Discipline tools
Pre-Trade Checklist Builder
Build your own entry checklist, give each rule a weight, mark the ones that must never be skipped, and see a clear READY or NOT READY before you click buy or sell.
- Three starter templates
- Weights and REQUIRED rules
- Spread, trade and loss limits
- Review log with CSV
Not a signal: a checklist does not predict anything. It only shows whether you followed your own rules before entering. The templates are examples to edit, not a strategy.
Trend Pullback, example
NOT READY83 percent and grade A, yet blocked: one required rule is not ticked.
Weight is how much a rule counts toward the score. REQUIRED means the trade is NOT READY if that rule is not ticked, whatever the score. Edits are saved in this browser only.
0 of 0 weight points
Fill a pair to turn that limit on. Going over a limit makes the trade NOT READY. Use the same unit for both numbers of a pair.
The log stays in this browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.
| Time | Symbol | Side | Score | Grade | Status |
|---|
A high score is not a green light
A weighted score tells you how much of the checklist you ticked. It cannot tell you that the one box you skipped was the one that mattered. That is what a REQUIRED rule is for: a rule that blocks the trade no matter what the rest says.
Look at rows 2 and 3. Both score 83 percent and grade A. One is READY and one is not, because the missing rule is the stop loss.
Trend Pullback template, 8 rules, 18 weight points, minimum score 80 percent. Required rules: the trend, the stop loss and being calm.
| What you ticked | Score | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All 8 rules ticked | 100% | A+ | READY |
| Skip the 1:2 reward and the session rule (soft rules) | 83% | A | READY |
| Skip only the stop loss rule (required) | 83% | A | NOT READY |
| Skip three entry and reward rules | 67% | C | NOT READY |
| Tick only the three required rules | 44% | C | NOT READY |
Six kinds of rule, one example each
The tool lets you tag every rule with a category, so you can see at a glance whether your checklist leans on one side. A list made only of entry rules says nothing about risk or your own state.
For example: Higher timeframe direction is clear
For example: Price is at a zone I marked in advance
For example: A confirmation candle has closed
For example: Stop is placed and reward is at least 1:2
For example: No major news in the next 30 minutes
For example: I am not trying to win back a loss
Put the checklist on the chart
This page is a web version of the idea. Entry Discipline Checklist Pro is our MT5 utility that keeps the same kind of checklist on your chart, so you confirm it before each entry.
Honest limits: it is a manual discipline and journaling tool. It does not place orders, draw signals or block your trades by itself, and a good checklist score does not mean a trade will win. It runs on MT5 only. A free demo is on the MQL5 page.
See Entry Discipline Checklist Pro on MQL5This is our own product, and we earn money if you buy it.
How to write a rule that works
- Make it yes or no. “The trend is strong” is a feeling. “Price is above the 200 EMA on H4” is a fact you can check.
- One idea per rule. Two conditions in one rule hide which one you skipped.
- Keep it short. If you cannot read it at a glance, you will tick it without reading.
- Give risk the heaviest weights. Where the stop goes and how much you risk are the rules that decide how bad a loss can be.
- Mark very few rules REQUIRED. If every rule is required, the checklist stops being a tool and becomes a wall you will learn to ignore.
- Review what you skip. The log shows your most skipped rule. A rule you skip every time is either too strict or telling you something about your habits.
How the checklist is scored
- Score.
ticked weight ÷ total weight × 100. A rule with weight 3 counts three times as much as a rule with weight 1. - Grade. A+ at 90 percent or more, A at 80, B at 70 and C below that. The grade is only a label for the score.
- READY. The score is at or above your minimum, every REQUIRED rule is ticked, no context limit is exceeded and there is at least one rule.
- Points to go. When the score is short, the page shows how many more weight points you need to tick to reach your minimum.
- Context limits. A pair such as spread now and spread limit turns on when both numbers are filled. Spread passes if it is at or below the limit. Trades and loss pass only if they are strictly below theirs.
- Log. Each logged review saves the time, symbol, side, score, grade, status, the rules you did not tick and your note. Up to 200 reviews are kept in your browser.
Questions about trading checklists
Does a checklist improve results?
It cannot make a bad idea good. What it does is make you follow your own plan on every entry, so you can judge the plan fairly. We make no claim about profits.
What is a REQUIRED rule?
A rule that must be ticked for the trade to be READY, whatever the score. Use it for the few things you never want to skip, such as having a stop loss.
How many rules should I have?
Fewer than you think. Five to eight rules you read every time beat thirty you tick without looking. The tool allows up to 30.
What minimum score should I use?
There is no standard number. Pick one that you can explain, and keep every rule that really matters as REQUIRED instead of relying on the score.
Are the templates a strategy?
No. They are examples of how to word and weight rules. Replace them with your own checks, because a checklist only helps if it matches how you actually trade.
Where is my data saved?
In this browser on this device, through local storage. Nothing is sent to a server. Clearing site data or using a private window removes it, so download the CSV if you want a copy.
Can I use it in MetaTrader?
This page runs in a browser. For a checklist on your MT5 chart, see Entry Discipline Checklist Pro above.
Why did my READY turn into NOT READY?
Check the reasons under the status. A rule you untick, a lower score after you change a weight, or a context limit you went over can all do it.
Related tools
This tool is for education and is not financial advice or a trade recommendation. Trading leveraged products carries a high risk of loss. Read our risk disclaimer and methodology. More of our MetaTrader tools are on our MQL5 seller page, and we earn money if you buy them.