Autism self-screener
The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10). 10 questions, around 3 minutes. Runs entirely in your browser, nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
Reviewed by ADHD Scot,
This is not a diagnostic tool. A positive result means it may be worth speaking to your GP or a private clinician. It does not mean you are autistic. A negative result does not rule autism out. This screener is for adults aged 16 and over.
About the AQ-10
The Autism Spectrum Quotient 10-item scale (AQ-10) was developed by Simon Baron-Cohen and colleagues at the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre. It is a brief screening tool. NICE guideline CG142 says to consider using the AQ-10 for adults with possible autism, and to offer a comprehensive assessment if a person scores 6 or above or autism is suspected on clinical judgement.
The AQ-10 asks 10 questions about everyday experiences. Some questions score when you agree; others score when you disagree. A total score of 6 or more is considered a positive screen (the threshold used in NICE CG142).
What to do next
If reading this has left you feeling distressed, you don't have to sit with it alone. You can talk to someone free, any time, through Breathing Space (0800 83 85 87) or Samaritans (116 123).
After completing the screener
If your responses suggest autism traits may be present, the next step is to speak to your GP or a private clinician. You can share your AQ-10 score as a starting point. It is not a clinical document, but it can help start the conversation about a referral for full assessment.
See our NHS autism pathway page for information on what to expect in Scotland, including what happens at a full assessment and what we know about waits.
Source and copyright
The AQ-10 is copyright © 2012 Allison C, Auyeung B, Baron-Cohen S, University of Cambridge. It is reproduced here for non-commercial public information use; the questions and scoring follow the published instrument without alteration. The Autism Research Centre says it makes its tests freely available to the research community or clinicians, for research purposes and not for commercial use, with acknowledgement and without adaptation. The full questionnaire and scoring guidance are available from the Autism Research Centre.
Citation: Allison C, Auyeung B, Baron-Cohen S. Toward brief "red flags" for autism screening: The Short Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Short Quantitative Checklist in 1,000 cases and 3,000 controls. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2012;51(2):202–212. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2011.11.003
A note on limitations: the AQ-10 is a brief screening tool, not a diagnostic test. Some research has raised psychometric concerns about it as a measure of trait autism in the general population (e.g. Taylor et al., 2020, Experimental Results). NICE guideline CG142 says to consider using it for adults with possible autism. In Scotland, autism assessment is covered by SIGN 145 (2016). A score above the threshold indicates that a full assessment may be worthwhile, not that you are autistic.