Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA)
Actual Exam Questions and Correct Answers
Question 1
Visuoconstructional Skills (Clock):
Correct Answer
-Administration: Indicate the right third of the space and give the following
instructions: "Draw a clock. Put in all the numbers and set the time to 10 past 11".
-Scoring: One point is allocated for each of the following three criteria:• Contour (1
pt.): the clock face must be a circle with only minor distortion acceptable (e.g., slight
imperfection on closing the circle);• Numbers (1 pt.): all clock numbers must be
present with no additional numbers; numbersmust be in the correct order and
placed in the approximate quadrants on the clock face; Roman numerals are
acceptable; numbers can be placed outside the circle contour;• Hands (1 pt.): there
must be two hands jointly indicating the correct time; the hour hand must be clearly
shorter than the minute hand; hands must be centered within the clock face with
their junction close to the clock center.A point is not assigned for a given element if
any of the above-criteria are not met.
Question 2
Normal Controls
Correct Answer
27.4
Page 1 of 75
,Question 3
Visuoconstructional Skills (box)
Correct Answer
-Administration: The examiner gives the following instructions, pointing to the cube:
"Copy this drawing as accurately as you can, in the space below".
-Scoring: One point is allocated for a correctly executed drawing.• Drawing must be
three-dimensional• All lines are drawn• No line is added• Lines are relatively parallel
and their length is similar (rectangular prisms are accepted)A point is not assigned if
any of the above-criteria are not met.
Question 4
MoCa scoring
Correct Answer
-Total Possible Score is 30
-Score ABOVE 26 is considered NORMAL
Question 5
Attention: Vigilance
Correct Answer
-Administration: The examiner reads the list of letters at a rate of one per second,
after giving the following instruction: "I am going to read a sequence of letters.
Every time I say the letter A, tap your hand once. If I say a different letter, do not tap
your hand".
-Scoring: Give one point if there is zero to one errors (an error is a tap on a wrong
letter or a failure to tap on letter A).
Page 2 of 75
,Question 6
Delayed recall:
Correct Answer
-Administration: The examiner gives the following instruction: "I read some words to
you earlier, which I asked you to remember. Tell me as many of those words as you
can remember." Make a check mark ( √ ) for each of the words correctly recalled
spontaneously without any cues, in the allocated space.
-Scoring: Allocate 1 point for each word recalled freely without any cues.
Question 7
Attention: Backward Digit Span:
Correct Answer
-Administration: Give the following instruction: "Now I am going to say some more
numbers, but when I am through you must repeat them to me in the backwards
order." Read the three number sequence at a rate of one digit per second.
-Scoring: Allocate one point for each sequence correctly repeated, (N.B.: the correct
response for the backwards trial is 2-4-7).
Question 8
Naming:
Correct Answer
-Administration: Beginning on the left, point to each figure and say: "Tell me the
name of this animal
-Scoring: One point each is given for the following responses: (1) lion (2) rhinoceros
or rhino (3) camel or dromedary.
Page 3 of 75
, Question 9
Attention: -Forward Digit Span:
Correct Answer
-Administration: Give the following instruction: "I am going to say some numbers
and when I am through, repeat them to me exactly as I said them". Read the five
number sequence at a rate of one digit per second.
-Scoring: Allocate one point for each sequence correctly repeated,
Question 10
Attention: Serial 7s:
Correct Answer
-Administration: The examiner gives the following instruction: "Now, I will ask you to
count by subtracting seven from 100, and then, keep subtracting seven from your
answer until I tell you to stop." Give this instruction twice if necessary.
-Scoring: This item is scored out of 3 points. Give no (0) points for no correct
subtractions, 1point for one correction subtraction, 2 points for two-to-three correct
subtractions, and 3 points if the participant successfully makes four or five correct
subtractions. Count each correct subtraction of 7 beginning at 100. Each subtraction
is evaluated independently; that is, if the participant responds with an incorrect
number but continues to correctly subtract 7 from it, give a point for each correct
subtraction. For example, a participant may respond "92 - 85 - 78 - 71 - 64" where
the "92" is incorrect, but all subsequent numbers are subtracted correctly. This is
one error and the item would be given a score of 3.
