NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Exam – All Test Groups A–F Patients 1–6 Answer

NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Exam – All Test
Groups A–F Patients 1–6 Answer
This document provides the gold standard answer keys for the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
certification exams across all test groups (A through F) and patient scenarios (1 through 6).
These scores are used to verify competency in administering and scoring the NIHSS for
acute stroke assessment.

, Test Group A

Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient
NIHSS Item
1 2 3 4 5 6

1a: Level of
0 0 0 0 0 0
Consciousness

1b: LOC Questions 0 2 0 0 1 0

1c: LOC Commands 0 0 0 0 0 0

2: Best Gaze 0 0 0 0 0 0

3: Visual Fields 0 0 0 0 2 0

4: Facial Palsy 1 1 1 1 2 0

5a: Left Arm Motor 3 0 0 0 4 0

5b: Right Arm Motor 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

6b: Right Leg Motor 0 0 2 0 0 1

7: Limb Ataxia 1 0 0 0 1 0

8: Sensory 2 1 1 1 1 1

9: Best Language 0 2 0 0 1 0

10: Dysarthria 0 1 1 0 0 0

11: Extinction/Inattention 1 0 0 0 1 0