Challenge guides
How to pass the TopStep challenge.
Practical playbook for passing the TopStep evaluation: profit target, drawdown, common mistakes, and the rules most traders miss.
The rules at a glance
| Profit target | 6% |
| Max drawdown | 4% |
| Daily loss | $1,000 on $50k, $2,000 on $100k, $3,000 on $150k |
| Time limit | None |
| News trading | Allowed |
| Overnight | No |
Where most traders blow it. Only 3 account sizes; strict daily loss.
What works. Smaller size than you think you need, halt at -2R for the day, and avoid the first 5 minutes of any red folder release if the rules let you trade them at all.
TopStep pays out Weekly after 5 winning days once funded — plan your cadence accordingly.
Get this kind of intel weekly.
Free Sunday-night newsletter for prop firm traders. Red folder events, NQ briefing, deal codes.