Online Mini-Mental State Examination

Interactive MMSE Cognitive Assessment Tool

What is the MMSE?

The MMSE, or Mini-Mental State Examination, is a 30-point test that screens for cognitive impairment by assessing memory, attention, language, and orientation. It consists of 11 questions covering areas like recalling a list of words, calculating, and naming objects, and typically takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. While useful for screening and tracking changes, it is not a diagnostic tool on its own and is used alongside other assessments for a full diagnosis.

What the Test Involves

  • Orientation: Questions about the current date, day of the week, year, and location.
  • Registration and Recall: Remembering a short list of words given at the beginning of the test.
  • Attention and Calculation: Performing simple arithmetic, like serial sevens (subtracting 7 from 100) or spelling a word backward.
  • Language: Naming objects, repeating a phrase, following commands, and reading a sentence to follow a written instruction.
  • Visuospatial Skills: Copying a complex geometric figure, such as two intersecting pentagons.

How It's Used and Its Limitations

  • Screening: The MMSE is a screening tool to help identify potential cognitive problems like memory loss or thinking difficulties.
  • Tracking Changes: Doctors use it to track a person's cognitive function over time and document their response to treatment.
  • Not a Diagnosis: A low score indicates a need for further investigation, as it is not a definitive diagnosis. It cannot differentiate between causes of cognitive issues like Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
  • Factors Affecting Scores: Scores can be influenced by factors like sensory impairments, educational background, language barriers, and cultural differences.

Scoring and Interpretation

The MMSE is scored out of a maximum of 30 points. Scores are interpreted in the context of a person's overall health and other factors, not in isolation.

  • 24-30 points: Normal cognitive function
  • 20-23 points: Mild cognitive impairment
  • 10-19 points: Moderate cognitive impairment
  • 0-9 points: Severe cognitive impairment

1. Orientation - Time (5 points)

2. Orientation - Place (5 points)

3. Registration (3 points)

Please remember the following three words. You will be asked to recall them later.

4. Attention and Calculation (5 points)

5. Recall (3 points)

Write down the three words you remembered earlier.

6. Language - Naming (2 points)

Write the name of the following objects.

7. Language - Repetition (1 point)

Repeat the following sentence exactly.

8. Language - Three-stage Command (3 points)

Read the following instructions and check the boxes as you complete them.

9. Language - Reading and Obeying (1 point)

Read the sentence below, do what it says, and then check the box.

10. Language - Writing (1 point)

Write any complete sentence. (Must have a subject and verb)

11. Visuospatial - Drawing (1 point)

Copy the shape below exactly.

Test Results

0 / 30 points

Frequently asked questions about the MMSE

Is this online MMSE test free?

Yes. It is completely free, needs no sign-up, and runs in your browser. Your answers are not sent anywhere.

How long does the MMSE take?

About 5 to 10 minutes. It has 11 questions worth 30 points in total.

What is a normal MMSE score?

On this page, 24–30 points is read as normal, 20–23 as mild, 10–19 as moderate and 0–9 as severe cognitive impairment. Age, education, language, hearing or vision problems, tiredness and anxiety can all change the score.

Can the MMSE diagnose dementia?

No. The MMSE is a screening test. A low score means further checking is needed, not that a person has dementia. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis, using a full examination.

What is the difference between the MMSE and the MoCA?

Both are short screening tests scored out of 30. The MoCA includes more tasks on planning and attention and is often considered more sensitive to mild changes; the MMSE is older and widely used to track changes over time.

What should I do if my score is low?

Do not panic: one low score is not a diagnosis. Note the result and the date, and talk to a family doctor or a memory clinic, especially if you or your family have noticed changes in memory or daily life.

Written by Charlie Shine, Ph.D., brain scientist. For education and screening only — not medical advice.

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