The AQ-10 (Autism Spectrum Quotient, 10-item) is a brief self-report screener for autism in adults aged 16 and over, developed by Allison, Auyeung, and Baron-Cohen at the Cambridge Autism Research Centre in 2012. It is derived from the longer 50-item AQ and was selected as the shortest version that retains good screening performance.
The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends the AQ-10 in clinical guideline CG142 as a case-identification tool for adults with suspected autism. It is widely used in general practice and by adult autism services as a first step before referral.
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Disclaimer
This test is based on the AQ-10 (Autism Spectrum Quotient, 10-item) and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a clinical diagnostic tool and does not constitute medical advice. Autism is diagnosed through a comprehensive clinical assessment, not through a questionnaire. If you are concerned about your wellbeing, please consider speaking with a qualified healthcare professional.
The AQ-10 (Autism Spectrum Quotient, 10-item) is a brief self-report screener for autism in adults aged 16 and over, developed by Allison, Auyeung and Baron-Cohen at the Cambridge Autism Research Centre in 2012. It is derived from the longer 50-item AQ and was selected as the shortest reliable version. The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends the AQ-10 in its clinical guideline CG142 as a case-identification tool for adults with suspected autism who do not have a moderate or severe learning disability.
Each of the 10 items is answered on a 4-point scale: Definitely Agree, Slightly Agree, Slightly Disagree, or Definitely Disagree. Any form of agree is collapsed to 'agree' and any form of disagree is collapsed to 'disagree'. The scoring key is:
A total score of 6 or more out of 10 indicates that a comprehensive assessment for autism should be considered.
In the original validation sample of more than 4,000 respondents, the AQ-10 had a sensitivity of 0.88 and a specificity of 0.91 at the threshold score of 6. More recent independent studies have found that real-world performance in clinical populations is more variable, particularly because many people who mask autistic traits score below the threshold. The AQ-10 is therefore best understood as a rapid flag for further assessment, not a standalone diagnostic test.
Autism in women is often missed or diagnosed late because many autistic women mask or compensate for their traits in social situations. The AQ-10 was validated across both sexes but relies on self-report, which means that effective masking can lower the score. If you recognise yourself strongly in autistic experiences but score below 6, a specialist assessment may still be worth pursuing. The AQ-10 also does not distinguish autism from other neurodivergent profiles such as ADHD, which commonly co-occur.
No. All scoring happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your answers are never transmitted to any server, stored in a database, or shared with any third party. This screener deliberately does not encode your answers into the URL, so there is nothing identifiable to share even by accident. When you close the tab, your answers are gone. OmLumi collects no personal information from this screener.
If you score 6 or more, consider discussing your results with a GP or a mental health professional experienced in adult autism assessment. A formal diagnosis requires a comprehensive clinical evaluation that considers developmental history, current traits, and functional impact. Even a below-threshold score can be a useful starting point for a conversation, especially if you strongly identify with autistic experiences or suspect you have been masking.
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. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012;51(2):202-212. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2011.11.003
The AQ-10 is made freely available by the Cambridge Autism Research Centre for non-commercial research, clinical, and educational use. See also NICE clinical guideline CG142 (2012, updated 2021).