MoCA Language 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On the MoCA naming task, a patient correctly identifies the camel but calls the rhinoceros a "hippo." The naming score for those two items is:
- 2 points — both are large animals
- 1 point — camel correct, rhinoceros incorrect (Correct answer)
- 1.5 points — partial credit for rhino
- 0 points — all or nothing
Correct answer: 1 point — camel correct, rhinoceros incorrect
Each animal name is scored independently. Camel = 1 point (correct). Rhinoceros called "hippo" = 0 points (incorrect). Partial credit is not given; exact or clearly equivalent names are required.
Question 2: What is the purpose of the sentence repetition task in the MoCA language domain?
- To measure vocabulary size
- To assess reading ability
- To test verbal working memory and syntactic language processing (Correct answer)
- To measure speech articulation only
Correct answer: To test verbal working memory and syntactic language processing
The sentence repetition task tests verbal working memory, phonological processing, and syntactic comprehension. It reflects language processing at the sentence level, beyond single word naming.
Question 3: The MoCA language domain contributes a maximum of how many points to the total score?
- 3 points
- 4 points
- 5 points (Correct answer)
- 6 points
Correct answer: 5 points
The language domain totals 5 points: 3 points for naming (one per animal), plus 2 points for sentence repetition (one per sentence).
Question 4: When scoring the MoCA naming task, which response for the camel/dromedary picture is acceptable?
- Only "camel" is accepted
- Only "dromedary" is accepted
- Either "camel" or "dromedary" is accepted (Correct answer)
- "Llama" is also acceptable as a near-equivalent
Correct answer: Either "camel" or "dromedary" is accepted
Either "camel" or "dromedary" is accepted as a correct response for that animal, since dromedary is the correct scientific term. Both terms refer to the same animal.
Question 5: Why is language assessed in a screening tool like the MoCA?
- Because language testing is fast and easy to score
- Because language deficits are uncommon in dementia
- Because naming and fluency deficits are early signs of many dementias (Correct answer)
- Because the MoCA replaces full neuropsychological testing
Correct answer: Because naming and fluency deficits are early signs of many dementias
Language impairment (word-finding difficulty, repetition errors, reduced verbal fluency) is a key early sign of many dementias, including Alzheimer's disease and primary progressive aphasia. Including language tasks improves diagnostic sensitivity.
Question 6: The MoCA is administered in English. What should a clinician do when assessing a patient whose primary language is not English?
- Use an interpreter to translate on-the-fly
- Administer in English and note the language barrier
- Use a validated MoCA translation in the patient's primary language (Correct answer)
- Skip the language section and score remaining domains
Correct answer: Use a validated MoCA translation in the patient's primary language
Validated translations of the MoCA exist in over 35 languages. The clinician should use a validated version in the patient's primary language to ensure accurate and fair assessment.
MoCA Language 3
On the MoCA naming task, a patient correctly identifies the camel but calls the rhinoceros a "hippo." The naming score for those two items is: