Group case
A team of candidates solves one case and presents it.
- Who talks
- You and other candidates
- Who leads
- The group, assessors watch
- Ends with
- A group presentation and questions
- Also scored
- How you work with the others
Group case interview: how it works and how to stand out
In a group case interview, a small team of candidates works one business problem together, then presents a recommendation to assessors who watch how each person thinks and works with the others. Accenture Australia, several Deloitte offices, EY Australia, PwC Middle East and FTI Consulting describe one on their own careers pages, mostly for graduate and early careers hiring. McKinsey, BCG and Bain describe no group case for consulting roles on the pages we read in October 2026. A group case still rests on solo case skills. Soreno, an AI voice interview practice app for consulting, investment banking and other finance candidates, runs Accenture-style cases out loud with follow-ups and scored feedback.
Updated
- One case, several candidates. The team reads the case, splits the work, agrees an answer and presents it, then takes questions from assessors.
- Mostly graduate hiring. Accenture Australia, Deloitte Australia, Switzerland and Belgium, EY Australia and PwC Middle East put it on an assessment or recruitment day.
- Teamwork is scored. Deloitte Australia says it is "not looking for the loudest person in the room". Accenture names teamwork, enthusiasm and communication.
- Time runs the day. Accenture's recruiter describes about 1.5 hours on the case and a 5 to 10 minute group presentation, and says to name a timekeeper.
- Solo skills still count. Structure, math and a clear recommendation carry over from the one-on-one case. Practice those alone, then with a group.
What a group case is, and how it differs from a one-on-one case
A one-on-one case is a conversation between you and an interviewer. A group case puts you on a team of candidates with one problem, a fixed time and assessors watching. The comparison below is our summary. Firm facts are in the firm list further down.
One-on-one case
You and one interviewer work a case as a conversation.
- Who talks
- You and the interviewer
- Who leads
- Often the interviewer
- Ends with
- Your recommendation
- Scored on
- Structure, math, judgment
Five differences that change how you play it5 differences
Our summary, from the firms' descriptions and our own advice.
Information
A pack, not a drip
In a one-on-one case, the interviewer hands out data when you ask. In most group cases the team gets a pack up front and has to decide what matters in it.
Pace
The clock belongs to the team
No interviewer steers you back on track. Accenture's recruiter says its group cases run to a strict time schedule, so someone has to watch the time.
Accenture case interviewCredit
Your part has to be visible
Assessors score each person, not the team. Good ideas you never say out loud earn nothing, and talking over others costs you.
Output
A presentation, not a closing line
The team builds and delivers a short presentation, then answers assessors' questions, so presenting and fielding questions are part of the test.
Skills
The case basics still apply
A clear question, a MECE structure, sound math and a recommendation with risks are what a strong one-on-one case shows too.
MECE, explained
The roles people play, and how to stand out6 roles
Our advice. No firm we read assigns roles. Take one or two that suit you, say so early, and still add to the content.
Timekeeper
Keeps the plan on the clock
Sets checkpoints and calls them out. Accenture's recruiter says you can volunteer for it. Pair it with real content so it isn't your only contribution.
Structurer
Turns the question into a plan
Restates the question, proposes three or four buckets and asks the group to change them. Offer it as a draft, not a ruling.
Analyst
Owns the numbers
Runs the math in the pack, says each result in one line and what it means for the answer. Check the units out loud.
Case interview mathIncluder
Brings in quiet voices
Asks the person who hasn't spoken what they found. Accenture's recruiter lists this among the ways to show teamwork.
Synthesizer
Pulls it into one answer
Every 10 to 15 minutes, sums up where the group stands and what is still open. This is the most visible way to lead without dominating.
Presenter
Delivers a part of the story
Most groups split the presentation. Take a section, open with its point, and hand over cleanly to the next speaker.
From Accenture Australia: group case tips and Capital One: strategy interviewing.
What assessors watch
The first five are in the firms' own words, from the pages linked below. The last is our advice.
Teamwork
Accenture's recruiter says group cases look for teamwork, enthusiasm and communication. FTI says its group exercise assesses how well you collaborate with others. Deloitte Australia says it observes how you interact, communicate and contribute to shared outcomes. Deloitte Switzerland says its group exercise tests teamwork, logical thinking and presentation skills, and Deloitte China names logical analysis, creativity, collaboration and time management.
Collaboration, not volume
Deloitte Australia: "we're not looking for the loudest person in the room." It lists encouraging others to share ideas, building on someone else's point, keeping the group on track and balancing speaking and listening.
How you solve the problem
Accenture says assessors want to see how you identify a problem, think about it and decide, and to see the steps you took, not just the solution.
Clear presenting
Accenture looks for people who can sum up a lot of information in a clear presentation, ask questions when unsure and explain the reasoning behind the team's answer.
Use of time
Accenture says its group cases run to a strict time schedule and assessors look for candidates who use their time wisely.
Your own contribution (our advice)
Assessors write notes on each person. Make two or three moments easy to note: a structure you proposed, a number you found, a summary you gave.
From Accenture Australia: group case tips, Deloitte Australia: assessment day tips, Deloitte Switzerland: graduate assessment day, Deloitte China: recruitment process and FTI Consulting: early careers.
Which firms say they use a group case
Only firms whose own careers pages describe a group case or a group exercise, read on October 27, 2026. Most are one country's graduate process, so check the office you apply to. The pages we read from Bain, BCG, Capital One, EY-Parthenon, Kearney, KPMG US, L.E.K., Oliver Wyman, PwC US and Strategy& describe no group case as of October 2026 (FAQ below).
Accenture (Australia)A group case on assessment day
An Early Careers Recruiter's post says group case studies are a common assessment task for graduate roles and usually come after the phone screen. Teams get the case for around 1.5 hours, build a presentation of around 5 to 10 minutes, present to around 30 to 50 people and answer assessors' questions.
Accenture Australia: group case tipsOur Accenture case interview guide
Deloitte (several countries)A group case study on assessment day
Deloitte Australia's student assessment day can include information sessions, networking, a group case study and a 1:1 interview with a leader, and varies by role. A recruiter's post says group activities are about collaboration, and that you don't need to dominate the discussion. Deloitte Switzerland, Belgium and China describe group exercises too. Deloitte UK's graduate final stage is different: a two-way discussion with one assessor and an interview.
Deloitte Australia: how we hireOur Deloitte case interview guide
EY (Australia, Finland)A group activity or case study on recruitment day
EY Australia says shortlisted students can be invited to an interview or recruitment day that can include motivational and behavioral questions with EY leaders, as well as a group activity or case study. EY Finland says its trainee hiring has used individual interviews and group case exercises, in Teams and at the office.
EY Australia: apply for student programsOur EY-Parthenon case interview guide
PwC (Middle East)A group exercise at the assessment center
PwC Middle East says student applicants take online ability tests and an interview, then an assessment center with an interview with a director or partner, a group exercise, a written exercise and ability tests.
PwC Middle East: application processOur PwC interview questions guide
FTI ConsultingA group exercise among early careers steps
FTI's early careers page says interviews can include a technical interview, a behavioral interview, a case study and a group exercise, and that the process varies by country, region and hiring team. Its tips: use the time at the start to process the information and form opinions, contribute positively and listen actively.
FTI Consulting: early careersOur FTI Consulting interview guide
McKinsey & CompanyA group exercise for some internal roles only
McKinsey's interviewing page says several of its internal roles include an online assessment, writing test or group exercise, and a careers blog post describes a group exercise in its executive assistant hiring in Poland. For most consulting roles it describes Solve, personal experience interviews and problem-solving interviews, with no group case.
McKinsey: interviewingOur McKinsey interview guide
A group case, start to finish: our 60-minute example
Our example, not any firm's format. Accenture's recruiter suggests practicing with a one-hour timer, so this splits 60 minutes: 10 + 5 + 20 + 10 + 10 + 5. Stretch each block in proportion if your case runs longer.
Six blocks, then the presentation
0 to 10 min
Read alone, in silence
Everyone reads the whole pack and notes the question, the key numbers and two first ideas. FTI's tips say to use the time at the start to process the information and form opinions.
10 to 15 min
Agree the question and the plan
One person restates the question. The group agrees three or four areas to look at, who takes which, and a timekeeper with checkpoints.
MECE, explained15 to 35 min
Work in pairs or alone
Each person or pair works one area: the market, the costs, the options, the risks. Write each finding as one sentence with its number.
35 to 45 min
Regroup and decide
Each area reports in a minute. Someone sums up the options, the group picks one and names the biggest risk and the next steps. Disagreements get settled with the numbers in the pack.
45 to 55 min
Build the presentation
Answer first, then three supporting points, risks and next steps. Split the speaking parts. Accenture's recruiter says to leave enough time to prepare it and do a practice run.
55 to 60 min
Rehearse once, out loud
Run it end to end, cut anything over time, and agree who answers which kind of question.
Then
Present, then take questions
Open with the recommendation. When assessors ask questions, answer for the team, build on a teammate's answer and keep it short. At Accenture Australia the presentation is around 5 to 10 minutes.
