Glasgow Coma Scale

Assess level of consciousness by selecting Eye, Verbal, and Motor responses to calculate the GCS score and severity classification.

Use the Glasgow Coma Scale

Eye Opening (E)

Verbal Response (V)

Motor Response (M)

Medical disclaimer: This tool is intended for educational and reference purposes only. GCS assessment requires direct patient evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional. Do not use this tool as a substitute for clinical judgment or professional medical advice.

GCS Result

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Eye (E)
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Verbal (V)
—
Motor (M)
Total GCS Score
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(Range: 3 – 15)
3 (Severe) 15 (Normal)
Severity Reference
Mild injury GCS 13–15
Moderate injury GCS 9–12
Severe injury GCS 3–8

Summary

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a standardized neurological assessment tool used to objectively evaluate a patient's level of consciousness. It scores three components — Eye opening (1–4), Verbal response (1–5), and Motor response (1–6) — for a total ranging from 3 (deep unconsciousness) to 15 (fully alert). GCS is widely used in emergency medicine, trauma care, and intensive care units.

How it works

  1. Select the best Eye Opening response observed, scored 1 to 4.
  2. Select the best Verbal Response, scored 1 to 5.
  3. Select the best Motor Response, scored 1 to 6.
  4. The tool sums the three subscores into a total GCS of 3 to 15 and classifies severity as Mild (13–15), Moderate (9–12), or Severe (3–8).

Use cases

  • Initial neurological assessment of trauma patients in emergency settings.
  • Monitoring changes in a patient's conscious state over time in the ICU.
  • Triage decisions for head injury severity in pre-hospital care.
  • Communicating level of consciousness consistently across clinical teams.
  • Predicting outcomes and guiding treatment intensity for brain injury patients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-30 · Reviewed by Nham Vu