PTSD Test (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): Get a Severity Score in Minutes
This PTSD test screens for post-traumatic stress symptoms using an adapted PCL-5 checklist. Get an instant symptom severity score and cluster breakdown to discuss with a clinician; it cannot diagnose PTSD.
Reviewed by David A. Brooks, PhD, ABPP, ABN 
PTSD Test (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a free, confidential 20-question self-assessment, based on the validated PCL-5. It takes about 8 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 5 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
What the PCL-5 actually captures
The PCL-5 covers all 20 PTSD symptoms defined in the DSM-5, organized into four clusters, and asks about the past month. It is the standard self-report measure clinicians and researchers use to gauge post-traumatic stress severity.
All four symptom clusters
Twenty items cover the four DSM-5 clusters of PTSD: intrusion (memories, nightmares, flashbacks), avoidance, negative changes in mood and thinking, and heightened arousal and reactivity.
A severity score
Each item is rated from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), giving a total from 0 to 80. In the validation research, a score of 31 to 33 or higher suggests probable PTSD and the value of a fuller evaluation.
A recent time window
The PCL-5 asks specifically about the past month, so your result reflects how trauma-related symptoms have been affecting you lately rather than your whole history.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Full validated PCL-5 (20 items) | Often shortened | Yes, all 20 items |
| All four DSM-5 symptom clusters | Rarely broken out | Yes, scored per cluster |
| Research-based cutoff | Vague labels | Yes, the validated 31 to 33 threshold |
| Clinician-reviewed | Rarely | Yes, clinician reviewed |
| Optional in-depth personalized report | No | Yes, written to your exact scores |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–80 in total. Your result falls into one of 5 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10 | Minimal symptoms | Your answers point to minimal trauma-related symptoms over the past month. That is a reassuring result on this measure. |
| 11–20 | Mild symptoms | Your answers point to a mild level of trauma-related symptoms. Many people notice some of these after a difficult experience. |
| 21–30 | Moderate symptoms | Your answers point to a moderate level of trauma-related symptoms. This sits below the probable-PTSD threshold, which begins at 31, but it is worth taking seriously and gently. |
| 31–49 | At or above the probable-PTSD threshold | Your answers meet or exceed the validated cutoff where probable PTSD is often considered. A fuller evaluation with a trauma-informed professional is genuinely worth it. |
| 50–80 | Severe symptom load | Your answers point to a severe level of trauma-related symptoms. Please be gentle with yourself, and consider reaching out for support soon. |
How common is this?
This PTSD test describes reported trauma-related symptoms; it cannot determine whether you have PTSD. Screening questions land differently when you know how many other people are answering them the same way. Our PTSD statistics page collects the current numbers on PTSD in the United States, each one with its source and the year it was measured next to it.
None of those figures say anything about your own result. They are context for it, and a reminder that whatever the score, this is common ground rather than rare territory.
PTSD vs complex PTSD: what is different
Complex PTSD, sometimes written C-PTSD, is a related pattern recognized in ICD-11 that can follow prolonged or repeated trauma, such as ongoing childhood abuse, captivity, or long-term domestic violence. Trauma history alone does not determine which diagnosis applies. ICD-11 complex PTSD combines its core PTSD symptoms with difficulty regulating emotions, a persistently negative self-view, and trouble with relationships. Those criteria are organized differently from the DSM-5 clusters measured by the PCL-5, so this checklist cannot distinguish PTSD from complex PTSD. If these concerns fit your experience, our Complex PTSD Test (C-PTSD) explores that pattern, and our Childhood Trauma Test can help you reflect on early experiences that may still affect you.
When PTSD symptoms call for professional support
Occasional distressing memories after a hard event are common and often ease on their own within the first few weeks. It is worth reaching out to a professional when symptoms last more than a month, when they interfere with sleep, work, or relationships, or when avoidance starts shrinking your daily life. Strong irritability, feeling emotionally numb, or relying on alcohol or other substances to get through the day are also signs the load has become heavier than it needs to be. A trauma-informed therapist or your doctor can help regardless of whether your score meets the probable-PTSD threshold, and the Psychology.com therapist directory is a place to start looking. If thoughts of self-harm come up, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text any time in the US.
You can bring the result to an appointment without writing a detailed account of the event. Note which symptoms interfere with daily life, when they started, and what support feels manageable. Grounding Techniques offers practical ways to orient to your present surroundings if memories become upsetting. The Psychology.com tests hub can help you find related self-assessments, but taking more tests is not a requirement for seeking care.
What if taking a PTSD test feels overwhelming?
