The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) is an 18-question ADHD screening tool developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It helps adults check if their everyday habits match common signs of ADHD. But keep in mind that this is just a screening tool. If you want to try a free online ADHD test built on this scale, you can do that too.
Many people search for an adult ADHD questionnaire because they feel scattered, restless or always behind. The ASRS is one of the most widely used options. This guide explains what it is, how it works, how to score it and what to do with your result. We keep it simple, so you can understand it in one read.
What Is the ASRS v1.1?
The ASRS v1.1 is a short, free questionnaire that screens adults for ADHD. The WHO World Mental Health Survey initiative and the WHO Workgroup on Adult ADHD developed it. It is designed to check for signs of ADHD in the past 6 months. It can’t diagnose ADHD, but it can help you decide whether a full evaluation is worth your time.
Ronald C. Kessler of Harvard Medical School, Lenard Adler of New York University, and a group of scientists developed the scale. Their main goal was to create a quick, trusted WHO ADHD test that doctors and researchers could use worldwide. Kessler et al. (2005) led the development of this screening tool.
The 18 questions are based on the symptom list for ADHD in the DSM-IV-TR (Criterion A). That list covers two groups of symptoms:
Inattention:
Trouble focusing, losing things, forgetting tasks, and getting distracted.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
Feeling restless, talking a lot, interrupting, and having trouble waiting.
For each question, you pick how often it happens. The answers are Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Very Often
Who Should Use the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale?
The ASRS is made for adults aged 18 and over. It suits you if you often struggle to focus, stay organised, or sit still, and you want to know if ADHD might be playing a significant role. It also helps if a doctor wants a quick start before a longer talk.
Keep in mind that ASRS is not for children. You might find an ASRS useful if:
- You have struggled with focus or restlessness for most of your life.
- Tasks at work, uni or home often go unfinished.
- Other people have said you seem easily distracted or always on the go.
- You are about to see a GP and want to bring something along.
You may also see it called an adult ADHD checklist or an ADHD scale. They all mean much the same thing. The ASRS is the best-known of these tools.
How the ASRS Assessment Works
The ASRS assessment is self-administered. It takes about 5 minutes. You read each question and tick how often the problem has happened over the past 6 months. Then you score the answers using shaded boxes on the form. The result tells you if your answers are worth following up:
The form has two parts:
Part A
It has 6 questions. This is the short screener and includes a cut-off score.
Part B
It has 12 questions. It adds detail, but it has no cut-off score.
Together, they make the full 18 questions. