NIHSS Group E Answer Key: Patients 1–6 Itemized Scoring & Descriptive Rationale (Spring 2026)

NIHSS Group E Answer Key: Patients
1–6 Itemized Scoring & Descriptive
Rationale (Spring 2026)
Patie Patie Patie Patie Patie Patie
Item nt 1 nt 2 nt 3 nt 4 nt 5 nt 6

1a. LOC 0 0 3 0 0 0

1b. LOC
0 1 2 1 1 0
Questions

1c. LOC
0 0 2 0 0 0
Commands

2. Best Gaze 0 0 2 0 0 0

3. Visual 0 0 2 0 0 0

4. Facial Palsy 0 1 2 3 1 0

5a. Motor Arm
0 0 0 0 0 0
Left

5b. Motor Arm
0 4 4 0 0 0
Right

6a. Motor Leg
0 0 2 0 0 1
Left

6b. Motor Leg
1 3 4 0 2 0
Right

, Patie Patie Patie Patie Patie Patie
Item nt 1 nt 2 nt 3 nt 4 nt 5 nt 6

7. Limb Ataxia 0 0 0 0 0 0

8. Sensory 1 1 1 0 1 1

9. Best Language 0 1 3 0 0 0

10. Dysarthria 0 0 2 1 1 0

11.
Extinction/Inatte 0 1 2 0 0 0
ntion

Total Score 2 11 28 5 6 2

Source: Compiled from verified NIHSS Group E answer keys




Itemized & Descriptive Key by Patient


Patient 1 – "Pretty ok, older white man with mustache and blue eyes"

Item Score Description & Rationale

Alert, keenly responsive. Fully awake, follows
1a. LOC 0 commands appropriately, responds immediately t
questions

1b. LOC Questions 0 Answers both correctly (month and age)