Preparation guide
Mckinsey Aptitude Questions
Overview
This page has McKinsey aptitude questions with full solutions - numerical ability, verbal, and logical reasoning - in the style students report for the McKinsey Solve / PST. Start with the timed mock quiz, then work the solved set and log every miss by topic.
McKinsey Aptitude Mock Quiz
Timed placement-style MCQs with score and explanations after you submit. Use it to check speed and accuracy before the real test.
Questions15
Time10 min
Verbal
Antonym of "Optimistic":
Optimistic ↔ pessimistic.
Reasoning
Statements: 1. All green are blue, 2. All blue are white
From "All green are blue": Some blue are green (I follows) Combined: All green are white, so Some white are green (II follows) and Some green are white (III follows) IV does not follow
Quantitative
Find the error: "The team of players are ready for the match."
"Team" is a collective noun treated as singular, so "is" should be used instead of "are".
Reasoning
Statements: All engineers are professionals. Some professionals are managers. Conclusions: I. Some engineers are managers. II. All managers are engineers.
Analyzing the statements: - All engineers are professionals (A → B) - Some professionals are managers (B → C, some) Conclusion I: Some engineers are managers - Since all engineers are professionals, and some professionals are managers, we can say some engineer
Quantitative
What is 15% of 240?
15% of 240 = 0.15 × 240 = 36.
Reasoning
Arrange in dictionary order: Apple, Apply, Apt, Apex. Third word is:
Order: Apex, Apple, Apply, Apt → third is Apply.
Quantitative
The following table shows the sales of a company over 5 years. If the total sales in 2020 was ₹50,000, and sales increased by 20% each year, find the sales in 2024.
Sales in 2020 = ₹50,000 Sales in 2021 = 50,000 × 1.2 = ₹60,000 Sales in 2022 = 60,000 × 1.2 = ₹72,000 Sales in 2023 = 72,000 × 1.2 = ₹86,400 Sales in 2024 = 86,400 × 1.2 = ₹103,680
Reasoning
All cats are dogs. Some dogs are rats. Conclusions: I. Some cats are rats. II. Some rats are dogs.
II follows from "some dogs are rats". I does not necessarily follow.
Quantitative
A sum of money doubles itself in 8 years at simple interest. What is the annual rate of interest?
Let Principal = P, Amount = 2P Interest = 2P - P = P SI = P × R × T / 100 P = P × R × 8 / 100 1 = 8R / 100 R = 100/8 = 12.5%
Verbal
Choose correct: The news _____ good.
"News" is singular → is.
Reasoning
Find the next number: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
Differences +4, +6, +8, +10, +12 → next is 42.
Verbal
Read the passage and answer: "Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries by automating processes and enabling data-driven decisions. However, concerns about job displacement and ethical implications remain significant." What is the main concern mentioned?
Correct answer: Job displacement and ethical implications
Verbal
The manager was _____ with the team's performance and decided to reward them.
Correct answer: pleased
Quantitative
If 20% of a number is 48, the number is:
Number = 48 × 100/20 = 240.
Quantitative
The ratio of two numbers is 3:4. If their sum is 84, find the numbers.
Let the numbers be 3x and 4x Sum = 3x + 4x = 7x = 84 x = 12 Numbers = 3(12) = 36 and 4(12) = 48
Your score
0/15(0%)
Review
Mckinsey aptitude topics students usually practice
- Numerical / quantitative: percentages, profit and loss, ratios, time and work, averages, SI/CI, speed-distance
- Logical reasoning: series, coding-decoding, blood relations, seating, syllogisms
- Verbal ability: grammar, vocabulary, error spotting, idioms
Numerical ability questions
Q1: Relative speed trains
Problem: Two trains 120 m and 180 m long run at 40 and 50 km/h in opposite directions. Time to cross?
Solution: Relative speed = 90 km/h = 25 m/s. Distance = 300 m. Time = 12 s.
Answer: 12 seconds
Q2: LCM HCF product
Problem: Two numbers have HCF 12 and LCM 180. If one number is 36, find the other.
Solution: Product of numbers = HCF × LCM. 36 × other = 12 × 180 = 2160. Other = 2160 / 36 = 60.
Answer: 60
Q3: Mixture milk
Problem: A mixture has milk and water in the ratio 4:1. If 5 litres of water are added to 20 litres of mixture, what is the new milk:water ratio?
