A water modelling experiment was conducted to study the fluid flow in a continuous slab casting mould with solidified shell. The level fluctuation, residence time distribution and velocity of free surface have been varied in the water model to study the differences of flow behaviour between the mould with a shell and without a shell. The results show that the mould with a solidified shell has higher level fluctuations, higher surface velocities and worse liquid slag distribution. The tapering of the shell in the mould enabled downward flow to facilitate more fluid being 'pushed' into the upper recirculation zone, yielding higher velocities and greater turbulence at the top surface. With the consideration of the solidified shell, the fluid flow in the mould is more representative of real casters, and the physical modelling results will be more accurate and reliable. It may cause unrealistic lower surface level fluctuations and surface velocities in the water model when the solidified shell is neglected in the mould.