What this test measures
Autism is present from early childhood, even when it is first noticed in adulthood. That is why this test asks about two times at once: for each of eighty statements you say whether it is true now, was true before you were 16, both, or never. The statements cover four areas: social relating (reading people, friendships, social rules), focused interests and routines, language (literal understanding, sayings, how you sound) and senses and movement (sounds, lights, textures, touch, coordination).
It is the most detailed autism screening on the site and takes about 15 minutes. It tells you how many autistic traits you recognise, now and in your younger years, and whether your score is above the threshold at which an assessment is usually worth considering. It cannot tell you whether you are autistic; only a clinician can do that.
How it is built
The test follows the structure of the 80-item adult questionnaire published as the RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale, revised): eighty statements in the same four areas and positions, the same four answers about now and before 16, and the same scoring. An answer of "true now and when I was young" scores 3, "true only now" 2, "true only when I was younger than 16" 1, and "never true" 0.
Seventeen of the statements describe things most people find easy, such as sensing the mood in a room. Those are scored the other way round, as in the original, so the test does not reward simply agreeing or disagreeing with everything.
Your total runs from 0 to 240 and is read against the published threshold of 65. We add a second marker at 130, twice the threshold, to separate scores that are far above it; that marker is our own convention, not a published cut-off. Each of the four areas also has its own published threshold, shown in the full report. The wording of every statement is our own.
What your result contains
Your free result shows your range (below the threshold, above it, or well above it) with a short summary, and the four areas as bars. The full report adds your exact score out of 240 against the threshold, your score in each area against its own threshold, what your range tends to look like and the strengths that often come with autistic traits, what helps and what to bring to an assessment, and a PDF to keep or to take to an appointment. The full report is one payment, no subscription.
Not a diagnosis, and where to get support
A score above the threshold is a pattern worth discussing with a professional, not a label, and some people score above it without being autistic. A lower score does not rule autism out: many autistic adults have learned to mask their traits so well that they no longer recognise them in themselves.
Autism is not an illness or a crisis, but feeling different or misunderstood can be hard, and anxiety and low mood are common alongside it. If you are struggling, find a free and confidential helpline in your country. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the RAADS-R Autism Test.
How long does the test take?
About 15 minutes. There are eighty short statements, each with four answers. Pick a quiet moment to do it in one go, and take your time with each statement.
What does the test measure?
How many autistic traits you recognise in four areas (social relating, focused interests and routines, language, and senses and movement), now and before the age of 16. Your total of 0 to 240 is read against the threshold of 65. You see your range for free; your exact score, the four area scores and the full report are one payment, no subscription.
Is this the RAADS-R?
No. It follows the structure of that questionnaire (eighty statements in the same four areas and positions, the same now-and-then answers and scoring, the same threshold), but the wording of every statement is our own and it is not the official instrument. If a clinician asks you to fill in the RAADS-R, do that one.
Why does it ask about before I was 16?
Because autistic traits are present from early childhood. A trait that is true only now may have other causes; one that has been there since you were young fits the autistic pattern better. The scoring reflects that.
Is this a diagnosis?
No. It is a screening. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose autism, after looking at your development since childhood. A score above the threshold means a pattern worth discussing; a lower score does not rule autism 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 it?
Yes. Your childhood answers will not change, so your score usually stays close; retaking it is most useful after you have talked with family about how you were as a child.