{
  "id": "gcs",
  "version": "d35fd96bfc6d",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "GCS Calculator",
  "question": "What is the GCS score?",
  "summary": "Adds the eye, verbal, and motor parts of the Glasgow Coma Scale to a total of 3 to 15, shows the usual head injury severity band, and gives the GCS-Pupils score.",
  "category": "health",
  "subcategory": "clinical",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/health/gcs-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/health/gcs-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "GCS = eye (1 to 4) + verbal (1 to 5) + motor (1 to 6). GCS-P = GCS − pupil reactivity score (0, 1, or 2 pupils that do not react).",
  "assumptions": [
    "Score the best response seen. A part that cannot be tested is reported as NT, and no total is given.",
    "The severity bands (severe 3 to 8, moderate 9 to 12, mild 13 to 15) are the usual head injury grades, not a diagnosis."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "e": {
        "title": "Eye opening (E)",
        "description": "The best eye response, 1 to 4, or not testable (for example, eyes swollen shut).",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "4",
          "3",
          "2",
          "1",
          "nt"
        ]
      },
      "v": {
        "title": "Verbal response (V)",
        "description": "The best verbal response, 1 to 5, or not testable (for example, a breathing tube).",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "5",
          "4",
          "3",
          "2",
          "1",
          "nt"
        ]
      },
      "m": {
        "title": "Motor response (M)",
        "description": "The best motor response of either arm, 1 to 6, or not testable (for example, sedation).",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "6",
          "5",
          "4",
          "3",
          "2",
          "1",
          "nt"
        ]
      },
      "p": {
        "title": "Pupils (for GCS-P)",
        "description": "How many pupils do not react to light: none, one, or both.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "0",
          "1",
          "2"
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "gcs": {
      "label": "GCS score",
      "description": "Eye + verbal + motor, 3 to 15.",
      "format": "integer"
    },
    "severity": {
      "label": "Head injury severity",
      "description": "Severe 3 to 8, moderate 9 to 12, mild 13 to 15.",
      "format": "text"
    },
    "parts": {
      "label": "Parts",
      "description": "The score written as E, V, and M.",
      "format": "text"
    },
    "gcsP": {
      "label": "GCS-Pupils score",
      "description": "The GCS score minus the number of pupils that do not react to light, 1 to 15.",
      "format": "integer"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "e": "4",
      "v": "5",
      "m": "6",
      "p": "0"
    },
    "outputs": {
      "gcs": 15,
      "severity": "Mild",
      "parts": "E4 V5 M6",
      "gcsP": 15
    },
    "text": "The GCS score is 15 (E4 V5 M6), in the Mild band; the GCS-Pupils score is 15."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "e": "4",
        "v": "5",
        "m": "6",
        "p": "0"
      },
      "expect": {
        "gcs": 15,
        "severity": "Mild",
        "parts": "E4 V5 M6",
        "gcsP": 15
      },
      "source": "Teasdale and Jennett 1974 scale: 4 + 5 + 6 = 15 (hand calculation in content.mdx)"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "e": "2",
        "v": "2",
        "m": "4",
        "p": "0"
      },
      "expect": {
        "gcs": 8,
        "severity": "Severe",
        "parts": "E2 V2 M4",
        "gcsP": 8
      },
      "source": "Teasdale 2014 scale; 2 + 2 + 4 = 8, severe band 3 to 8 (hand calculation in content.mdx)"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "e": "3",
        "v": "4",
        "m": "5",
        "p": "1"
      },
      "expect": {
        "gcs": 12,
        "severity": "Moderate",
        "parts": "E3 V4 M5",
        "gcsP": 11
      },
      "source": "Brennan 2018: GCS-P = GCS − pupil reactivity score; 12 − 1 = 11 (hand calculation in content.mdx)"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "e": "1",
        "v": "1",
        "m": "1",
        "p": "2"
      },
      "expect": {
        "gcs": 3,
        "severity": "Severe",
        "parts": "E1 V1 M1",
        "gcsP": 1
      },
      "source": "Brennan 2018: the lowest GCS-P is 3 − 2 = 1 (hand calculation in content.mdx)"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "e": "3",
        "v": "5",
        "m": "5",
        "p": "0"
      },
      "expect": {
        "gcs": 13,
        "severity": "Mild"
      },
      "source": "Band edge: 3 + 5 + 5 = 13 is the lowest mild score (hand calculation in content.mdx)"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "Teasdale G, Jennett B. Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness: a practical scale. Lancet. 1974;2(7872):81-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(74)91639-0 (retrieved 2026-10-05)",
    "Teasdale G, Maas A, Lecky F, et al. The Glasgow Coma Scale at 40 years: standing the test of time. Lancet Neurol. 2014;13(8):844-854. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70120-6 (retrieved 2026-10-05)",
    "Brennan PM, Murray GD, Teasdale GM. Simplifying the use of prognostic information in traumatic brain injury. Part 1: The GCS-Pupils score. J Neurosurg. 2018;128(6):1612-1620. https://doi.org/10.3171/2017.12.JNS172780 (retrieved 2026-10-05)",
    "Glasgow Coma Scale: What is GCS, FAQ, What is GCS-P, and Permissions. https://www.glasgowcomascale.org/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)",
    "Brain Trauma Foundation. Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, 3rd edition (severe TBI: GCS 3 to 8 after resuscitation). https://braintrauma.org/coma/guidelines/severe-tbi-3rd-edition (retrieved 2026-10-05)"
  ],
  "related": [],
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-05",
      "note": "Published after this site's editorial review against the cited sources (no clinician review); the page notices say so."
    }
  ]
}