McKinsey Redrock Study: Format, Strategy & Examples (2026)

McKinsey Redrock Study is the data-interpretation exercise inside the McKinsey Solve assessment — a 35-minute, two-part research simulation where roughly 60-70% of questions require math, not reading comprehension. It is the first of two Solve modules (the second is Sea Wolf), and it screens out the majority of candidates: Solve's overall pass rate is 20-30% per MConsultingPrep's pass-rate analysis. For the umbrella view of how Redrock fits with Sea Wolf and the dual scoring system, see our McKinsey Solve guide. This article focuses on Redrock specifically: the format, the math, the scoring, and how to pass.

TL;DR: Redrock in 5 Bullets

• What it is: the data-interpretation module inside McKinsey Solve (35 min, math-heavy).
• Structure: Part 1 Study has 3 sequential phases (Investigation → Analysis → Report). Part 2 has 6 independent mini-cases.
• Math focus: percentages, percentage points, growth rates, weighted averages — not advanced statistics.
• Pass bar: community data points to ~80-85% accuracy and 5/6 mini-cases correct.
• Top fix: use the calculator's logging feature to chain unrounded results across the interdependent Study phases.

What Is the McKinsey Redrock Study?

Redrock places you in the role of a researcher on a fictional island analyzing wildlife population data — typically wolf packs and elk across geographic regions. The fictional context is intentional: it removes any candidate's prior-knowledge advantage, so the module isolates pure data-interpretation skill. It replaced the older Plant Defense game in 2023 and has been the standard first module of Solve ever since (per IGotAnOffer's McKinsey Solve guide).

The 2026 format is fixed at 35 minutes. The main 2026 change versus earlier years is in Part 2: the Cases section is now exactly 6 focused mini-cases, streamlined from a previous variable-length format that ran up to 10+ dense questions per Prepmatter's 2026 update guide.

How Does Redrock Work? The Two-Part Structure

Redrock has two distinct parts. The boundary between them is critical for time management.

Part 1: The Study Section (Three Sequential Phases)

The three Study phases are one-directional. Once you advance, you cannot return — missed data in Investigation cannot be recovered during Analysis.

Phase 1: Investigation (~5-7 min). You receive about a page of text plus charts and tables describing a research scenario. You drag relevant data points into a Research Journal. The discipline: read the research objective first, identify which calculations Analysis will require, and only collect the data points those calculations need. Candidates who grab every number end up with a cluttered Journal and slower Analysis.

Phase 2: Analysis (~8-10 min). You answer 2-4 math questions using the data you collected. The on-screen calculator logs every unrounded result and lets you drag those logged values into subsequent calculations or into your Journal. This feature is the single biggest accuracy lever in Redrock — manual re-entry of rounded numbers is the most common source of cascading errors.

Phase 3: Report (~5-7 min). You fill in a partially completed research report: numeric blanks, directional comparisons ("higher" vs. "lower"), and one chart-type selection. The chart selection gets exactly one attempt. If your Analysis answers were wrong, the Report fill-ins propagate the error.

Part 2: The Cases Section (Six Independent Mini-Cases)

After the Study, you move to six standalone mini-cases (~10-12 min total, ~1.5-2 min each). Each case is self-contained — an error on Case 1 does not affect Case 4. This breaks the cascading-error problem of Part 1 and lets you recover from individual mistakes. Aim for 5 of 6 correct.

What Math Does Redrock Test?

Roughly 60-70% of Redrock questions involve arithmetic. The math is not advanced — but it must be fast and accurate under time pressure. Build automatic fluency with five concept areas:

Worked Example: Growth Rate Comparison (Analysis Phase)

Scenario: Compare wolf population growth in the Northern vs. Southern Region (Year 1 to Year 5). Northern: 240 → 312. Southern: 180 → 216.

• Northern growth rate: (312 − 240) / 240 × 100% = 30%
• Southern growth rate: (216 − 180) / 180 × 100% = 20%
• Difference: 10 percentage points (not 10%, not 33%)

Save both rates using the calculator's logging feature before computing the difference. If a follow-up question asks for the pooled growth rate across both regions, you will need the unrounded values to avoid compounding errors into the Report phase.

Worked Example: Weighted Average (Analysis Phase)

Scenario: Calculate the island-wide wolf density weighted by territory.

• Weighted (correct): (480 + 360 + 240) / (120 + 180 + 60) = 1,080 / 360 = 3.0 wolves/km²
• Simple average (incorrect for "island-wide"): (4.0 + 2.0 + 4.0) / 3 = 3.33

Read the question phrasing carefully. "Average density across the island" requires the weighted method. "Average of the three regional densities" requires the simple method. Picking the wrong one is the single highest-frequency conceptual error in this question type.

How Is Redrock Scored?

McKinsey does not publish a scoring matrix, but PrepLounge forum data and CaseBasix's complete Solve guide point to two scoring dimensions.

Answer accuracy — straightforward correctness. Analysis answers carry the heaviest weight because errors cascade into Report. Target 80-85% overall accuracy and 5/6 in Cases.

Process quality — the platform logs your behavior: how many items you drag into Investigation, whether you use the calculator's logging feature or manually re-enter, how often you revise answers, and how time is distributed across phases. Excessive reversals signal indecision and pull your process score down. The 2026 assessment tracks this more explicitly than earlier years.

A clean profile looks like: 8-10 relevant Investigation drags, calculator logging used on every multi-step calculation, no chart-type revisions, and ~5/6 in Cases. A messy profile that scores the same on accuracy will lose on process.

How Do I Prepare for Redrock?

