NIH Stroke Scale – All Test Groups A–F (Patients 1–6) |
Complete Answer Key | Verified and Fully Updated for
2026/2027
Test Group A – Patient 1
1. Level of Consciousness (LOC) – Questions
When asked the current month and their age, the patient responds incorrectly to both.
What score should be recorded?
a. 0 – Answers both correctly
b. 1 – Answers one correctly
c. 2 – Answers both incorrectly
d. 3 – Unresponsive
Answer: c. 2
2. LOC – Commands
The patient is asked to open and close their eyes and to grip and release the examiner's
fingers. They follow both commands correctly.
,a. 0 – Performs both tasks correctly
b. 1 – Performs one task correctly
c. 2 – Performs neither task correctly
Answer: a. 0
3. Best Gaze
The patient can move their eyes fully in both horizontal directions.
a. 0 – Normal
b. 1 – Partial gaze palsy
c. 2 – Forced deviation
Answer: a. 0
4. Visual Fields
The patient sees fingers in all visual fields.
a. 0 – No visual loss
b. 1 – Partial hemianopia
c. 2 – Complete hemianopia
d. 3 – Bilateral blindness
Answer: a. 0
,5. Facial Palsy
The patient has minor weakness with flattening of the nasolabial fold but can still move
their mouth.
a. 0 – Normal
b. 1 – Minor paralysis
c. 2 – Partial paralysis
d. 3 – Complete paralysis
Answer: b. 1
6. Motor Arm – Left
The patient's left arm drifts downward but does not hit the bed.
a. 0 – No drift
b. 1 – Drift
c. 2 – Some effort against gravity
d. 3 – No effort against gravity
e. 4 – No movement
Answer: b. 1
7. Motor Arm – Right
The patient's right arm falls immediately with no effort against gravity.
a. 0 – No drift
b. 1 – Drift
c. 2 – Some effort against gravity
, d. 3 – No effort against gravity
e. 4 – No movement
Answer: d. 3
8. Motor Leg – Left
The left leg maintains position against gravity.
a. 0 – No drift
b. 1 – Drift
c. 2 – Some effort against gravity
d. 3 – No effort against gravity
e. 4 – No movement
Answer: a. 0
9. Motor Leg – Right
The right leg drifts but does not hit the bed.
a. 0 – No drift
b. 1 – Drift
c. 2 – Some effort against gravity
d. 3 – No effort against gravity
e. 4 – No movement
Answer: b. 1
Complete Answer Key | Verified and Fully Updated for
2026/2027
Test Group A – Patient 1
1. Level of Consciousness (LOC) – Questions
When asked the current month and their age, the patient responds incorrectly to both.
What score should be recorded?
a. 0 – Answers both correctly
b. 1 – Answers one correctly
c. 2 – Answers both incorrectly
d. 3 – Unresponsive
Answer: c. 2
2. LOC – Commands
The patient is asked to open and close their eyes and to grip and release the examiner's
fingers. They follow both commands correctly.
,a. 0 – Performs both tasks correctly
b. 1 – Performs one task correctly
c. 2 – Performs neither task correctly
Answer: a. 0
3. Best Gaze
The patient can move their eyes fully in both horizontal directions.
a. 0 – Normal
b. 1 – Partial gaze palsy
c. 2 – Forced deviation
Answer: a. 0
4. Visual Fields
The patient sees fingers in all visual fields.
a. 0 – No visual loss
b. 1 – Partial hemianopia
c. 2 – Complete hemianopia
d. 3 – Bilateral blindness
Answer: a. 0
,5. Facial Palsy
The patient has minor weakness with flattening of the nasolabial fold but can still move
their mouth.
a. 0 – Normal
b. 1 – Minor paralysis
c. 2 – Partial paralysis
d. 3 – Complete paralysis
Answer: b. 1
6. Motor Arm – Left
The patient's left arm drifts downward but does not hit the bed.
a. 0 – No drift
b. 1 – Drift
c. 2 – Some effort against gravity
d. 3 – No effort against gravity
e. 4 – No movement
Answer: b. 1
7. Motor Arm – Right
The patient's right arm falls immediately with no effort against gravity.
a. 0 – No drift
b. 1 – Drift
c. 2 – Some effort against gravity
, d. 3 – No effort against gravity
e. 4 – No movement
Answer: d. 3
8. Motor Leg – Left
The left leg maintains position against gravity.
a. 0 – No drift
b. 1 – Drift
c. 2 – Some effort against gravity
d. 3 – No effort against gravity
e. 4 – No movement
Answer: a. 0
9. Motor Leg – Right
The right leg drifts but does not hit the bed.
a. 0 – No drift
b. 1 – Drift
c. 2 – Some effort against gravity
d. 3 – No effort against gravity
e. 4 – No movement
Answer: b. 1
