Before entering, grade the trade on how well it matches your setup definition. A perfect setup (all signals confirm, volume high, trend aligned, time is right) is a 100 or A. A weak setup (one signal, volume low, trend unclear) is a 50 or C. Over 50+ trades, compare: do 80+ grades average +1.2R while 50– grades average −0.1R? If yes, use the grade as a filter and only take high-scoring setups.
- Pre-trade grades separate luck from skill
- Most traders find their best setups score >80
- Grades force you to be specific about setup quality
- You can improve accuracy by 30%+ just by filtering for high scores
- TRADZY Void Engine scores automatically as you trade
Most traders take every setup they see. Better traders take only the clearest ones. The difference is pre-trade grading.
The scoring system
Option 1: 0–100 scale
| Score | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | Textbook setup. All signals align, volume is hot, context is perfect. | ORB with 2× average volume, opening range clear, no overnight gap chaos. |
| 75–89 | Good setup. Most signals confirm, volume decent, context is neutral to good. | ORB with 1.5× volume, range clear, slight overnight gap. |
| 60–74 | Borderline. Some signals confirm, volume is average, context is mixed. | ORB with 1× volume, range tight, choppy overnight. |
| 40–59 | Weak. Few signals confirm, volume low, context is working against you. | Might be an ORB but volume under average, range is tiny, yesterday was choppy. |
| Below 40 | Don't take it. This is hope, not setup. | "I think it might go up." |
Option 2: A/B/C system (simpler)
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | Textbook. Take this every time. |
| B | OK. Take it, but log it separately to compare to As. |
| C | Borderline. You can take it, but optional. |
Use whichever fits your brain better. Most traders find 0–100 gives better granularity; A/B/C is faster.
How to score (before entry)
Pull up the chart and ask these questions:
1. Does the setup meet your definition?
✅ Yes, perfectly → +20 points ⚠️ Mostly → +10 points ❌ No → +0 points
ORB example:
- Is there a clear 15-min range? ✅ → +20
- Has the high or low been broken? ✅ → +20
- Is volume above 1.5× average? ⚠️ → +10
- Current subtotal: 50 points
2. Is volume confirming?
✅ 2× average or higher → +15 points ⚠️ 1.5× average → +10 points ❌ Below 1.5× average → +0 points
Continuing the ORB: Volume is 1.8× average → +15 Current subtotal: 65 points
3. Does the trend or context support it?
✅ Trend is up, and this is a pullback → +20 points ✅ Trend is down, and this is a breakdown → +20 points ⚠️ Trend is neutral, but setup is clear → +10 points ❌ Trend is against the setup → +0 points
Continuing the ORB: Overnight news gap was down; ORB breakout is against overnight trend → +0 points Current subtotal: 65 points
4. Is the risk/reward acceptable?
✅ 2:1 or better → +15 points ⚠️ 1.5:1 → +10 points ❌ Below 1.5:1 → +0 points
Continuing the ORB: Entry $150, stop $148 (30 cents), target $155 (500 cents). Reward is $500 ÷ $30 = 16.7:1 → +15 Current subtotal: 80 points
5. Is it in your best time or session?
✅ Your golden hour (09:30 AM, 3:00 PM) → +10 points ⚠️ Neutral time → +5 points ❌ Your dead zone (11:00 AM–1:00 PM) → +0 points
Continuing the ORB: It's 09:45 AM, in the golden hour → +10 Final score: 90
Grade: A
Your Journal Should Find the Pattern for You
TRADZY's TradLog tags every trade by setup, session and emotion, then shows where your edge actually is.
Start Your Free Journal →Testing your grades
After 50 trades scored, run this analysis:
| Grade | Trades | Avg result | Avg win | Avg loss | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (90–100) | 12 | +0.92R | +1.4R | −1.0R | 67% |
| B (75–89) | 18 | +0.38R | +1.1R | −0.9R | 44% |
| C (60–74) | 15 | −0.05R | +0.8R | −1.0R | 40% |
The pattern is clear: A grades are +0.92R expectancy, C grades are negative. The strategy:
✅ Take every A grade ✅ Consider B grades, but log separately ❌ Skip C grades entirely
By filtering, you:
- Cut trades by 40% (only As and some Bs)
- Improve results by 60%+ (eliminating C grades)
- Spend less time trading (more time analyzing)
Using grades to refine your setup definition
If B grades underperform, your setup definition is too loose. Tighten it.
Example:
- You score an ORB a 75 (B) because volume is only 1.2×
- After 20 trades: B grades with low volume average −0.1R
- New rule: "Minimum 1.5× volume for ORB"
- Next 20 B grades all hit 1.5× volume
- New average: +0.5R
Your definition got better.
Common scoring mistakes
Mistake 1: Scoring emotionally
❌ "This looks great, I FEEL like it will work" → 95 grade
✅ Run the checklist. Score objectively.
Emotions add 15–20 points artificially. Remove them.
Mistake 2: Scoring after the fact
❌ "The trade won, so it must have been a 95."
✅ Score before entry. Once you enter, the score is locked in. Let the data speak.
This prevents hindsight bias from inflating grades.
Mistake 3: Not filtering on grades
❌ Score every trade, but take all of them anyway.
✅ Score trades, then only take A grades for 30 days. See how results change.
If you score but don't filter, you're just journaling. You're not improving.
Automating with TRADZY
TRADZY's Void Engine scores every setup 0–100 automatically as you trade:
- Setup matching to your definition
- Volume confirmation
- Trend alignment
- Risk/reward calculation
- Time-of-day bonus
Your grades build automatically. The app shows: "Your A-grade (90+) trades average +1.1R. Your C-grade (60–74) trades average −0.2R."
FAQ
How do I score a swing trade or a longer-term position?
Same method, but add: - Support/resistance alignment → +15 points - Macro trend (is the weekly chart supporting?) → +15 points - News calendar (any big events in the next 3 days?) → +10 points The process is the same; the inputs change with your time frame.
What if most of my trades are C grades?
Your setup definition is too loose. Go back and tighten it. A real setup should produce 60%+ A-grade instances.
Should I skip all C grades or take some?
Skip for 30 days and measure results. If results improve, keep skipping. If they're the same (because C grade trades aren't the leak), then you can reconsider.
Can I improve a C-grade trade to A-grade?
No. Once you enter, the grade is locked. For next time: if you see a C-grade setup, improve the setup definition or wait for a clearer signal.
Does grading take a lot of extra time?
No. 30–60 seconds per trade. Once it's habit, it's automatic.
Put This Into Practice
- Log your next 20 trades with setup, session and emotion tags
- Let the TradLog surface your best and worst setups
- Run the weekly review and cut one leak
Start Free in TRADZY →
Educational content, not financial advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss.