MMSE - Mini-Mental State Examination Reading and Writing Tasks Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient is given a piece of paper with "CLOSE YOUR EYES" written on it and is instructed to read it and do what it says.
The patient reads the phrase aloud correctly but makes no motion to close their eyes.
How should the examiner score this response?

Accepted Answer

0 points, because the point is awarded for performing the commanded action.

Answer

1 point, because the patient demonstrated they could read the phrase.

Answer

0 points, unless the examiner repeats the instruction.

Answer

1 point, but only after prompting the patient to perform the action.

Question 2

When administering the writing task, an examiner asks the patient to write any complete sentence. The patient writes, "weather is nice". Which of the following is the correct score and rationale?

Accepted Answer

1 point, because the sentence contains a subject and a verb and is sensible.

Answer

0 points, because the sentence is not capitalized and lacks punctuation.

Answer

0 points, because the examiner should have provided a topic for the sentence.

Answer

1 point, but the examiner should correct the spelling of 'weather' for the patient.

Question 3

Which of the following patient responses to the command to "Write any complete sentence" would be scored as 1 point?

Accepted Answer

"it is cold"

Answer

The patient's signature

Answer

"Going to the store"

Answer

"For my family"

Question 4

During the visuoconstruction task, a patient is asked to copy two intersecting pentagons. The patient draws two five-sided figures that are perfectly formed, but they are placed next to each other on the page and do not intersect. What is the correct score?

Accepted Answer

0 points, because the figures must intersect to receive credit.

Answer

1 point, because both shapes were correctly drawn as pentagons.

Answer

0.5 points, as a partial credit for drawing the shapes correctly.

Answer

1 point, because the primary task is to assess shape formation, not placement.

Question 5

The MMSE task that requires a patient to write a spontaneous sentence primarily assesses which of the following cognitive abilities?

Accepted Answer

Spontaneous language production and executive function

Answer

Fine motor skills and dexterity

Answer

Visuospatial processing

Answer

Auditory comprehension

Question 6

An examiner is scoring the intersecting pentagons copying task. Which of the following conditions should be ignored and NOT result in a point deduction, according to standard MMSE scoring guidelines?

Accepted Answer

The patient draws two correct pentagons that intersect, but the lines are very shaky.

Answer

The patient draws one figure with six sides.

Answer

The patient draws two closed circles that intersect.

Answer

The patient draws two pentagons that do not touch.