12th edition, paperback
The current edition.
- Published
- March 13, 2024
- Length
- 233 pages
- Publisher
- Burgee Press
- Also as
- Kindle and audiobook
Case in Point: a guide to the case interview book
Case in Point is Marc Cosentino's case interview prep book, now in its 12th edition (March 13, 2024, 233 pages in paperback). Its listing says it walks through the types of case questions, teaches his Ivy Case System and includes 20 strategy cases with case starts exercises. It teaches the method on paper, so pair it with cases you say out loud. For the spoken part, Soreno, an AI voice interview practice app for consulting, investment banking and other finance candidates, runs a free sample case with no sign-up, then full cases with follow-ups and scored feedback.
Updated
- The author. Marc Cosentino, founder of Case Questions, who it says has trained more than 150,000 people.
- The latest edition. The 12th, published March 13, 2024. Its Amazon listing names Burgee Press as the publisher.
- What's new in it. Two more cases, the consultant's mindset, graph analysis, drills, and resumes, cover letters and behavioral interviews.
- Who it's for. MBAs, undergrads and industry hires facing case interviews in consulting and beyond.
- What a book can't do. Ask you follow-ups. Pair it with cases said out loud.
Case in Point: editions, formats and what's inside
From Case Questions' own pages and the book's Amazon listings, read on October 27, 2026. Case Questions does not list a price, so we give none.
12th edition, audiobook
The same edition read aloud.
- Published
- June 24, 2024
- Length
- 7 hours 59 minutes
- Narrator
- Brian Arens
11th edition
The edition before, still sold.
- Published
- June 3, 2020
- Length
- 244 pages
- Publisher
- Burgee Press
What the 12th edition adds5 additions
Case Questions' shop page lists the new material. The listing calls it the biggest upgrade to the book since 2010.
Cases
Two additional cases
The listing puts the total at 20 strategy cases, each with case starts exercises.
Mindset
The consultant's mindset
New material on how consultants approach a problem.
Graphs
Graph analysis
Reading charts, which Case Questions also covers in a separate graph analysis book.
Drills
Strategy, graphs and math
Practice drills in all three.
Applications
Resumes, cover letters, behavioral interviews
Material beyond the case itself.
What the book coversFrom its listing
As the 12th edition's Amazon listing describes it. We don't reproduce the book's content.
The interview
Inside a typical case interview
The listing says it explores the various types of case questions.
The method
The Ivy Case System
Cosentino's own approach to structuring a case.
Practice
20 strategy cases
With case starts exercises.
Lists
28 ways to cut costs, 23 risks
The 11th edition's listing gave 21 ways to cut costs.
Other Case in Point books and toolsFrom Case Questions
Public sector
Case in Point: Government and Nonprofit
With Evan Piekara. Case Questions lists 14 sample cases and 8 frameworks.
Graphs
Case in Point: Graph Analysis
Case Questions says it covers 11 of the most popular graphs, with 10 cases.
Competitions
Case in Point: Case Competition
On presenting a recommendation in case competitions.
Careers
Case in Point: Crafting Your Consulting Career
By Evan Piekara, on decisions through a consulting career.
Our consulting career path guideOnline
Case Questions Interactive and Video Vault
Online practice for 3 to 365 days, and 15 videos with Cosentino (10 case starts, 5 full interviews). No prices shown on its shop page.
From Case Questions: shop, Case Questions: MBAs and undergrads, Amazon: Case in Point 12, Amazon: 12th edition audiobook and Amazon: Case in Point 11.
Who Case in Point suits
The first two are what Case Questions and the listing say. The last two are our view.
MBAs, undergrads and industry hires
Case Questions writes for all three, and says it also coaches through school career services and clubs.
Beyond consulting
The listing says case interviews are used in private equity, strategic planning, marketing, logistics, operations, venture capital and human capital too.
Our view: early in your prep
A book is a calm way to learn what a case is and the common case types before your first live practice.
Our view: not the whole plan
Interviews are spoken and interrupted. Reading a case, even closely, is different from saying one under follow-up questions.
From Case Questions: home, Case Questions: about and Amazon: Case in Point 12.
How to use Case in Point well, our advice
This is Soreno's advice, not Case Questions'. The idea: read a part, then say it out loud before you move on.
