Temasek Modelling Case: 15-Minute Financial Model Guide
The Temasek modelling case is a timed exercise in the later stages of the 2027 intake: build a financial model — often a three-statement or DCF sketch — in about 15 minutes, then present and defend it. Fifteen minutes is brutally short. Candidates who are not fluent in Excel fail before finishing the income statement. Here is how to prepare.
What Is the Temasek Modelling Case?
The Temasek modelling case is a timed Excel exercise: build a financial model, then walk assessors through it. The typical task: given historical financials and a few assumptions, project the statements, compute free cash flow, and reach a valuation conclusion. You are judged on the model and your explanation. Sloppy structure, hard-coded numbers, or an unbalanced balance sheet are instantly visible.
What the Temasek Modelling Case Assesses
The exercise assesses modelling fluency: speed (a working model in the time given?), structure (clean layout, clear drivers?), accuracy (does it balance? do formulas link?), and commercial sense (defensible assumptions, clear implications?). Most failures are mechanical — typed numbers instead of formulas, an unbalanced balance sheet, or 12 minutes spent on history with no forecast reached.
How to Prepare for the 15-Minute Modelling Case
Drill the mechanics until they are reflex. First, build a personal template: a standard three-statement layout with an assumptions section you can reuse, so you never start from a blank sheet. Second, practice the 15-minute sprint repeatedly — set a timer, build from scratch, and track where your time goes; most candidates discover they lose 5 minutes to formatting. Third, memorize the core formulas: revenue build, margins, working capital changes, capex, depreciation, debt schedule basics, and unlevered free cash flow. Fourth, rehearse the 2-minute explanation: "I assumed X because Y, which drives free cash flow of Z, implying a valuation of..." Our 2027 Temasek Online Assessment & Video Interview Answers covers the exact technical and case formats in Temasek's process so your preparation matches the real exercises.
Slow Excel Fails in Public
The modelling case is the most exposed 15 minutes of the process: your screen, your formulas, your mistakes — all visible. Candidates who "know finance" but cannot drive Excel under a timer produce half-built models and spend the presentation apologizing for errors. That is a worse signal than a simple model built cleanly and fast. Speed in Excel is a trained reflex, not a talent. If you have not done timed modelling sprints before the real thing, the clock will end your candidacy.
FAQ
What kind of model will I be asked to build? Typically a compact three-statement projection or DCF-style build from provided financials — enough to test fluency, not a full operating model.
Do I need to know VBA or macros? No — clean formulas, logical structure, and speed matter far more than advanced Excel tricks.
What is the single biggest mistake? Hard-coding numbers instead of linking formulas, which makes the model unverifiable and kills your accuracy score.
How should I present the model? Walk through assumptions first, then the key outputs and what they mean for the investment decision — 2 minutes, structured. For the 2027 intake timeline, check Temasek's official careers page.
Preparing for Temasek's Modelling case? Our 2027 Temasek Online Assessment & Video Interview Answers has the exact questions and answers — $79 one-time, instant download.
