Redrock
- Free practice included
- 1 full case study
- Session length
- 35 minutes
- Feedback you get
- Full score report with dimension breakdown
- Upgrading adds
- 20+ Redrock case studies
Practice the McKinsey Solve simulator before your real assessment
Solve Games Guide is the most realistic practice platform for the McKinsey Solve assessment, with timed simulators for Redrock, Sea Wolf, and the Sustainable Futures Lab. Start free with one session per game, no credit card.
- 22,000+ candidates preparing for McKinsey Solve
- 50,000+ timed simulator runs completed
- 100+ countries with registered candidates
- 2,000+ universities represented
- 99.1% of premium users who reported their results scored in the 8th decile or above
What is the McKinsey Solve Game?
The McKinsey Solve Game is a timed digital assessment McKinsey uses early in recruiting, after your application and before interviews. It replaced the written McKinsey Problem Solving Test (PST) and was originally built by Imbellus. It contains up to three games: Redrock, Sea Wolf, and the Sustainable Futures Lab.
Invitations commonly state 65 or 85 minutes, while early candidate reports describe a 95-minute version now being tested. Depending on the invitation, candidates may receive Redrock, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Futures Lab in different configurations. Your invitation email is the authority on which format applies to you.
Official McKinsey introduction to the digital assessment.
Read the official guidelinesSolve Games Guide walkthrough of the McKinsey Solve assessment.
What your free Solve Games Guide account includes
Every account includes one free run of each McKinsey Solve game, with no credit card required. Each free run is a complete timed simulation, not a demo.
| Attribute | Redrock | Sea Wolf | Sustainable Futures Lab | Bain Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free practice included | 1 full case study | 1 full timed session | 1 full scenario | A full three-test trial paper, repeatable |
| Session length | 35 minutes | 30 minutes | 20 minutes | 32 minutes |
| Feedback you get | Full score report with dimension breakdown | Full score report with dimension breakdown | Full score report with dimension breakdown | Score per test plus worked answers for every question |
| Upgrading adds | 20+ Redrock case studies | Repeat timed simulations plus the Sea Wolf scoring calculator | Additional Sustainable Futures Lab missions | Four more papers, random mixes, practice mode and single-test drills |
| Start Redrock free | Start Sea Wolf free | Start Sustainable Futures Lab free | Start Bain Assessment free |
Sea Wolf
- Free practice included
- 1 full timed session
- Session length
- 30 minutes
- Feedback you get
- Full score report with dimension breakdown
- Upgrading adds
- Repeat timed simulations plus the Sea Wolf scoring calculator
Sustainable Futures Lab
- Free practice included
- 1 full scenario
- Session length
- 20 minutes
- Feedback you get
- Full score report with dimension breakdown
- Upgrading adds
- Additional Sustainable Futures Lab missions
Bain Assessment
- Free practice included
- A full three-test trial paper, repeatable
- Session length
- 32 minutes
- Feedback you get
- Score per test plus worked answers for every question
- Upgrading adds
- Four more papers, random mixes, practice mode and single-test drills
Want the full picture first? Read the McKinsey Solve overview →
Bain & Company
Sitting the Bain online assessment too?
Bain screens candidates with three timed aptitude tests on a separate platform from McKinsey Solve. Our simulator runs all three back to back, and the full-length trial paper is free with an account.
- 1
Critical Thinking
16 questions · 12 mins
- 2
Numerical Reasoning
12 questions · 10 mins
- 3
Working With Data
12 questions · 10 mins
How applying to McKinsey works
Solve normally follows the initial application review and comes before case and fit interviews. Your invitation email is the final authority for your process and deadlines.
-
Application
Resume and application screening
-
Solve Game
Timed digital assessment
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First round
Case and fit interviews
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Final round
Partner interviews
What does the time in your McKinsey Solve invitation mean?
The duration in your invitation is the clearest signal of the assessment configuration you may receive.
- 65 minutesLegacy configurationRedrock 35 min + Sea Wolf 30 min
The established two-module assessment, still reported in some invitations.
