The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a 30-point cognitive screening tool used worldwide to detect and monitor cognitive impairment. It assesses orientation in time and place, short-term memory registration and recall, attention and calculation, language comprehension, and visuospatial ability. This free digital adaptation covers all five MMSE domains in a step-by-step format suitable for self-assessment and educational use.
Educational use only. This is a simplified digital adaptation for awareness purposes. It is NOT a substitute for clinical MMSE administration by a healthcare professional. If you have concerns about cognitive function, consult a physician.
Section 1: Orientation
10 questions — 1 point each
Answer the following orientation questions as best you can. Each correct answer earns 1 point.
Any answer is accepted — this tests awareness of location.
Any answer is accepted — this tests awareness of location.
Any answer is accepted — this tests awareness of location.
Any answer is accepted — this tests awareness of setting.
Any answer is accepted.
Section 2: Registration
3 questions — 1 point each
Instructions: Read the three words below carefully. Take a moment to memorize them — you will be asked to recall them later in Section 4.
Now type back the three words you just saw above (in any order, case-insensitive):
Section 3: Attention & Calculation
Serial 7s — 5 points
Instructions: Start from 100 and subtract 7 five times in a row. Enter each result in the boxes below. Each correct subtraction earns 1 point.
Section 4: Recall
3 questions — 1 point each
Instructions: Earlier in Section 2, you were shown three words to memorize. Without looking back, can you recall what those three words were? Type them below.
Leave a box blank if you cannot remember that word (scores 0 for that item).
Section 5: Language & Commands
9 points total
L1. Naming — Name these two common objects (2 points)
What is this object called?
What is this object called?
L2. Repetition — Repeat this phrase exactly (1 point)
"No ifs, ands, or buts."
Were you able to repeat that phrase correctly?
L3. Three-Step Command — Follow these three steps (3 points)
Perform each step in order:
- Take a piece of paper (or imagine doing so) in your right hand.
- Fold it in half.
- Place it on the floor (or table in front of you).
How many of the three steps did you complete correctly?
L4. Read and Follow Instruction (1 point)
CLOSE YOUR EYES
Read the above instruction and follow it. Did you close your eyes?
L5. Write a Sentence (1 point)
Write any spontaneous sentence below. It must contain a subject and a verb to score the point. (e.g. "The sky is blue.")
L6. Copy a Design (1 point)
On a piece of paper, copy the two overlapping shapes shown above. Both shapes must be present and the overlap must be visible to score the point.
Were you able to copy the design accurately?
Your Screening Results
Simplified MMSE Cognitive Screener
Section Breakdown
MMSE Score Reference
Medical Disclaimer
This simplified digital screener is for educational and awareness purposes only. It is NOT a clinical diagnosis. Scores can be affected by education level, age, language, fatigue, anxiety, and many other factors. Only a qualified healthcare professional can administer, interpret, and act on a formal cognitive assessment. If you are concerned about cognitive function — yours or a loved one's — please consult a physician or neurologist.
How to Use the MMSE Cognitive Screener
This free MMSE cognitive screener walks you through five core domains of the Mini-Mental State Examination in a step-by-step digital format. Each section is presented one at a time to mirror the sequential administration of the clinical test.
Step 1: Orientation (10 points)
The first section tests your awareness of time and place. You will be asked the current year, season, month, date, and day of the week, as well as your country, state or province, city, building type, and floor. Answer based on your actual current situation — every correct answer earns 1 point. This section has the highest point value and is highly sensitive to early cognitive changes.
Step 2: Registration (3 points)
Three common words are shown on screen. Read them carefully and try to commit them to memory. You will then be asked to type them back immediately. This immediate recall task tests short-term memory encoding — the ability to take in new information.
Step 3: Attention and Calculation (5 points)
Starting from 100, subtract 7 five times in sequence: 100 → 93 → 86 → 79 → 72 → 65. Each correct subtraction earns 1 point. This serial 7s task assesses working memory and concentration. It is considered one of the most sensitive components of the MMSE cognitive screener for detecting early impairment.
Step 4: Recall (3 points)
Without looking back, you will be asked to recall the three words you memorized in Section 2. Each word correctly recalled earns 1 point. Delayed recall tests whether information was retained across a brief interference period — a hallmark deficit in Alzheimer's-type dementia.
Step 5: Language and Commands (9 points)
The final section covers language comprehension and executive function across six tasks: naming two objects from images, repeating a specific phrase, following a three-step command, reading and obeying a written instruction, writing a spontaneous sentence, and copying a two-pentagon design. Together these 9 points assess a broad range of language and cognitive control abilities.
Interpreting Your MMSE Score
The maximum score is 30 points. Scores of 24–30 are generally considered normal; 19–23 suggest mild cognitive impairment; 10–18 indicate moderate impairment; and 0–9 correspond to severe impairment. However, MMSE scores must always be interpreted in clinical context. Education level, native language, age, anxiety, and acute illness can all affect performance. A single self-administered MMSE cognitive screener score should never be used to draw conclusions about cognitive health without professional evaluation.
FAQ
Is this MMSE cognitive screener free to use?
Yes, this tool is completely free with no account or signup required. All processing runs locally in your browser. No data is ever sent to a server or stored anywhere.
Is my data safe and private?
Yes. All answers and scores are processed entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. No responses, scores, or personal information are ever transmitted or stored. When you close or refresh the page, everything is cleared.
What is the MMSE?
The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a widely used cognitive screening instrument developed by Folstein, Folstein, and McHugh (1975). It evaluates orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills on a 30-point scale. It is used by clinicians to detect and monitor cognitive impairment, including dementia.
What do the MMSE score ranges mean?
Scores are interpreted as: 24–30 Normal cognitive function, 19–23 Mild cognitive impairment, 10–18 Moderate cognitive impairment, 0–9 Severe cognitive impairment. However, scores must be interpreted in clinical context — education level, age, and language can all affect results.
Is this tool a replacement for a clinical MMSE?
No. This is a simplified digital adaptation for educational and awareness purposes only. The official MMSE requires face-to-face administration by a trained clinician, uses specific standardized materials, and must be interpreted in clinical context. A digital self-administered version cannot replicate that.
Who should take a cognitive screening test?
Cognitive screening is typically performed when someone — or their family — notices memory lapses, confusion, difficulty with everyday tasks, or personality changes. If you or someone you care for has concerns about cognitive function, please consult a physician or neurologist rather than relying on a digital screener.
What conditions can affect MMSE scores?
Many factors beyond dementia can lower MMSE scores, including depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, acute illness, low education level, language barriers, and medication effects. Conversely, highly educated individuals can sometimes score normally even with early cognitive decline (the 'education effect').
What should I do if the screener suggests cognitive impairment?
Contact your primary care physician. They can arrange a formal cognitive assessment, blood tests to rule out treatable causes (thyroid, B12, etc.), and referral to a neurologist or memory clinic if needed. Early evaluation matters — some causes of cognitive impairment are reversible.