PTSD Test (PCL-5)

The 20-question PCL-5, the PTSD checklist from the US National Center for PTSD, covering the past month.

20 questions5 minFree to answer

Before you start

Answer based on how you usually are, not how you would like to be. There are no right or wrong answers.

This questionnaire is for self-reflection. It is not a diagnosis.

What it measures

Intrusive memories
Avoidance
Negative thoughts and mood
Arousal and reactivity

About this test

Content note: these questions ask about a very stressful experience and how it has affected you. Go at your own pace, and stop whenever you need to. Before you start, think of the most stressful experience you have been through, and answer every question with that event in mind. The PCL-5 is the PTSD checklist created by the US National Center for PTSD. It covers the 20 symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder listed in the DSM-5, and this page presents its original questions and standard scoring.

What the research says

The PCL-5 was developed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD and is in the public domain. Studies with trauma-exposed college students and with veterans found it reliable, and in the veteran research a total of 31 to 33 was the most accurate point for spotting probable PTSD. The VA has not published severity ranges, so the levels in your report are descriptive, set around that cut-point. The cut-point comes from English-language research, and our translations are our own, not official VA versions.

Research behind this test

National Center for PTSD
The PTSD checklist created by the US National Center for PTSD. It is in the public domain, and our PTSD test uses its 20 questions and scoring unchanged.
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). [Measurement instrument]. National Center for PTSD.
Developed the PCL-5 and tested it in two groups of trauma-exposed college students, finding it reliable and a good match for the DSM-5 symptom groups.
Blevins, C. A., Weathers, F. W., Davis, M. T., Witte, T. K., & Domino, J. L. (2015). The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5): Development and initial psychometric evaluation. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28(6), 489–498.
National Center for PTSD
Tested the PCL-5 in veterans and found that a total of 31 to 33 was the most accurate point for spotting probable PTSD. Our report is built around that range.
Bovin, M. J., Marx, B. P., Weathers, F. W., Gallagher, M. W., Rodriguez, P., Schnurr, P. P., & Keane, T. M. (2016). Psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth Edition (PCL-5) in veterans. Psychological Assessment, 28(11), 1379–1391.

These researchers and institutions are not affiliated with SelfAssessment.io and do not endorse it.

Questions about this test

What is the PCL-5?

The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 is a 20-question self-report measure of the PTSD symptoms listed in the DSM-5. It was created by the US National Center for PTSD and is in the public domain.

Can the PCL-5 diagnose PTSD?

No. It screens for symptoms. A diagnosis needs an assessment by a qualified clinician, who will ask about the event, how long the symptoms have lasted and how much they affect your life.

How is it scored?

Each answer scores from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely), for a total from 0 to 80. Research suggests a total of 31 to 33 or more points to probable PTSD. There are no official severity ranges.

What if the questions are upsetting?

That is a common reaction. You can pause, take a break or stop at any point. If you feel overwhelmed or unsafe, use the helpline information on this page or contact your local emergency number.