You can pause or stop whenever you need to. Completing a screening questionnaire does not require forcing yourself to replay an event or describe it in detail. Turn your attention toward your surroundings, notice where you are, and consider contacting someone you trust. If focusing on bodily sensations makes distress worse, choose an external point of attention instead.
When you return, answer about the requested time period as best you can. A skipped or unfinished questionnaire is not evidence that your difficulties are mild, and a completed score does not measure how serious the event was. A clinician can help with assessment when answering alone feels difficult.
Methodology & sources
This test is adapted from the full PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), developed by Weathers and colleagues at the US National Center for PTSD (2013). The PCL-5 has 20 items, one for each PTSD symptom in the DSM-5, grouped into four clusters: intrusion (Cluster B, items 1 to 5), avoidance (Cluster C, items 6 to 7), negative alterations in cognitions and mood (Cluster D, items 8 to 14), and alterations in arousal and reactivity (Cluster E, items 15 to 20). Each item asks how much you were bothered by that problem in the past month, rated from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), for a total score from 0 to 80. Item wording has been lightly adapted for readability while preserving the meaning of the validated instrument.
In the psychometric validation research (Bovin et al., 2016), a total score in the range of 31 to 33 or higher is the commonly used cutoff suggesting probable PTSD and a recommendation for further evaluation. Clinicians also use a second method, checking whether enough symptoms are endorsed at a moderate level within each cluster, and a formal diagnosis always requires a clinical interview, typically a structured one such as the CAPS-5, along with confirmation that symptoms are tied to a traumatic event. This test is provided for education and self-reflection. It is not a diagnosis. If your result concerns you, treat it as a prompt to reach out, not as a label.
The National Center for PTSD advises interpreting the PCL-5 in light of the assessment setting and purpose. Published screening cutoffs do not establish a universal boundary between being well and needing care. The additional severity bands displayed on this page are educational summaries, not separate validated diagnoses. Adapted wording also means the research findings for the published checklist should not be treated as a direct validation of this website.
References
- 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. ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/adult-sr/ptsd-checklist.asp
- Blevins CA, Weathers FW, Davis MT, Witte TK, Domino JL. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5): development and initial psychometric evaluation. J Trauma Stress. 2015;28(6):489 to 498. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26606250/
- Bovin MJ, Marx BP, Weathers FW, et al. Psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (PCL-5) in veterans. Psychological Assessment. 2016. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26653052/
- National Center for PTSD. Complex PTSD: History and Definitions. ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/complex_ptsd.asp
- National Center for PTSD. PTSD Treatment Basics. ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/tx_basics.asp
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 16). PTSD Test (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/ptsd
PTSD Test (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) FAQ
What is the PCL-5?
The PCL-5 is the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, a 20-item self-report measure developed by the US National Center for PTSD. It covers every PTSD symptom defined in the DSM-5 across four clusters and asks how much each one bothered you in the past month. It is the standard questionnaire used to screen for PTSD and track symptom severity, and it is in the public domain.
What score suggests PTSD?
The PCL-5 total ranges from 0 to 80. In the validation research, a score of 31 to 33 or higher is the commonly used cutoff suggesting probable PTSD and the value of a fuller evaluation. A lower score does not rule out trauma-related distress, and only a clinical interview can determine whether the criteria for a diagnosis are actually met.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. The PCL-5 is a screening and severity measure, and a formal PTSD diagnosis also requires that symptoms are linked to a traumatic event and is made through a clinical interview. If your results concern you, consider reaching out to a trauma-informed therapist or your doctor.
Is the test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your individual answers are scored in your browser and are never sent to us or linked to you. They stay in this tab so you can return to your result, and closing or clearing the tab clears them. If you ask us to email the PDF, we receive your summary scores with your email address, never your individual answers. No account is needed.
Can PTSD get better?
Yes. Effective PTSD treatments are available, including cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure, and EMDR. These approaches can reduce symptoms, although progress and treatment preferences vary. A clinician can explain what each approach involves and help you choose a plan that fits your circumstances. Your screening score cannot predict your outcome or determine the treatment you need, and you can ask for support even when the score is below a screening cutoff.
Can I have a low PCL-5 score and still need help?
Yes. A low PCL-5 score does not rule out trauma-related distress or another concern that deserves care. The checklist focuses on a particular set of symptoms over the past month, while an evaluation also considers your history, functioning, and current safety. If sleep, relationships, work, or everyday activities remain difficult, discuss those problems with a clinician regardless of the total. You do not need to reach a cutoff to seek support.
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