Free AQ-10 Quick Autism Screening
The AQ-10 (Autism Quotient-10) is the shortest validated autism screening tool in widespread clinical use. Developed as a rapid-screening version of the full AQ-50, it's used by GPs and clinicians to quickly determine whether a patient should be referred for a full autism assessment.
If you're looking for a quick starting point, our free screening goes further than the AQ-10—covering 18 questions aligned with DSM-5 criteria—while still taking only 5 minutes. It gives you a more complete picture than 10 questions can provide.
Go beyond the AQ-10 with our free screening
18 questions for a more complete picture. Still just 5 minutes.
Start the Free TestWhat the AQ-10 Covers
The AQ-10 selects the 10 most diagnostically powerful questions from the AQ-50. These questions touch on:
- Social awareness: Difficulty reading social situations and understanding what others are thinking or feeling.
- Conversational patterns: Challenges with back-and-forth conversation, knowing when to speak, and reading between the lines.
- Imagination and flexibility: Preference for factual information, difficulty with pretend scenarios, and need for routine.
- Attention and focus: Strong attention to detail and patterns, with difficulty switching between tasks.
Why We Recommend Going Beyond 10 Questions
While the AQ-10 is useful as a clinical gateway, 10 questions can miss important nuances—especially for people who mask their traits. Our 18-question screening provides coverage of both major DSM-5 domains (Social Communication and Behavioral/Sensory patterns) and uses a frequency scale that captures how often you experience traits, not just whether they exist.
This frequency-based approach is closer to the RAADS-R methodology and helps differentiate between occasional experiences and pervasive patterns.
After the Screening
Whether you start with the AQ-10, our 18-question assessment, or another tool, what matters most is what you do with the information. Explore our resources, learn about sensory processing and neurodiversity, and consider whether a formal evaluation would be helpful for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AQ-10 test?
The AQ-10 is a rapid autism screening tool consisting of 10 questions extracted from the full AQ-50. It was developed for use in clinical settings where time is limited, such as GP consultations. It can be completed in about 2 minutes and provides a quick indication of whether a full autism assessment may be warranted.
How is the AQ-10 scored?
Each of the 10 questions is scored 0 or 1, giving a total between 0 and 10. A score of 6 or above is the standard referral threshold, indicating that autistic traits are present at a level that warrants further assessment. The AQ-10 has been shown to correctly identify approximately 88% of autistic individuals in research studies.
Is the AQ-10 enough to know if I'm autistic?
No. The AQ-10 is a brief screening tool—a starting point, not an answer. A score above the threshold means it's worth exploring further through a more comprehensive screening (like our 18-question assessment) or a formal clinical evaluation. Many people with elevated AQ-10 scores are not autistic, and some autistic people score below the threshold.
What's the difference between AQ-10 and a full autism assessment?
The AQ-10 takes 2 minutes and uses 10 self-report questions. A full clinical autism assessment involves detailed developmental history, observation, structured interviews, and can take several hours across multiple sessions. Our free screening sits between these—more thorough than the AQ-10 but accessible and private.