Author: Taylor Warfield, Former Bain Manager and interviewer

Last Updated: April 21, 2026

 

A case interview notes template is a pre-planned page layout that helps you capture data, build frameworks, track calculations, and organize insights during a consulting case interview. Having a reliable system means you spend less time figuring out where to write and more time solving the case.

 

In my experience interviewing hundreds of candidates at Bain, the difference between strong and weak performers often came down to how organized their notes were. Candidates with clean, structured notes solved cases faster, made fewer math errors, and delivered sharper recommendations.

 

This article gives you a complete, page-by-page notes template you can start using in your very next practice case. You will also get an abbreviation cheat sheet, math scratch paper layout, and tips for adapting your template to different case types.

 

But first, a quick heads up:

 

McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other top firms accept less than 1% of applicants every year. If you want to triple your chances of landing interviews and 8x your chances of passing them, watch my free 40-minute training.

 

What Is a Case Interview Notes Template?

 

A case interview notes template is a standardized page layout you prepare before the interview so you have designated zones for every type of information you will encounter. Instead of scribbling randomly across a blank sheet, you divide your paper into sections for the case objective, background data, your framework, calculations, and key insights.

 

According to Glassdoor data, consulting case interviews typically last 30 to 45 minutes. In that short window, you will process a case prompt, build a framework, answer quantitative and qualitative questions, and deliver a final recommendation. Trying to do all of that without a note-taking system is like cooking a five-course meal without organizing your kitchen first.

 

Having coached over 3,000 candidates, I have seen firsthand that poor notes lead to three predictable problems. First, candidates lose track of important numbers the interviewer gave them. Second, their framework becomes illegible midway through the case. Third, their final recommendation misses key evidence because it is buried in messy pages.

 

A good template solves all three problems. The rest of this article walks you through exactly how to set one up.

 

What Page Layout Should You Use for Case Interview Notes?

 

The best page layout for case interview notes uses landscape orientation and divides the paper into clearly labeled zones. Landscape gives you roughly 40% more horizontal space, which is essential for drawing issue trees and frameworks. This is the same orientation consultants use on real client projects at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.

 

Your notes system should use three dedicated pages (at minimum) across a single case. Here is the purpose of each page:

 

Page	Purpose
Page 1	Case prompt, objective, background data, and your framework
Page 2+	Math scratch paper (one new page per quantitative question)
Insights Page	Running list of key findings and evidence for your recommendation

 

In a typical 30 to 45-minute case, you should end up with two to four pages total. Based on my Bain interviewing experience, candidates who used more than five pages almost always struggled to find information when they needed it.

 

If you are looking for a comprehensive overview of what case interviews involve, check out our complete guide to case interviews for beginners.

 

How Should You Set Up Your First Page?

 

Your first page should use a T-layout. Turn the paper to landscape. Draw one vertical line about two inches from the left edge, and one horizontal line about two inches from the top. This creates three zones:

 

• Top zone (above the horizontal line): Write the case objective here in big, clear letters. Circle or underline it. Every time you feel lost during the case, glance at this zone to re-anchor yourself.

 

• Left zone (left of the vertical line): Capture raw background data from the case prompt. Write the client name, industry, key numbers (revenue, margin, headcount), and any constraints the interviewer mentions.

 

• Main zone (bottom-right area): This is where you build your framework or issue tree. You will have the most space here, which is important because your framework is the centerpiece of your case performance.

 

When the interviewer reads the case prompt, write in the left zone only. Do not attempt to build your framework while still listening. After the prompt, take 60 to 90 seconds of silence to build your framework in the main zone.

 

For more on how to build strong frameworks quickly, read our guide to case interview frameworks.

 

How Should You Set Up Your Math Scratch Paper?

 

Use a fresh sheet of paper for every new math question. This is one of the most important rules in case interview note-taking. If you try to squeeze calculations into empty corners of your framework page, you will almost certainly make errors.

 

Turn the page to landscape and divide it into two columns with a vertical line down the middle:

 

• Left column (clean formulas): Write your approach and formulas here. For example: Revenue = Price x Quantity. This is the side you show the interviewer when walking through your logic.

 

• Right column (scratch work): Do your raw arithmetic here. Long multiplication, division, rounding. This side can be messy because it is for your eyes only.

 

Always circle your final answer on the left column. According to a survey of over 200 consulting interviewers, math mistakes are the number one reason candidates fail quantitative portions of case interviews. Keeping clean formulas separate from scratch work cuts these errors significantly.

 

Number each math page to match the framework branch it relates to. If you labeled your framework branches 1 through 4, write the corresponding number at the top of the math page. This makes it easy to cross-reference your calculations with your framework.

 

How Should You Set Up Your Insights Sheet?

 

Your insights sheet is a single page dedicated exclusively to key findings and conclusions. Think of it as a cheat sheet for your final recommendation. Every time you finish analyzing a section of your framework, write a one-line takeaway on this page.

