Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Test
A confidential self-assessment built on the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1). You take the validated six-item Part A screener, scored with its shaded-box rule, plus the twelve Part B symptom questions for context, then get an instant result and an optional in-depth personalized report to bring to a clinician.
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Test is a free, confidential 18-question self-assessment, based on the WHO ASRS v1.1. It takes about 4 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 3 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
What the ASRS v1.1 screener actually checks
The ASRS is built around a short, validated screener. Part A holds the six questions the World Health Organization found most predictive of adult ADHD, and its shaded-box rule is what decides a positive screen. Part B adds twelve questions for a fuller symptom picture.
The validated Part A screener
Part A is the six ASRS questions the WHO team found most predictive of adult ADHD. It is the part validated as a standalone screen, which is why your result centers on it rather than on a long symptom tally.
What the shaded box means
Each Part A answer either lands in a shaded, higher-frequency box or it does not: Sometimes or more often on the first three questions, Often or more often on the last three. Four or more shaded answers is a positive screen, highly consistent with adult ADHD and worth a clinical follow-up.
Part B for the fuller picture
The remaining twelve ASRS items span inattention, like losing focus and misplacing things, and hyperactivity-impulsivity, like restlessness and interrupting. They add context for a clinician rather than a separate pass or fail.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Targets the ASRS v1.1 by name | Rarely | Yes, the WHO instrument |
| Validated Part A shaded-box scoring | No | Yes, the 4-of-6 rule explained |
| Both Part A and Part B | Usually Part A only | Yes, all 18 items |
| Explains what a positive screen means | Vague | Yes, step by step |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, clinician reviewed |
| Optional in-depth personalized report | No | Yes, written to your exact answers |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–24 in total. Your result falls into one of 3 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–8 | Below the screening threshold | Your Part A answers are below the level where a positive ASRS screen is even possible. On this validated screener, that is reassuring. |
| 9–15 | Around the screening threshold | Your Part A answers sit close to the threshold. Whether your screen is positive depends on the exact shaded-box pattern, so it is worth checking directly. |
| 16–24 | At or above the typical screening range | Your Part A answers are high, the range that commonly reflects a positive ASRS screen. Confirm it with the shaded-box count, and consider a professional evaluation. |
Methodology & sources
This test reproduces the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1), developed by Kessler and colleagues in 2005. Its heart is Part A, the six questions found to be the most predictive of adult ADHD and validated as a standalone screener. The ASRS scores Part A with a shaded-box rule: on the first three questions an answer of Sometimes or more often falls in the shaded box, and on the last three questions an answer of Often or more often does. Four or more shaded answers across the six is a positive screen, meaning symptoms highly consistent with adult ADHD that warrant a clinical follow-up. Part B adds the remaining twelve ASRS items to fill out the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive picture; it gives a clinician context rather than a second screen. Item wording has been lightly adapted for readability while preserving the meaning of the validated instrument. This page is about the ASRS instrument specifically. For a broader overview of adult ADHD, our companion adult ADHD test at psychology.com/tests/adhd covers the same 18 items with more general context.
Because this screening runs entirely in your browser, we present Part A as your primary result and band your Part A total from 0 to 24 so you can see where your answers sit. That band is an orientation aid. The definitive, validated result is the shaded-box count itself, which we compute from your answers and show at the top of your result, alongside the four-of-six rule so you can verify it yourself. This test is for education and self-reflection. It is not a diagnosis. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose ADHD, usually through a structured interview, your developmental history, and a look at how symptoms affect daily life.
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.
- Adler LA, Spencer T, Faraone SV, et al. Validity of pilot Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) to rate adult ADHD symptoms. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2006;18(3):145–148.
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, August 28). Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Test. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/asrs
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Test FAQ
What is the ASRS test?
The ASRS v1.1 is the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, an 18-question instrument developed with the World Health Organization to identify adults who may have ADHD. Its validated core is Part A, a six-question screener. Part B adds twelve questions for a fuller symptom picture. This test includes all 18. It indicates likelihood, not a diagnosis.
How does the shaded-box scoring work?
Part A is scored by counting answers that fall in a shaded, higher-frequency box. On the first three questions, an answer of Sometimes, Often, or Very often is shaded. On the last three questions, only Often or Very often is shaded. If four or more of your six answers are shaded, that is a positive screen, meaning your symptoms are highly consistent with adult ADHD and a fuller evaluation is worthwhile.
What does a positive screen mean?
A positive screen means four or more of your six Part A answers landed in the shaded range. It does not confirm ADHD on its own; it means an assessment is genuinely worth pursuing. Your Part B answers and your life history add context that a clinician uses alongside the screen.
How is this different from a general ADHD test?
This page is framed tightly around the ASRS instrument itself: the WHO screener, its Part A shaded-box rule, and what a positive screen means. If you want a broader overview of adult ADHD rather than the instrument, our companion adult ADHD test at psychology.com/tests/adhd covers the same 18 items with more general context.
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.
Is the test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server, never stored, and never linked to you. No account is needed.
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