What is the valid total score range for the Glasgow Coma Scale?

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

Answer: (B)

The Glasgow Coma Scale adds scores from three areas—eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each area has its own minimum and maximum: eye opening ranges from 1 to 4, verbal response from 1 to 5, and motor response from 1 to 6. When you sum the smallest possible scores (1 + 1 + 1), you get 3. When you sum the largest possible scores (4 + 5 + 6), you get 15. So the valid total score can only be between 3 and 15. Ranges starting at 0 or 1 or extending beyond 15 don’t reflect the actual scoring limits.