NIH Stroke Scale EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which NIHSS item assesses a patient’s level of
consciousness?
A) Best Gaze
B) Level of Consciousness (LOC)
C) Motor Arm
D) Facial Palsy
Correct Answer: B) Level of Consciousness
Rationale: LOC measures alertness and responsiveness, which is
the first item in NIHSS.
2. When assessing LOC, which of the following is evaluated?
A) Orientation
B) Ability to follow commands
C) Responsiveness
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: LOC includes questions, commands, and
responsiveness to stimuli.
,3. Which NIHSS item measures visual field deficits?
A) Best Gaze
B) Visual Fields
C) Sensory
D) Language
Correct Answer: B) Visual Fields
Rationale: This item checks for hemianopia or other visual field
loss.
4. How is "Best Gaze" assessed?
A) Asking the patient to follow a moving object with their eyes
B) Asking the patient to read letters
C) Checking for facial symmetry
D) Testing hand grip strength
Correct Answer: A) Asking the patient to follow a moving object
with their eyes
Rationale: Best Gaze assesses horizontal eye movements and
cranial nerve function.
5. Which NIHSS item evaluates facial symmetry?
A) Facial Palsy
B) Motor Leg
C) Dysarthria
D) Sensory
Correct Answer: A) Facial Palsy
,Rationale: Facial Palsy item scores weakness in the facial
muscles.
6. The NIHSS item that evaluates arm strength is:
A) Motor Arm
B) Motor Leg
C) Ataxia
D) Dysarthria
Correct Answer: A) Motor Arm
Rationale: Motor Arm assesses drift or weakness in the arms.
7. How is “Motor Arm” scored if the patient cannot lift the
arm against gravity?
A) 0 points
B) 1 point
C) 2 points
D) 3 points
Correct Answer: C) 2 points
Rationale: 2 points indicates the arm cannot overcome gravity
but has some movement.
8. Which NIHSS item assesses leg strength?
A) Motor Leg
B) Motor Arm
C) Limb Ataxia
, D) Sensory
Correct Answer: A) Motor Leg
Rationale: Motor Leg evaluates drift or paralysis in the legs.
9. How is limb ataxia assessed?
A) Finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin tests
B) Observing facial expressions
C) Testing visual fields
D) Asking the patient to speak
Correct Answer: A) Finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin tests
Rationale: These tests detect incoordination due to cerebellar
dysfunction.
10. Which NIHSS item tests for sensory deficits?
A) Sensory
B) Dysarthria
C) Language
D) Visual Fields
Correct Answer: A) Sensory
Rationale: Sensory item evaluates perception of pinprick or
touch in limbs.
11. How is sensory function scored if there is mild to
moderate sensory loss?
A) 0 points
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which NIHSS item assesses a patient’s level of
consciousness?
A) Best Gaze
B) Level of Consciousness (LOC)
C) Motor Arm
D) Facial Palsy
Correct Answer: B) Level of Consciousness
Rationale: LOC measures alertness and responsiveness, which is
the first item in NIHSS.
2. When assessing LOC, which of the following is evaluated?
A) Orientation
B) Ability to follow commands
C) Responsiveness
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: LOC includes questions, commands, and
responsiveness to stimuli.
,3. Which NIHSS item measures visual field deficits?
A) Best Gaze
B) Visual Fields
C) Sensory
D) Language
Correct Answer: B) Visual Fields
Rationale: This item checks for hemianopia or other visual field
loss.
4. How is "Best Gaze" assessed?
A) Asking the patient to follow a moving object with their eyes
B) Asking the patient to read letters
C) Checking for facial symmetry
D) Testing hand grip strength
Correct Answer: A) Asking the patient to follow a moving object
with their eyes
Rationale: Best Gaze assesses horizontal eye movements and
cranial nerve function.
5. Which NIHSS item evaluates facial symmetry?
A) Facial Palsy
B) Motor Leg
C) Dysarthria
D) Sensory
Correct Answer: A) Facial Palsy
,Rationale: Facial Palsy item scores weakness in the facial
muscles.
6. The NIHSS item that evaluates arm strength is:
A) Motor Arm
B) Motor Leg
C) Ataxia
D) Dysarthria
Correct Answer: A) Motor Arm
Rationale: Motor Arm assesses drift or weakness in the arms.
7. How is “Motor Arm” scored if the patient cannot lift the
arm against gravity?
A) 0 points
B) 1 point
C) 2 points
D) 3 points
Correct Answer: C) 2 points
Rationale: 2 points indicates the arm cannot overcome gravity
but has some movement.
8. Which NIHSS item assesses leg strength?
A) Motor Leg
B) Motor Arm
C) Limb Ataxia
, D) Sensory
Correct Answer: A) Motor Leg
Rationale: Motor Leg evaluates drift or paralysis in the legs.
9. How is limb ataxia assessed?
A) Finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin tests
B) Observing facial expressions
C) Testing visual fields
D) Asking the patient to speak
Correct Answer: A) Finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin tests
Rationale: These tests detect incoordination due to cerebellar
dysfunction.
10. Which NIHSS item tests for sensory deficits?
A) Sensory
B) Dysarthria
C) Language
D) Visual Fields
Correct Answer: A) Sensory
Rationale: Sensory item evaluates perception of pinprick or
touch in limbs.
11. How is sensory function scored if there is mild to
moderate sensory loss?
A) 0 points
