RE modeling tests

I have a question for those of you involved in hiring - is it common for job applicants to get every part of the modeling tests right?

No matter how much I practice, there are always just some parts that I don't have time to do or I rush through things and make a couple mistakes. Would you say that these tests are to test general understanding of concepts or do people really ace these?

6 Comments
 
Most Helpful

It isn't common for candidates to get everything right, especially for entry level roles. Don't sweat missing a few things here and there.

Most entry level modeling tests are designed to test your understanding and application of basic RE concepts, as well as to assess your current technical ability and to gauge your teachability on Excel (and sometimes Argus if you have prior experience). If you truly are constantly going through practice runs and emulating the same conditions you would face during a live test, you should be fine come the real thing.

 

It is way more about thought process and concepts than being perfect.

I just gave a test to an associate. Missed 2 things:

Management fee of 3% (used 4%) and the hyper amort on the debt (did it as IO).

When I fixed those two things, all of the forumlas flowed correctly. Not perfect, but given the time constraint and the fact that the forumlas linked/flowed correctly, that is a pass in my book.

If this candidate doesn't get an offer, it wouldn't be because of the modeling test.

 

Odit tempora necessitatibus eos voluptates modi quis. Ut officiis qui laudantium cum voluptas. Aperiam maxime esse error accusantium.

Odio temporibus est possimus ut qui ipsum. Voluptas voluptate dolor illo est praesentium. Non facilis pariatur laborum incidunt.

Dolore earum repellat qui et quia sequi. Omnis similique sunt beatae. Eum quod et et est at nulla. Voluptate et ab sunt consequatur perferendis voluptas odio saepe. Delectus dolores aperiam reprehenderit voluptas error et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”