question format

INT question begins with a question text displayed as a message,

In the Casey test, INT questions are presented in a message-style format, simulating a conversation between you and the client.

Like other question types, each INT question follows a consistent structure, typically made up of four main components - some always present, others optional.

1. (Always present) Context block

Every INT question begins with a short to medium-length block of text that sets up the business situation. This section provides essential background information needed to understand the context of the decision or judgment you're asked to make. The length may vary, from one sentence to several lines, depending on the case and complexity of the situation.

2. (Optional) Exhibits

Some INT questions include supporting exhibits. These visuals are not intended for calculations but rather to be interpreted for business meaning. When present, the exhibits are designed to test your ability to extract insights, spot trends, or identify potential risks and solutions using your business judgment.

3. (Always present) Main question prompt

This is the heart of the INT question. It directly asks what you’re expected to do, such as identifying possible causes, recommending next steps, or selecting the best strategic option. Depending on the answer format, you may be asked to select multiple options, choose the best one, or provide a written insight.

4. (Always present) Answer format instruction

Every INT question ends with a clear instruction that tells you how to respond. This varies depending on the format:

• Multi select (MS): “Select all that apply,” “Select the fewest possible items,” or “Select three options”

• Single select (SS): “Select one answer”

• Long text (LT): “Write 3 - 4 sentences” or “Limit your response to 3 - 4 lines”

... followed by one of three possible answer formats

In the BCG Casey test, INT questions typically come in one of three answer formats: Multiple Select (MS), Long Text (LT), and occasionally, Single Select (SS). 

Among these, MS and LT are by far the most common. MS questions make up roughly 60 - 80% of INT questions, LT accounts for around 20 - 40%, and SS appears only in rare instances (approximately 5%). 

Multi Select

In the multiple-select format, candidates are asked to select several correct answers from a list of 4 to 10 options. 

Every MS question includes a guiding instruction sentence. In some cases, this instruction is precise, such as “select three,” clearly indicating the number of options to choose. 

In others, it’s more ambiguous, like “select all that apply” or “select the fewest possible items”, which requires candidates to exercise judgment and intuition. These vague instructions add difficulty, as you won’t know exactly how many answers are expected. Typically, only 30% - 60% of the given options are correct in such cases.

Once you’ve read the question, you must click “See options” to reveal the answer choices. In questions with many options (up to 10), the choices can take up the entire screen. The main question remains pinned at the top, and if you want to view it again in full, you can click the “Collapse” button on the top-left corner. 

To select an option, simply click on it. Click again to deselect. You may freely click and unclick options as many times as you wish while reviewing. If you want to reset your selection entirely, click “Clear selection.” Once satisfied, press the “Done” button to submit your answer. Be cautious, after clicking “Done”, your response is locked in, and you won’t be able to make any changes.

Long Text

In the Long-text format, candidates are asked to summarize their insights in a short written paragraph, usually 3 to 4 sentences. This length constraint is always clearly stated in the prompt and must be strictly followed. 

The interface is clean and simple: you’ll see a message-style input box, similar to those used in everyday chat applications. Typing works like in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, where pressing “Enter” moves the cursor to the next line rather than submitting your response. To submit, you must click the send icon located on the right side of the message box.

Text formatting options are not available in this format. You won’t be able to use bold, italics, or bullet points. If you need to emphasize something, the best options are using CAPITALIZATION or hyphens. 

For example:

“I would recommend TWO next steps – adjust pricing and expand distribution.”

Although the message box allows up to 1,500 characters, you will rarely need that much space. BCG explicitly states that the best answers should be concise, ideally no more than 4 to 6 lines. Overwriting may reflect poorly on your clarity of thought. 

To craft a strong response, candidates must draw not only from the current question’s context but also incorporate relevant insights from earlier parts of the case.

Single Select

Single-select format is rarely used for INT questions but still worth knowing. It closely resembles the MS format in appearance, but with one key difference - candidates are allowed to choose ONLY ONE correct answer. 

All answer choices are displayed directly within the interface. If space is limited, you can scroll horizontally to view more.

The most critical detail in SS format is that selecting an option immediately submits your answer. There’s no confirmation step - no “Done” button, so you must be absolutely sure before clicking. Once submitted, the response is final.

Question content

INT questions require business knowledge and intuition to understand and answer

One common way to recognize an INT question is through its answer options, either single select (SS) or multiple select (MS). The options provided often include business-specific terminology, such as accounting terms or operational concepts, that requires a certain level of background knowledge to interpret correctly. 

In other cases, the question can ask for insights or conclusions that can’t be directly deduced from the provided information. In other words, you need a good “business sense” to solve them, and that’s what makes them unique and sometimes a bit challenging.