 

The format is simple. Draw a vertical line down the middle. On the left, write the framework branch name. On the right, write your one-line finding. For example:

 

Framework Branch	Key Insight
Market Attractiveness	$90B market, but only 10% margins
Competitive Landscape	Top 3 players hold 70% share
Company Capabilities	No brewing expertise, limited synergies
Expected Profitability	Break-even in 5+ years, below target ROI

 

When the interviewer asks for your recommendation, you simply read this page left to right and top to bottom. Your recommendation, supporting reasons, and evidence are all in one place. This is the single biggest note-taking advantage most candidates miss.

 

What Abbreviations and Symbols Should You Use?

 

Using abbreviations and symbols during a case interview can cut your writing time by 50% or more. The key is to develop a personal shorthand system during practice and use it consistently so it becomes second nature by interview day. Below is a reference table of the most useful abbreviations for consulting case interviews.

 

Symbol	Meaning	Symbol	Meaning
R	Revenue	C	Costs
P	Profit	GM	Gross Margin
Q	Quantity	Px	Price
↑	Increase / Up	↓	Decrease / Down
Δ	Change	≈	Approximately
MS	Market Share	Mkt	Market
YoY	Year over Year	VC / FC	Variable / Fixed Costs
Cust	Customer	Comp	Competitor
Cap	Capability	Obj	Objective
→	Leads to / Therefore	?	Need to investigate
B/E	Break-even	NPV	Net Present Value
M / B / K	Million / Billion / Thousand	CAGR	Compound Growth Rate

 

You do not need to memorize every abbreviation on this list. Pick 10 to 15 that feel natural and practice them across at least five cases. By your tenth practice case, they will be automatic.

 

One important rule: never abbreviate the case objective. Write it out fully and clearly so there is zero ambiguity. Misunderstanding the objective is the fastest way to fail a case interview, as we cover in our 40 case interview tips article.

 

How Should You Take Notes During Each Phase of the Case?

 

A case interview moves through four distinct phases, and your note-taking approach should shift with each one. Here is exactly what to write and where to write it during each phase.

 

How Do You Take Notes During the Case Prompt?

 

During the case prompt phase, write in the left zone and top zone of your first page only. Focus on capturing three things: the client name and industry, all specific numbers the interviewer mentions, and the exact objective of the case.

 

Do not try to write every word the interviewer says. Instead, listen for numbers and circle them as you write. Based on McKinsey's own interview guidance, the numbers given in the prompt almost always matter for the math portion later.

 

After the interviewer finishes, recap the objective back to them in one sentence. This confirms you understood correctly and gives you a chance to fill in anything you missed. If you did not catch a specific number, this is the right time to ask the interviewer to repeat it.

 

How Do You Take Notes While Building Your Framework?

 

Ask for 60 to 90 seconds of silence, then build your framework in the main zone of your first page. Use an issue tree format: write 3 to 4 main branches horizontally, then add 2 to 3 sub-bullets under each branch.

 

Keep your framework visually clean. Use boxes or underlines for branch titles and indent sub-bullets beneath them. Leave white space between branches so you can add notes as the case progresses.

 

When you present your framework to the interviewer, turn your paper to face them and walk through each branch. This collaborative gesture signals confidence and teamwork. For strategies on building outstanding frameworks, see our case interview frameworks guide.

 

If you want to master framework building in as little as 7 days, my case interview course teaches three proven strategies for creating tailored frameworks in under 60 seconds.

 

How Do You Take Notes During Quantitative Questions?

 

Grab a fresh sheet every time the interviewer poses a new math question. Write the question at the top, your approach or formula on the left side, and your scratch arithmetic on the right side.

 

Always talk through your calculations out loud. This serves two purposes: it helps the interviewer follow your reasoning, and it forces you to slow down enough to catch mistakes before they snowball. According to Bain's own career resources, interviewers grade your process as much as your final number.

 

When you reach your final answer, circle it on the clean side of the page. Then immediately connect it back to the case objective. For example: "The $90B market size makes this look attractive, but I want to check margins before drawing conclusions." Write this connection on your insights sheet.

 

How Do You Take Notes During Qualitative Questions?

 

For qualitative questions such as brainstorming or business judgment questions, use a simple two-part structure on your framework page. Divide your ideas into two categories such as internal versus external, short-term versus long-term, or economic versus non-economic.

 

Write only keywords, not full sentences. If the interviewer asks you to brainstorm ways to increase revenue, your notes might look like: "New customers / Existing customers" as the two-part structure, with 3 to 4 bullet-point ideas under each.

 

After answering, add your top insight to the insights sheet. For a complete list of case types and what to expect, visit our guide to case interview types.

 

How Do You Adapt Your Notes Template for Different Case Types?

 

The T-layout works for every case type, but the content inside your framework zone will change depending on whether you get a profitability case, a market entry case, a market sizing case, or an M&A case. Here is how each one differs:

 

Case Type	Framework Zone Focus	Math Pages Needed	Insights Sheet Focus
Profitability	Revenue vs. cost tree with sub-drivers	1 to 2 (profit math, segmentation)	Which driver is causing the problem
Market Entry	Market, competition, capabilities, profitability	1 to 2 (market sizing, break-even)	Go / no-go evidence for each branch
Market Sizing	Top-down or bottom-up estimation steps	1 to 3 (multi-step calculations)	Final estimate with sanity check
M&A	Target attractiveness, synergies, valuation	1 to 2 (synergy math, valuation)	Deal / no-deal evidence

 

The core structure stays the same: objective at the top, data on the left, framework in the main zone, math on separate pages, insights on a dedicated sheet. Only the content inside those zones changes. This consistency is what makes the template so powerful. You practice it the same way every time.

