The weekly candle model and CISD are the most frequently referenced concepts in the ICT framework — but most traders use them separately. They use the weekly candle for directional bias and CISD for entry timing, without connecting the two into a single coordinated setup. The result is: right direction, wrong timing. The entry comes too early, gets swept, and exits at a loss before the actual move begins.
The weekly candle CISD setup treats the two as one model. The weekly candle defines where the sweep should happen and in which direction the move will go. CISD defines exactly when to enter once the sweep is confirmed. Neither works as well without the other.
The weekly candle says 'the sweep of that level will start a move lower.' CISD says 'the move lower has actually started — enter now.' Without CISD, you're entering when you think the move should start. With CISD, you're entering when it has.
The Full Weekly Candle CISD Setup — Step by Step
- 1.Sunday or Monday: mark the previous week's high, low, and midpoint. Note the weekly delivery direction (bullish or bearish based on last week's close and the higher timeframe context).
- 2.Early week (Monday–Tuesday): observe price action. Do not enter. Watch for price approaching the weekly high (bearish context) or weekly low (bullish context).
- 3.Sweep occurs: price wicks above the weekly high (bearish setup) or below the weekly low (bullish setup) during a kill zone session. The candle body must close BACK inside the prior range — that's the sweep confirmed.
- 4.Daily or 4H confirmation: the candle that swept the level must close back below (bearish) or above (bullish) the swept level on the daily or 4H chart. No close-back = not confirmed.
- 5.Drop to LTF (5M or 15M): mark the most recent swing high (for bearish entries) or swing low (for bullish entries) formed during the sweep sequence.
- 6.Wait for CISD: a strong displacement candle closes below the LTF swing low (bearish) or above the LTF swing high (bullish). This is your entry candle.
- 7.Enter on CISD close. Stop above the CISD high (short) or below the CISD low (long). Target: opposite weekly liquidity pool.
Bearish Example — Previous Week High Sweep
Context: weekly delivery is bearish. The previous week closed with a bearish candle. The higher timeframe (daily) is showing a bearish FVG overhead. You expect price to sweep the previous week high before making the real move lower.
| Step | What You See | What You Do |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 7:30 AM EST | Price rallies toward previous week high during NY pre-market | Watch — don't enter yet |
| Tuesday 8:15 AM EST | Price wicks above previous week high by 8 pips | Note the wick. Wait for the candle to close. |
| Tuesday 8:30 AM EST | 1H candle closes back below previous week high | Sweep confirmed. Drop to 5M chart. |
| Tuesday 8:35 AM EST | Mark the most recent 5M swing low formed during the sweep candle | Draw the level. Watch for CISD. |
| Tuesday 8:45 AM EST | Strong bearish 5M candle closes below the swing low | CISD printed. Enter short at the close. |
| Target | Previous week low | Exit at PWL or trail stop on daily candles |
| Stop | Above the 5M CISD high | Tight. Logical. Defined by CISD structure. |
The Kill Zone Requirement
Weekly candle CISD setups have significantly higher probability when the CISD prints during an ICT kill zone. The kill zones — London open (2-5 AM EST), New York open (7-10 AM EST), and London close (10 AM-12 PM EST) — are when institutional volume is highest and displacement moves are most reliable.
A CISD that fires at 1 PM EST during the dead hour has less institutional backing than one that fires at 8:30 AM EST during the NY open. The weekly context might be identical, but the timing changes the probability. The SMC X indicator filters CISD signals through kill zone windows automatically — it only shows you signals that occur during high-probability time windows.
Setup Checklist
Weekly bias confirmed → Previous week high or low swept → Daily/4H candle closes back inside → Kill zone is active → LTF CISD prints → Enter on close. All six boxes must be checked. Missing any one reduces probability significantly.
What Invalidates the Setup
- →The sweep candle closes above the previous week high (bearish) or below the previous week low (bullish) on the daily — the level broke rather than swept
- →CISD doesn't print within the same kill zone session as the sweep — the institutional momentum has faded
- →Price returns to retest the sweep level and closes beyond it — the sweep was not the turning point
- →Higher timeframe (daily or weekly) shows strong opposing bias — the weekly setup conflicts with a monthly or daily delivery
- →CISD fires outside a kill zone window — lower probability, skip or reduce size
Why This Setup Stops the Sweep Problem
The reason most ICT traders get swept is that they enter before CISD. They see the weekly high being approached, they know the bias is bearish, and they enter short in anticipation of the sweep. But price runs through them before reversing — they were positioned before the liquidity was taken.
Waiting for the CISD after the confirmed sweep is the structural solution. You're not predicting the sweep. You're waiting for it to happen and then confirming the response. The entry is later but it's verified. You're not entering against open institutional order flow — you're entering with it, the moment it confirms.
Getting swept is an entry timing problem, not a direction problem. If you were right on direction but stopped out before the move, CISD solves it — because CISD fires after the sweep, not before.
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Start Free 7-Day TrialFrequently Asked Questions
How do you combine the weekly candle model with CISD entry?
The weekly candle model defines the direction and the sweep target. After the previous week's high or low is swept, you drop to the 5-minute or 15-minute chart and wait for CISD — the Change in State of Delivery candle that confirms institutional direction has shifted. The weekly candle gives you the 'why.' CISD gives you the 'when.' Together they form a complete entry model.
What does CISD look like after a weekly candle sweep?
After a bearish weekly sweep (price took the previous week high), CISD on the lower timeframe is a strong bearish displacement candle that closes below the most recent LTF swing low — confirming bearish institutional delivery. After a bullish weekly sweep (price took the previous week low), CISD is a strong bullish displacement candle closing above the most recent LTF swing high.
Why is the weekly candle CISD setup more reliable than other ICT entries?
Because both filters must align. The weekly candle confirms the macro direction and that liquidity has been taken. CISD confirms the lower timeframe delivery has flipped. Without weekly context, CISD fires on random setups. Without CISD, you're entering off the weekly sweep alone without confirmation. The combination eliminates most false entries.
What is the stop loss placement for a weekly candle CISD entry?
Stop loss goes above the CISD high (for short entries) or below the CISD low (for long entries) — not above the weekly sweep wick. The weekly sweep wick can be very large, making the risk/reward unfavorable. CISD defines a tighter, more logical invalidation level.
What is the target for a weekly candle CISD entry?
The primary target is the opposite weekly liquidity pool. If you entered short after a sweep of the previous week high, the target is the previous week low. If you entered long after a sweep of the previous week low, the target is the previous week high. Secondary targets are weekly FVGs or major daily structural levels along the path.