MOCA Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the MOCA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

📋 MOCA Exam Format at a Glance

Questions

20 min

Time Limit

87%

Passing Score

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📚 MOCA Topics to Study (94)

Abstract Thinking · 9 cards Calculation Skills · 9 cards Clock Drawing · 9 cards Delayed Recall · 9 cards Orientation · 9 cards Orientation to Time · 9 cards Sentence Repetition · 9 cards Visuospatial Abilities · 9 cards Word Recall · 9 cards Abstract Thinking · 7 cards Abstract Thinking · 7 cards Abstract Thinking · 7 cards Abstract Thinking · 7 cards Attention and Concentration · 7 cards Attention and Concentration · 7 cards Attention and Concentration · 7 cards Attention and Concentration · 7 cards Calculation Skills · 7 cards Calculation Skills · 7 cards Calculation Skills · 7 cards Calculation Skills · 7 cards Clock Drawing · 7 cards Clock Drawing · 7 cards Clock Drawing · 7 cards Clock Drawing · 7 cards Delayed Recall · 7 cards Delayed Recall · 7 cards Delayed Recall · 7 cards Delayed Recall · 7 cards Executive Functioning · 7 cards

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✍️ Sample MOCA Questions & Answers

1. When evaluating calculation ability with the MoCA serial 7 task, clinicians should be cautious interpreting low scores in patients who:

✓ Have limited formal education or low numeracy backgrounds

Education and cultural background strongly influence performance on arithmetic tasks. Low serial 7 scores in individuals with limited formal education may not reflect cognitive impairment.

2. The word DAISY in the MoCA word list belongs to which semantic category, and why is that category included?

✓ It is a flower — included to represent the living things/plant semantic category

DAISY is a flower. Five distinct categories (person feature, texture/fabric, building, flower, color) are used to ensure the words span different semantic fields, preventing inter-item semantic associations that could assist recall.

3. Which of the following is NOT part of the standard MoCA word recall protocol?

✓ Asking the patient to write down the words

The MoCA word recall is an oral test; patients are never asked to write the words down.

4. A patient correctly names the lion and camel but calls the rhinoceros a 'big animal.' What is their naming score?

✓ 2

The patient correctly named 2 of 3 animals, earning 2 points; a vague description like 'big animal' does not receive credit.

5. Which neurological condition is particularly associated with severely impaired visuospatial performance on the MoCA?

✓ Lewy body dementia and posterior cortical atrophy

Lewy body dementia and posterior cortical atrophy (a variant of Alzheimer's disease) are strongly associated with prominent visuospatial deficits, often more severe than memory deficits at early stages.

6. After completing sentence repetition, the MoCA later tests delayed recall. How does this sequence benefit the assessment?

✓ It ensures sentence repetition does not contaminate the word list recall

The MoCA's structure separates different memory stimuli so that sentence repetition does not interfere with the word list used in delayed recall.

🎯 Free MOCA Practice Tests

Abstract Thinking · 9 questions Visuospatial Abilities · 9 questions Word Recall · 9 questions Calculation Skills · 9 questions Orientation · 9 questions Delayed Recall · 9 questions Orientation to Time · 9 questions Sentence Repetition · 9 questions Clock Drawing · 9 questions Naming · 7 questions

📖 MOCA Guides & Articles

Your MOCA Study Path

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