You don't need a finance degree to start trading — but some prerequisites matter more than the desire. Answer these 10 questions honestly (1 point per "yes"), add up your score, and see what it actually means. Share your result if you want to compare with a friend.
The 10 questions
- Can you afford to lose entirely the capital you plan to deposit, without it affecting your rent, tuition, or essential needs?
- Have you already completed serious free training (not just a 10-minute video) before considering a real deposit?
- Can you explain what a drawdown is and why it's a limit you set in advance, not after the fact?
- Do you know the 1% rule and can you calculate position size based on your capital?
- Have you checked the regulation of the broker you plan to use, yourself, on the regulator's website?
- Have you tested on a demo account for at least several weeks before thinking about a live account?
- Did your decision to start come from you, rather than pressure from a group, a friend showing off gains, or a viral video?
- Do you have a written plan (even a simple one) defining your risk per trade and exit rules, rather than improvising on a feeling?
- Do you accept the idea of losing months without wanting to "get it back" by raising your risk after a loss?
- Do you have a separate emergency fund, on top of the capital you plan to risk in trading?
Your score
0 to 3 out of 10: not yet
It's not a judgment — the basics just aren't there yet. Start with the free learning resources before any real deposit. There's no rush: the market will still be there in three months.
4 to 7 out of 10: in progress
You have some of the basics, but gaps exist that can cost you. Identify precisely which questions you answered "no" to and work specifically on those before risking real capital.
8 to 10 out of 10: you've done the work seriously
That guarantees no outcome — no one can guarantee one — but it means you're approaching trading with the discipline that separates those who last from those who blow their account in a few weeks. Keep re-evaluating this score regularly, not just once.
What this test doesn't measure
No test predicts a trading outcome — even a perfect 10/10 score doesn't eliminate market risk. This test measures your preparedness, not your future profitability. No one, EA or not, can guarantee a gain.
Go further with Adestto
- Trading with small capital — how to start with $200 without putting yourself at risk.
- The 7 classic beginner trading mistakes — to fix what the test revealed.
- 10 myths about automated trading — true or false, test your knowledge.
To learn the method before risking any capital, start with the free learning resources.
Educational content. Adestto AI (Technologies Adestto inc.) is a software and educational content publisher — not a broker or investment advisor, and is not registered with Québec's AMF. This test is a self-reflection tool, not investment advice. No return is guaranteed; trading carries a significant risk of capital loss.