How to Pass ANY Prop Firm Evaluation in 2026: The 7 Rules That Separate Success from Failure

Our proprietary PropIQ analytics engine analyzed over 10 million simulated prop trading evaluations at Funded Trading Plus, revealing a pattern most traders miss: 80% of evaluation failures aren’t caused by bad strategies. It’s caused by breaking rules or poor emotional control.

“Most traders think they need the perfect entry system,” says Lockwood. “But I’ve watched traders with average strategies pass consistently while traders with excellent strategies fail repeatedly. The difference is whether they can follow their own rules under pressure.”

1) Master the Rules Before Your First Trade

PropIQ Finding: 43% of first-time failures occur due to breaching a rule the trader didn’t fully understand, with drawdown calculation being the most common mistake.

Understand every rule: profit targets, drawdown limits, news restrictions, stop requirements, position sizes, and consistency expectations. For example, our Static Drawdown stays fixed below your starting balance, while other firms use a Trailing Drawdown that moves up as your equity grows. Know the difference before you start.

“Most traders who fail do so because of a rule they missed, not because their strategy was wrong,” says Lockwood.

2) Embrace Consistency Rules

PropIQ Finding: Successful traders maintain similar position sizes day-to-day, while failed evaluations show position sizes varying by 300% or more.

Consistency rules aren’t obstacles, they’re safety mechanisms that prevent the boom-bust pattern that destroys accounts. They ensure you rely on a sustainable edge.

“Consistency rules force you to focus on repeatable execution rather than home-run trades,” says Lockwood.

3) Build a Written Trading Plan

PropIQ Finding: Traders with documented plans show pass rates 3x higher than those who describe their approach as “flexible.”

Your plan should include specific markets, exact entry and exit rules, risk limits per trade and per day, and a review process.

“Under stress, that written plan keeps you on track when your emotions are screaming at you to do something else,” advises Lockwood.

4) Practice in Demo First

PropIQ Finding: Traders who spend at least 30 days practicing in demo conditions show significantly higher pass rates.

Use practice time to drill entries and exits until they’re automatic and verify your risk per trade fits the rules.

“If you can’t follow your plan in demo, you won’t follow it when real pressure is on,” says Lockwood.

5) Focus on Consistency Over Speed

PropIQ Finding: Evaluations passed in 45-60 days show lower subsequent failure rates than those passed in under 30 days.

The most common mistake: A trader reaches 3% profit, then takes one oversized position trying to “finish today.” The trade goes wrong, and it’s over.

“Think less about how much you can make this week and more about staying in control every day,” advises Lockwood.

6) Always Use Stop Losses

PropIQ Finding: Traders who consistently use stop losses stay funded up to 3x longer than those who don’t.

Stop losses protect your account and your emotions by defining risk before you enter. The goal is surviving long enough for your edge to work across multiple trades.

7) Keep a Detailed Trading Journal

PropIQ Finding: Funded traders who maintain detailed journals with emotional notes average 40% longer funding periods.

Record your entry, exit, reason for the trade, outcome, how you felt, and what you’ll do differently. Your journal reveals patterns you can’t see at the moment.

Master Discipline with the Ultimate Insights

The seven rules above prove that success is not just about strategy; it’s about execution under pressure. At Funded Trading Plus, they give you the tools and the ideal environment to master that discipline:

• PropIQ Data: Access the same proprietary analytics engine that powered these findings for free by simply using the code: PropIQ at checkout when you buy a $50k or more sized account. Funded Trading Plus will directly email you all the secrets.
• Simple Rules: Start with challenges built for consistency, like the Prestige Lite (2-step evaluation with a 6% targets), giving you the best chance to master rule-following.

Ready to master the rules of success?

[Explore FT+ Challenges and Access PropIQ]

New to Forex Trading?

If you need to brush up on the fundamentals before tackling an evaluation, download our comprehensive, free guide, Forex 101, written by Andrew Lockwood.

[Download Your Free Forex 101 Guide Here]

Discipline Over Strategy: The FT+ Difference

The data from thousands of evaluations reveals a truth most traders overlook: passing isn’t about finding a better strategy, it’s about executing any reasonable strategy with discipline.

The prop industry has opened trading to everyone. But Funded Trading Plus recognized that the rules themselves are often the biggest obstacle. That is why Funded Trading Plus has been fundamentally built around eliminating the common reasons traders fail.

They have removed the incentives for the destructive behavior detailed in this article:

• No Unclear Rules: They ensure simple, clear, and well-defined rules, eliminating the “rule the trader missed” (Rule #1) from being your downfall.
• Protection from Emotional Errors: Funded Trading Plus provides the most stable environment with our ranges of Max Drawdown on offer, so a single emotional error doesn’t immediately wipe out your success.
• Focus on Consistency: Designed challenge structures that reward disciplined, sustainable trading, not reckless, oversized “home-run” trades (Rule #5).

You don’t need to be wealthy to start. But you do need a partner who values your consistency. Choose the prop firm built to reinforce discipline, not punish errors.