When a case interview changes direction
Official sources reviewed Oct 18, 2026 and linked below. FBO practice suggestions are independent teaching material; your employer's current instructions take priority.
Practise revising your approach when a new question or piece of evidence arrives. The examples here are exercises, not a prediction of an interviewer's script.
Start with the firm's own explanation
McKinsey describes a problem-solving interview based on a client scenario and provides sample cases. Bain says its interviews depend on the role; its case guidance emphasises logical, structured thinking alongside precision and creativity.
Neither description establishes a standard minute when an interviewer changes direction. The practice prompts below are FBO suggestions for working with new information, not a measured ranking of common interview events.
Practice prompt: switch from revenue to cost
Ask a partner to change the objective midway through a practice case. Pause, restate the revised question and identify which parts of your existing analysis still matter. Then set out the next calculation or evidence you need.
Practice prompt: question an assumption
Have your partner challenge a number you used. Identify its source, explain how your conclusion depends on it, and test a plausible alternative. If the decision changes, say what you would verify before recommending action.
Practice prompt: recommend with incomplete information
Stop before you have explored every branch. Give a provisional recommendation, the strongest supporting evidence, the main uncertainty and a sensible next check. Review whether your reasoning is understandable without the listener seeing your notes.