The MoCA 5-Minute is an abbreviated version of the full MoCA that includes the tasks demonstrated to be most sensitive to mild cognitive impairment.
Purpose: It is designed to screen for mild cognitive impairment using a brief assessment and is well suited for telemedicine or situations where in-person testing is not feasible.
Administration time
Approximately 5 minutes.
Setting
The MoCA 5-Minute can be administered either in person or by telephone. The examinee should be situated in a calm, and controlled environment, free from distractions such as television, pets, or other people.
Form
Paper-based; the examiner records the examinee’s responses directly on the test sheet.
Cost
Freely available for clinical and educational use; a license is required for commercial use.
The total score ranges from 0 to 15 points, with scores of 12 or higher generally considered within normal limits.
.jpg)
| Property | Summary of Findings Across Studies | Typical Values / Ranges | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
Internal Consistency / Reliability | Demonstrates stable scoring patterns and low scoring variability across raters. | ICC > .85 (interrater reliability) | Indicates consistent scoring and administration reliability. |
Sensitivity to Cognitive Impairment | Accurately distinguishes individuals with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer’s disease from cognitively healthy individuals. | Sensitivity ≈ .75–.85 | Effective for detecting subtle cognitive decline. |
Specificity | Appropriately classifies individuals without cognitive impairment. | Specificity ≈ .73–.82 | Helps reduce false-positive classifications. |
Comparative Performance to Other Telephone Screens | Outperforms the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS), especially for early or mild cognitive changes. | T-MoCA sensitivity typically 10– 20% higher than TICS | Favored as a remote screening tool when early impairment is suspected. |
Cross-Cultural Validity | Validated in multiple languages and clinical populations, maintaining psychometric strength across translations. | Correlations with full MoCA in translated versions r ≈ .75–.85 | Supports adaptability and use in multicultural settings. |