AuDHD Test

Adult ADHD Screening Test

A quick, validated screening for ADHD traits in adults.

This screening uses the ASRS v1.1 Screener — the six questions of Part A of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale v1.1, developed with the World Health Organization (Kessler et al., 2005). Answer for how you have felt and behaved over the past 6 months.

6 questions — takes about 1 minute

About the ASRS v1.1 ADHD Screener

The ASRS v1.1 Screener is the 6-question Part A of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale v1.1, developed with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Workgroup on Adult ADHD.

The full ASRS v1.1 Symptom Checklist has 18 questions, one for each DSM-IV ADHD symptom (Kessler et al., 2005). Its authors found that six of them — four about inattention and organization, two about restlessness — predicted ADHD best, and those six became the Screener. Each question asks how often something has happened over the past 6 months, from Never to Very Often. The items were written in the DSM-IV era, and the Screener is still widely used and recommended for screening adults.

The 6-question Adult Self-Report Scale-Version1.1 (ASRS-V1.1) Screener is a subset of the 18-question Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-Version1.1 (Adult ASRS-V1.1) Symptom Checklist. © New York University and President and Fellows of Harvard College.

How ASRS v1.1 Scoring Works

Each of the 6 answers is scored from 0 (Never) to 4 (Very Often), and the six scores are added up — a total from 0 to 24.

A total of 14 or more is a positive screen. This is the 0–24 scoring method Harvard described in its February 2024 scoring update, as a more robust alternative to the printed form's rule of counting answers in shaded boxes, which gave high and inconsistent prevalence estimates. Harvard also groups totals into four bands, shown below.

0–9Low negative — Few of the six symptoms happen often; the screen is negative.
10–13High negative — Below the cut-off, but some symptoms happen often — this does not rule out ADHD.
14–17Low positive — A positive screen; worth discussing with a clinician.
18–24High positive — A clearly positive screen; an evaluation by a clinician is recommended.

A positive screen means your answers resemble those of adults with ADHD closely enough to be worth discussing with a clinician — it is not a diagnosis. Below 14 does not rule ADHD out. In a 2007 study of US health-plan members, a total of 14 or more identified 64.9% of adults with ADHD (sensitivity) and correctly screened out 94.0% of those without it (specificity); the four-band version had an AUC of 0.90 (Kessler et al., 2007). Results differ by setting, and these are the study's figures, not this site's.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a score of 14 out of 24 mean?
14 is the screening cut-off. A total of 14 or more is a positive screen: your answers resemble those of adults with ADHD closely enough that an evaluation is worth discussing with a clinician. It is not a diagnosis. Harvard's scoring splits positive results into 14–17 (low positive) and 18–24 (high positive). In a 2007 study of US health-plan members, a cut-off of 14 picked up 64.9% of adults with ADHD and correctly screened out 94.0% of those without it (Kessler et al., 2007).
Can a score below 14 rule out ADHD?
No. In the 2007 validation study about a third of adults with ADHD scored below 14, and a score of 10–13 is classed as "high negative" because some symptoms occur often. Six questions cover only part of adult ADHD, and long-standing coping strategies can keep scores down. If attention, organization or restlessness affect your daily life, a professional evaluation is still worthwhile whatever your score.
Is the ASRS v1.1 the same as the ASRS-5?
No. The ASRS-5 (Ustun et al., 2017) is a newer 6-question scale with different items, written for DSM-5 and scored with weights that are not publicly available. Because we could not reproduce its validated scoring, on 4 October 2026 we switched to the ASRS v1.1 Screener, whose items and scoring are published. Results taken before that date used the ASRS-5 questions, are shown out of 25, and are labelled as an earlier version — they are not comparable with ASRS v1.1 scores.
Why is ADHD often missed in women?
Women with ADHD frequently present with the inattentive subtype rather than the more visible hyperactive-impulsive type. They often develop sophisticated masking strategies — using extra effort to meet expectations, internalizing struggles as personal failings, and compensating through anxiety-driven hypervigilance. Social conditioning also plays a role: girls are expected to be organized and attentive, so their ADHD symptoms are more likely to be attributed to laziness, anxiety, or depression rather than a neurodevelopmental condition.
Can ADHD coexist with anxiety or depression?
Yes, comorbidity is extremely common with ADHD. Studies show that approximately 50% of adults with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder, and about 30% experience major depression. These conditions can develop independently or as secondary consequences of living with undiagnosed ADHD — years of underperformance, social difficulties, and self-blame often take a toll on mental health. Importantly, anxiety and depression symptoms can mimic ADHD, making professional differential diagnosis essential.
How does the ASRS v1.1 Screener compare to longer ADHD assessments?
The ASRS v1.1 Screener is a brief first step, while longer instruments like the full 18-question ASRS v1.1 Symptom Checklist, the CAARS (Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale, 66 items) and the WURS (Wender Utah Rating Scale, 25 items) give more detailed profiles. The Screener is useful because it is short and freely available. A clinical evaluation typically adds an interview, developmental history, reports from people who know you, and checks for other conditions before any diagnosis.
Why do some ASRS forms use 4 out of 6 shaded boxes?
The printed ASRS v1.1 form shades certain answers for each question, and its original rule counts a positive screen when 4 or more of the 6 answers fall in shaded boxes. In February 2024 Harvard described an alternative that is more robust, because the shaded-box rule gave high and inconsistent prevalence estimates: score every answer 0–4, add them to a 0–24 total, and treat 14 or more as a positive screen. That is the method used here.
What should I do if I score above the threshold?
A score of 14 or above suggests elevated ADHD traits that warrant professional evaluation. Start by scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician or a psychiatrist experienced in adult ADHD. Bring your screening results and prepare to discuss your symptom history, including childhood experiences. A comprehensive evaluation typically includes clinical interview, rating scales, and ruling out other conditions. Many adults find that diagnosis — even later in life — provides validation and opens doors to effective treatment and support strategies.

References

Kessler, R.C., Adler, L., Ames, M., et al. (2005). The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychological Medicine, 35(2), 245-256.

Kessler, R.C., Adler, L.A., Gruber, M.J., et al. (2007). Validity of the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener in a representative sample of health plan members. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 16(2), 52-65.

Harvard Medical School, National Comorbidity Survey. ASRS v1.1 Screener scoring update. 28 February 2024.

Adler, L.A., Spencer, T., Faraone, S.V., et al. (2006). Validity of Pilot Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 18(3), 145-148.

Ustun, B., Adler, L.A., Rudin, C., et al. (2017). The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(5), 520-527.

National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2019). ADHD: diagnosis and management (NICE NG87).

Medically reviewed by Holly Schiff, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist — CT #8.003896, RI #PS02171, NY; Registered Telehealth Psychologist — FL #TPPY2749· Last reviewed September 20, 2026