NIH STROKE SCALE ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 |
Complete Certification Answer Key | All Groups
A-F (Patients 1-6) | Verified | Pass Guaranteed -
A+ Graded
1. What does Item 1A of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness (LOC) – responsiveness to stimuli
B. Language skills
C. Motor function
D. Sensory function
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Item 1A assesses the patient's level of consciousness (LOC) and
responsiveness to stimuli. It is scored 0-3: 0 = Alert, 1 = Drowsy but arousable, 2 =
Obtunded, 3 = Coma/unresponsive .
2. A patient who is drowsy but arouses to minor stimulation (such as calling their
name) would receive what score on Item 1A?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A patient who is drowsy but arousable to minor stimulation scores 1 on Item
1A. Score 0 = Alert; 2 = Obtunded (requires repeated stimulation); 3 = Coma .
3. What does Item 1B of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Language skills
C. Orientation – awareness of person, place, and time
D. Motor function
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Item 1B assesses orientation by asking the patient their age and the current
month. It is scored 0-2: 0 = Both questions answered correctly, 1 = One answered
correctly, 2 = Neither answered correctly .
4. A patient who can state their age but not the current month would receive what
score on Item 1B?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Item 1B is scored as 0 (both questions correct), 1 (one correct), or 2 (neither
correct). The patient receives 1 point for answering their age correctly but not the
current month .
5. What does Item 1C of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Language skills
C. Commands – ability to follow simple commands
D. Motor function
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Item 1C assesses the patient's ability to follow simple commands. The patient
is asked to open and close their eyes and then grip and release the examiner's hand. It is
scored 0-2 .
6. A patient who can open and close their eyes but cannot grip and release the
examiner's hand would receive what score on Item 1C?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Item 1C is scored as 0 (both commands performed), 1 (one performed), or 2
,(neither performed). The patient receives 1 point for performing one command but not
the other .
7. A patient who requires painful stimulation to elicit a response receives what
score on Item 1A?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A patient who requires repeated stimulation to arouse scores 2 on Item 1A.
This indicates obtundation—requiring painful stimulation to elicit a response .
8. What is the maximum score for Item 1 (Level of Consciousness) combined?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 6
D. 8
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The maximum combined score for Item 1 is 6 (1A=3, 1B=2, 1C=2) .
SECTION 2: BEST GAZE (Questions 11-20)
9. What does Item 2 of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Eye movements (Best Gaze)
C. Language skills
D. Motor function
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Item 2 assesses best gaze (eye movements). The examiner tests horizontal
eye movements by asking the patient to follow the examiner's finger or a target. It is
scored 0-2 .
, 10. A patient with a conjugate gaze deviation to the right would score what on
Item 2?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A conjugate gaze deviation (forced eye deviation) that cannot be overcome
scores 2 on Item 2. Score 0 = Normal; 1 = Partial gaze palsy; 2 = Forced gaze deviation .
SECTION 3: VISUAL FIELDS (Questions 21-30)
11. What does Item 3 of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Eye movements
C. Visual fields
D. Motor function
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Item 3 assesses visual fields. The examiner uses finger counting or visual
threat to test each quadrant. It is scored 0-3 .
12. A patient with a visual field deficit in one quadrant (quadrantanopia) would
score what on Item 3?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A visual field deficit in one quadrant (quadrantanopia) scores 1 on Item 3.
Score 0 = Normal; 1 = Partial hemianopia; 2 = Complete hemianopia; 3 = Bilateral
hemianopia .
Complete Certification Answer Key | All Groups
A-F (Patients 1-6) | Verified | Pass Guaranteed -
A+ Graded
1. What does Item 1A of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness (LOC) – responsiveness to stimuli
B. Language skills
C. Motor function
D. Sensory function
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Item 1A assesses the patient's level of consciousness (LOC) and
responsiveness to stimuli. It is scored 0-3: 0 = Alert, 1 = Drowsy but arousable, 2 =
Obtunded, 3 = Coma/unresponsive .
2. A patient who is drowsy but arouses to minor stimulation (such as calling their
name) would receive what score on Item 1A?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A patient who is drowsy but arousable to minor stimulation scores 1 on Item
1A. Score 0 = Alert; 2 = Obtunded (requires repeated stimulation); 3 = Coma .
3. What does Item 1B of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Language skills
C. Orientation – awareness of person, place, and time
D. Motor function
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Item 1B assesses orientation by asking the patient their age and the current
month. It is scored 0-2: 0 = Both questions answered correctly, 1 = One answered
correctly, 2 = Neither answered correctly .
4. A patient who can state their age but not the current month would receive what
score on Item 1B?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Item 1B is scored as 0 (both questions correct), 1 (one correct), or 2 (neither
correct). The patient receives 1 point for answering their age correctly but not the
current month .
5. What does Item 1C of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Language skills
C. Commands – ability to follow simple commands
D. Motor function
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Item 1C assesses the patient's ability to follow simple commands. The patient
is asked to open and close their eyes and then grip and release the examiner's hand. It is
scored 0-2 .
6. A patient who can open and close their eyes but cannot grip and release the
examiner's hand would receive what score on Item 1C?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Item 1C is scored as 0 (both commands performed), 1 (one performed), or 2
,(neither performed). The patient receives 1 point for performing one command but not
the other .
7. A patient who requires painful stimulation to elicit a response receives what
score on Item 1A?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A patient who requires repeated stimulation to arouse scores 2 on Item 1A.
This indicates obtundation—requiring painful stimulation to elicit a response .
8. What is the maximum score for Item 1 (Level of Consciousness) combined?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 6
D. 8
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The maximum combined score for Item 1 is 6 (1A=3, 1B=2, 1C=2) .
SECTION 2: BEST GAZE (Questions 11-20)
9. What does Item 2 of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Eye movements (Best Gaze)
C. Language skills
D. Motor function
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Item 2 assesses best gaze (eye movements). The examiner tests horizontal
eye movements by asking the patient to follow the examiner's finger or a target. It is
scored 0-2 .
, 10. A patient with a conjugate gaze deviation to the right would score what on
Item 2?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A conjugate gaze deviation (forced eye deviation) that cannot be overcome
scores 2 on Item 2. Score 0 = Normal; 1 = Partial gaze palsy; 2 = Forced gaze deviation .
SECTION 3: VISUAL FIELDS (Questions 21-30)
11. What does Item 3 of the NIH Stroke Scale assess?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Eye movements
C. Visual fields
D. Motor function
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Item 3 assesses visual fields. The examiner uses finger counting or visual
threat to test each quadrant. It is scored 0-3 .
12. A patient with a visual field deficit in one quadrant (quadrantanopia) would
score what on Item 3?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A visual field deficit in one quadrant (quadrantanopia) scores 1 on Item 3.
Score 0 = Normal; 1 = Partial hemianopia; 2 = Complete hemianopia; 3 = Bilateral
hemianopia .
