APEX NIH STROKE SCALE – GROUP A PATIENTS
1–6 PRACTICE EXAM (2026) QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
1. Patient 1 opens eyes only after repeated painful stimulus. How is Level
of Consciousness (LOC) scored?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: C
Rationale: Eye opening only to repeated or painful stimulation is scored
as LOC 2.
2. Patient 1 correctly states their age but gives the wrong month. LOC
Questions score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. Not testable
Answer: B
Rationale: One correct answer equals a score of 1.
3. Patient 1 follows one command but not the second. LOC
Commands score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: B
Rationale: Following only one command scores 1.
4. Patient 2 has a normal gaze with full voluntary eye movements. Best
, gaze score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: A
Rationale: Normal horizontal eye movements score 0.
5. Patient 2 has forced deviation of eyes to the left that cannot be
overcome. Best gaze score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: C
Rationale: Forced deviation scores 2.
6. Patient 3 has complete hemianopia on the right side. Visual fields score
is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: C
Rationale: Complete hemianopia equals a score of 2.
7. Patient 3 ignores visual stimuli on both sides. Visual score is:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 0
Answer: C
Rationale: Bilateral blindness scores 3.
8. Patient 4 shows minor facial asymmetry when smiling. Facial palsy
score is:
, A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: B
Rationale: Minor paralysis scores 1.
9. Patient 4 has complete paralysis of one side of the face. Facial palsy
score is:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 0
Answer: C
Rationale: Complete facial paralysis scores 3.
10. Patient 5’s left arm drifts down but does not hit the bed.
Motor arm score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: B
Rationale: Drift without hitting the bed scores 1.
11. Patient 5’s right arm falls rapidly and hits the bed. Motor arm score
is:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C
Rationale: Some effort against gravity but falls scores 3.
12. Patient 6 shows no movement in the left arm. Motor arm score
1–6 PRACTICE EXAM (2026) QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
1. Patient 1 opens eyes only after repeated painful stimulus. How is Level
of Consciousness (LOC) scored?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: C
Rationale: Eye opening only to repeated or painful stimulation is scored
as LOC 2.
2. Patient 1 correctly states their age but gives the wrong month. LOC
Questions score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. Not testable
Answer: B
Rationale: One correct answer equals a score of 1.
3. Patient 1 follows one command but not the second. LOC
Commands score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: B
Rationale: Following only one command scores 1.
4. Patient 2 has a normal gaze with full voluntary eye movements. Best
, gaze score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: A
Rationale: Normal horizontal eye movements score 0.
5. Patient 2 has forced deviation of eyes to the left that cannot be
overcome. Best gaze score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: C
Rationale: Forced deviation scores 2.
6. Patient 3 has complete hemianopia on the right side. Visual fields score
is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: C
Rationale: Complete hemianopia equals a score of 2.
7. Patient 3 ignores visual stimuli on both sides. Visual score is:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 0
Answer: C
Rationale: Bilateral blindness scores 3.
8. Patient 4 shows minor facial asymmetry when smiling. Facial palsy
score is:
, A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: B
Rationale: Minor paralysis scores 1.
9. Patient 4 has complete paralysis of one side of the face. Facial palsy
score is:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 0
Answer: C
Rationale: Complete facial paralysis scores 3.
10. Patient 5’s left arm drifts down but does not hit the bed.
Motor arm score is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Answer: B
Rationale: Drift without hitting the bed scores 1.
11. Patient 5’s right arm falls rapidly and hits the bed. Motor arm score
is:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C
Rationale: Some effort against gravity but falls scores 3.
12. Patient 6 shows no movement in the left arm. Motor arm score
