The total GCS score ranges from what to what?

The total GCS score ranges from what to what?

• A. 3 to 15
• B. 1 to 5
• C. 0 to 10
• D. 5 to 20

Answer: (A)

The total GCS score is the sum of three domain scores—eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Eye opening ranges from 1 to 4, verbal response from 1 to 5, and motor response from 1 to 6. Adding the smallest scores (1 + 1 + 1) gives 3, while adding the largest scores (4 + 5 + 6) gives 15. Therefore, the total score can only range from 3 to 15. Other proposed ranges would require values outside these domain limits or a zero in a domain, which isn’t possible with how the scale is defined.

The total GCS score is the sum of three domain scores—eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Eye opening ranges from 1 to 4, verbal response from 1 to 5, and motor response from 1 to 6. Adding the smallest scores (1 + 1 + 1) gives 3, while adding the largest scores (4 + 5 + 6) gives 15. Therefore, the total score can only range from 3 to 15. Other proposed ranges would require values outside these domain limits or a zero in a domain, which isn’t possible with how the scale is defined.