MoCA Orientation to Time 5

Question 1

A 72-year-old retired teacher takes the MoCA in a memory clinic. She states the correct year and month but says today is Tuesday when it is Thursday. How many time orientation points does she earn?

Accepted Answer

2 points

Answer

Correct year and month each earn 1 point; the wrong day earns 0, giving 2 time orientation points.

Question 2

Which of the following patients would be expected to show the LEAST impairment on MoCA time orientation?

Accepted Answer

A 68-year-old with mild depression but no cognitive diagnosis

Answer

Mild depression without a cognitive diagnosis typically does not cause significant time disorientation, unlike the dementia conditions listed.

Question 3

During training, a MoCA examiner asks whether they should help a struggling patient by offering the month as a multiple-choice option. What is the correct answer?

Accepted Answer

No — the MoCA orientation section requires free recall without cues or choices.

Answer

The MoCA orientation items must be answered by free recall; providing answer choices would invalidate the item and is not part of the standardized protocol.

Question 4

A patient who recently moved to a nursing home correctly names the city but calls the facility 'home' instead of its name. How is the place item scored?

Accepted Answer

0 points — the patient must name the specific type of place (e.g., clinic, hospital, nursing home).

Answer

The MoCA place item requires naming the type of facility or specific location; 'home' is not acceptable for a nursing facility, earning 0 points for that item.

Question 5

A clinician administers the MoCA to a patient with suspected mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The patient scores 4 out of 6 on orientation. Which interpretation is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Mild difficulty with orientation, consistent with MCI and warranting further evaluation.

Answer

A score of 4/6 on orientation suggests some difficulty, which is consistent with MCI and supports further diagnostic workup.

(MoCA) Montreal Cognitive Assessment Practice Test

(MoCA) Montreal Cognitive Assessment Practice Test

MoCA Orientation to Time 5