Our example. Firm facts are in the firm list above.
17 group case prompts and questions to practice
Our own wording, in three groups: prompts a group could be handed, what assessors ask after the presentation, and the interview questions that often follow. Each has what a strong answer does and the probes to expect.
Prompts a group could be handed7 questions
Case prompts that split well across a team.
A European e-bike maker is thinking about entering the US market. How would you structure the decision?
What a strong answer does
Split the team across market size, competitors, the company's fit and the ways to enter, then bring it back to one go or no-go with the condition that would change it. Practice it, see a model answer
- “Which part of the analysis matters most?”
- “How would you enter: partner, acquire or build?”
- “What would make you say no?”
A consumer goods company is deciding whether to launch a premium pet food line. How would you structure the decision?
What a strong answer does
Customer demand, the economics of the line, the risk to the existing brand and the ability to make and sell it, each owned by one person and sized before the team decides. Practice it, see a model answer
- “Would the new line take sales from the old one?”
- “What price would you test first?”
A large food company wants to acquire a plant-based snack startup. Should it?
What a strong answer does
Strategic fit, the startup's growth, what the buyer adds and the price against the value, ending on a yes, no or yes-if with the deal's biggest risk. Practice it, see a model answer
- “What would you check first in diligence?”
- “How would you keep the founders?”
One of your client's three divisions is losing money. Should they fix it, sell it or close it?
What a strong answer does
Find why it loses money, then size the three options side by side. Assign one option per person so the group compares, not argues. Practice it, see a model answer
- “What does the division share with the other two?”
- “Who would buy it?”
A hospital's emergency room wait times have doubled in a year. How would you structure the problem?
What a strong answer does
Demand coming in, capacity and staffing, the flow of patients through the room, and what changed this year. Recommend fixes ranked by speed and size. Practice it, see a model answer
- “Which data would you ask for first?”
- “What could you fix in a month?”
A city wants to cut traffic deaths in half within ten years. How would you approach it?
What a strong answer does
Where and why the deaths happen, then roads, vehicles, behavior and enforcement as levers, sized against the target. Public cases reward naming who has to agree. Practice it, see a model answer
- “Which lever would you fund first?”
- “How would you show progress after a year?”
Brainstorm ways a movie theater chain could grow its revenue.
What a strong answer does
Group ideas into more visits, more spent per visit and new uses of the space before listing them, then pick two to test. Practice it, see a model answer
- “Which idea is fastest to try?”
- “Which one would you drop?”
What assessors ask after the presentation5 questions
Answer for the team, short and with a number.
You have finished the analysis on a market entry case and the CEO walks in. What is your recommendation?
What a strong answer does
The answer in one sentence, two or three reasons with numbers, the main risk and the next step, in under a minute. Practice it, see a model answer
- “What would change your mind?”
- “What would you do first?”
What is the biggest risk in your team's plan?
What a strong answer does
One specific risk, how likely and how big it is, and how you would reduce or watch for it. Owning a risk reads as judgment, not doubt.
- “How would you know early that it is happening?”
Which option did your team reject, and why?
What a strong answer does
Name it fairly, give the fact that ruled it out, and say when it would become the better choice.
- “Did everyone agree?”
- “What would bring it back?”
If you had another week, what would you want to find out?
What a strong answer does
The one or two facts that would most change the answer, and how you would get them. Show you know where the analysis is thin.
Your teammate's number looks wrong. What do you do?
What a strong answer does
Check it quickly and privately if there is time, or flag it in the room without blame and say what it changes. Assessors watch how you handle it as much as the fix.
- “What if the presentation starts in two minutes?”
Interview questions that often follow5 questions
A group case often sits next to an interview. These test the same skills.
How do you think your group did, and what was your part?
What a strong answer does
One thing the group did well, one it would change, and two specific things you did, without taking credit for others' work.
- “What would you do differently next time?”
- “Who stood out to you and why?”
Tell me about a time you led a group to a result that mattered.
What a strong answer does
A real group, your role in moving it, what changed because of you and the result, with a number if there is one. Practice it, see a model answer
- “How did you get people to follow?”
Tell me about a time you had to work closely with someone who saw a problem very differently from you.
What a strong answer does
What each of you saw, how you found common ground, what you gave up and how it ended. Practice it, see a model answer
- “Who was right in the end?”
Tell me about a conflict you had with a teammate.
What a strong answer does
A real disagreement, how you raised it, how you listened and what you agreed, ending on the working relationship after. Practice it, see a model answer
- “What would you do differently?”
