NIH STROKE SCALE ALL TEST GROUPS A-F
PATIENTS 1-6 EXAM SCRIPT 2026
COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER KEY UPDATED
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Score 1. Answer: Alert; keenly responsive.
⩥ Score 2. Answer: Not Alert; but arousable by minor stimulation to
obey, answer, or respond.
⩥ Score 3. Answer: Not Alert; requires repeated stimulation to attend, or
is obtunded and requires strong or painful stimulation to make
movements.
⩥ Score 1b - LOC Questions. Answer: The patient is asked the month
and his/her age. The answer must be correct - there is no partial credit
for being close.
⩥ Score 1b - Score 1. Answer: Answers both questions correctly.
⩥ Score 1b - Score 2. Answer: Answers one question correctly.
⩥ Score 1b - Score 3. Answer: Answers neither question correctly.
, ⩥ Score 1c - LOC Commands. Answer: The patient is asked to open and
close the eyes and then to grip and release the nonparetic hand.
⩥ Score 1c - Score 1. Answer: Performs both tasks correctly.
⩥ Score 1c - Score 2. Answer: Performs one task correctly.
⩥ Score 1c - Score 3. Answer: Performs neither task correctly.
⩥ Best Gaze. Answer: Only horizontal eye movements will be tested.
Voluntary or reflexive (oculocephalic) eye movements will be scored,
but caloric testing is not done.
⩥ Best Gaze - Score 1. Answer: Normal.
⩥ Best Gaze - Score 2. Answer: Partial gaze palsy; gaze is abnormal in
one or both eyes, but forced deviation or total gaze paresis is not present.
⩥ Best Gaze - Score 3. Answer: Forced deviation, or total gaze paresis is
not overcome by the oculocephalic maneuver.
PATIENTS 1-6 EXAM SCRIPT 2026
COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER KEY UPDATED
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Score 1. Answer: Alert; keenly responsive.
⩥ Score 2. Answer: Not Alert; but arousable by minor stimulation to
obey, answer, or respond.
⩥ Score 3. Answer: Not Alert; requires repeated stimulation to attend, or
is obtunded and requires strong or painful stimulation to make
movements.
⩥ Score 1b - LOC Questions. Answer: The patient is asked the month
and his/her age. The answer must be correct - there is no partial credit
for being close.
⩥ Score 1b - Score 1. Answer: Answers both questions correctly.
⩥ Score 1b - Score 2. Answer: Answers one question correctly.
⩥ Score 1b - Score 3. Answer: Answers neither question correctly.
, ⩥ Score 1c - LOC Commands. Answer: The patient is asked to open and
close the eyes and then to grip and release the nonparetic hand.
⩥ Score 1c - Score 1. Answer: Performs both tasks correctly.
⩥ Score 1c - Score 2. Answer: Performs one task correctly.
⩥ Score 1c - Score 3. Answer: Performs neither task correctly.
⩥ Best Gaze. Answer: Only horizontal eye movements will be tested.
Voluntary or reflexive (oculocephalic) eye movements will be scored,
but caloric testing is not done.
⩥ Best Gaze - Score 1. Answer: Normal.
⩥ Best Gaze - Score 2. Answer: Partial gaze palsy; gaze is abnormal in
one or both eyes, but forced deviation or total gaze paresis is not present.
⩥ Best Gaze - Score 3. Answer: Forced deviation, or total gaze paresis is
not overcome by the oculocephalic maneuver.
