WSO Excel Challenge Contest

Please embed the videos of you completing our WSO Excel Challenge to win a WSO T-shirt. Every month, we will be taking the fastest time and sending out a free t-shirt.

All new members now get access to our 6 free financial modeling lessons, so you can click the sign up button in the menu above. If you are already a member and would like these lessons you can sign up in the form below.

Comments (132)

10y 
WallStreetOasis.com, what's your opinion? Comment below:
jr_mining:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/NMAYRcfP8uE

holy crap, impressive time. I can't believe that was the first posting, lol...now everyone else will be scared to post :-) it's early though so I wouldn't be surprised if someone tries to post before April is up to claim the free WSO T-shirt :-)

10y 
AndyLouis, what's your opinion? Comment below:
WallStreetOasis.com:
jr_mining:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/NMAYRcfP8uE

holy crap, impressive time. I can't believe that was the first posting, lol...now everyone else will be scared to post :-) it's early though so I wouldn't be surprised if someone tries to post before April is up to claim the free WSO T-shirt :-)

what was your time chief?

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  • 2
8y 
Sean W, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Without a word of a lie, I can do this in less than 5 seconds! It's called the 'format' key (look for it in the top left of the home ribbon). You're wasting your time if you do this any other way. Add to which, you can set up defaults such as rounding to zero decimal places. When you highlight a set of numbers and click the 'comma' key in excel, it will, by default, adjust the formatting to how you've set it up.

  • 1
8y 
AnonymousJoe, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Without a lie, I believe you. It's not really about copying format though, it's about navigating only using the keyboard to create a table that looks like the other one. It only takes 5 seconds to understand the main point of this challenge.

Never let success go into your head and failure go into your heart.
  • 1
2y 
lakshayjain, what's your opinion? Comment below:

True. I was also confused at the start about why are they giving 2 minutes to copy the format when we can do it in less than 5 secs using Paste Special? Now I got it. It is just for beginners who don't know about it. So the ones who have already worked with excel will do it quite easily.

10y 
magid, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Total rookie here, so I imagine this has an easy answer, but when I do ALT+H+9, nothing happens. In fact, I need to do ALT+H+H just to highlight (ALT+H just takes me to the Home ribbon), and then I navigate to the color by the arrow keys. I'm using Excel 2010, same as you.

What am I doing wrong here?

10y 
D M, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I don't know if this is your issue, but sometimes computer companies like Dell, HP, etc fuck with keyboard shortcuts. Might affect Excel, but honestly I have no clue.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
  • 1
10y 
BlackHat, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Maybe I'm missing something but I'd just paste special formats the entire thing on the right and win via loophole?

I hate victims who respect their executioners
10y 
WallStreetOasis.com, what's your opinion? Comment below:
BlackHat:

Maybe I'm missing something but I'd just paste special formats the entire thing on the right and win via loophole?

that is cheating :-) you need to use the keyboard shortcuts to do each step. usually you won't have an exact replica of what you are trying to make on the same spreadsheet, so that kind of defeats the purpose.

10y 
WayToWealth, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Had fun with this!

Whassup Jr Mining?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/muUpAUekDzM

  • 2
10y 
jr_mining, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Damn, nice time man.

10y 
WallStreetOasis.com, what's your opinion? Comment below:
grainflow:

I don't have much Excel experience but am starting to prepare for my new IB job with the WSO Modeling Lessons. I like this exercise.

I'm proud of myself, I just broke a minute... and May is a new month.

Under a minute is very solid...once you're under a minute I think it's probably best to practice other keyboard shortcuts that are frequently used in some of the models and templates we'll be sending you. And yes, it's a new month :-)

We'll be sending a free t shirt to both members in April since they were the first ones to get us started and both had super impressive times...

10y 
macocha, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Here's my take. Well, since I can't post links it's on youtube with movie id: niMIIVQc7xY ;)

  • 1
10y 
GlenHarryGlenBoss, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I'm trying to paste my link from my upload to Screen o matic, but it says I may not post links due to recent membership. Consequently, I cannot embed it, but here is the link: http://screencast-o-matic DOT com/watch/cI11b0Vv5O

Just replace the DOT and the space on both sides of it with an actual .

  • 1
10y 
heister, what's your opinion? Comment below:

alt + f4 will really speed up your times guys.

Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays

Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne

  • 1
10y 
D M, what's your opinion? Comment below:
heister:

alt + f4 will really speed up your times guys.

Bahaha

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
10y 
saulius.cuz, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Well, only thing I can say that Excel 2013 is a worthless peace of LAG :) 1x1 cm ctrl key on my laptop keyboard also doesn't help, but here's what I got, though only on a second try (1 big reason mentioned previously:):

  • 1
10y 
Flake, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I feel like whoever wins this also loses in so, so many ways. With that said I am undoubtedly the quickest. Just not in excel.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
  • 1
  • 1
10y 
Take_It_To_The_Bank, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Where can I download the Excel file for this challenge? Just curious how I stack up in time

  • 1
9y 
jane.l, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Wouldn't it be faster if you just copy formatted cells, pasted format, and then autofit columns? Well.. that would take 10 seconds, negating the difficult aspect of this challenge..

9y 
Zampano, what's your opinion? Comment below:

not if the purpose, as explained in the email I received this challenge in, was to complete tasks in excel as quickly as possible so that you could get work done faster .... this really shouldn't take more than 10 seconds

9y 
Corregidor, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I guess since I'm a newbie I can't embed video or add links, but here's the code for mine: NHAS6833E9Y. 51 seconds is insane. This one's about 1:10, but I can't see shaving twenty seconds off that.

  • 1
9y 
cloww, what's your opinion? Comment below:

attempted to do this on a mac, got stuck on the first step… apparently mac has no shortcut key for auto formatting the column (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

  • 1
8y 
Aldo, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I just started the challenge and I'm having the exact same problem with auto-fitting the columns. Did you end up figuring it out in the end?

Best Response
9y 
Clementan, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Oh, and Virginia, my t-shirt size is a medium, and my right arm is just a little longer than my left.

//www.youtube.com/embed/DVP7TWR7RWA

  • 5
9y 
MoreMacklem, what's your opinion? Comment below:

My attempt. Could've easily shaved 10 seconds off from the hesitation, but the fast mess from the previous attempt proved otherwise. Can't embed, here you go (unlisted): watch?v=C7sxcX94Tec

  • 3
9y 
MoreMacklem, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Just a quick question: Could we win the competition twice in two months and receive two t-shirts?

9y 
Cplusplus, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Here is my attempt: watch?v=EGRvHPnxFh4

Sorry I can't embed it because I am a new user here. But I completed the challenge in 27 seconds.

  • 2
9y 
CompBanker, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I couldn't find the original excel so I recreated it. Here is what I managed to come up with:

//www.youtube.com/embed/wqWEkS1ZT1g

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/

  • 1
8y 
hikilltibogta, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Hey I can't post the link of my excel challenge :(((

8y 
AndyLouis, what's your opinion? Comment below:

i got you points so you can post your video (or a link to it), let me know when it's up

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8y 
brandyn, what's your opinion? Comment below:

hey, can someone give me a point? WSO isn't letting me embed my video until i get a point...I did the challenge in ~23 seconds

8y 
brandyn, what's your opinion? Comment below:

i want to post my video but WSO won't let me

8y 
AndyLouis, what's your opinion? Comment below:

i got you points so you can post your video (or a link to it), let me know when it's up

WSO Content & Social Media. Follow us: Linkedin, IG, Facebook, Twitter.

8y 
Aldo, what's your opinion? Comment below:

^^^^Or did anyone have the same problem as i did that can help. Using Excel for mac 2011. Is there a way to change all the shortcuts to match the instructions? Thanks in advance

8y 
eltiburon, what's your opinion? Comment below:

See my submission below. The number and currency formats do not look the exact same as demanded since I use a German system, but the commands performed are exactly the same. Looking forward to a t-shirt. :-)

Youtube: waj4SPRZJ2A

8y 
ry_z, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Hello, I got a macbook but I don't have the mac excel because it costs a lot to me. How can I do the test? Can I do it in google doc? Any help?

8y 
AnonymousJoe, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Deleted. see below

Never let success go into your head and failure go into your heart.
8y 
Tom Gringo, what's your opinion? Comment below:

How did you past G and H into A and B like that??