These questions often revolve around common consulting themes: potential root causes behind an issue, likely effects of a decision or event, logical next steps to take, possible business solutions, or even risks the client should be aware of. 

When an INT question includes exhibits, such as tables, charts, or diagrams, the task is often to extract business insights from that data, not to perform calculations. This further tests your ability to interpret data in a way that supports high-level decision-making.

Exhibits

The data provided in INT questions is generally simpler and more straightforward than in other tests like the PST or Potential Test. Rather than overwhelming candidates with large volumes of raw figures or overly complex calculations, the Casey test focuses on concise and structured exhibits that are easy to read and interpret.

You’ll commonly encounter familiar data formats such as tables and basic chart types, most often line charts, pie charts, and bar charts. These are visual formats that most candidates have already worked with extensively in both academic and professional settings.

Each question typically includes between one to three exhibits, which could be charts, tables, or a mix of both. The datasets are clean and rounded, usually consisting of 4 to 25 data points. In tables, this might translate to about 2 to 5 rows and 2 to 5 columns, along with a simple legend or footnotes to clarify any abbreviations or specific metrics.

Crucially, the data is not meant for heavy numerical calculations like in QNT questions. Instead, it serves as a foundation for analysis. You are expected to extract key insights from the exhibits, not crunch numbers. 

For example, you might be asked to spot a paradox or inconsistency, such as a situation where revenue increases while the quantity sold decreases - an observation that could lead to hypotheses about pricing strategy, product mix, or external market conditions.

How to build a strong business base?

To confidently tackle INT questions in the BCG Casey test, building a solid foundation in business knowledge is essential. These questions often go beyond surface-level data and require you to apply real-world business thinking. 

Below are four key areas to focus on as you develop your business intuition.

Understand basic business concepts

Start by familiarizing yourself with key business terms such as market size, growth, market share, profitability, costs, and revenues. These are foundational concepts that frequently appear in INT questions, often embedded in answer options or question prompts. 

You should also become comfortable with essential financial math, including how to calculate profit margins, break-even points, and return on investment (ROI). These calculations help you quickly assess the viability or efficiency of a business strategy and are important tools for case analysis.

Get to know accounting & financial terms

A strong understanding of accounting language will significantly improve your ability to interpret Casey's questions. 

You’ll often see financial terms like assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, costs, profits, operating activities, financing activities, and investing activities - all of which describe a company's financial health and operations. 

To grasp these effectively, get to know the three core financial statements:

• The balance sheet offers a snapshot of a company’s financial position at a specific point in time, listing what it owns (assets) and owes (liabilities), along with shareholders’ equity.

• The income statement (or profit & loss statement) summarizes business performance over a time period, detailing revenues, costs, and net profits.

• The cash flow statement shows the actual movement of cash in and out of the business, divided into operating, financing, and investing activities.

These financial tools are essential for interpreting business scenarios and understanding how different strategies affect a company’s bottom line.

Understand business functions

As a consultant, you’ll often deal with problems that span multiple business areas. That’s why it’s important to understand the core functions of a business, such as marketing, sales, finance, operations, supply chain, …

It’s not enough to know what each department does. You should also be aware of the strategic decisions they make, the challenges they typically face, and how their performance impacts overall business success. The more you know, the better equipped you will be to come up with the best solutions when it matters.

Gain industry-specific knowledge

BCG cases cover a wide range of industries, from technology and healthcare to food and even public sector work. Each industry has unique dynamics, so the more familiar you are with them, the easier it becomes to spot relevant insights and avoid impractical solutions. 

To improve your business intuition, MConsultingPrep offers a “Business Intuition” course that deep dives into six comprehensive topics on various business problems.

In addition, staying updated on the latest business news, reading case studies, and exploring reports from top firms like BCG and McKinsey will help you develop a real-world feel for how businesses operate and succeed.

How to improve graph literacy?

Being graph-literate is an essential skill for solving many INT questions in the BCG Casey test. These questions frequently include charts, tables, or diagrams and ask you to extract actionable insights. 

Unlike simple numerical calculations, interpreting visual data requires a layered understanding - spotting patterns, drawing conclusions, and applying them to the business context. That’s why mastering graph-reading and interpretation should be a core part of your preparation.

Which abilities should you develop?

To build strong graph literacy, you’ll need to cultivate several core skills. 

First is the ability to read the data accurately. That means finding the specific information the graph shows, such as values, trends, or proportions. 

Next, you need the ability to identify relationships between data points, like comparing categories, analyzing changes over time, or spotting anomalies. 

Lastly, and most importantly, work on the ability to look beyond the data and to make reasonable predictions, draw implications, and form hypotheses. These higher-order skills will allow you to use the data not just descriptively, but analytically and strategically.

What types of graphs should you practice with?

Most commonly, you’ll encounter tables, bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts, all of which are standard in BCG Casey and other case-based assessments. 

These are familiar formats, but that doesn’t mean they’re always easy to interpret. You may also come across stacked bar charts, scatter plots, waterfall charts, or even hybrid formats. 

Therefore, you should train yourself to read a wide range of visual displays, understanding not only how to extract data but also how to evaluate what each format is best used for. 

For example, a line chart is useful for identifying trends over time, while a stacked bar chart might break down total values into their component parts.

Where can you find graphs to interpret?

There are many excellent sources to develop your graph-reading skills. 

Start with research articles and insights published on consulting firm websites like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. These often include charts and summaries based on real-world data. 

You can also explore annual reports of public companies, business publications like The Economist and Financial Times. Other sources are in practice materials like casebooks, PST, and Potential Test. 

In case prep groups or mock case interviews, ask your partners to choose cases that are rich in visual data, so you can get comfortable working with exhibits under timed conditions.

That said, if you want the most realistic and focused practice for interpreting graphs in INT questions, there’s no better option than the BCG Casey Simulation of MConsultingPrep. It accurately reflects the test format, especially the way exhibits are used to present data visually.

How to practice effectively?

To improve steadily, make chart interpretation part of your daily routine. 

Start by familiarizing yourself with the common types of charts and the purposes they serve. For instance, stacked bars often illustrate composition, scatter plots highlight correlation, and line charts show changes and trends.

Next, actively practice with real materials. One effective method is to review MBB firm publications: find a chart, cover up the title or takeaway, then try to draw your own insights based on the data. Afterwards, compare your analysis with the original summary to identify gaps in your reasoning or overlooked points. You can also apply this technique with other sources, such as news articles or market research.

A more advanced exercise is to create your own charts. Use a dataset from school or work, and design a chart that communicates a specific message. Then present it to a peer and ask whether the message is clear and compelling. This process helps you understand the logic behind good data visualization and strengthens your ability to extract insights when the roles are reversed.

How to approach a chart during a case?

When facing a chart, you should follow a structured approach. 

Start by reading the title, headings, axis labels, legends, and footnotes carefully. They often hold key information about units, definitions, or context. 

Next, remind yourself of the question’s objective or hypothesis so you can interpret the data with a clear purpose in mind. 

Then, look for contrasts or changes: what spikes, plummets, or stands out? Focus on those differences, as they often point to the underlying issues or drivers.

Once you’ve identified the "what," ask "why" - what might be causing the pattern you’re seeing? This is where your business understanding and case context come into play. 

Finally, end with the "so what" - what does this mean for the client? What insights or recommendations can you infer from this chart?

Other tips

Learn case interview

It’s essential to study case interviews carefully, as INT questions in the Casey test mirror some questions you’ll encounter in live case interviews. 

For example, the process of reading exhibits to extract insights and confirm or reject a hypothesis is central to both case interviews and INT questions. 

Similarly, questions that ask candidates to propose solutions, next steps, or potential risks also overlap directly with the kinds of INT questions you’ll see in Casey. 

That means every time you practice case interviews, you’re also training the intuition, analytical thinking, and business sense needed for INT questions, making case prep doubly valuable.

Practice mental math skills

Strong mental math skills can significantly improve your speed and accuracy when analyzing exhibits, especially if you need to quickly compare figures or calculate simple percentages to identify trends. 

So, how should you train? Regularly practicing Comprehensive Math Drills from MConsultingPrep can strengthen your calculation speed. 

Additionally, try to build a daily habit of performing mental calculations instead of reaching for your calculator, even for simple tasks. This practice compounds over time, helping you process numerical data in INT questions much faster.

Don't stuck yourself in one INT question for over 3 minutes

This point deserves special emphasis for INT questions because of their unique challenge: these questions often rely heavily on intuition, particularly the long-text format, leading many candidates to spend far too much time trying to perfect an answer. 

But in a timed test environment, spending too long on one question can severely impact your overall performance. 

Remember, the Casey test lasts 30 minutes for 8 - 10 questions, which means you have an average of just 3 minutes per question. 

If you find yourself stuck for longer than that, make your best guess, submit your answer, and move on. This strategy increases your chances of answering all questions within the time limit, giving you more opportunities to pick up points on easier questions that might come later.

Note down key insights after each INT question

Another effective strategy is to jot down key insights or important information after completing each INT question. 

The Casey test often presents cases as a sequence of questions that build on each other, meaning you’ll need to reference earlier insights to answer later questions accurately. 

By keeping clear notes, you ensure that you retain and organize important data from the start of the case, so your answers stay consistent, logical, and grounded in the case’s evolving context. 

This habit can be the difference between scattered, inconsistent answers and a structured, compelling performance throughout the entire case.