Free Online PTSD Test (PCL-5)

Understanding Your PCL-5 Score: Scoring and Interpretation

The PCL-5 is scored out of 80. Each of the 20 items is rated 0 to 4 based on how much you were bothered by that difficulty in the past month.

Unlike tools that use severity bands, the PCL-5 uses a provisional threshold to indicate whether a fuller assessment is worthwhile.

Total score 0–32 — below the provisional threshold

Your responses fall below the level commonly used to flag PTSD for further evaluation.

Trauma affects people in different ways, and symptoms can change over time. A score below the threshold does not mean your experiences are not significant, or that support would not help.

Total score 33 or above — at or above the provisional threshold

Your responses are consistent with a significant level of post-traumatic stress.

A professional evaluation is recommended. This is not a diagnosis — a clinician can carry out a full assessment and discuss what may help. Effective treatments for PTSD exist, and recovery is realistic.

What the PCL-5 Covers

The 20 items map onto four symptom areas used to describe post-traumatic stress.

Re-experiencing — unwanted memories, distressing dreams, flashbacks, and strong physical or emotional reactions to reminders.

Avoidance — avoiding memories, thoughts, and feelings connected to the experience, or avoiding people, places, and situations that bring it to mind.

Changes in mood and thinking — persistent negative beliefs about yourself or others, ongoing fear, anger, guilt or shame, feeling detached from people, or loss of interest in things.

Changes in arousal and reactivity — irritability, hypervigilance, being easily startled, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty sleeping.

Important Notes on This Screening

A screening questionnaire cannot diagnose PTSD. Diagnosis requires a clinical assessment covering the nature of the experience, how long symptoms have lasted, and how much they affect daily life.

It is normal to have some of these reactions in the weeks following a distressing event. PTSD is considered when symptoms persist beyond a month and continue to interfere with daily functioning. Many people recover without formal treatment; others benefit considerably from professional support.

Post-traumatic stress commonly occurs alongside depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and alcohol or substance use — which is one reason a full assessment is more useful than a single questionnaire.

If your score is 33 or above, or if these experiences are affecting your work, relationships, or daily life, a consultation with a qualified mental health professional is recommended.

Reference: Weathers FW, Litz BT, Keane TM, Palmieri PA, Marx BP, Schnurr PP. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). National Center for PTSD, 2013. The PCL-5 is in the public domain.

This tool is provided for screening and educational purposes only and does not constitute a clinical diagnosis or replace professional medical advice.

If completing this brought up difficult feelings

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