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Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Calculator

Score eye, verbal, and motor responses to assess level of consciousness (3–15).

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Educational use only. Always interpret GCS with clinical context, sedatives, intoxication, and airway status.

How it works

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a bedside tool used to quantify level of consciousness. It combines three components: eye opening (E), verbal response (V), and motor response (M).

Total score is calculated as E (1–4) + V (1–5) + M (1–6), giving a range from 3 to 15. When documenting, report component scores where possible (e.g., E3 V4 M6).

Common classification

13–15: Mild 9–12: Moderate 3–8: Severe (coma)

Worked examples

Example 1: E4 V5 M6

GCS = E + V + M GCS = 4 + 5 + 6 GCS = 15 / 15 (often classified as mild/normal)

Example 2: E2 V2 M4

GCS = 2 + 2 + 4 GCS = 8 / 15 (often classified as severe)

Clinical safety note: Sedatives, paralytics, alcohol/drugs, language barriers, and intubation can affect scoring (especially verbal). Use trends and overall clinical assessment, and follow local documentation standards for “verbal not testable”.

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Frequently asked questions

Clinical reminder: Always follow local protocols and consult medication information sheets. These examples are for calculation practice only.

References & Sources

These sources describe the GCS and how it’s used in clinical assessment.

Original scale & key review

Teasdale G, Jennett B — Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness

PubMed

Lancet (1974)

Original publication describing the Glasgow Coma Scale.

Teasdale G, et al. — The Glasgow Coma Scale at 40 years

PubMed

Lancet Neurology (2014)

Review of GCS performance, limitations, and ongoing clinical use.

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