Could I be autistic? What can a self-test tell me?

Does a high score on a self-test mean I’m autistic?

No. A screening questionnaire can point to things worth looking into, but it can’t tell you why you’ve had those experiences. A high score is worth discussing alongside your actual life. A low score doesn’t cancel out long-standing difficulties either. A diagnosis also takes into account how you grew up, how your life is now, and whether something else could explain it.

If what you really want to sort out is “I keep misunderstanding people” or “work leaves me completely drained,” write those things down in detail first. You can bring your score along as one piece of information, but it can’t stand in for why you’re seeking help and what you want to find out.

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Which questionnaire should I use, and what do the scores mean?

Check the questionnaire’s full name, version, age range and who’s meant to fill it in. A questionnaire adults complete about themselves can’t be used to judge a child. Scores from short and long versions can’t be compared. A website that gives you an “Asperger similarity” percentage without naming the questionnaire or where it comes from isn’t worth relying on.

Here’s one example you can check: the UK’s NICE guidance for adults uses the AQ-10. It suggests considering it for adults who might be autistic and don’t have a moderate or severe learning disability. A score of 6 or more — or a clinician still having concerns despite a lower score — is a reason to refer for a full assessment. That 6 is a UK guideline’s threshold for referral. It isn’t a diagnostic cut-off, and it isn’t a standard we’re setting for every reader.

There’s a link to the official AQ-10 at the end of this article. If you use a Chinese translation, check which version it is, what its instructions say and where it comes from. We don’t provide automatic scoring. Once you’re done, note which questions were hard to answer and which of your experiences the questionnaire didn’t ask about at all. Don’t keep switching questionnaires or changing answers to land on a particular score. Taking your uncertainties to a professional is far more useful.

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What should I get ready before an assessment?

Pick a few things that keep happening and affect your studies, work, relationships or looking after yourself. If you often miss steps when someone explains a task out loud, write down one real example, roughly when it started, and whether getting it in writing helps. Write what you know. You’re not putting together a case to prove you’re autistic.

Bring childhood records or family members’ memories if you have them. If you can’t find them or nobody remembers, just say so. Tell the assessor about times when things weren’t difficult, too, and about any anxiety, attention or health problems you already know about. Similar-looking experiences can have different causes — or several at once.

When you book, you can ask: “Do you assess adults? What should I bring? Can I send written notes beforehand, or bring someone I trust?” Also check the cost, how long the wait is and what the report can be used for. Every area is different, so go by what the service itself tells you.

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What can I do while I wait, and after I get the result?

While you wait, you can start making practical changes. Ask your manager to put deadlines in writing, agree with your family that important plans go by text, or avoid filling several days in a row with optional social events. Whether formal support needs a diagnosis first is something to check separately.

If the result isn’t what you expected, ask: “What was this mainly based on? Is there anything else that needs looking into? Who can help me with the difficulties I have now?” If you are diagnosed, ask about practical support and next steps as well. Whatever the result, the problems that made you seek help in the first place still need dealing with.

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