Six steps
Step 1
Read the method first
Get the overall approach before the cases, so you know what each case is practicing.
Step 2
Say every case start out loud
Give your opening and structure aloud on a timer before you read on. Write down what you said.
Step 3
Have someone play the interviewer
A friend reads the case prompt and data. You ask for what you need instead of reading ahead.
Step 4
Do the math by hand, aloud
Talk through each step of the numbers as you would in the room, without a calculator.
Case interview mathStep 5
Practice both case styles
Some firms lead you question by question, others let you lead. Try both before your interviews.
McKinsey case interview guideStep 6
Add cases with follow-ups
Before your first round, do full cases where someone, or an AI interviewer, pushes back on your answers.
Free sample case, no sign-up
6 cases to say out loud after reading
Our own cases, not the book's, in shapes most case books cover. Try each aloud before you look at the note.
Profit and cost3 cases
A regional grocery chain's profits fell 20% in two years. Why?
What a strong answer does
Split profit into revenue and cost, go one level deeper on each, then say which branch you'd test first and why. Practice it, see a model answer
A clothing retailer needs to cut costs by 10% without hurting sales. Where would you look?
What a strong answer does
Sort costs by size first, then find where the cut can come from without hurting sales. Practice it, see a model answer
How many cups a day does a new coffee shop need to sell to break even?
What a strong answer does
Fixed costs over the margin per cup, worked by hand and out loud. Practice it, see a model answer
Growth and pricing3 cases
Should a European e-bike maker enter the US?
What a strong answer does
Market size and growth, rivals, the client's edge and the cost of getting in. End with yes or no. Practice it, see a model answer
A software company is launching an analytics add-on. How would you set the price?
What a strong answer does
Value to the customer, cost and rivals' prices, then a number and why. Practice it, see a model answer
The CEO walks in. What do you recommend?
What a strong answer does
The answer in one sentence, two or three reasons with numbers, the main risk and a next step. Practice it, see a model answer
Before you rely on the book alone
Where book-only prep falls short
Reading the answer before trying
Once you have read the solution, the case can't test you. Say your answer first.
Reciting a framework
Interviewers want a structure built for this client. Learn the method, then adapt it to each case.
Silent math
Math you can do on paper can still stall when you have to talk through it. Practice it aloud.
No one to push back
A book can't ask "why?" or hand you a new exhibit halfway through. Add practice with someone, or something, asking back.
Read it, then say it out loud
Soreno's AI interviewer runs a full case one question at a time, pushes back with follow-ups, then scores how you did. Try a free sample case with no sign-up, or start your free week in the app. Soreno is not affiliated with Case Questions or Marc Cosentino.
Questions people ask
Which edition of Case in Point should I get?
The 12th is the latest, published March 13, 2024. Case Questions says it adds two cases, the consultant's mindset, graph analysis, drills in strategy, graphs and math, and material on resumes, cover letters and behavioral interviews. The 11th is from June 3, 2020.
Is Case in Point still useful?
Our view: yes, as a way to learn the method and common case types. Interviews are spoken, though, so pair it with cases you say out loud to a partner or an AI interviewer who asks follow-ups.
Does Case in Point cover finance interviews?
Its listing says case interviews are also used in private equity and venture capital, and it is a case book. It isn't described as covering investment banking technical questions such as accounting or valuation. For those, see our investment banking guides.
Does Case in Point cover the McKinsey PEI?
Case Questions says the 12th edition adds material on behavioral interviews. The descriptions we read on its site and the listing don't mention McKinsey's Personal Experience Interview by name, so prepare for the PEI separately.
Who is Marc Cosentino?
The founder of Case Questions. Its site says he has trained more than 150,000 people, leads workshops at 45 to 50 MBA programs and colleges each year, worked in career services at Harvard, and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Denver.
Who publishes Case in Point?
The Amazon listings for the 11th and 12th editions name Burgee Press. Case Questions, Cosentino's company, sells it through its site, which links to Amazon. The audiobook is published by Echo Point Books & Media.
Is there a free Case in Point resource?
Case Questions offers a free Case Review Sheet when you subscribe to its updates. The book itself is sold through retailers.
How does Case in Point compare with other prep?
It is a book for learning the method at your own pace. Courses, coaches, peer practice and AI interviewers do other jobs. Our compare page puts them side by side with facts from each provider's own site.