Could it be adult ADHD?
Based on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) developed by the World Health Organization. This 18-question screener evaluates symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in adults.
Your result is free. At the end, a detailed report ($4.99) is offered as an option: you do not have to buy it.
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🔬 ADHD Screening Test (ASRS-v1.1)
How scoring works
Part A (6 questions) is the core screener. 4+ highlighted answers indicates ADHD symptoms. Part B (12 questions) provides additional clinical context.
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What is the ASRS-v1.1?
The ASRS-v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) was developed with the World Health Organization by a workgroup on adult ADHD that included Lenard Adler (New York University), Ronald Kessler and Thomas Spencer (Harvard Medical School). Its 18 questions follow the 18 ADHD symptoms listed in the DSM-IV and ask how often each one has occurred over the past 6 months, from "never" to "very often". In the validation study (Kessler et al., 2005), carried out with 154 participants in a US national survey, the 6 questions that best predicted a clinician's diagnosis became Part A, the screener; the other 12 form Part B. The scale is intended for adults aged 18 and over. A 6-question version updated for the DSM-5, the ASRS-5, was published in 2017.
How is the score read?
Only Part A is scored. For questions 1 to 3, an answer of "sometimes" or more falls in the zone shaded on the original form; for questions 4 to 6, "often" or more. Your score is the number of answers in that zone, from 0 to 6. At 4 or more, the symptoms are considered consistent with adult ADHD and an evaluation is warranted. Part B has no score or cut-off: it adds detail to discuss with a professional. The intermediate level this site shows for 2 or 3 answers is not part of the original scoring. In the 2005 study, the screener had a specificity of 99.5% but a sensitivity of 68.7%: about 3 in 10 adults with ADHD scored below 4. A low score therefore does not rule out ADHD.
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting approximately 5–8% of adults worldwide. ADHD is not a lack of willpower or laziness — it is a neurological difference that affects the regulation of attention, impulse control, and sometimes motor activity. In adults, ADHD often manifests as difficulty sustaining focus on routine tasks, chronic procrastination, frequent forgetfulness, and intense hyperfocus on areas of interest. Adult ADHD is significantly underdiagnosed, especially in women and high-achieving individuals who develop compensation strategies.
Common symptoms in adults
Signs of adult ADHD include: difficulty completing started tasks, chronic disorganisation, forgetting appointments or obligations, impatience and impulsive decision-making, poor time management, emotional hypersensitivity, and periods of intense hyperfocus alternating with total inability to concentrate. Many adults with ADHD develop masking strategies over decades that hide the condition until a significant life stressor reveals it.
Frequently asked questions
Can the ASRS-v1.1 diagnose ADHD?
No. It is a screening tool: its authors state that a positive screen should be followed by an assessment with a trained clinician. The diagnosis is made by a qualified professional, usually a psychiatrist or, depending on the country, a specialised psychologist, who looks at your history since childhood, the impact on your daily life and other possible explanations. Also note that the 2005 validation was carried out in the United States, with adults answering in English.
What if my score is 4 or more?
That is the threshold at which the authors recommend a closer evaluation. You can talk to your family doctor or GP, who can refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist experienced in adult ADHD. Note concrete examples from work and home and, if you can, memories or school reports from childhood: some symptoms should already have been present then, and these details help a lot at the first appointment.
Why answer 18 questions if only Part A is scored?
In the 2005 study, the 6 Part A questions predicted the diagnosis better than all 18 together, so they are the ones used for screening. The 12 Part B questions cover the other DSM-IV symptoms, such as careless mistakes, restlessness or interrupting others. They have no cut-off, but they give a fuller picture that is worth sharing with a professional.
Can I use this test for my child?
No. The ASRS-v1.1 is designed for adults aged 18 and over, and its questions describe adult life: projects, meetings, appointments. For a child, this site offers a separate questionnaire filled in by the parents (Child ADHD). In both cases, only a professional can confirm a diagnosis.
Is the test free?
Yes. You answer the 18 questions and get your score immediately, without creating an account. A detailed report is offered afterwards, only if you want it.
How long does it take?
About 10 minutes. Answer according to how you have felt and behaved over the past 6 months, not according to one particularly good or bad day.
Sources
- 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.
- Ustun B., Adler L. A., Rudin C., Faraone S. V., Spencer T. J., Berglund P., Gruber M. J., Kessler R. C. (2017). The World Health Organization Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(5), 520-527.
- Adler L., Kessler R. C., Spencer T. (2003). Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist and Screener, with scoring instructions. World Health Organization; distributed by Harvard Medical School.
Last updated · Written by Jérôme Stéphan · A screening tool, not a diagnosis.