ADHD Test (Adult): Screen Inattention and Hyperactivity with the Validated ASRS Scale
This adult ADHD test screens attention, organization, and restlessness using the full ASRS v1.1 questionnaire. Get an instant symptom summary to discuss with a clinician, with an optional report.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW 
ADHD Test (Adult) is a free, confidential 18-question self-assessment, based on the full WHO ASRS v1.1. It takes about 8 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 4 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
What the full ASRS v1.1 actually captures
This adult ADHD test measures how often inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity affect everyday activities. This assessment includes all 18 items of the ASRS v1.1, so you see both the validated screen and the fuller picture of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.
The complete scale, in two parts
All 18 ASRS v1.1 questions: Part A, the six items most predictive of adult ADHD, plus Part B, twelve additional questions covering the rest of the adult symptom picture. Answering all 18, rather than the six-item version many sites use, is what lets this test report a Part A screen and a fuller Part B picture side by side.
The validated screening rule
Part A is the validated screener. In formal scoring, four or more of its six answers falling in the clinical (shaded-box) range is a positive screen that warrants further evaluation. The rule applies question by question: the first three questions count at Sometimes or more often, the last three count at Often or more often.
Both symptom domains
The items span inattention, like losing focus, misplacing things, and careless mistakes, and hyperactivity-impulsivity, like restlessness, interrupting, and difficulty waiting your turn. Some adults recognize themselves mostly in one domain, others in both, and Part B is what lets that fuller pattern show up in your result.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Full 18-question ASRS v1.1 | Usually only 6 | Yes, all 18 items |
| WHO-developed screener | Rarely noted | Yes, explained |
| Part A screen and Part B breakdown | No | Yes, both reported |
| Clinician-reviewed | Rarely | Yes, clinician reviewed |
| Optional in-depth personalized report | No | Yes, written to your exact scores |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–72 in total. Your result falls into one of 4 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–16 | Unlikely range | Your answers across all 18 questions point to relatively few ADHD-consistent symptoms over the past six months. That is reassuring on this measure. |
| 17–30 | Some symptoms | Your answers point to some ADHD-consistent symptoms. Many people live here, and it is worth understanding rather than worrying about. |
| 31–45 | Notable symptoms | Your answers point to a notable level of ADHD-consistent symptoms. A conversation with a professional is genuinely worth considering. |
| 46–72 | Strong symptom load | Your answers point to a strong load of ADHD-consistent symptoms. Please be kind to yourself, and consider pursuing a professional evaluation. |
How common is this?
The adult ADHD test screens for symptoms that may warrant an assessment; it cannot establish ADHD or explain every attention difficulty. Screening questions land differently when you know how many other people are answering them the same way. Our ADHD statistics page collects the current numbers on ADHD in the United States, each one with its source and the year it was measured next to it.
None of those figures say anything about your own result. They are context for it, and a reminder that whatever the score, this is common ground rather than rare territory.
How ADHD looks different by age and gender
ADHD does not present the same way in every adult. Many women and girls show inattentive symptoms such as daydreaming, disorganization, and quiet overwhelm rather than the visible hyperactivity that older research focused on, which is one reason diagnosis often comes later in life for women than for men. If that pattern sounds familiar, the ADHD Test for Women asks about the same core symptoms using examples drawn from how they tend to show up in women.
ADHD also frequently overlaps with autism, and some people find that attention, sensory, and social differences run together rather than fitting one label. The AuDHD Test looks at both patterns side by side. Parents wondering about a child's attention and behavior can start with the Child ADHD Test (Parent Report), which uses caregiver-observed examples suited to kids rather than the adult work and relationship scenarios used here.
What else can look like ADHD
Several conditions produce similar attention and restlessness symptoms, which is part of why a full evaluation matters more than any single test. Anxiety and depression can both drain concentration and make it hard to start or finish tasks, sleep deprivation mimics inattention and irritability closely, and autism can bring its own attention and executive function differences that show up alongside or instead of ADHD. A clinician typically untangles these by asking when the symptoms started, since ADHD symptoms are lifelong rather than new, whether they show up across more than one setting, and what school reports and early history suggest.
If you are unsure where to start, the Psychology.com therapist directory lets you search for clinicians who specialize in ADHD evaluation, and simple daily supports such as a Habit Tracker or a Time Management routine can help while you wait for an appointment.
Before an appointment, write down examples of unfinished tasks, missed commitments, or restlessness and what happens as a result. Include situations where things go more smoothly and supports you already rely on. School records can help if available, and a clinician may also ask someone who knows you well about your history. You can still ask for an evaluation when childhood records are unavailable.
How adult ADHD is typically treated
Treatment for adult ADHD usually combines more than one approach, since medication and skills-based support address different parts of the picture. Stimulant medications, methylphenidate and amphetamine-based options, are the most studied treatment and show the largest effect sizes in comparative research on ADHD medications, with non-stimulant medications available as an alternative for people who do not tolerate stimulants well or have specific health considerations. Medication decisions belong to you and a prescriber who can weigh your full health history, so this test cannot and does not recommend a specific option.