 

How Do You Take Notes in a Virtual Case Interview?

 

Virtual case interviews have become increasingly common since 2020, with McKinsey, BCG, and Bain all offering remote interview options. Your note-taking strategy needs a slight adjustment for the virtual format, but the underlying template stays the same.

 

The best approach for virtual interviews is to use physical paper next to your computer screen, just as you would in person. Handwriting is faster for frameworks and math than typing, and you avoid the distracting sound of keyboard clicks. Keep 5 to 7 blank sheets and two pens within arm's reach before the interview starts.

 

If you need to share your framework with the interviewer, hold your paper up to the webcam or take a quick photo and share your screen. Some candidates prefer using a tablet with a stylus so they can write naturally and share their screen simultaneously. Either method works as long as you practice it before interview day.

 

One critical virtual interview tip: position your webcam at eye level and keep your notes just below the camera. This way, when you glance at your notes, it still looks like you are maintaining eye contact.

 

What Are the Most Common Case Interview Note-Taking Mistakes?

 

After conducting hundreds of mock interviews and coaching sessions, I have identified six note-taking mistakes that consistently hurt candidates. Avoid these and you will already be ahead of 80% of your competition.

 

• Mistake 1: Writing too much. If you are writing full sentences during the case prompt, you are capturing details instead of insights. Focus on numbers, keywords, and the objective. In a 40-minute case, you should have two to four pages of notes, not eight or nine.

 

• Mistake 2: Forgetting to write down the objective. Roughly 1 in 5 candidates I coached at Bain either forgot the objective or wrote it so small they lost track of it. Write it big, underline it, and put it at the top of your first page.

 

• Mistake 3: Doing math on the framework page. This turns your clean framework into a mess of numbers and crossed-out calculations. Always use a separate sheet for math.

 

• Mistake 4: Not numbering pages. When you flip to your third or fourth page, you need to know which page has what. Number every page in the top-right corner as soon as you start it.

 

• Mistake 5: Using portrait orientation. Portrait pages do not have enough horizontal space for issue trees and frameworks. Landscape gives you 40% more width and matches the format consultants use on real projects.

 

• Mistake 6: Not tracking insights. Most candidates rely on memory for their final recommendation instead of building a running insights sheet. This leads to forgetting key evidence or delivering a disorganized synthesis.

 

How Do Your Notes Help You Deliver a Strong Recommendation?

 

Your final recommendation is the single most important moment of the case interview. It is the last impression you leave on the interviewer. And if your notes are organized correctly, delivering a great recommendation becomes straightforward.

 

Here is the process. When the interviewer asks for your recommendation, glance at your insights sheet. You should have 3 to 5 one-line findings listed there. Pick the 2 to 3 strongest findings and use this structure:

 

• Lead with the recommendation: "I recommend that [client] should [action] for the following three reasons."

 

• State your reasons: Read each reason directly from your insights sheet. Include a specific number or data point with each one.

 

• Suggest next steps: Mention 1 to 2 areas you would investigate further if you had more time.

 

This structure is what McKinsey, BCG, and Bain interviewers call the "CEO elevator pitch" format. It is concise, evidence-based, and actionable. Your insights sheet makes it possible to deliver this in under 60 seconds without hesitation.

 

For practice cases you can use to test your notes template, check out our collection of 100+ case interview examples.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How Many Pages of Notes Should You Have in a Case Interview?

 

You should have two to four pages of notes in a typical 30 to 45-minute case interview. One page for the case prompt and framework, one to two pages for math, and one page for insights. If you consistently use more than five pages, you are likely writing too much detail and not enough insight.

 

Should You Show Your Notes to the Interviewer?

 

You should show your framework page to the interviewer when you present your initial structure. This is a standard practice that signals collaboration and transparency. However, you do not need to show your math scratch work or insights sheet unless the interviewer specifically asks.

 

Can You Bring a Notes Template into the Interview?

 

You cannot bring a pre-drawn template into the interview room. Firms provide blank paper, and you are expected to organize it yourself. However, because you have practiced your T-layout dozens of times during preparation, drawing the two lines takes less than five seconds.

 

How Do You Practice Case Interview Note-Taking?

 

Practice your note-taking system in every mock case you do. After each practice case, review your notes and ask: could I find any number within three seconds? Are my insights clearly separated from raw data? Is my math clean enough to show the interviewer? Adjust your system based on the answers. For more on solo practice, see our guide on how to practice case interviews by yourself.

 

What Should You Write Down First When the Case Starts?

 

The first thing you should write is the case objective at the top of your page. Then, as the interviewer reads the prompt, capture the client name, industry, and any specific numbers in the left zone. Numbers are the highest priority because they are easy to forget and almost always come back in the math portion of the case.

 

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