BENDER-GESTALT TEST Scoring Based on Lacks’ Scoring System
Client:
Date: Time to Complete:
Error
Description
A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Present
Rotation
Score if there is a rotation of 80º to 180º (including mirror-imaging) of the major axis of the whole figure (not a part
of the figure). Do not score if S shifts the position of the card or paper and then draws the figure accurately.
Overlapping Difficulty
Difficulty in reproducing the portions of the figures that should overlap. (a) Omission of the portions of the figure
which overlap. (b) Simplification of figures only at the point of over lap. (c) Marked sketching or reworking only at
the point of overlap. (d) Distortion of the figure at the point of overlap. (e) Figures overlap at the wrong place.
(f) Failure of figures to overlap. DO NOT SCORE – parts of figures more than 1/8 in. apart, score Simplification.
Simplification
Score if the figure is drawn in a simplified or easier from that is not more primitive from a maturational point of
view, from the stimulus. (a) Circles for dots on figure 1. (b) Nonoverlapping parts. (c) Joining parts of figures are
more than 1/8 inch apart. (d) Very simplified drawing. DO NOT SCORE – (a) figures less than 1/8 inch apart,
score Close Difficulty. (b) Curves substituted for angles, not an error.
Fragmentation
Score if the figure is broken up into parts destroying the gestalt or if the figure is incomplete (unless S refuses to
draw the entire figure).
Retrogression
Substitution of a more primitive gestalt form than the stimulus. (a) Loops for circles (if persistent). (b) Dashes for
dots (if extreme and persistent). (c) Triangle for diamond or hexagon. (d) Square for diamond. (e) Rectangle for
hexagon. DO NOT SCORE – Do not score if curves are substituted for angles or angulation of bottom of hexagon
on figure 7 is omitted.
Perseveration
There are 2 kinds of Perseveration errors. If both occur, this error is still only scored once. TYPE A: Inappropriate
substitution of the features of a preceding stimulus, such as replacing the circles of figure 2 with the dots of figure
1 (must have made dots, not circles on figure 1); replacing the dots of figures 3 & 5 with the circles of figure 2
(must have made circles on figure 2 and dots on 1). TYPE B: Intradesign perseveration on continuing to draw a
figure beyond the limits called for by the stimulus. For figure 1, 14 or more dots must be present, for figure 2, 13 or
more columns of circles.
Collision or
Collision Tendency
One figure is drawn as touching or overlapping another figure (collision) or is drawn within 1/4 inch or less of
another figure but does not touch (collision tendency).
Impotence
Behavioral or verbal expressions of inability to draw a figure correctly (often accompanied by statements such as “I
know this drawing is not right but I just can’t make it right”). (a) Repetitious drawings or numerous erasures of
figures with similar inaccuracies. (b) S realizes that an error has been made and tries to correct it unsuccessfully or
expresses inability to correct it. DO NOT SCORE – Second attempt that corrects an error.
Closure Difficulty
Difficulty in getting the joining parts of figures together or getting adjacent parts of a figure to touch. If figures are
more than 1/8 inch apart at joining point, score Simplification.
Motor Incoordination
Irregular (tremor-like) lines, especially with heavy pressure. Behavioral observations are important for scoring this
error. Be sure S is drawing on a smooth surface. (a) Marked and persistent gasp, overlap, redrawing, sketching,
erasures, increased pressure at points where parts of the design join one another. DO NOT SCORE – Parts of
figures are more than 1/8 inch apart, score Simplification.
Angulation
Severe difficulty in reproducing the angulation of figures. (a) Failure to reproduce angulation of a figure. (b)
Angulation of the whole figure 45º to 80º rather than parts of a figure (but not greater than 80º, which would be
rotation). (c) Variability of the angulation of more than half the rows of circles of figure 2.
DO NOT SCORE – (a) Figure 3 should be scored leniently because its angulation is especially hard to reproduce.
(b) Reversal of angulation on figure 2, score Rotation.
Cohesion
Isolated decrease or increase in size of figures. Score very conservatively. This error is most frequently
overscored. (a) Decrease in the size of part of a figure by more than 1/3 of the dimensions used in the rest of the
figure. (b) Increase or decrease in the size of a figure by 1/3 of the dimensions used in the other drawings (not
compared to the size of the stimulus cards). Exclude parts of drawing that are larger due to Perseveration.
Time
Score if total time is greater than 15 minutes.
Points:
1) Score presence of error, not frequency, and score conservatively. For example, even if Rotation is scored for each figure, score only 1 in the Present column.
Total Score
2) If the subject rotates the card or paper and then draws correctly, it is correct.
3) Generally, 3 or fewer errors indicates an absence of visuoconstructive deficits or brain impairment; 4 errors is a borderline score; and 5 or 6 errors provide some
evidence for brain impairment. The greater the number of errors, the greater the evidence for some type of brain impairment: strong evidence with 7 or 8 errors
and very strong evidence with 9 to 12 errors. Five or more errors is serious, but not if the subject is lazy, impulsive, unmotivated, or uncooperative.