Page 4 of 75
Actual Exam Questions and Correct Answers
Question 1
Visuoconstructional Skills (Clock):
Correct Answer
-Administration: Indicate the right third of the space and give the following
instructions: "Draw a clock. Put in all the numbers and set the time to 10 past 11".
-Scoring: One point is allocated for each of the following three criteria:• Contour (1
pt.): the clock face must be a circle with only minor distortion acceptable (e.g., slight
imperfection on closing the circle);• Numbers (1 pt.): all clock numbers must be
present with no additional numbers; numbersmust be in the correct order and
placed in the approximate quadrants on the clock face; Roman numerals are
acceptable; numbers can be placed outside the circle contour;• Hands (1 pt.): there
must be two hands jointly indicating the correct time; the hour hand must be clearly
shorter than the minute hand; hands must be centered within the clock face with
their junction close to the clock center.A point is not assigned for a given element if
any of the above-criteria are not met.
Question 2
Normal Controls
Correct Answer
27.4
Page 1 of 75
,Question 3
Visuoconstructional Skills (box)
Correct Answer
-Administration: The examiner gives the following instructions, pointing to the cube:
"Copy this drawing as accurately as you can, in the space below".
-Scoring: One point is allocated for a correctly executed drawing.• Drawing must be
three-dimensional• All lines are drawn• No line is added• Lines are relatively parallel
and their length is similar (rectangular prisms are accepted)A point is not assigned if
any of the above-criteria are not met.
Question 4
MoCa scoring
Correct Answer
-Total Possible Score is 30
-Score ABOVE 26 is considered NORMAL
Question 5
Attention: Vigilance
Correct Answer
-Administration: The examiner reads the list of letters at a rate of one per second,
after giving the following instruction: "I am going to read a sequence of letters.
Every time I say the letter A, tap your hand once. If I say a different letter, do not tap
your hand".
-Scoring: Give one point if there is zero to one errors (an error is a tap on a wrong
letter or a failure to tap on letter A).
Page 2 of 75
,Question 6
Delayed recall:
Correct Answer
-Administration: The examiner gives the following instruction: "I read some words to
you earlier, which I asked you to remember. Tell me as many of those words as you
can remember." Make a check mark ( √ ) for each of the words correctly recalled
spontaneously without any cues, in the allocated space.
-Scoring: Allocate 1 point for each word recalled freely without any cues.
Question 7
Attention: Backward Digit Span:
Correct Answer
-Administration: Give the following instruction: "Now I am going to say some more
numbers, but when I am through you must repeat them to me in the backwards
order." Read the three number sequence at a rate of one digit per second.
-Scoring: Allocate one point for each sequence correctly repeated, (N.B.: the correct
response for the backwards trial is 2-4-7).
Question 8
Naming:
Correct Answer
-Administration: Beginning on the left, point to each figure and say: "Tell me the
name of this animal
-Scoring: One point each is given for the following responses: (1) lion (2) rhinoceros
or rhino (3) camel or dromedary.
Page 3 of 75
, Question 9
Attention: -Forward Digit Span:
Correct Answer
-Administration: Give the following instruction: "I am going to say some numbers
and when I am through, repeat them to me exactly as I said them". Read the five
number sequence at a rate of one digit per second.
-Scoring: Allocate one point for each sequence correctly repeated,
Question 10
Attention: Serial 7s:
Correct Answer
-Administration: The examiner gives the following instruction: "Now, I will ask you to
count by subtracting seven from 100, and then, keep subtracting seven from your
answer until I tell you to stop." Give this instruction twice if necessary.
-Scoring: This item is scored out of 3 points. Give no (0) points for no correct
subtractions, 1point for one correction subtraction, 2 points for two-to-three correct
subtractions, and 3 points if the participant successfully makes four or five correct
subtractions. Count each correct subtraction of 7 beginning at 100. Each subtraction
is evaluated independently; that is, if the participant responds with an incorrect
number but continues to correctly subtract 7 from it, give a point for each correct
subtraction. For example, a participant may respond "92 - 85 - 78 - 71 - 64" where
the "92" is incorrect, but all subsequent numbers are subtracted correctly. This is
one error and the item would be given a score of 3.
Page 4 of 75
