VSAAcademy

Preparation · Core worksheet

Pre-Session Market Read

Build a disciplined picture of background, location, session risk and the first evidence you need before taking any VSA scenario seriously.

Build a disciplined picture of background, location, session risk and the first evidence you need before taking any VSA scenario seriously.

CategoryPreparation
LevelCore
Use typeProcess control
Signal statusNot a signal

Use note

This worksheet is an educational process-control template. It does not produce signals, recommendations or guaranteed outcomes. Record real decisions honestly; do not rewrite the journal after the result is known.

Purpose

To stop the trader from arriving at the chart with a prediction. The worksheet forces current context, key levels, likely supply/demand behaviour and invalidation before any execution idea is allowed.

Best used when

  • Before London/New York session
  • Before studying XAU/USD or forex index context
  • When the previous day contained a climax, range expansion or failed breakout
  • When emotional bias is high after a win or loss

Core fields

  • Instrument and session
  • Higher-timeframe location
  • Previous session range and close
  • Volume character versus recent average
  • Important reaction highs/lows
  • Primary hypothesis
  • Alternative hypothesis
  • Invalidation condition
  • News/session risk note

Worksheet checklist

Questions to answer before the decision is accepted

Workflow

Step-by-step use

  1. 1

    Scan the higher timeframe for location and trend character.

  2. 2

    Mark the most recent meaningful test, spring, upthrust, climax or absorption zone.

  3. 3

    Write the primary scenario in one sentence only.

  4. 4

    Write the opposite scenario in one sentence.

  5. 5

    Define the first evidence required before action is allowed.

  6. 6

    Decide whether conditions are suitable for trading, observing, or skipping.

Scoring rubric

  • 5 = clear background, alternative and invalidation
  • 3 = useful context but missing one key risk factor
  • 1 = directional opinion without evidence

Red flags

  • Using news excitement as confirmation
  • Calling every high-volume bar accumulation
  • Ignoring a wide-spread bar that rejects the thesis
  • Writing only the bullish or bearish case

Practice task

Complete the sheet for three sessions without placing a trade. Compare what you expected with what actually became visible.

Printable worksheet

Use this area for your own notes

Source notes

These sources inform the vocabulary, process framing, and risk discipline. The worksheet itself is an educational journaling tool, not financial advice.