8y 
AnonymousJoe, what's your opinion? Comment below:

not sure what you mean

Never let success go into your head and failure go into your heart.
8y 
Mohit.S, what's your opinion? Comment below:
  • 2
8y 
WallStreetOasis.com, what's your opinion? Comment below:

It always shocks me when people use the solution to complete the exercise, when the entire point of the exercise is to practice quick keys in excel.

In real life, the solution won't be sitting there for you guys to copy off of using painter...smh :-)

A+ for @Pascal-Su"
F for @mohit.S" ;-)

AndyLouis

7y 
MonkBidnezz, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Here's my attempt:

Dotcom/watch/coX1cyhlOW" rel="nofollow">http://screencast-o-maticDotcom/watch/coX1cyhlOW

Just replace the 'Dot' with '.' I'm not able to post a link.

  • 1
7y 
OptimusPrimeofExcel, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Missed the dollar signs at the end, won't let me edit the above. /watch?v=e4jMHJJTAUc

Going all in on Finance.
  • 1
7y 
FFM, what's your opinion? Comment below:

23 seconds, no shortcuts.

.
  • 1
7y 
DM_Swoosh, what's your opinion? Comment below:

37 seconds /watch?v=MbChnTSCSKo

Posted to YouTube.

  • 1
7y 
Bayoumonkey, what's your opinion? Comment below:

39 seconds till final keystroke

“The only thing I know is that I know nothing, and i am no quite sure that i know that.” Socrates
  • 1
6y 
Zèrøcool, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Boom 32 sec. thank you gentlemen!

  • 1
6y 
ryancheng, what's your opinion? Comment below:

about 36 seconds I think

5y 
lc21, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Just under 38 seconds. Using a mac too so I had to make my own shortcut for "paste formatting".

5y 
VictorKonon, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Here is my link. Under 13 sec.
Ctrl+shift+arrows to select alt+h+fp to copy format ctrl home to paste it into a1:d8 alt+h+o+i to auto-fit

  • 1
  • 1
5y 
amy-lin98, what's your opinion? Comment below:

It won't let me post a link because I am a new member but I PM'ed you!

5y 
HappyFeet, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Done in 3 seconds.

(Ending is a bit fast to ensure video cuts out immediately after it's completed)

3y 
onebel, what's your opinion? Comment below:

[

)

Hi, I'm usually scared to post discussions because I've seen how people talk in trading chat rooms. Please be nice. I know the finance industry is tough and emotions shouldn't get in the way, but mental health is more important. :(
  • 1
2y 
KKGA, what's your opinion? Comment below:
file:///C:/Users/Karen%20Galoyan/Desktop/Recording%20%231.mp4
2y 
jatin_rao, what's your opinion? Comment below:

My new personal best! Under 30 seconds :) I am not sure why it doesn't show the formatting menus while I am formatting but that is why there are some pauses, but that's what I'm doing. Microsoft Screen Recording ain't it obviously...

file:///C:/Users/jatin/Videos/Captures/WSO-Excel-Challenge%20-%20Excel%202021-06-03%2029%20secods!.mp4

1y 
sadiqlawal, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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1y 
sadiqlawal, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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1y 
xavier_1, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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Aliquid molestiae impedit alias. Sint a omnis officiis vitae. Eligendi maxime ad et explicabo. Qui voluptatem dignissimos autem sed ut quia voluptatum. Aliquam et sed quod dolorum eius. Consequuntur consectetur nemo exercitationem nam. Et inventore aliquid et explicabo doloremque.

1y 
xavier_1, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Ipsam necessitatibus minus aliquam quis. Quo et illum earum. Corrupti molestiae dolorem autem praesentium. Ipsa esse alias dolore ea. Ut voluptas quis aspernatur.

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Tenetur aut magni et labore. Sequi accusamus eum cum illum consequatur ex. Maxime et ipsum atque non aut commodi voluptate. Esse sapiente aut quaerat.

1y 
xavier_1, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Sit delectus consectetur placeat voluptatem. Sunt error impedit voluptatibus est. Corrupti maxime expedita sunt commodi ipsa distinctio.

Quo fugit perferendis quam quod vero perferendis veniam. Tenetur excepturi atque atque et.

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10mo 
danaaa, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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Debitis aperiam fugiat impedit quaerat. Nihil exercitationem eum rerum. Officiis dicta necessitatibus molestias ex.

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