liminfoGlasgow Coma Scale
Free web tool: Glasgow Coma Scale
Total GCS
15 / 15
E4 V5 M6
Severity
Mild
Intubation
Not typically indicated by GCS alone
Breakdown
Reference
Glasgow Coma Scale. For clinical reference only.
About Glasgow Coma Scale
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Calculator is a free, browser-based clinical reference tool for computing the standardized neurological assessment score developed at the University of Glasgow in 1974. It evaluates a patient's level of consciousness across three independent response categories: Eye Opening (E, scored 1–4), Verbal Response (V, scored 1–5), and Motor Response (M, scored 1–6). The total score ranges from 3 (deep coma or death) to 15 (fully conscious), and is expressed in the notation E_V_M (e.g., E4V5M6 = GCS 15).
Emergency physicians, paramedics, trauma nurses, neurologists, and intensive care clinicians use the GCS as a standardized communication tool to describe a patient's neurological status consistently across care teams and over time. The score is a mandatory component in trauma triage systems such as the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) and the APACHE II critical care scoring system. It is also used to guide clinical decisions — most notably, a GCS total of 8 or below is the conventional threshold for considering endotracheal intubation to protect the airway.
This calculator presents a dropdown selector for each of the three GCS components with descriptive labels (e.g., "4 - Spontaneous" for eye opening, "6 - Obeys commands" for motor response). As each component is selected, the tool instantly computes the total score, classifies severity as Mild (13–15), Moderate (9–12), or Severe (3–8), and provides an intubation guidance note. A color-coded severity indicator (green/yellow/red) and a reference table summarizing all three severity levels are included for quick clinical orientation.
Key Features
- Three-component GCS scoring: Eye Response (E1–E4), Verbal Response (V1–V5), Motor Response (M1–M6)
- Total score computed instantly with E_V_M notation displayed (e.g., E3V4M5)
- Three-tier severity classification: Mild (13–15), Moderate (9–12), Severe (3–8) with color coding
- Intubation indicator: recommends considering intubation when total GCS is 8 or below
- Reference table showing all three severity bands with clinical descriptions
- Color-coded severity panel: green (mild), yellow (moderate), red (severe) for at-a-glance assessment
- Bilingual interface (Korean/English) for international clinical use
- 100% client-side — no patient data is ever transmitted or stored
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?
The Glasgow Coma Scale is a neurological assessment tool developed in 1974 to objectively measure a patient's level of consciousness. It scores three behaviors: eye opening (1–4 points), verbal response (1–5 points), and motor response (1–6 points). The total GCS score ranges from 3 to 15, where 15 indicates full consciousness and 3 indicates the deepest level of coma or no response.
What do the Eye Response scores mean?
Eye Response (E) is scored 1 to 4: E1 = no eye opening; E2 = eyes open to painful pressure; E3 = eyes open to voice; E4 = eyes open spontaneously. Spontaneous eye opening (E4) indicates the patient is awake; lower scores indicate increasing levels of unconsciousness.
What do the Verbal Response scores mean?
Verbal Response (V) is scored 1 to 5: V1 = no sounds; V2 = incomprehensible sounds (moaning); V3 = inappropriate words (random speech); V4 = confused but coherent sentences; V5 = oriented (knows who, where, and when they are). V5 is the highest verbal score and indicates intact orientation.
What do the Motor Response scores mean?
Motor Response (M) is scored 1 to 6: M1 = no movement; M2 = abnormal extension (decerebrate posturing); M3 = abnormal flexion (decorticate posturing); M4 = withdrawal from pain; M5 = localization of pain (purposeful movement toward the stimulus); M6 = obeys commands (follows verbal instructions). M6 is the highest motor score.
What does a GCS score of 8 or below mean clinically?
A GCS total of 8 or below is classified as Severe and is the traditional clinical threshold for considering endotracheal intubation to protect the airway. Patients with a GCS of 8 or below are typically considered unable to maintain or protect their own airway independently. This guideline is used in trauma, emergency medicine, and critical care settings.
What is the difference between Mild, Moderate, and Severe GCS?
Mild (13–15): The patient is alert and orientated, or near-normal. Minor head injury or concussion often falls in this range. Moderate (9–12): The patient is lethargic and confused; there is significant neurological impairment. Severe (3–8): The patient is in a coma or near-coma state; immediate medical intervention is typically required.
Can the GCS be used for pediatric patients?
The standard adult GCS has known limitations for young children who cannot perform adult-equivalent verbal tasks. Pediatric modifications (such as the Pediatric GCS or Children's GCS) adjust the verbal and motor criteria for age. This calculator implements the standard adult GCS and should be used with caution for children under 5 years of age.
Is this GCS calculator suitable for clinical decision-making?
This tool is provided for clinical reference and educational purposes. The GCS score should always be interpreted in the full clinical context by a qualified healthcare professional. This tool does not replace clinical judgment, and no patient care decision should be based solely on this calculator's output.