A 5-step preparation sequence based on what successful candidates report on PrepLounge, MConsultingPrep, and StrategyCase:

1. Build math fluency (Days 1-3). Drill percentages vs. percentage points, weighted averages, and growth rates until automatic. Our case interview math practice guide covers these exact operations.
2. Memorize chart-type decision rules (Day 2-4). Bar = compare categories at one time point. Line = trend over time. Stacked bar = composition over time. Scatter = correlation. Pie = parts of a single whole. Histogram = distribution of one variable. The Report-phase chart selection gets one attempt.
3. Practice chart interpretation (Days 3-5). Give yourself 60 seconds per chart to extract the trend, outlier, and what the data does not show. Builds the rapid-assessment habit Redrock requires.
4. Run timed simulations (Days 5-10). Free simulations from CaseBasix, paid runs from Prepmatter. Community consensus is 15-25 timed runs as the minimum for reliable preparation.
5. Review errors by category (ongoing). Math error → more drilling. Misread question → practice reading the question before the data. Chart error → revisit decision rules. Time blowup → adjust your phase budget.

Common Redrock Mistakes (and Fixes)

The six errors that cost the most points in the 2026 format:

Time Management: The 35-Minute Budget

Per CaseBasix, allocate roughly two-thirds to Study and one-third to Cases. If you fall behind: stop collecting in Investigation, advance with what you have, and never skip a case in Part 2 — even a 30-second educated guess beats a blank.

Test Your Redrock Knowledge

Test yourself

1 / 4

Question 1 of 4

During Investigation, you see a chart showing wolf data for Years 1, 3, and 5. Your objective compares Year 1 to Year 5. Which data points should you drag into the Journal?

• AYear 1 and Year 5 data only
• BAll three years' data
• CYear 3 and Year 5 only
• DThe chart as a whole

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the McKinsey Redrock Study?

Redrock Study is the data-interpretation module inside McKinsey Solve. It runs ~35 minutes and has two parts: a Study section with three sequential phases (Investigation, Analysis, Report) and a Cases section with 6 independent mini-cases. Roughly 60-70% of questions involve quantitative reasoning rather than reading comprehension.

How does Redrock fit inside the McKinsey Solve assessment?

McKinsey Solve is the umbrella assessment with two modules: Redrock Study (~35 min, data interpretation) and Sea Wolf (~30 min, ecosystem optimization). Redrock is the first module candidates encounter. For the platform-level overview — dual scoring, 10-day prep plan, and how Sea Wolf works — see our McKinsey Solve guide.

What math does Redrock test?

Percentages, percentage points (different things), weighted averages, growth rates ((end - start) / start × 100%), basic probability, and ratios. The on-screen calculator logs unrounded results — chain those values across questions to avoid compounding rounding errors.

What is a passing score on Redrock?

McKinsey does not publish thresholds. Community data from PrepLounge and Wall Street Oasis suggests roughly 80-85% accuracy passes Redrock. In Part 2 specifically, that means 5 of 6 mini-cases correct. Solve's overall pass rate is 20-30%.

How do I prepare for Redrock?

Build percentage and weighted-average fluency, memorize the chart-type decision rules, then run 15-25 timed mock simulations focused on the Investigation-Analysis-Report flow. Practice the calculator's logging feature until chaining unrounded values is automatic.

What are the most common Redrock mistakes?

Rushing Investigation, skipping the logging feature, confusing percentage change with percentage points, picking the wrong chart type on the first attempt, spending >2 min on one mini-case, and ignoring process-quality signals like decision reversals.

Can I go back to a previous Redrock phase?

No. Investigation, Analysis, and Report are sequential and one-directional. Once you advance, you cannot return. This is why missed data in Investigation cascades into Analysis errors and Report fill-in mistakes.

How many mini-cases are in the 2026 version?

Six. Streamlined from 10+ dense questions in earlier versions. Each is independent — an error on one does not affect the others. You have ~10-12 minutes total, or 1.5-2 minutes per case.

Connected Resources

Redrock is one piece of McKinsey's screening process. Pair this guide with:

• McKinsey Solve guide — umbrella view of both modules and the dual scoring system
• McKinsey Sea Wolf guide — the second Solve module
• McKinsey case interview guide — the live interview round Solve gates you toward
• McKinsey PEI guide — the behavioral component of the live round
• Case interview data interpretation — reinforces the exhibit-reading skills Redrock tests
• Case interview math practice — the percentages and weighted averages Redrock requires
• Case interview scoring rubric — what McKinsey evaluates in live cases (and why process matters in Solve too)

Sources and Further Reading (checked April 25, 2026)

• McKinsey careers — interviewing: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/interviewing
• MConsultingPrep — Solve pass-rate analysis: https://mconsultingprep.com/mckinsey-problem-solving-game-digital-assessment
• MConsultingPrep — Redrock deep dive: https://mconsultingprep.com/mckinsey-solve-redrock-deep-dive
• IGotAnOffer — McKinsey Solve guide: https://igotanoffer.com/blogs/mckinsey-case-interview-blog/mckinsey-problem-solving-game
• StrategyCase — Redrock guide: https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-solve-game-red-rock-study/
• PrepLounge — McKinsey Solve forum: https://www.preplounge.com/consulting-forum/mckinsey-solve-redrock-study-15645
• CaseBasix — McKinsey Solve full guide: https://www.casebasix.com/pages/mckinsey-problem-solving-game-solve-full-guide
• Prepmatter — 2026 Solve update: https://prepmatter.com/blog/whats-new-in-mckinsey-solve-2025