The accuracy of your analysis depends on the quality of your trading data. A detailed backtest, a sufficient sample and a complete track record allow a more reliable assessment of your strategy's recorded performance.
Factors that affect your analysis#
| Factor | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Backtest detail | Apply consistent trading rules and realistic assumptions about execution, fees and slippage. Record the full set of trades. |
| Sample size | Include both winning and losing trades. In a small sample, a few unusual outcomes can have a large influence on the result. |
| Track record | Consider the period covered and the market conditions within it. A longer history can reveal performance across different environments. |
| Complete records | Check for missing or duplicate trades, incorrect dates and mixed strategies. Record profit, loss and risk consistently. |
Trade count alone does not establish the strength of a record. Hundreds of trades during one market move may provide limited evidence about performance under other conditions.
Sample size in context#
Consider a backtest containing ten profitable trades. The result records a successful period, but provides little evidence about potential losses, recovery time or performance in a different market.
A complete record that includes losing periods allows you to examine those risks alongside the returns. More data may strengthen your assessment or reveal weaknesses that the initial sample did not capture.
Before reviewing your results#
- Include the complete trading record, including losing periods.
- Check the dates, costs and trade results after importing.
- Compare the same strategy and trading rules in your backtest and live record.
- Check whether your record covers different market conditions.
Limits of interpretation#
Quantprove evaluates the record you provide. Better data improves the basis for that evaluation; it does not guarantee future profitability. Market conditions change, and live execution can differ from backtest assumptions.
Use the score alongside the supporting analysis when reviewing your strategy. How our analysis works explains our approach and the people contributing to the methodology.
Last reviewed: September 5, 2026.