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Autism Spectrum Quotient

The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-50) is a 50-question self-report measure developed at the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. It looks at social skill, attention switching, attention to detail, communication, and imagination. You will see your score immediately, and a score of 26 or higher indicates autistic traits worth exploring further with a professional evaluation. The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) is a self-administered questionnaire used to measure autistic traits in adults (age 16+) with IQ in the normal range (IQ >=80).

 

How to take the AQ-50

For each statement below, choose one response that best describes how strongly that statement applies to you.
NOTE: Please see the examples below some of the questions to better understand the questions.

 

Name(Required)
1. I prefer to do things with others rather than on my own.(Required)
2. I prefer to do things the same way over and over again.(Required)
For example: You like and need routines. A routine brings you a strong sense of peace and groundedness.
3. If I try to imagine something, I find it very easy to create a picture in my mind.(Required)
For example: You like reading fiction and getting deeper into the story and the characters’ motivations.
4. I frequently get so strongly absorbed in one thing that I lose sight of other things.(Required)
For example: You tend towards hyperfocus, especially on things you are passionate about.
5. I often notice small sounds when others do not.(Required)
For example: You struggle to sleep at night because you hear even the smallest sound.
6. I usually notice car number plates or similar strings of information.(Required)
For example: You also like word puzzles and math puzzles. You see patterns in numbers or words.
7. Other people frequently tell me that what I've said is impolite, even though I think it is polite.(Required)
For example: Even though people don’t SAY your impolite, your conversation seems to stop the conversation.
8. When I'm reading a story, I can easily imagine what the characters might look like.(Required)
9. I am interested in the patterns or correlations of events.(Required)
For example: You like history and psychology and can easily see patterns emerging in the future.
10. In a social group, I can easily keep track of several different people's conversations.(Required)
11. I find social situations easy.(Required)
12. I tend to notice details that others do not.(Required)
For example: You can tell when someone has done something different to their appearance. Or when an item is out of place in your home.
13. I would rather go to a library than a party.(Required)
For example: You’re more interested in facts (museums) over fiction (theatre). You prefer a quiet space like a museum over a theatre.
14. I find making up stories easy.(Required)
For example: You can tell a wild original story to children before bed.
15. I find myself drawn more strongly to people than to things.(Required)
For example: You would rather hang out with friends or family than read or work on a craft project alone.
16. I tend to have very strong interests which I get upset about if I can't pursue.(Required)
For example: If you’re pulled away from an activity you really enjoy you get very annoyed.
17. I enjoy social chit-chat.(Required)
18. When I talk, it isn't always easy for others to get a word in edgeways.(Required)
For example: You tend to monologue and go on and on about the things you’re most interested in.
19. I am fascinated by numbers.(Required)
For example: You like math. You like math games and puzzles like Sodoku.
20. When I'm reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters' intentions.(Required)
For example: You get confused as to why the characters do the things they do in books and movies.
21. I don't particularly enjoy reading fiction.(Required)
22. I find it hard to make new friends.(Required)
23. I notice patterns in things all the time.(Required)
For example: You see patterns in history, human behavior, and in our physical world.
24. I would rather go to the theatre than a museum.(Required)
For example: You would rather enjoy something that is fun and fictional over a quiet museum that has a lot of history and facts.
25. It does not upset me if my daily routine is disturbed.(Required)
26. I frequently find that I don't know how to keep a conversation going.(Required)
27. I find it easy to 'read between the lines' when someone is talking to me.(Required)
28. I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than the small details.(Required)
29. I am not very good at remembering phone numbers.(Required)
30. I don't usually notice small changes in a situation, or a person's appearance.(Required)
31. I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored.(Required)
32. I find it easy to do more than one thing at once.(Required)
33. When I talk on the phone, I'm not sure when it's my turn to speak.(Required)
34. I enjoy doing things spontaneously.(Required)
35. I am often the last to understand the point of a joke.(Required)
36. I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face.(Required)
37. If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly.(Required)
38. I am good at social chit-chat.(Required)
39. People often tell me that I keep going on and on about the same thing.(Required)
40. When I was young, I used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children.(Required)
41. I like to collect information about categories of things.(Required)
Example: I have hobbies where I collect things.
42. I find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be someone else.(Required)
For example: You can’t put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
43. I like to plan any activities I participate in carefully.(Required)
44. I enjoy social occasions.(Required)
45. I find it difficult to work out people's intentions.(Required)
46. New situations make me anxious.(Required)
47. I enjoy meeting new people.(Required)
48. I am a good diplomat.(Required)
If friends are fighting I can work with them to solve the problem for them.
49. I am not very good at remembering people's date of birth.(Required)
50. I find it very easy to play games with children that involve pretending.(Required)
For example: You can easily pretend to be a character and act out something fun with little kids.
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What does my score mean?

Any score of 26 or greater indicates the presence of autistic traits; the higher the score, the more autistic traits you have.

Furthermore, 79.3% of autistic people score 32 or higher (whereas only 2% of controls do), so scores of 32 and above are particularly significant. The AQ is particularly sensitive in distinguishing between autistic and non-autistic adult females, as 92.3% of autistic females scored 32 or higher (compared to 1% of the control group).

Do note that no single test is conclusive, and not every autistic person necessarily scores above the defined threshold on each test.