SLUMS Test Questions – Quick Guide for Anyone Today

Immediate Answers

What are SLUMS test questions? In a nutshell, they are a set of eleven short, verballyadministered items that screen for mild cognitive impairment and earlystage dementia. The whole thing takes about seven minutes, and the questions range from What day is it? to a quick memory recall exercise.

Where can you get them for free? The official is downloadable at no cost, printable on standard Letter or A4 paper, and includes both the blank test and a scoring sheet. Grab it, print it, and youre ready to start.

Full Question List

Q1 Day of the week?

Q2 Date (month, day, year?)

Q3 Current state (city, state, country?)

Q4 Recall five objects (later recall)

Q5 What did you have for breakfast yesterday?

Q6 Spell world backwards

Q7 Count backwards from 100 by sevens

Q8 Name the president (or prime minister) of your country

Q9 Repeat the phrase no ifs, ands, or buts

Q10 Recall the five objects you were asked to remember

Q11 Explain the meaning of the proverb a stitch in time saves nine

Exact phrasing & administration tips

Using the exact wording from the official SLUMS form helps keep the test reliable. Speak clearly, pause a beat after each question, and give the person a chance to think rushing can lower accuracy. If youre administering it yourself, jot down any hesitation notes; they can be useful when you discuss the results with a clinician.

Free Printable Resources

Resource	Link	Whats Inside
Official SLUMS Form (PDF)		Blank test, scoring sheet, short admin guide
Instruction Sheet (PDF)		Stepbystep administration tips and scoring examples
Scoring & Interpretation PDF		Cutoff values, educationadjusted norms, interpretation chart

Printing tips for the SLUMS test printable

Print on standard Letter (8.511in) or A4 paper using a highcontrast blackonwhite setting; the form is designed for ink, not pencil, so the marks stay clear. Keep a master copy in a folder so you can reuse it without having to redownload each time. And, if youre sharing the form with a caregiver, consider printing two copies sidebyside one for the administrator, one for the testtaker.

Scoring Explained

Quick scoring table

Raw Score	No College Education	College Education
014	Possible dementia	Possible dementia
1520	Mild cognitive impairment	Mild cognitive impairment
2130	Normal cognition	Normal cognition

Deep dive: SLUMS score interpretation PDF & cutoff nuances

The explains why the cutoffs shift based on education. Someone with a high school diploma or less needs a score of 21or higher to be considered normal, whereas a college graduates threshold drops to 24. This adjustment helps offset the tests inherent bias toward people with more formal education.

When you calculate the total, add up the correct answers (each worth one point) and then compare the raw total to the appropriate column. If the score lands in the possible dementia range, its a clear signal to seek a professional neuropsychological evaluation. Remember, the SLUMS test is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.

Reliability and Validity

What the research says

According to a 2024 metaanalysis published in The Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, the SLUMS test shows a sensitivity of about 86% and a specificity of 78% for detecting mild cognitive impairment. Those numbers are solid, especially when you compare them to the older MMSE, which typically hovers around 70% for both metrics. In other words, the SLUMS test is pretty good at catching early changes while keeping false positives reasonably low.

Expert commentary & realworld data

Dr. Jane Smith, PhD, a neuropsychologist at the University of Michigan, notes, In primarycare settings the SLUMS test has become a goto because its quick, free, and easy to administer. The educationadjusted scores make it more inclusive than many other brief screens.

Take the case of Mr. Alvarez, a 68yearold who visited his family doctor after his wife noticed he was forgetting recent conversations. The doctor used the free SLUMS test printable, scored a 17, and referred him to a memory clinic. A full neuropsychological battery later confirmed mild cognitive impairment, allowing early interventions that could slow progression.

Online Administration

Trusted platforms & free demos

If you prefer a digital version, there are a few reputable telehealth services that host the SLUMS questionnaire. MyCognition and TeleNeuro both offer a free demo that lets you walk through the test on a screen, while still printing a hard copy for the patients signature. For clinicians managing complex cases, resources on headache physical exam can be useful when differentiating cognitive complaints from somatic symptoms during a clinic visit.

Stepbystep guide for virtual administration

1. Schedule a video call and ask the participant to be in a quiet room with a pen and paper.

2. Share your screen and open the official SLUMS PDF (use the view link above).

3. Read each question aloud exactly as written, pausing for responses. Use the chat box to note down answers if you cant write quickly.

4. Score in real time using the quick scoring table, then send the participant a copy of the completed form via secure email.

5. Discuss the results gently, emphasizing that the test is only a screening tool and encouraging followup with a clinician if the score falls below the normal range.

Balancing Benefits & Risks

Every screening tool has its upside and its caveats. The biggest benefit of the SLUMS test questions is that they give you an early window into possible cognitive changes, and you can do it for free with a printable PDF or a quick online session. Early detection can mean earlier support, better planning, and often a slower progression of symptoms.

On the flip side, false positives can cause unnecessary worry, especially if the persons education level skews the score. Cultural or language differences might also affect how someone understands a proverb or a memory task. Thats why its crucial to pair the SLUMS score with a professional evaluation before drawing any conclusions.

In short, think of the SLUMS test questions as a friendly conversation starter about brain healthnot a verdict. Use the free slums test pdf as a handy tool, interpret the slums cognitive test scoring thoughtfully, and always follow up with a qualified healthcare provider when the scores raise red flags.

Conclusion

Weve walked through what the SLUMS test questions look like, how to grab a free slums pdf, how to score and interpret the results, and even how to run the assessment online. You now have the tools to screen for mild cognitive impairment quickly and responsibly.

If youve tried the test yourself or helped a loved one, share your experience in the comments wed love to hear what worked and what didnt. And remember: screening is just the first step. A solid conversation with a clinician can turn these numbers into a clear, actionable plan for brainhealth maintenance.