Assessment Tool: Mini-Cog

A rapid bedside cognitive screen. Score integrates word recall and clock drawing; positive screens require follow-up neuropsychological evaluation.

Mini-Cog

A brief cognitive screening tool combining 3-word recall with a clock drawing test (0–5). A positive screen does not confirm dementia and warrants formal neuropsychological evaluation.

Administration instructions (follow in order):

  1. Say: "I am going to say three words that I want you to remember. Please repeat them after me." Read the words below slowly at 1-second intervals.
  2. Ask the patient to repeat the three words. If the patient cannot repeat all three after 3 attempts, proceed anyway.
  3. Clock Drawing Test: Give the patient a blank sheet and say: "Draw a clock. Put in all the numbers and set the hands to ten past eleven."
  4. Recall: Ask the patient to recall the three words.

Select a word set:

Banana – Sunrise – Chair

3-Word Recall Score

How many words did the patient recall correctly?

Clock Drawing Test

Normal (2 pts): All numbers present and correctly placed; hands point to 11 and 2 (ten past eleven).
Abnormal (0 pts): Any error in numbers or hand placement, or patient unable to draw.