Kettle Test
What It Measures
The Kettle Test asks a person to make two hot drinks — one for themselves and one for the therapist, differing in two ingredients. That small requirement is what makes it a cognitive test rather than a kitchen task: it forces planning, holding two sets of instructions, and switching between them.
The setup adds further demand. The kettle starts emptied and taken apart, with the lid and cord detached, so the person has to problem-solve and think about electrical safety. Extra utensils and ingredients sit nearby as distractors. Thirteen steps are scored 0 to 4 by how much cueing was needed, for a total from 0 to 52 where higher means more assistance required.
Further Reading
Additional Notes
Licensing Notes: The protocol is available free and circulates in full online; the developers can also be contacted directly. No formal training is required, though experience with observational evaluation is recommended.
Learn More: Totals convert into three practical categories — independent, mild assistance, and considerable assistance — which is usually more useful clinically than the raw number.
