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The Hook Scorecard: Rate Your Hook Before You Post (Free Checklist)

Posting an unscored hook is guessing. This free hook checklist scores your TikTok, Reels & Shorts hooks on 5 criteria in 30 seconds. Score 20+ and post it — here's how.

Most dead videos don't have a content problem. They have a first-3-seconds problem — and most of those hooks would have failed this scorecard in 30 seconds. Run yours before you post.

The 5 rows

Score each row 1–5. Be honest — a generous 4 on a weak hook costs you views.

1. Curiosity — does it open a question the viewer must get answered?

Pass: "My landlord said one sentence and walked away." (Vault #22) — what's the sentence? You have to stay.

Fail: "Today I want to talk about renting." — no question, no reason to stay.

2. Feeling — surprise, hope, fear, joy, or anger?

Pass: "I wasn't going to share this, but…" (Vault #6) — warmth plus FOMO.

Fail: Flat statements with no emotional charge. If you feel nothing reading it, they'll feel nothing watching it.

3. Clear — would a stranger get it on first read?

Pass: "7 stretches that fix desk shoulders." (Vault #190) — instant, zero jargon.

Fail: Anything that needs context from the rest of the video. The hook can't borrow clarity from what comes later.

"My landlord said one sentence and walked away." (Vault #22)

Scores: Curiosity 5 · Feeling 4 · Clear 5 · Detail 3 · Open loop 5 = 22/25. Post it.

The missing sentence is pure curiosity fuel, and skipping means never knowing it.

4. Detail — one true number, time, place, or price?

Pass: "I read 300 pages on sleep so you don't have to." (Vault #29) — the "300 pages" sells it instantly.

Fail: "I read a lot about sleep." Vague claims earn vague attention.

5. Open loop — would skipping feel like missing out?

Pass: "Wait until the end. Trust me." (Vault #7) — leaving feels like losing.

Fail: A hook that resolves itself. If there's nothing left to learn, there's no reason to stay.

"I read 300 pages on sleep so you don't have to." (Vault #29)

Scores: Curiosity 4 · Feeling 3 · Clear 5 · Detail 5 · Open loop 4 = 21/25. Post it.

The specific number does the heavy lifting — "300 pages" is believable and generous at once.

What the score means

  • 20–25: Post it. The hook earns the click.
  • 15–19: Fix your lowest row. One weak row is usually one missing detail or one vague word.
  • 10–14: Rewrite. Keep the idea, change the opener.
  • Under 10: Start over. The concept needs a new angle, not a new sentence.

10 hooks, scored live

Watch the rubric in action on 10 real Vault hooks:

  1. "I wasn't going to share my grandma's soup recipe. But here it is." (#6) — C5 F5 C5 D4 O5 = 24
  2. "I analyzed 100 viral food videos. Here's what they all had in common." (#227) — C5 F3 C5 D5 O5 = 23
  3. "My landlord said one sentence and walked away." (#22) — C5 F4 C5 D3 O5 = 22
  4. "Day 1 vs Day 90: learning Spanish." (#157) — C4 F3 C5 D5 O4 = 21
  5. "I read 300 pages on sleep so you don't have to." (#29) — C4 F3 C5 D5 O4 = 21
  6. "Stop doing crunches every day. They don't flatten your stomach." (#39) — C3 F4 C5 D4 O3 = 19 → fix the open loop
  7. "7 stretches that fix desk shoulders." (#190) — C3 F2 C5 D5 O3 = 18 → add feeling
  8. "The real reason flight prices drop on Tuesdays will surprise you." (#5) — C5 F4 C4 D4 O5 = 22
  9. "Comment YES if you meal prep on Sundays." (#300) — C2 F3 C5 D3 O2 = 15 → works as comment bait, weak as an opener
  10. "I stopped waking up at 5 a.m. and got more done." (#42) — C4 F4 C4 D4 O3 = 19 → tighten the loop

"Wait until the end. Trust me." (Vault #7)

Try it: "I ranked 5 budget laptops. Wait until the end. Trust me."

Asks for patience directly — and viewers reward the payoff. Open loop: 5/5.

FAQ

Can a hook score 25 and still flop?

Yes — delivery matters too. A great hook with flat energy or bad pacing still dies. The scorecard fixes the words; you fix the delivery.

Should I score every post?

Score every post for your first 30 days. After that you'll feel the rows instinctively — but keep the checklist for days when nothing sounds right.

Get the scorecard + 300 hooks + 30-day tracker — $9

The Hook Vault includes the full hook scorecard, 300 hooks across 8 proven categories, 10 AI prompts, and a 30-day tracker. Just $9.

Get the Hook Vault — $9

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