MMSE Reading and Writing Tasks 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the MMSE writing task, what is the minimum requirement for a spontaneously written sentence to receive full credit?
- It must contain a subject and a verb and make sense (Correct answer)
- It must be at least five words long
- It must be written in cursive handwriting
- It must include a noun, verb, and adjective
Correct answer: It must contain a subject and a verb and make sense
The written sentence must contain a subject and a verb and make sense; spelling and grammar errors do not affect the score.
Question 2: A patient writes 'Cat run fast' when asked to write a sentence on the MMSE. How should this be scored?
- 1 point, because it has a subject and verb and makes sense (Correct answer)
- 0 points, because it has a grammatical error
- 0 points, because it is too short
- 1 point, but only after asking the patient to correct the grammar
Correct answer: 1 point, because it has a subject and verb and makes sense
The sentence contains a subject (cat) and a verb (run) and makes sense, so it earns 1 point despite the grammatical error.
Question 3: On the MMSE reading task, the patient is shown a card that says 'CLOSE YOUR EYES.' What must the patient do to receive credit?
- Actually close their eyes after reading the command (Correct answer)
- Read the phrase aloud correctly
- Explain what the phrase means
- Point to their eyes after reading
Correct answer: Actually close their eyes after reading the command
The patient must carry out the written command by actually closing their eyes to receive the 1 point.
Question 4: Why is the reading command on the MMSE printed in large letters?
- To account for visual acuity limitations and ensure the task tests reading comprehension, not vision (Correct answer)
- To make the test more visually appealing
- Because patients with dementia see better with large text
- To distinguish it from other written materials
Correct answer: To account for visual acuity limitations and ensure the task tests reading comprehension, not vision
Large print minimizes the influence of poor vision so the task specifically measures reading comprehension ability.
Question 5: A patient with limited education cannot write a sentence but can print simple words. How does the MMSE account for this?
- The examiner notes limited education and may adjust interpretation, but the item is still scored as 0 if no sentence is produced (Correct answer)
- The patient receives partial credit for printing words
- The task is skipped entirely for patients with less than a sixth-grade education
- The patient is given a word bank to choose from
Correct answer: The examiner notes limited education and may adjust interpretation, but the item is still scored as 0 if no sentence is produced
The writing task is scored 0 if no complete sentence is produced, but education level is noted as context for interpreting the total score.
Question 6: What is the total number of points available for both reading and writing tasks combined on the standard MMSE?
- 2 points (Correct answer)
- 3 points
- 4 points
- 1 point
Correct answer: 2 points
The reading task ('Close your eyes') is worth 1 point and the writing task (write a sentence) is worth 1 point, totaling 2 points.
Question 7: If a patient reads 'CLOSE YOUR EYES' aloud but keeps their eyes open, how should the examiner score this?
- 0 points, because the patient did not carry out the written command (Correct answer)
- 1 point, because the patient demonstrated they could read the words
- 0.5 points for partial completion
- 1 point if the patient explains they understood the instruction
Correct answer: 0 points, because the patient did not carry out the written command
Credit is only given if the patient actually closes their eyes; reading aloud without following the command is insufficient.
MMSE Reading and Writing Tasks 2
In the MMSE writing task, what is the minimum requirement for a spontaneously written sentence to receive full credit?