Combat Exposure Scale (CES) Test

Understand the intensity of a veteran’s combat exposure in about 2 minutes. Seven items yield a clear score to guide PTSD care and prioritize treatment targets.

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Questions: 72 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

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1,221 completion

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Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

12/26

Combat Exposure Intensity (CEI)

Measures the quantitative intensity of an individual’s exposure to combat-related events and stressors.

Low exposure

Moderate exposure

High exposure

0 – 8: Low exposure | 9 – 17: Moderate exposure | 18 – 26: High exposure

A score of 12 indicates a moderate level of combat exposure, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme intensity of combat-related experiences.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Veterans with PTSD symptoms

44%OF USERS

People who served in combat and now have anxiety, nightmares, or intrusive memories use it to gauge how intense their frontline exposure was.

Therapists and clinicians

33%OF USERS

Mental health professionals use it to get a structured measure of combat stressors to guide trauma-focused assessment and treatment planning.

Active-duty service members

23%OF USERS

Military personnel returning from deployments take it to document recent combat exposure and flag potential need for follow-up support.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

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Used in 52+ countries

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Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Combat Experience Intensity Scale (CEIS)

Average

Normal range

13.6 — 22.5

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It estimates the intensity and frequency of exposure to combat-related stressors. The score summarizes reported exposure across several common combat situations.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adults with military service who experienced deployment or combat-zone conditions. It may be used in clinical evaluation or research involving trauma-related outcomes.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

It includes 7 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Items focus on specific types of combat events.

How should responses be selected if details are unclear?

Select the response that best matches overall experience during the relevant service period. If an event did not occur, select the option indicating no exposure.

How are results used and what are the limits of interpretation?

Results support clinical case formulation and treatment planning by describing level of combat exposure. The score does not diagnose any condition and should be interpreted alongside other clinical information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Combat Exposure Scale (CES) Test - Symptoms and Signs

ptsd occupational psychology

This measure provides a brief, structured estimate of an individual’s level of wartime operational stress exposure. The Combat Exposure Scale (CES) is commonly used in clinical and research settings to quantify the severity and frequency of combat-related events based on self-report.

It contains 7 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Items focus on concrete experiences (e.g., exposure to enemy fire, direct engagement, and related combat situations), yielding a score that can support case formulation, trauma-focused assessment, and interpretation of posttraumatic stress-related presentations. The Combat Exposure Scale (CES) is attributed to Charles W. Hoge and Matthew J. Friedman.

Author: Charles W. Hoge, Matthew J. Friedman

Literature: Keane, T. M., Fairbank, J. A., Caddell, J. M., Zimering, R. T., Taylor, K. L., & Mora, C. A. Clinical evaluation of a measure to assess combat exposure. Psychological Assessment. 1989.

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