What’s a cognitive test? Here are some versions of exam Trump says he ‘aced’

Can you draw a picture of a cube? Or count backward from 100 by 7 at least five times? Then you might perform well on a cognitive test.

Cognitive tests are receiving national attention after President Donald Trump said he took one during an interview aired Sunday with Fox News’ Chris Wallace.

“Yes, the first few questions are easy, but I’ll bet you couldn’t even answer the last five questions,” Trump said in the interview.

“I’ll bet you couldn’t,” Trump said, challenging Wallace. “They get very hard, the last five questions.”

Wallace, who had earlier said one of the questions involves identifying a picture of an elephant and called it “not the hardest test,” pointed out that counting backward by seven was one of the final questions on a version of the exam that he took.

“Ninety-three,” Wallace began, before Trump interrupted him to protest that Wallace “couldn’t answer many of the questions.”

The president, who has boasted that he “aced” a recent cognitive test, also has challenged Democratic rival Joe Biden to take one, Esquire reported.

“I’ll guarantee you that Joe Biden could not answer those questions,” Trump said in the interview with Wallace. “And I answered all 35 questions correctly.”

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which Trump took in 2018, has 30 questions. It’s not clear whether Trump has taken another version of the exam more recently.

Here’s what you need to know about cognitive tests.

What’s a cognitive test?

Cognitive tests assess your thinking, memory, language, judgment and ability to learn new things to check for cognitive impairment, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Causes of cognitive impairment can include medication, depression and dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, the site says. The test can’t diagnose the problem, but it can check for possible problems with cognition.

Cognitive tests aren’t a measure of intelligence or general brainpower — they only check for signs your cognition may be damaged for some reason, the National Institutes of Health says.

Who needs a cognitive test?

Your doctor might give you a cognitive test if you show signs of impairment, such as forgetting or losing things, having problems coming up with words you usually know or frequently losing your train of thought, the National Institutes of Health says.

How does a cognitive test work?

You’re asked to answer a series of questions and then you are scored on your answers. You may be asked to identify pictures, memorize words and draw pictures as part of the exam.

There’s no preparation involved and the test normally takes only a few minutes, the National Institutes of Health says.

What are the most common cognitive tests?

There are numerous versions of the test. The National Institutes of Health identifies three versions as the most common:

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete and includes such tasks as memorizing a short list of words and identifying a picture of an animal.

The Mini-Mental State Exam takes 7 to 10 minutes to finish and involves questions such as naming the current date and identifying pictures of everyday objects.

The Mini-Cog takes 3 to 5 minutes to complete and covers tasks like recalling a three-word list of objects.

Which version did Trump take?

In 2018, Trump took the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, The New York Times reported.

“I’ve found no reason whatsoever to think the president has any issues whatsoever with his thought processes,” said presidential physician Dr. Ronny L. Jackson, a rear admiral in the Navy., according to the publication.

But other medical experts said the test alone can’t rule out cognitive impairment, The New York Times reported.

When Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News earlier in July he had “aced” a cognitive assessment, he said he’d taken it “very recently.” It’s not clear if he was referring to the 2018 test or a more recent, as yet unidentified, one.

What are some other questions on a cognitive test?

Other questions on the various cognitive exams include drawing a picture of a clock with the hands showing 10 minutes past 11, repeating the words “ball,” “flag” and “tree” slowly and clearly two times, and spelling the word “world” backward.

Some of the final five questions on the tests include such tasks as naming as many words as possible starting with the letter “f” in one minute, writing a “sensible” sentence with a subject and verb, and correctly identifying the time, date and place.

Where can I find some cognitive tests?

The Veterans Administration has posted the Montreal Cognitive Assessment here. You can find the Mini-Mental State Exam on the Department of Health Services site here. And here’s a copy of the Mini-Cog.

Johns Hopkins University also has posted its own version of the cognitive test here.

This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 8:26 AM with the headline "What’s a cognitive test? Here are some versions of exam Trump says he ‘aced’."