NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Practice Exam – 6 Full Patient
Cases with Scoring & Detailed Rationales | 2026
Certification Prep Guide| pdf
✅ PATIENT 1
Findings:
Alert, answers month correctly, misses age
Follows both commands
Partial gaze palsy to left
Right facial droop
Right arm drifts before 10 sec
Right leg holds full 5 sec
Mild sensory loss right side
Mild dysarthria
Scoring
1a LOC: 0
1b LOC Questions: 1
1c LOC Commands: 0
2 Best Gaze: 1
3 Visual Fields: 0
4 Facial Palsy: 1
5a Left Arm: 0
5b Right Arm: 1
6a Left Leg: 0
6b Right Leg: 0
7 Limb Ataxia: 0
8 Sensory: 1
9 Best Language: 0
10 Dysarthria: 1
11 Extinction/Inattention: 0
Total Score: 6
Mild stroke
✅ PATIENT 2
Findings:
Cases with Scoring & Detailed Rationales | 2026
Certification Prep Guide| pdf
✅ PATIENT 1
Findings:
Alert, answers month correctly, misses age
Follows both commands
Partial gaze palsy to left
Right facial droop
Right arm drifts before 10 sec
Right leg holds full 5 sec
Mild sensory loss right side
Mild dysarthria
Scoring
1a LOC: 0
1b LOC Questions: 1
1c LOC Commands: 0
2 Best Gaze: 1
3 Visual Fields: 0
4 Facial Palsy: 1
5a Left Arm: 0
5b Right Arm: 1
6a Left Leg: 0
6b Right Leg: 0
7 Limb Ataxia: 0
8 Sensory: 1
9 Best Language: 0
10 Dysarthria: 1
11 Extinction/Inattention: 0
Total Score: 6
Mild stroke
✅ PATIENT 2
Findings:
