Free self-tests · 2 min · 6 questions

ASRS v1.1 adult ADHD screener: a private six-question self-check

The ASRS v1.1 screener is a six-question checklist about attention, organisation and restlessness in adult life, such as finishing tasks, keeping track of appointments and sitting still for long periods. It asks about the past six months and is meant for people aged 18 or over.

It is a screening questionnaire, not a test for ADHD. A positive screen only suggests that a fuller assessment by a trained clinician might be worthwhile.

Your answers stay on your device. Nothing is stored or sent.

Free, no sign-up. Your progress is saved only in this browser on this device, so you can stop and come back later. Nothing is sent to anyone.

Check the box that best describes how you have felt and conducted yourself over the past 6 months.

Shaded answers are the ones that count towards the screening result, as on the original form.

1. How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project, once the challenging parts have been done?
2. How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires organization?
3. How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?
4. When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting started?
5. How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when you have to sit down for a long time?
6. How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?

The ASRS v1.1 screener is designed to pick out people who might benefit from a fuller assessment. It is not a diagnosis. Many things can affect attention and organisation, including stress, poor sleep, low mood, anxiety, hormonal changes and big life changes like a move abroad. Only a trained clinician can tell these apart and decide whether ADHD is the right explanation.

If you scored four or more, or if these difficulties have followed you since childhood and affect work, study or relationships, please speak to a GP. They can talk you through how adult ADHD assessments work where you live and refer you to a specialist service if that is appropriate.

I want to be honest about my role here. I am a trainee person-centred counsellor, and I do not assess, diagnose or treat ADHD. That needs a specialist. Some people do find it helpful to talk about how they feel about themselves, their family's expectations or a late diagnosis, and if that is you, you can read about feeling stuck, people-pleasing or what I offer.

How the ASRS-v1.1) 6-Question Screener score works

6 questions, scored by counting answers in the shaded range. These are the score ranges this page uses to describe your result. Where the questionnaire's authors publish official cut-offs, the ranges follow them; the sources are listed below.

Overall score
ScoreRange
Below the screening threshold0 to 3
At or above the screening threshold4 to 6

About this questionnaire

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale v1.1 (ASRS-v1.1) 6-Question Screener by Ronald C. Kessler, Lenard Adler and colleagues, with the World Health Organization Workgroup on Adult ADHD (2005).

Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Ames, M., Demler, O., Faraone, S., Hiripi, E., Howes, M. J., Jin, R., Secnik, K., Spencer, T., Ustun, T. B., & Walters, E. E. (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. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291704002892

Used in line with the published terms of use.

Questions people ask

Can this questionnaire tell me if I have ADHD?

No. The ASRS v1.1 screener only shows whether your answers match a pattern that is often seen in adults with ADHD. Its own authors say it is not meant to replace a consultation with a trained healthcare professional. A diagnosis needs a full clinical evaluation, usually including your history since childhood.

What does a score of 4 or more mean?

It means four or more of your answers fell in the shaded range on the screener. The authors describe this as a sign that your symptoms may be consistent with adult ADHD and that it may help to talk to a healthcare provider about an evaluation. It is a reason to ask, not an answer.

Why only six questions?

The six questions were chosen from a longer 18-question checklist because, in the original research, they were the best at predicting who would later be diagnosed. That makes the screener quick, but it also means it leaves a lot out. A specialist assessment covers far more ground.

Are my answers stored?

No. The screener is scored in your browser. Nothing is saved, and nothing is sent to me or anyone else. When you close or refresh the page, your answers are gone. If you want to show your result to a GP, take a screenshot.

Sources

  1. Harvard Medical School, National Comorbidity Survey: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scales (ASRS)
  2. ASRS v1.1 6-question screener, English (PDF)
  3. ASRS v1.1 screener (6Q) scoring update, 28 February 2024 (PDF)
  4. Kessler et al. (2005), The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)

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