Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
Medical context
Score eye, verbal, and motor responses for rapid neurologic assessment in trauma and critical care.
Neurology and acute care teams combine scores with imaging and serial neurologic exams.
This page explains the GCS formula, how to interpret the output, known limitations, and peer-reviewed references so you can verify results against primary sources and local protocols.
It is grouped under Neurology because coma scales and neurologic assessment scores.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the values requested by the GCS calculator using the units shown beside each field.
- Review the calculated result and read the interpretation section before acting on the output.
- Check limitations and references if the result will change management, dosing, or disposition.
- Use the related calculators section when you need supporting values (for example electrolytes, weight, or complementary risk scores).
Calculator
Result
15 / 15
Mild · E4 V5 M6
Educational use only. Confirm results with clinical judgment, primary sources, and local protocols. Not a substitute for professional medical advice. Full disclaimer.
Formula
GCS = Eye (1–4) + Verbal (1–5) + Motor (1–6); total 3–15.
Interpretation
13–15 mild, 9–12 moderate, ≤8 severe (often airway protection threshold in trauma protocols).
Limitations
Intubation, sedation, facial trauma, and language barriers confound components—document modifiers.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a normal GCS?
- A fully alert person scores 15 (E4 V5 M6).
- Is the GCS result enough to make a treatment decision?
- No. Calculators support medical decision-making but do not replace examination, shared decision-making, institutional protocols, or consultant input when stakes are high.
- Does Calcmedical store the values I type in?
- Inputs are processed in your browser for this session. We do not ask for patient names or medical record numbers. See our privacy policy for hosting and analytics details.
References
- Teasdale G, Jennett B. Lancet 1974.
- GCS official site / NICE head injury guidance