Situational Judgement Test Strategy for McKinsey Graduate Program 2027

Situational judgement tests (SJTs) are a common component of McKinsey's Graduate Program 2027 online assessment in US. They present workplace scenarios and ask you to rank or choose responses. Strategy matters more than instinct.

How SJTs Are Scored

Most SJTs compare your choices against the firm's competency model. There is rarely one "correct" answer — responses are scored on alignment with McKinsey's values. Research those values before you start; they are your answer key.

The Decision Framework

For each scenario, ask:

1. What does the firm value most here? (Client first? Teamwork? Integrity?)

2. Which option is most proactive? Passive responses almost always score low.

3. Which option escalates appropriately? Neither ignoring problems nor over-escalating scores well.

Worked Example