- 85 minutesCommon current configurationRedrock 35 min + Sea Wolf 30 min + SFL 20 min
The commonly reported three-module format using the established Sustainable Futures Lab.
- 95 minutesNew format being tested TestingRedrock 35 min + Sea Wolf 30 min + redesigned SFL ≈30 min
Early candidate reports describe a longer, team-management version of Sustainable Futures Lab.
Your invitation takes priority.
McKinsey can vary configurations, and setup, tutorials, or technical checks may be stated separately from active game time. Follow the timing and instructions in your own email.
McKinsey Solve practice for every module
Practise Redrock, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Futures Lab, then use the supporting Sea Wolf Solver to study optimisation logic between timed attempts.
Redrock
Answer maths-based questions about an ecological problem-solving scenario in 35 minutes.
1 free case
Sea Wolf
Select a combination of microbes to produce treatments for three individual sites in 30 minutes.
1 free session
Sustainable Futures Lab
Answer 13 situational-judgement questions about a sustainability project in 20 minutes.
1 free scenario
Sea Wolf Solver
Optimise Prospecting and Treatment combinations while practising. The solver is a learning tool and is not available during the real assessment.
Browser-based toolWhy practise with Solve Games Guide?
Preparation works best when it replaces uncertainty with a familiar process: see the format, practise it under pressure, and understand what to improve next.
Start practising free-
Practise on a replica of the real games
Redrock, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Futures Lab are built as close replicas of the real Solve assessment, with the same interface, rules, and wording, so nothing on test day looks new.
Compare the simulators -
Start without paying
Try one Sea Wolf session, one Redrock case, and one Sustainable Futures Lab scenario before choosing a plan.
See what is free -
Practise under real time pressure
Work through assessment-like interfaces, mechanics, and timed sessions before the real invitation becomes the first time you see them.
Explore the assessment -
Learn from detailed feedback
Review score breakdowns and improvement guidance after a run instead of stopping at a pass-or-fail result.
See simulator feedback -
Compare with an active community
Use candidate rankings, platform benchmarks, and community polls to put your practice performance in context.
View candidate rankings -
Get support when time is short
Reach the team through live chat, email, or the in-app support inbox when a technical or preparation question blocks you.
Contact support
Three McKinsey Solve simulators, plus the Sea Wolf Solver
Redrock
Problem Solving
35 minutes of investigation, analysis, report writing, and case questions.
- 35-minute timed case
- Research journal + built-in calculator workflow
- 6 individual case questions
Sea Wolf
Logical Reasoning
30 minutes to assemble treatments for three sites under constraint pressure.
- 30-minute timed session
- 4 phases: profiling, categorising, prospecting, treatment
- Aim to clear 100% efficiency across all 3 sites
Sea Wolf Solver
Instant Optimisation
Study high-performing Prospecting and Treatment combinations between timed Sea Wolf attempts.
- Calculate Prospecting and Treatment combinations
- Understand constraint checks and tiebreaker logic
- Work in your browser without Excel files or macros
Sustainable Futures Lab
Situational Judgement
Both reported formats: the 20-minute question flow, and Lab Leader, a three-day team simulation.
- Lab Leader: four Researchers, four Workstations, three days
- Explore, Assign, Support and Reflect each day
- 20-minute, 13-question format included
Start practicing in three steps
From signup to your first timed session in under two minutes.
1
Create account
No credit card required
2
Choose your game
Sea Wolf, Redrock, or Sustainable Futures Lab
3
Start timed practice
Instant feedback on completion
Trusted by McKinsey candidates worldwide
Real results from candidates at top universities who used Solve Games Guide to prepare.
Used at top universities
Best Solve practice I've used. Spent about a week on it and didn't feel lost on the day.
Did three sessions. That was enough for me.
Mostly did Redrock. Much better prep than the YouTube explainers I'd been relying on.
I strongly recommend this for anyone serious about passing. Format is close to what I got on the day.
