About the test
PTSD test (PCL-5)
The PCL-5 is a checklist from the US National Center for PTSD. It shows how much typical reactions to a very stressful experience have bothered you in the past month, and whether it may be worth talking to a doctor or psychologist.
Questionnaire / instrument: PCL-5
The test at a glance
- Price
- Free, including results
- Registration
- No account required
- Length
- 20 questions
- Time
- About 7 minutes
- Format
- Self-report · five response options
- Your report
- Total score and four symptom groups
The four symptom groups
The 20 questions follow the four groups of PTSD symptoms in the DSM-5:
Reliving
Unwanted memories, disturbing dreams, feeling as if it is happening again, and strong reactions to reminders. Five questions.
Avoidance
Keeping away from thoughts, feelings and reminders of what happened. Two questions.
Thoughts and mood
Negative beliefs, blame, strong negative feelings, lost interest and feeling cut off from others. Seven questions.
Tension and reactions
Irritability, risk-taking, being on guard, being easily startled, and problems with concentration and sleep. Six questions.
What your results show
Your report is available straight after the last question. You can preview an example before starting.
- Your total score compared with the screening range of 31–33.
- The four symptom groups, and whether your answers match the DSM-5 pattern.
- Where you can find help, what treatments exist and what to do next.
What does it measure?
How much 20 problems linked to post-traumatic stress have bothered you in the past month, in four groups: reliving, avoidance, negative thoughts and mood, and tension and reactions.
Where does it come from?
The PCL-5 was developed by staff at the US National Center for PTSD (Weathers and colleagues, 2013) and follows the DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. We use the past-month form without the trauma questions, and we have left out the line for writing down your worst event.
How is the result calculated?
Each answer gives 0 to 4 points, for a total of 0 to 80. We compare the total with the range of 31–33, which the National Center for PTSD describes as indicating probable PTSD. We also apply the DSM-5 rule: an answer of 2 or more counts as a symptom, and the pattern needs at least 1 reliving, 1 avoidance, 2 thoughts and mood, and 2 tension symptoms.
What can the result tell you?
The PCL-5 cannot make a diagnosis on its own. It does not check what you experienced, and problems such as poor sleep or trouble concentrating can have other causes. There are no research-based severity levels, so we do not describe scores as mild or severe. The source says the best cut-off varies between groups and purposes, and that the form is intended for health professionals and researchers.
Languages and adaptations
English is the official wording. The Spanish text was reviewed by the National Center for PTSD, but it has not been validated in published research. Other languages are our own AI-assisted translations and have not been independently validated. Validated versions exist in some languages, but we do not use them here.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to say what happened to me?
No. Keep your worst event in mind while you answer. You never write it down, and nothing about what happened is stored.
Does a high score mean I have PTSD?
No. It means an assessment may be worthwhile. Only a health professional can make the diagnosis, usually with a structured interview.
Can I have PTSD with a score below 31?
Yes, that is possible. Your report tells you if your answers match the symptom pattern even though the total is below the range. If what happened still affects you, talk to someone regardless of your score.
What if answering makes me feel worse?
Stop whenever you want. Talk to someone you trust, or contact a helpline. Your report lists where you can find help.
Are my answers anonymous?
Answers are stored without your name or contact details, only after you consent. There are no ads on this test, and you can delete your result later.
License and reuse
Public domainThe National Center for PTSD states that the PCL-5 is in the public domain and not copyrighted. It also says that the instrument is intended for use by qualified health professionals and researchers. Our translations and result texts are our own.
The terms below apply to the test materials. Articles, translations, software and our result descriptions may have separate terms.
Sources and further reading
Weathers, F. W., Litz, B. T., Keane, T. M., Palmieri, P. A., Marx, B. P., & Schnurr, P. P. (2013). The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). National Center for PTSD. https://www.ptsd.va.gov