Financial analyst Excel test: what's on it and how to prepare
Finance interviews often include a timed Excel task: pull numbers from a table, summarize by segment, and build a small model that still works when the inputs change. Here is what to practice, a sample task, and a 14-day plan.
What employers usually test
| Skill | Functions | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Lookups across tables | XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH | Lesson 10 Pro |
| Totals by segment | SUMIFS | Lesson 8 Free |
| Locked references in models | $ signs | Lesson 3 Free |
| Growth and margins | % change | Lesson 4 Free |
| Weighted averages | SUMPRODUCT | Lesson 24 Pro |
| Time value of money | PMT, NPV, IRR | Lesson 27 Pro |
| Clean outputs | ROUND | Lesson 22 Pro |
Try a sample task
From lesson 27, NPV & IRR. Graded instantly.
Net present value
E4, calculate the project's NPV at the discount rate in E2. Year 0 is an upfront investment.Your 14-day prep plan
About 30 minutes a day. Free lessons first; Pro lessons are marked.
| Day | Focus | Access | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Relative vs absolute references | Free | 24 min |
| 2 | Percentages & growth | Free | 22 min |
| 3 | AND, OR & IFS | Free | 24 min |
| 4 | COUNTIFS, SUMIFS & AVERAGEIFS | Free | 25 min |
| 5 | XLOOKUP | Pro | 24 min |
| 6 | INDEX & MATCH | Pro | 25 min |
| 7 | Tiered lookups & IFERROR | Pro | 24 min |
| 8 | ROUND, ROUNDUP & ROUNDDOWN | Pro | 22 min |
| 9 | SUMPRODUCT | Pro | 24 min |
| 10 | Loan payments with PMT | Pro | 24 min |
| 11 | Future & present value | Pro | 23 min |
| 12 | NPV & IRR | Pro | 25 min |
| 13 | Timed run: the analyst interview capstone | Pro | 20 min |
| 14 | Retake the skills test and compare | Free | 10 min |
Questions
Is the test done in Excel or in a browser?
It varies by employer. Some send a workbook to complete; others use an online simulator. Practice both: build formulas from scratch, and read formulas someone else wrote.
What do graders look at besides the answer?
How you got there: one formula filled down instead of typed numbers, locked references, and inputs kept in their own cells so the model can be changed.
How long should I prepare?
About 30 minutes a day for two weeks covers the plan below, including two timed practice runs.