Alongside medication, cognitive behavioral therapy adapted specifically for adult ADHD has research support for improving organization, time management, and emotion regulation, and many adults benefit from ADHD coaching, workplace accommodations, and structured routines with or without medication. There is no single right combination. What matters is fit: an evaluation that looks at your specific symptom pattern, including your Part A and Part B results here, is what lets a clinician and you choose an approach together. The Psychology.com tests hub offers related self-assessments, and a primary care clinician can help you decide where to seek an evaluation.
Methodology & sources
This test reproduces all 18 items of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) v1.1, developed by Kessler and colleagues with the World Health Organization (2005). The scale has two parts. Part A contains the six questions found to be the most predictive of adult ADHD, and it is the validated screener: in the official shaded-box scoring, certain answers (Sometimes or more often on the first three questions, Often or more often on the last three) fall inside a darkly shaded box, and four or more shaded responses across the six questions is a positive screen suggesting symptoms consistent with adult ADHD that warrant further evaluation. Part B contains the remaining twelve questions and is used to give a fuller picture of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms; it provides additional context for a clinician rather than a separate screen. Item wording has been lightly adapted for readability while preserving the meaning of the validated instrument.
Alongside the Part A screen, we sum all 18 answers, each rated from 0 (never) to 4 (very often), into a total score from 0 to 72, and we band that total as 0 to 16 unlikely range, 17 to 30 some symptoms, 31 to 45 notable, and 46 to 72 strong symptom load. To be clear about what is and is not validated: the ASRS's validated use is the Part A screener with its 4-or-more rule. The summed severity total is an orientation aid we provide for self-reflection, not a validated clinical cutoff. This test is provided for education and self-reflection. It is not a diagnosis. Only a qualified clinician can assess ADHD, typically through a structured interview, developmental history, and review of how symptoms affect daily life.
The original ASRS v1.1 research and the later DSM-5 screening scale listed below concern related instruments. Evidence for the later scale does not automatically validate this page or its locally defined total-score bands. When discussing your result, identify the questionnaire version and distinguish the Part A response pattern from the displayed summed score.
References
- Kessler RC, Adler L, Ames M, et al. The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychol Med. 2005;35(2):245-256.
- Ustun B, Adler LA, Rudin C, et al. The World Health Organization Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(5):520-526.
- Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(9):727-738.
- Safren SA, Otto MW, Sprich S, Winett CL, Wilens TE, Biederman J. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD in medication-treated adults with continued symptoms. Behav Res Ther. 2005;43(7):831-842.
- National Institute of Mental Health. ADHD in Adults: 4 Things to Know. nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/adhd-what-you-need-to-know
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 16). ADHD Test (Adult). Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/adhd
ADHD Test (Adult) FAQ
What is the ASRS adult ADHD test?
The ASRS v1.1 is a validated 18-question scale developed with the World Health Organization to identify adults who may have ADHD. Part A is the six-question screener that best predicts adult ADHD; Part B adds twelve questions for a fuller symptom picture. This test includes all 18. It indicates likelihood, not a diagnosis.
What does a positive screen mean?
On the official Part A scoring, four or more of the six screener answers falling in the clinical (shaded-box) range is a positive screen, meaning your symptoms are consistent with adult ADHD and a fuller evaluation is worthwhile. It does not confirm ADHD on its own, and Part B answers add context rather than a separate screen.
How is the 0 to 72 total scored?
Each of the 18 answers is rated from 0 (never) to 4 (very often), totaling 0 to 72. This total aids self-reflection; it is not a validated clinical cutoff. Validated Part A screening counts qualifying answers: questions 1 to 3 at Sometimes or more, questions 4 to 6 at Often or more. Four or more qualifying answers indicate a positive screen. The displayed Part A metric sums those six answers instead, so review the individual responses with a clinician to apply the screening rule.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose ADHD, usually through a detailed interview, your developmental history, and a look at how symptoms affect your daily life. A positive screen is a reason to seek that assessment. The neurodivergent test offers a broader educational self-check across attention, social, sensory, and learning experiences, without diagnosing any condition.
Can adults really have ADHD?
Yes. ADHD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference, and many adults are identified later in life, especially those whose symptoms were missed in childhood. Adult ADHD is real, common, and supportable. Symptoms begin in childhood, even when recognition comes later. A clinician will ask about earlier experiences and current difficulties at home, at work, or in relationships, because a recent change in concentration can have other explanations.
Is the test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your individual answers are scored in your browser and are never sent to us or linked to you. They stay in this tab so you can return to your result, and closing or clearing the tab clears them. If you ask us to email the PDF, we receive your summary scores with your email address, never your individual answers. No account is needed.
Related tests
RAADS-R Test: The RAADS-14 Screen
An adapted RAADS-14 screen for adult autistic traits, with a score and context for seeking assessment.
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Test
The WHO ASRS v1.1: the validated 6-item Part A shaded-box screener plus 12 Part B items.
Autism Test (Adult)
Explore autistic traits with the full AQ, domain scores, and guidance on discussing an adult assessment.