Free post-trauma stress symptom check (PCL-5)
A quick, private check based on the PCL-5. Free, scored on your device, and yours to keep.
What this check measures
The PCL-5 asks about 20 ways a very stressful experience can keep showing up over the past month. It covers unwanted memories, avoiding reminders, changes in mood and thinking, and feeling keyed up or on guard. Your answers add up to a single score from 0 to 80.
How the scoring works
Each answer is worth 0 to 4 points, and the PCL-5 has no official mild-to-severe bands. Research points to a cut-point around 31 to 33; this check flags from 31 to err on the side of care. The result is read against that line:
| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 0-30 | Below the follow-up range |
| 31-80 | In the follow-up range |
| Area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Intrusive memories and reliving | 1-5 |
| Avoiding reminders | 6-7 |
| Changes in mood and thinking | 8-14 |
| Feeling keyed up and on guard | 15-20 |
What it cannot tell you
A score cannot diagnose PTSD or any other condition, and it cannot weigh what you actually lived through. Diagnosis takes a qualified professional, usually with a structured interview. This check is a prompt for reflection and, if the number is high, a good reason to reach out.
You keep reliving something that happened, and you want to know whether it has a name. This is a free post-trauma stress symptom check built on the PCL-5, the standard checklist for stress symptoms after a very stressful experience. Twenty questions, about five minutes, scored privately in your browser. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
Questions people ask
Is this a PTSD test?
It screens for post-trauma stress symptoms; it does not test for or diagnose PTSD. Diagnosis needs a qualified professional, usually with a structured clinical interview. A high score here is a good reason to have that conversation, not a conclusion.
How accurate is the PCL-5?
It is the standard DSM-5 checklist for post-trauma stress symptoms, used across trauma research and care. It is good at flagging when symptoms deserve a closer look; research points to scores around 31 to 33 as the level worth following up. Like any screener, it is a starting point, not the whole picture.
Who sees my answers?
No one. The check is scored entirely in your browser, and nothing you answer is sent to us or stored anywhere. That also means no one monitors your answers; if you need support, please reach out directly.
What should I do with my score?
Save the page first, because nothing is stored here. If your score is 31 or higher, or the number is worrying you, bring it to your doctor or a counsellor; a free consultation is an easy place to start.
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This is a free screening tool, not a diagnosis. It can help you notice patterns and decide whether to reach out. Your answers stay on your device; nothing is sent or saved.