Tell me about a time you changed someone's mind.
What a strong answer does
What they believed, the evidence or angle you used, and how you made it easy for them to change. Practice it, see a model answer
- “What if they hadn't changed their mind?”
Mistakes and how to prepare
Group case mistakes
Talking the most
Deloitte Australia says it is "not looking for the loudest person in the room" and that you don't need to dominate the discussion. Volume is not leadership.
Staying silent
Assessors can't score what they don't hear. If you are quieter, Accenture's recruiter suggests asking the group questions that show you are thinking about the problem.
Treating the others as rivals
Accenture's recruiter says not to treat team members like competitors. Some of them could become your colleagues.
No timekeeper
Groups that skip it run out of time before the presentation. Name one in the first five minutes.
Splitting up and never regrouping
Parallel work with no checkpoint ends in five half-answers. Set a time to come back together before anyone starts.
Presenting only the answer
Accenture says to show the steps you went through, not just the solution.
Disowning the answer in questions
If assessors push on a choice you argued against, defend the team's reasoning, then add your view as a risk to watch.
How to prepare for a group case
Our plan. Steps that draw on a firm's advice name the firm.
Step 1
Find out the format
Read the firm's own careers pages for the office you are applying to, then ask your recruiter how long the case runs, how big the group is and whether you present.
Step 2
Build the solo skills
Structuring, case math and a clear recommendation carry straight into a group case. Learn them in one-on-one cases first.
Case interview preparationCase interview examplesMECE, explained
Step 3
Practice alone with a one-hour timer
Accenture's recruiter suggests a one-hour timer: read a case pack, find a solution, then present it out loud. Record yourself and check your opening line.
Step 4
Run two or three group sessions
Get three to five friends, one case and a timer, and rotate the roles each time. Accenture's recruiter suggests practicing with friends or family so you work on teamwork and get feedback. One person sits out to observe.
Step 5
Rehearse presenting
Practice a two-minute section with an answer-first opening and a clean handover. Accenture's recruiter says to practice presenting as much as possible.
Step 6
Prepare your teamwork stories
Have stories ready on leading a group, a conflict and changing someone's mind. Deloitte Australia's recruiter says to be clear about the situation, what you were responsible for and the outcome.
Step 7
Check your setup for a virtual day
Accenture's recruiter says to check your camera, microphone, headphones and connection, and find a quiet spot.
Get the solo part right, then join the group
Soreno's AI interviewer runs cases out loud one question at a time, pushes back with follow-ups and scores your structure, math and recommendation, so you walk into the group case with the basics settled. Start your free week. Soreno is not affiliated with Accenture, Deloitte, EY, PwC, FTI Consulting or McKinsey.
Questions people ask
What is a group case interview?
A team of candidates works one business case together in a fixed time, then presents a recommendation and answers assessors' questions. Assessors score each person on how they solve the problem and how they work with the others.
Which firms use group case interviews?
On their own careers pages, read October 27, 2026: Accenture Australia, Deloitte Australia, Switzerland, Belgium and China, EY Australia and Finland, and PwC Middle East describe a group case or group exercise in graduate or student hiring, and FTI Consulting lists a group exercise among its early careers steps. McKinsey mentions a group exercise only for some internal roles.
Do McKinsey, BCG or Bain use group cases?
Not for consulting roles, by the pages we read in October 2026. McKinsey describes Solve and one-on-one interviews. BCG lists a skills interview, a case interview and a team interview, and doesn't describe a group case. Bain describes a digital assessment and case interviews.
Does Capital One use a group case?
Its pages we read describe Power Day job fit, behavioral and case interviews, and say strategy cases tend to be interviewer-led. They describe no group case as of October 2026.
How long is a group case interview?
Accenture Australia's recruiter describes around 1.5 hours on the case and a presentation of around 5 to 10 minutes, followed by questions. The other firms we read don't publish a length.
Should I take the lead in a group case?
Lead by structuring, summarizing and bringing others in, not by talking most. Deloitte Australia says you don't need to dominate the discussion and that it looks for people who can collaborate.
What if my group heads the wrong way?
Say what you see with a fact from the pack, propose a quick check and let the group decide. If it still goes the other way, support the answer and raise your point as a risk in the presentation.
How do I practice a group case alone?
Work a case pack against a one-hour timer, as Accenture's recruiter suggests, then present it out loud and record it. Practice solo cases for structure and math, and add a few group sessions with friends before the day.
Is Soreno affiliated with these firms?
No. Soreno is independent, and the prompts on this page are its own.