MoCA Memory 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the MoCA memory encoding trial, the examiner reads the five words at a rate of approximately:
- One per 3 seconds
- One per second (Correct answer)
- Two per second
- As fast as possible
Correct answer: One per second
The five words should be read at a steady pace of one word per second to maintain standardized administration and allow adequate processing without rushing the patient.
Question 2: After the first reading of the MoCA words, the patient is asked to:
- Write down the words
- Draw pictures of the words
- Say the words in the order they were read
- Say as many words as they can remember in any order (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Say as many words as they can remember in any order
After each reading trial, the patient is asked to recall as many words as possible in any order (immediate recall). This tells the examiner how many words were initially encoded.
Question 3: Points for the MoCA memory section are recorded at:
- The immediate recall trial only
- Both the immediate and delayed recall trials
- The delayed recall trial only (Correct answer)
- The average of both recall trials
Correct answer: The delayed recall trial only
In standard MoCA scoring, the 5-point memory score is recorded only for the DELAYED recall trial (after approximately 5 minutes), not for the immediate recall trials. Immediate recall is used for encoding only.
Question 4: The MoCA memory domain score reflects performance on which specific task?
- Digit span
- Serial 7 subtraction
- Delayed recall of five words (Correct answer)
- Sentence repetition
Correct answer: Delayed recall of five words
The memory domain score on the MoCA represents the delayed recall trial — the number of the five target words recalled without cues after approximately 5 minutes have elapsed.
Question 5: How does the MoCA approach the initial word presentation to maximize encoding?
- By presenting words only once to avoid practice effects
- By reading words twice across two trials (Correct answer)
- By presenting visual images alongside each word
- By repeating words three times
Correct answer: By reading words twice across two trials
Words are presented twice to give the patient two encoding opportunities. After each trial, immediate recall is tested. This repetition increases initial learning without adding scored memory points.
Question 6: A patient freely recalls 2 of 5 words on the delayed trial, then gets 2 more with category cues. What is their standard scored memory performance?
- 4 points (free + cued)
- 2 points (free recall only) (Correct answer)
- 3 points (free plus half credit for cued)
- 0 points because they needed cues
Correct answer: 2 points (free recall only)
The 5-point delayed recall score counts only free recalls. Two freely recalled words = 2 points. Category-cued words are noted for clinical interpretation but do not count toward the scored 5-point total.
MoCA Memory 2
During the MoCA memory encoding trial, the examiner reads the five words at a rate of approximately: