Does Getting a Good Score in McKinsey Solve Guarantee You an Interview?

A good Solve score is what earns your application a proper look, and it is well worth aiming for. It is a prerequisite rather than a guarantee, though: McKinsey treats the result as one input among several, and the final call sits with a recruiter.

In practice, the two ends of the scale behave very differently. If you score well, your CV will be considered, but that alone does not mean you will progress. We routinely see candidates in the top decile who are not taken forward. On the other hand, a poor score will almost certainly end your application at this stage, whatever the rest of your profile looks like.

This article sets out what McKinsey has published on the question, what that means in practice, and where your effort is best spent.

What McKinsey says about Solve results

McKinsey’s Solve FAQ (August 2025) answers this directly:

“The results from Solve will be taken into consideration with the rest of your assessment results. Therefore, the McKinsey recruiter will make a decision based on multiple factors as referenced in our Recruitment Privacy Notice.”

The Solve page on McKinsey’s careers site makes the same point: your performance is considered in conjunction with the rest of your application and any other assessments you are asked to take.

Three things follow from this. First, a poor score will stop your application, so Solve is a hurdle you do need to clear. Second, a high score does not override a weak application. Third, a recruiter is making a judgement, not a computer applying a single pass mark.

There is no published pass mark

McKinsey does not publish a cut-off score in its candidate FAQs or on its Solve page. You will see percentile targets quoted on forums and prep sites, but these come from candidate reports, not from McKinsey. Treat any precise number with caution.

What this means for you: aim to perform as well as you can across every game, rather than trying to clear a specific threshold that may not exist in the form people describe.

What else the recruiter looks at

McKinsey’s wording, “the rest of your application”, covers the material you submit alongside Solve: your CV and anything else the application form asks for. If you are asked to complete other assessments, McKinsey says those results are considered too.

The 2025 FAQ also notes that some candidates may be asked, at random, to complete an additional task in person or to explain the logic behind their answers. Your recruiter will tell you if this applies to you. It is a good reason to understand your own approach to each game, rather than relying on a memorised routine.

A good score can still work in your favour later

A strong result is not wasted if you do not get an interview this time. McKinsey’s Business Analyst recruitment page for Australia states that previous Solve results remain active for 12 months, so you will not be asked to retake it within that window. Check the rules for your own office, as recruiting processes can differ by location.

The reverse also applies: a weak result may stay on your record for the same period. That is a practical reason to sit Solve only when you feel ready.

Where to focus your preparation

Because the decision combines several inputs, preparation should cover all of them.

1. Your application. Make sure your CV shows clear evidence of problem solving, leadership and impact, in plain language a recruiter can scan quickly.
2. Your Solve performance. McKinsey’s FAQ says no previous business knowledge or gaming experience is required. Many candidates still choose to practise so the interface, the time pressure and the question style feel familiar on the day.
3. Your reasoning. Be ready to explain why you made each decision. This helps if you are asked to walk through your logic, and it carries straight into case interviews.

If you want to practise under realistic conditions, our Redrock simulator, Sea Wolf simulator and Sustainable Futures Lab simulator follow the structure of the live games.

Solve Games Guide is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with McKinsey & Company. Your invitation email and recruiter are the source of truth for your own process.