PTSD Test (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
A confidential self-assessment built on the full PCL-5, the 20-item PTSD checklist developed by the National Center for PTSD and used in clinics and research worldwide. In about five minutes you get an instant severity score across all four DSM-5 symptom clusters, plus an optional in-depth personalized report to keep or bring to a therapist.
PTSD Test (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a free, confidential 20-question self-assessment, based on the validated PCL-5. It takes about 5 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 31–33 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. |
Methodology & sources
This test reproduces 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 1–5), avoidance (Cluster C, items 6–7), negative alterations in cognitions and mood (Cluster D, items 8–14), and alterations in arousal and reactivity (Cluster E, items 15–20). 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 (Blevins et al., 2015), 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.
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.
- 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):489–498.
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 answers are never sent to a server, never stored, and never linked to you. No account is needed.
Can PTSD get better?
Yes. PTSD is highly treatable. Evidence-based therapies such as trauma-focused CBT, prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and EMDR help many people recover meaningfully, often substantially reducing or resolving symptoms.
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