Learn More About Adult Autism Screeners

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Think you may be autistic? Here’s what to know about the most common autism spectrum self-assessment quizzes for adults. 

Key Takeaways

• Autism quizzes ask a series of questions to determine whether you have traits commonly seen in autistic individuals.
• Autism quizzes are not a diagnostic tool, but can be used to help someone decide whether to seek out a more comprehensive professional assessment. 
• These screening tools can't necessarily distinguish between autism and other conditions like anxiety, depression, or ADHD—high scores mean "something worth exploring," not "definitely autistic."
• Only professional, trained clinicians like licensed psychologists can officially diagnose someone with autism.
• Limitations of autism quizzes include having a Western bias, not taking individual differences in how autism presents into account, and lacking face-to-face observation.The Prosper Health Autism Screener attempts to correct for some of these challenges.
• Self-reflection is an integral part of the autism assessment process. 

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Our brains don’t all work the same way. It’s part of what makes life interesting. But in a world designed for neurotypicals, those of us who are neurodivergent may find navigating certain tasks and situations challenging. If that’s the case for you, you may be curious about whether you might have autism. Yes, it’s possible, even if you’re an adult: Autistic people aren’t always diagnosed as children. And once you get a diagnosis, you can begin the journey of self-exploration toward getting the support you need.

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We completely understand that seeking a diagnosis can be intimidating—especially if you don’t know where to start. One way to begin your pre-diagnosis journey is by taking an autism quiz. 

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What is an autism quiz, and what can it tell you?

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Autism quizzes, also referred to as autism screening tools, are online tests anyone can take that have you answer a series of questions to determine if you possess traits commonly seen in autistic individuals. “The quizzes themselves do not yield a diagnosis or lack of diagnosis,” says Kelly Whaling, a clinical psychologist and Research Lead at Prosper Health. Instead, these standardized instruments can be used to help someone decide whether to seek out a more comprehensive professional assessment, and whether it’s worth the cost, time, and cognitive resources.

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Only professional, trained clinicians like licensed psychologists can officially diagnose someone with autism. A diagnosis follows a thorough evaluation consisting of “behavioral observations, structured clinical interviews, standardized assessment instruments, and questionnaires completed by both the patient and collateral informants,” Dr. Whaling says. 

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Self-reflection is an integral part of the autism assessment process—especially for adults who camouflage their behavior to appear neurotypical, and whose autism was missed when they were children. It’s important to be honest about your experiences when taking autism quizzes or speaking with a clinician. 

If you’re interested in taking an autism quiz, you can take four free online autism screening tools here, on the Prosper Health website:

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• The Prosper Health Autism Screener
• The Adult Spectrum Quotient (AQ)
• The RAADS-R
• The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)

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What is the Prosper Health Autism Screener?

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• Purpose/What it measures: Appearance of common traits in autistic adults and the likelihood that a formal assessment or neurodivergent-affirming therapy could be worth pursuing
• Best for: Adults beginning to question if they may be autistic
• Number of questions: 8
• Approximate time: 2 minutes

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The Prosper Health Autism Screener was created by autistic clinicians who understand firsthand the limitations of traditional autism questionnaires. We’ve designed it to better capture the full range of autistic experiences, including aspects of masking that older tools often miss.

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Our screener improves upon widely-used autism screening measures like the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R), while also incorporating insights from masking rating forms including the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q).

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It is a short (8-question) quiz available for free on Prosper Health’s website that helps you assess whether you have traits that suggest it may be worth considering a formal diagnosis.

What are other common autism tests for adults?

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Three of the most common autism spectrum tests for adults are the Adult Spectrum Quotient (AQ), RAADS-R, and Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)—all of which are available for free on Prosper Health’s website. Here’s what to know about each screening tool:

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Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) Test

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• Purpose/What it measures: Screens for traits and behaviors associated with autism
• Best for: Individuals over the age of 16 who do not have an intellectual disability
• Number of questions: 50
• Approximate time: 5-10 minutes

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The AQ consists of a series of prompts evaluating five characteristics associated with autism:

• ‍Social skills
• Ability to shift attention
• Attention to detail
• Communication 
• Imagination

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A group of researchers from the Departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge developed the AQ in 2001. It's widely recognized and can provide a starting point for understanding where someone might fall on the autism spectrum. The AQ was designed to quantify autistic traits in both autistic and neurotypical individuals.

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One limitation of the AQ is that according to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, the test is longer than it needs to be, and the quiz can be reduced from 50 questions to 12 questions. Plus, while AQ scores are a helpful indicator for some people, they do not offer a conclusive answer as to whether an individual is autistic or not. The AQ also doesn’t take masking behaviors into account.

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What’s more, the AQ was initially developed during a time when autism was understood to be primarily a male diagnosis. This is obviously no longer the case, so women, non binary people, and males that do not present as “classically autistic” may not find it accurate to their experiences. 

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The AQ is scored out of 50, with scores of 26 and over considered possible indicators of autistic characteristics. Higher scores indicate that an individual may have a greater prevalence of autistic traits, and lower scores indicate a lower likelihood of autistic characteristics.

RAADS-R Test

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• Purpose/What it measures: Designed to evaluate adults for traits associated with Level 1 autism
• Best for: Individuals over the age of 16 who do not have an intellectual disability who have or suspect they have Level 1 autism
• Number of questions: 80
• Approximate time: 15 minutes

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The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised (RAADS-R) is an autism self-assessment tool created by Dr. Riva Ariella Ritvo of Yale University in 2008 and revised in 2011. With a sensitivity of 97%, meaning a small proportion of autistic individuals score below the threshold, the RAADS-R is fairly reliable at identifying autistic people. 

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That said, a notable limitation of the RAADS-R is its low specificity. This means it has the potential to indicate that more people have autistic traits than is accurate. In other words, it produces many false positives, meaning non-autistic people often score high for autism, especially if they have anxiety, depression, or OCD. The questions ask about symptoms that overlap with other conditions, like social anxiety or perfectionism. The RAADS-R was designed to distinguish autistic people from neurotypical people, but most people taking it aren't neurotypical—they're seeking assessment because something's going on.

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Another benefit is that it also focuses on adults, when most assessments are for children. Another strength is that the test asks questions across four areas: social relatedness, circumscribed interests, language, and sensory motor tendencies. 

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The RAADS-R test is scored out of a possible 240 points, with the lowest possible score being zero. A total score of 65 or higher indicates potential autism. Higher scores indicate a greater alignment with potential autistic traits. 

Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)

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• Purpose/What it measures: Assess for social camouflaging behaviors
• Best for: Individuals over the age of 16 who do not have an intellectual disability
• Number of questions: 25
• Approximate time: 5 minutes

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A group of psychologists and psychiatrists developed the CAT-Q in 2019. This is especially helpful for women, as they typically score lower on the AQ than men likely because of higher rates of masking behaviors among autistic women and girls. Because the CAT-Q assesses masking behaviors, it can give a more complete picture of a person’s potential autistic traits. Additionally, this autistic masking quiz is both quick and reliable, and can be self-administered or administered by a clinician. 

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Limitations of the CAT-Q include that it doesn’t measure how effectively the camouflaging behavior is perceived by others, it may not be suitable for individuals with non-typical presentations of autism, and can’t distinguish between social camouflaging behaviors in autistic and allistic (non-autistic) people. 

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The CAT-Q measures masking behaviors, but many people mask for reasons other than autism—anyone who feels socially anxious or different might score high. It can't tell the difference between "I mask because I'm autistic" and "I mask because I have social anxiety."

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CAT-Q scores can range from 25 to 175. A score of 100 or above indicates the potential presence of autistic camouflaging behaviors, with higher scores suggesting a greater prevalence of these behaviors.

How accurate are online autism self-assessments?

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As discussed above, there are  limitations to using online autism self-assessments. For example, they are not empirically validated to diagnose autism, so there is a high likelihood that people may get high scores and not be autistic. 

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Additionally, some quizzes like the AQ and RAADS-R, don’t take masking into account and may not be as accurate for women. They also can't account for individual differences in how autism presents, the role of co-occurring conditions like ADHD, anxiety, OCD, or mental health issues.  

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“An additional limitation of online autism tests is that they rely on an individual to provide ratings of their own behavior and do not include any face-to-face observation,” Dr. Flynn says. “These are important factors when much of the diagnosis involves social criteria and individuals may not accurately perceive how their behavior may be interpreted or experienced by others.” 

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It’s important to keep in mind that any autism quizzes are merely starting points for self-understanding: they aren’t the same as a professional autism diagnosis. “Scoring low on a quiz doesn't mean you're not autistic, and scoring high doesn't mean you are,” Dr. Whaling says. “So while online screening can be a helpful awareness and access tool, treating a positive result as equivalent to a diagnosis can set people up for disappointment if they pursue formal evaluation.”

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Understanding What These Tests Can and Can't Tell You

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These screening tools are helpful starting points, but they have important limitations:

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They can't necessarily distinguish between autism and other conditions. These tests measure traits that overlap with anxiety, depression, OCD, and ADHD. High scores mean "worth exploring with a professional," not "definitely autistic."

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The RAADS-R produces many false positives. While it catches 97% of autistic people, it also flags many non-autistic people—especially those with anxiety or depression.

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The AQ is better but imperfect. It identifies most autistic individuals but can also show elevated scores in people with social anxiety.

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The CAT-Q measures masking, which isn't autism-specific. Many people mask due to social anxiety, trauma, or simply feeling different.

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The Prosper Health Autism Screener attempts to correct for the shortfallings of the RAADS-R, AQ, and CAT-Q. It was developed by autistic psychologists and therapists to better assess for traits associated with autism. However, it is brief and only serves as a starting point for further screening.

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Bottom line: A comprehensive clinical assessment looks at your developmental history and carefully rules out other explanations. These tests tell you whether it's worth having that conversation, but they can't replace it.

