What this test measures
Obsessive-compulsive problems are not about being tidy. They are about distress: unwanted thoughts that push in and will not leave, and urges to do something (wash, check, arrange, count, keep) to make the discomfort go away, which only works for a while. This test asks how much eighteen such experiences have distressed or bothered you over the past month, across six areas: washing, obsessing (intrusive thoughts), hoarding, ordering, checking and mental rituals such as counting. Your answers add up to one score from 0 to 72.
It is a screening. It can tell you whether the distress you describe reaches the level at which a closer look is usually suggested, and which areas carry it. It cannot tell you whether you have OCD; only a clinician who talks with you can do that, and a score below the cut-off does not rule it out.
How it is built
The test follows the structure of an 18-item obsessive-compulsive questionnaire used in clinics and research, often called the OCI-R: six symptom areas with three statements each, in the same interleaved order, each rated on the same five-point distress scale (not at all, a little, moderately, a lot, extremely) for the past month. The total is read against the questionnaire's published screening cut-off of 21.
The wording of every statement is our own. We report the six areas as raw scores from 0 to 12 without separate cut-offs for each, because the values proposed for single areas differ between studies. We also do not add severity levels above the cut-off that the questionnaire itself does not define.
What your result contains
Your free result shows whether your total is below, or at or above, the screening cut-off, with a short summary, and the six areas as bars. The full report adds your exact score and where it sits against the cut-off, your score in each of the six areas, what this result tends to look like day to day and what is still working, what to do next and what to bring to a conversation with a doctor or therapist, and a PDF to keep or to take to an appointment. The test is free; the full report is one payment, no subscription.
Not a diagnosis, and where to get support
A score at or above the cut-off is a pattern worth discussing with a professional, not a label. Unwanted thoughts, however disturbing, are not wishes or intentions; distress about them is in fact typical of obsessive-compulsive problems. OCD responds well to a specific kind of cognitive behavioural therapy called exposure and response prevention, sometimes together with medication.
If you are struggling right now, these lines are free and confidential: Find a helpline in your country, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US (call or text 988), Samaritans in the UK and Ireland (116 123) and 113 Zelfmoordpreventie in the Netherlands (113 or 0800-0113). If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the OCD Test.
How long does the OCD Test take?
About four minutes. There are eighteen statements, each with five answers.
What does the OCD Test measure?
How much distress six kinds of obsessive-compulsive experience have caused you in the past month: washing, intrusive thoughts, hoarding, ordering, checking and mental rituals. Each answer scores 0 to 4; the total of 0 to 72 is read against the cut-off of 21. Whether you are below or above the cut-off is free; your exact score, the six area scores and the full report are one payment, no subscription.
Is this the OCI-R?
No. It follows the structure of that questionnaire (eighteen items in six areas, the same five-point distress scale over the past month, the same cut-off), but the wording of every statement is our own and it is not the official instrument.
I scored below the cut-off but one area is very high. What does that mean?
The cut-off applies to the total. Some people have one main area, such as checking or intrusive thoughts, that causes a lot of distress while the others are quiet. If one area takes up time or peace of mind, it is worth raising with a doctor whatever the total.
Is this a diagnosis?
No. It is a screening. A score at or above the cut-off means a pattern worth discussing with a doctor or therapist; only a qualified clinician can diagnose OCD, and a lower score does not rule it out.
Is my data private?
Yes. Your answers are scored in your browser. Mental-health results are never shown on a share card: if you share the test, you share the test, not your result. We do not sell personal data and you can ask for export or deletion at any time.
Can I retake the OCD Test?
Yes, as often as you like. Because it asks about the past month, retaking it every month or two shows whether things are easing, especially during treatment.