Latest McKinsey Solve articles
Current-format explainers and focused practice strategies from Solve Games Guide.
How to Do the McKinsey Sustainable Futures Lab: A Step-by-Step Guide
What the 30-minute Sustainable Futures Lab is, what happens on each of its three days, and how to get through every stage, with a screenshot for each step.
McKinsey Redrock: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide (with Screenshots)
What the McKinsey Redrock game is, how its 35 minutes break down, and exactly what to do in each of its four sections, with screenshots and key takeaways.
Does Getting a Good Score in McKinsey Solve Guarantee You an Interview?
A good Solve score gets your CV considered, but it is a prerequisite, not a guarantee. Here is what McKinsey's own FAQs say, what else the recruiter looks at, and where to focus your preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about practicing for the McKinsey Solve.
Is there a McKinsey Solve simulator?
Yes. Solve Games Guide is an independent practice platform and McKinsey Solve simulator with timed practice for Redrock (35 minutes), Sea Wolf (30 minutes), and the Sustainable Futures Lab (20 minutes, established format). Every free account includes one session per game, with no credit card required.
How realistic is this compared to the actual McKinsey Solve?
Solve Games Guide simulators are modelled on real McKinsey Solve questions, and replicate the game mechanics, time limits, and interface design of the real assessment. Candidates regularly report that the format felt familiar on test day.
Which games can I practice for free?
Every free Solve Games Guide account includes one Sea Wolf session, one Redrock case, and one Sustainable Futures Lab scenario. No credit card required. Upgrade for more practice across all three games.
How long is each practice session?
Solve Games Guide sessions run for 35 minutes in Redrock, 30 minutes in Sea Wolf, and 20 minutes in our current-format Sustainable Futures Lab simulator. Early candidate reports describe a redesigned 30-minute SFL version being tested; our simulator does not yet reproduce that new workflow. You can pause between attempts, not during a timed session.
Do I get feedback on my performance?
Yes. Solve Games Guide gives you a detailed score report after each session, with a dimension-level breakdown and improvement recommendations.
When should I start practicing?
Most candidates benefit from 3–5 practice sessions spread over 1–2 weeks before their real McKinsey Solve assessment. Start as soon as you receive your invitation.
How long is the McKinsey Solve assessment?
McKinsey Solve invitations most commonly state 65 or 85 minutes. Candidate reports associate 65 minutes with Redrock (35 minutes) and Sea Wolf (30 minutes), and 85 minutes with those two plus the 20-minute Sustainable Futures Lab. Some 95-minute invitations appear to include a redesigned SFL of about 30 minutes.
Can you practise McKinsey Solve for free?
Yes. McKinsey does not publish a full practice version, but every Solve Games Guide account includes one free Sea Wolf session, one free Redrock case, and one free Sustainable Futures Lab scenario. No credit card is required, and each free run is a complete timed simulation.
Is the McKinsey Solve assessment hard?
McKinsey Solve is difficult mainly because of time pressure and unfamiliarity, not advanced mathematics. Redrock requires fast arithmetic within 35 minutes, and Sea Wolf requires constraint logic within 30 minutes. Candidates who have seen the interface and pacing beforehand spend their time solving rather than decoding the format.
What is the difference between Redrock, Sea Wolf, and the Sustainable Futures Lab?
Redrock is a 35-minute data-analysis case built on maths-based questions. Sea Wolf is a 30-minute optimisation task where you select microbe combinations to treat three sites. The Sustainable Futures Lab is a 20-minute situational-judgement module of 13 questions. Most candidates receive Redrock and Sea Wolf; many also receive the Sustainable Futures Lab.
Don't walk into your McKinsey Solve unprepared
Your free Solve Games Guide account includes one Sea Wolf session, one Redrock case, and one Sustainable Futures Lab scenario. Experience the real format and timing before your McKinsey Solve assessment.
Among premium users who reported their results, 99.1% scored in the 8th decile or above (as of October 2026).