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What to do after taking an online autism quiz

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So, you’ve taken an online autism quiz and it suggests that you may have traits commonly seen in autistic individuals. Now what?

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Start with Reflection

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“I ask clients to consider which traits or patterns stood out, and whether those experiences have shown up consistently across their life—in relationships, routines, sensory environments, or moments of overwhelm,” Maldonado says. “This kind of reflection can be a powerful first step in understanding how they’ve been navigating the world.” 

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Write down your experiences

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From there, it’s a good idea to document your experiences. “This might include someone’s early developmental milestones, school or work challenges, feedback from others, or times they felt different but couldn’t quite name why,” Maldonado says. “Writing these down can help clarify their story and provide language for future conversations with providers.” 

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Take an autism quiz

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While popular autism quizzes like the RAADS-R, the CAT-Q, and the AQ have limitations and are not a substitute for clinical diagnosis, they can act as a stepping stone toward pursuing a professional evaluation. 

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Pursue a professional autism evaluation

If the traits identified in the quiz are impacting your well-being, relationships, or daily functioning, professional autism testing might be helpful. “This is especially important for clients who’ve been misdiagnosed, overlooked, or have had to mask their traits to get by,” Maldonado says. “A formal autism assessment can offer clarity, validation, and access to supports that align with their neurotype.” 

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A professional evaluation may also be a good idea if you feel therapy has been ineffective, your life does not look how you had hoped it would look by now or thought it might look, you’re having trouble with various coping skills, are feeling burnt out and exhausted, or just generally are trying to learn more about yourself and enhance your insight and awareness.

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If you pursue a professional evaluation, you will be asked to fill out questionnaires, engage in clinical interviews and behavioral observations, engage in some cognitive testing or screening, and have family participate in interviews about you. This is true for both in-person and online autism assessments. 

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At the end of the evaluation process, you will leave with a comprehensive written report describing the results and recommendations after the evaluation. “If you do not get this, something is wrong—request it,” Whaling says. “If you do not understand the psychologist's feedback, ask as many questions as you need to. The evaluation is for you!”

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After the evaluation and feedback, you might then seek support services. This could include psychotherapy, peer support autistic communities, occupational therapy, and other things to make your life happier and healthier.

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How Prosper can help

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If you’re ready to pursue a professional evaluation, or seek therapy for autism, you’re in the right place. Prosper Health takes a neurodiversity-affirming, telehealth-based approach to autism assessment and therapy. We believe what you tell us, and we’re not here to judge you. 

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Our neurodiversity-affirming approach focuses on the unique strengths and abilities accompanying neurodivergence, rather than simply assessing for challenges or deficits. Instead of asking "What's wrong with this person?" we ask "What's different about how this person experiences the world?" Prosper clinicians use inclusive and person-centered language that respects identity, tailors the assessment process to meet individual needs and expectations, and emphasizes collaboration throughout the process. 

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Furthermore, our telehealth-based model is all about accessibility, an increased sense of safety, and removing geographic and mobility barriers for most autistic people who wish to have an expert autism assessment. 

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Prosper's clinicians are deeply familiar with evaluating autistic adults, including those from historically underdiagnosed groups. We use interview techniques and behavior-coding protocols specifically sensitive to subtle social-communication differences. This matters a lot, especially for adults who have gotten skilled at masking. “Additionally, Prosper's clinicians focus on patterns of thought and behavior documented in decades of research to ensure that those with strong compensatory skills still receive an accurate diagnosis,” Dr. Whaling says.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How long does it take to complete an autism quiz?

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These adult autism tests differ in length. The Adult Spectrum Quotient (AQ) test is 50 questions, and takes between five and 10 minutes to complete.  The RAADS-R has 80 questions, and typically takes about 15 minutes to finish. Finally, the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) test is a 25-item questionnaire and takes roughly five minutes to complete.

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How is the RAADS-R test used?

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The RAADS-R test is used to determine whether someone has traits commonly seen in autistic individuals. It uses a confidential questionnaire that evaluates developmental history, sensory experiences, language, social interaction, and self-regulation patterns. 

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What does it mean if my results suggest signs of autism?

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If your autism screening test results suggest signs of autism, it’s a good idea to reflect on your experiences. Think through whether having an autism diagnosis could be beneficial in your life. For instance, would it give you the opportunity to get accommodations at work that would make it easier to do your job? If you decide to pursue a formal diagnosis, find and make an appointment with a neurodivergent-affirming clinician who conducts autism assessments. 

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Is self-diagnosis valid?

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Online diagnostic tools are not a substitute for professional mental health advice. That said, self-identification as autistic is valid. A 2024 study published in the journal Autism found that people with a clinical diagnosis of autism and those who self-identified as autistic responded to survey items in a very similar way, with few psychometric differences between the two groups. 

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“The neurodiversity-affirming framework recognizes that autism is a neurotype and a cultural identity, not just a medical diagnosis,” Whaling says. “Someone can have autistic traits, relate deeply to autistic experiences and community, and genuinely belong to autistic culture regardless of whether they have formal diagnostic credentials.”