Red Rock
- A briefing, two exhibits, and a research journal
- One calculated answer, checked against a tolerance
McKinsey Solve.
Practice before
the pressure.
Prepare for the McKinsey Solve game with hands-on Red Rock, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Futures Lab practice. Make the decisions yourself. Learn what to improve.
Know the game.
Then get good at it.
Go beyond reading a guide. Work through the decisions yourself.
Sea Wolf
- Assign eight microbes to a site or reject them
- Then pick the three-microbe treatment that fits every rule
Sustainable Futures Lab
- Rank five initiatives against stated criteria
- Then handle the stakeholder who disagrees
The assessment, explained
What is the
McKinsey Solve game?
McKinsey Solve is a game-based assessment used in consultant recruiting to explore your problem-solving abilities. McKinsey considers it alongside the rest of your application, not as a standalone hiring verdict.
There is no requirement to buy preparation. McKinsey says you do not need prior business knowledge or gaming experience. Practice here is an optional way to get comfortable with evidence, constraints, and decisions.
Read McKinsey’s official guidance ↗How long does Solve take?
Use the duration in your own invitation. Online reports describe different configurations, so a single headline time is not a reliable promise for every candidate.
Read your invitation with confidence →What should you practice?
Start with the skill you find hardest: extracting the right data, checking a combination against several rules, or prioritizing competing objectives.
Explore the three practice games →What is a passing Solve score?
No universal cutoff is published in the official guidance reviewed here. A simulator result is feedback on a practice exercise, not an official hiring prediction.
Understand scores and results →
Original illustration · not assessment footagePreparation that goes beyond reading
Build a method.
Not a memory of answers.
For a data question, identify the unit and denominator before calculating. For a constraint task, test the whole combination. For a judgement exercise, connect your choice to the stated objective.
Our original practice exercises let you work on these habits before assessment day. During the real Solve assessment, follow McKinsey’s rules and work independently without external tools.
Try a free practice game →Find the right plan for you.
Start free. Pick one game or prepare for all three.
Free practice
Get familiar before you commit.
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Continue in your practice account
- Try the practice games
- Explore the interfaces
- Learn from your first attempt
Solve pack
Save $68Prepare across all three games.
$147$79USD / one-time
One payment. No subscription.
- Red Rock practice
- Sea Wolf practice
- Sustainable Futures Lab practice
- Permanent access to the pack
- Scored debriefs
One game
Save $20Focus on the game you need.
$49$29USD / one-time
One payment. No subscription.
Single-game access · no outcome guarantee
- Choose Red Rock, Sea Wolf, or SFL
- Permanent access to your chosen game
- Scored debriefs
Preview pricing. Paid purchases are not enabled on this site yet.
See currently available plans →The Solve preparation blog
Read it. Try it. Understand it.
Practical explanations, original worked examples, and clear answers before test day.
Red Rock McKinsey Red Rock Practice: Questions and Worked Answers
Work through original Red Rock data questions: evidence selection, percentage change, weighted averages and chart choice, with answers explained.
September 20, 2026 · 8 min read
Sea Wolf McKinsey Sea Wolf Practice: Rules, Examples and Strategy
Test microbe combinations against numerical ranges and traits. Original Sea Wolf practice puzzles explain valid choices, mistakes and pool strategy.
September 20, 2026 · 8 min read
Sustainable Futures Lab McKinsey Sustainable Futures Lab Practice: Ranking and Decisions
Rank five actions, answer a stakeholder objection and revise your decision when evidence changes. Original SFL practice with explained trade-offs.
September 20, 2026 · 8 min read
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Can I try the games for free?
Yes. Start each practice game free, with no card needed. Choose a game and learn from your first attempt.
Is this the official McKinsey Solve assessment?
No. We offer independent preparation using original exercises. We are not affiliated with McKinsey, and our practice games are not copies of the live assessment.
Which games should I prepare for?
Start with the information in your invitation. The practice collection includes Red Rock, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Futures Lab. Your invitation and the assessment tutorial take precedence over formats discussed online.
What score do I need to pass Solve?
McKinsey does not publish a universal passing cutoff in the official sources we reviewed. Your performance is considered alongside the rest of your application. Our scores and results guide explains what is known.
How should I use the guides and practice together?
Read one worked example, then try the corresponding game without looking at the solution. Compare your approach with the feedback: was the problem the calculation, a missed constraint, or the evidence you chose? Repeat with that one correction in mind.
What should I focus on in each game?
For Red Rock, track units, denominators, and fixed costs. For Sea Wolf, check the full combination against every site rule. For Sustainable Futures Lab, compare the options against the stated objectives and explain the trade-offs. The aim is a repeatable method, not memorizing a scenario.
Where should I start?
Start with the games named in your invitation. Read a worked example in the free guides, then try the corresponding practice game to put the method into action.
Can I use these guides during the assessment?
Use them before assessment day, not as live assistance. During your assessment, follow the rules in your invitation and tutorial and work independently. Do not assume that tools, calculators, notes, or outside help used while preparing are allowed in the actual assessment.
A clear answer
Can I try the games for free?
Yes. Start each practice game free, with no card needed. Choose a game and learn from your first attempt.
Explore the preparation guides →Your next step?
Your first practice game.
Build familiarity one decision at a time.
Start practicing free