Basic resuscitation: Glasgow Coma Scale scoring: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Anaesthesia · Basic resuscitation: Glasgow Coma Scale scoring

Sample item

A patient opens his eyes only to painful stimulus, makes incomprehensible sounds and withdraws from pain. What is his Glasgow Coma Scale score?

A9B8C7D10

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. 8

Eye opening to pain scores 2, incomprehensible sounds score 2 and withdrawal from pain scores 4, giving a total of 8. A score of 8 or less usually indicates the need to protect the airway. The scale runs from 3 to 15.

Option by option

A. 9
A total of 9 would need an extra point somewhere, such as a verbal score of 3.
B. 8 (correct)
Correct. 2 plus 2 plus 4 equals 8.
C. 7
A total of 7 would need a motor score of 3, which is abnormal flexion.
D. 10
A total of 10 would imply eye opening to speech with confusion.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is B, 8. Eye opening to pain scores 2, incomprehensible sounds score 2 and withdrawal from pain scores 4, giving a total of 8.

Why is "9" not the answer?

A total of 9 would need an extra point somewhere, such as a verbal score of 3.

Why is "7" not the answer?

A total of 7 would need a motor score of 3, which is abnormal flexion.

Why is "10" not the answer?

A total of 10 would imply eye opening to speech with confusion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Basic resuscitation: Glasgow Coma Scale scoring in Anaesthesia. A score of 8 or less usually indicates the need to protect the airway. The scale runs from 3 to 15.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Basic resuscitation: Glasgow Coma Scale scoring?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.