Solution: In 20 L: milk = 16 L, water = 4 L. After adding 5 L water: milk 16, water 9. Ratio = 16:9.
Answer: 16:9
Q4: Consumption cut
Problem: If the price of an item rises by 25%, by what percent should consumption fall so that expenditure stays the same?
Solution: Required reduction = r/(100+r) × 100 with r = 25. = 25/125 × 100 = 20%.
Answer: 20%
Q5: Age ratio
Problem: The ratio of ages of A and B is 3:5. After 8 years the ratio becomes 5:7. Find A’s present age.
Solution: Let ages be 3x and 5x. (3x+8)/(5x+8) = 5/7 7(3x+8) = 5(5x+8) 21x + 56 = 25x + 40 4x = 16 → x = 4 A’s age = 12 years.
Answer: 12 years
Q6: Consecutive integers
Problem: If the sum of three consecutive integers is 72, what is the smallest of these integers?
Solution: Let the integers be x, x+1, and x+2.
x + (x+1) + (x+2) = 72 3x + 3 = 72 3x = 69 x = 23
So the integers are 23, 24, and 25.
Answer: 23
Q7: Unitary rice
Problem: 12 kg rice costs ₹540. Cost of 8 kg?
Solution: Per kg = 45. 8 kg = ₹360.
Answer: ₹360
Q8: Percentage of percentage
Problem: What is 15% of 20% of 400?
Solution: 20% of 400 = 80. 15% of 80 = 12.
Answer: 12
Q9: Square garden path
Problem: A square park of side 40 m has a 2 m wide path outside. Area of the path?
Solution: Outer side = 44. Outer area = 1936. Inner = 1600. Path = 336 m².
Answer: 336 m²
Q10: Algebra ages
Problem: Father is 3 times as old as son. After 12 years he will be twice as old. Son’s present age?
Solution: 3x + 12 = 2(x + 12) → 3x + 12 = 2x + 24 → x = 12.
Answer: 12 years
Verbal ability questions
Q11: Error spotting tense
Problem: Identify the error: He go to school yesterday.
Solution: Past time marker needs past tense: went.
Answer: go → went
Q12: Fill in the blank
Problem: She _____ to the office every day by metro. (go / goes / going / gone)
Solution: Third-person singular present needs ‘goes’.
Answer: goes
Q13: One word - bibliophile
Problem: A person who loves books is called a?
Solution: Bibliophile.
Answer: Bibliophile
Q14: One word - extinct
Problem: A species that no longer exists is?
Solution: Extinct.
Answer: Extinct
Q15: Fill blank preposition
Problem: She is good _____ mathematics. (in / at / on / of)
Solution: Standard collocation: good at.
Answer: at
Q16: Fill blank article
Problem: He is _____ honest man. (a / an / the / no article)
Solution: ‘Honest’ begins with vowel sound → an.
Answer: an
Reasoning ability questions
Q17: Analogy
Problem: Book is to Reading as Fork is to ?
Solution: A book is used for reading; a fork is used for eating.
Answer: Eating
Q18: Cause effect
Problem: Cause: Heavy rain overnight. Which is a likely effect?
Solution: Waterlogging / traffic delays are likely effects.
Answer: Waterlogging / delays
Q19: Seating circular
Problem: Four people sit around a square table facing center. A sits opposite C. If B is left of A, who is right of C?
Solution: Opposite pairs A-C. B left of A means clockwise B. Right of C is B.
Answer: B
Q20: Direction turn
Problem: A person walks 5 km north, then 3 km east, then 5 km south. How far is he from the start, and in which direction?
Solution: North 5 and south 5 cancel. He is 3 km east of the start.
Answer: 3 km east
Q21: Mirror clock
Problem: A clock shows 3:15. What is the mirror image time approximately (12-hour mirror)?
Solution: Mirror of h:m is roughly 12:00 − 3:15 → 8:45.
Answer: 8:45
Q22: Blood uncle
Problem: A is B’s brother. C is A’s mother. D is C’s father. How is B related to D?
Solution: D is C’s father; C is mother of A and B. B is D’s grandchild.
Answer: Grandchild
Timed practice tips for Mckinsey
- First pass: only high-confidence questions
- Mark and skip time sinks early
- Keep verbal accuracy high - these are easy marks if you stay calm
- Run the mock quiz at least three times a week under real timing
- Sleep properly the night before; fatigue hurts DI and calculation accuracy