The first line is the whole job
On every feed, the opening line is all most people see before deciding whether to read on — it’s the part shown before the post folds behind “…more,” and it’s the single biggest lever on whether the rest of your work gets seen. A brilliant post with a flat first line dies; an average post with a sharp one gets read. This tool scores that line against the mechanics that reliably earn the tap, so you can catch a weak opener before you publish instead of guessing afterward why a good post flopped.
What the score is actually checking
The score isn’t a black box. It rewards the attention mechanics that show up again and again in hooks that work, and penalises the things that read as spam:
- Specifics over vagueness. A number, a name, a timeframe, a dollar figure — concrete detail out-pulls a generic claim every time, so the score weights it heavily.
- An open loop or pattern interrupt. A cliffhanger (“here’s what we cut”) or a hard stop (“Stop boosting posts”) makes scrolling feel like missing something.
- Tension and stakes. Contrast words (but, instead, despite) and a clear “you” give the reader a reason it’s about them.
- Restraint. Filler words (just, really, basically) get flagged to cut, all-caps shouting is penalised, and over-long lines lose points — because a hook that tries too hard tips into parody.
How to raise a weak score
A low score is a to-do list, not a verdict. The fastest fixes, roughly in order of impact: swap a vague claim for a specific number(“grew a lot” → “grew 40% in 90 days”); add an open loopso the line promises a payoff below the fold; lead with a sharper first word; and cut the fillerthe highlighter flags. Re-score after each change — you’ll feel which edits actually move the needle. One caution: stop when it reads like a person. Maxing every signal produces a hook that sounds like a hook, which audiences have learned to distrust.
Stuck for a starting line? The hook generator writes openers from your topic you can drop in and test, and the guide to writing hooks covers the patterns behind the score. Once the hook lands, check where the full caption folds with the caption previewer.
How to use the tester
- 1
Paste your hook
Drop in the first line of your post — the part the feed shows before it folds the rest behind “…more.” That one line is what the tool scores.
- 2
Pick a platform
Score against all platforms or focus on one. Each rewards different things — X wants brevity, LinkedIn rewards authority, TikTok rewards a pattern interrupt.
- 3
Read the breakdown
See the 0–100 score, which engagement signals are firing, which are missing, the filler words to cut, and the hook type it reads as.
- 4
Rewrite and re-score
Add a missing signal — a number, an open loop, a sharper opening word — and watch the score move. Iterate until the first line earns the tap.
Frequently asked questions
What does the hook score actually measure?
It scores the opening line against a checklist of attention mechanics that consistently show up in high-performing hooks: power words, a number or statistic, a question, an open loop or cliffhanger, a pattern-interrupt opening, specificity (names, timeframes, dollar amounts), contrast, and the right length — minus penalties for shouting in all caps or running too long. A high score means the line is built with the techniques that earn the tap; it doesn't promise the post will go viral, because the idea underneath still has to be worth reading.
Is it free, and is my text sent anywhere?
Free, no sign-up, and nothing is uploaded. The entire analysis runs in your browser — your hook never leaves your device. Test as many as you like.
Does a higher score guarantee more views?
No, and any tool that promises that is lying. Reach is decided by the idea, the audience, the timing, and the algorithm — the hook just decides whether people stop long enough to find out. Think of the score as a craft check: it catches a flat, signal-free opening line before you publish it, which is the most common and most fixable reason a good post gets scrolled past.
Why does the same hook score differently per platform?
Because the platforms reward different things. X favours brevity and punch, so a short line gets a bonus and a long one a penalty. LinkedIn rewards a professional, authority-led hook and a useful length. TikTok and Instagram reward a pattern interrupt or an open loop. Switching the platform focus re-weights the score toward what that feed actually rewards — and shows where your line gets truncated there.
What's the difference between this and the hook generator?
The generator writes opening lines for you from your topic; the tester scores a line you already have. They pair naturally — generate a batch, test the best ones, and rewrite toward a higher score. The hook-writing guide covers the thinking behind both.
What's a good score to aim for?
Anything in the Strong-to-Excellent range (roughly 55+) is a confident hook. Don't chase 100 — stuffing every signal into one line makes it read like a caricature. The goal is a clean line that fires three or four genuine signals and still sounds like a human wrote it, not a checklist that maxed every box.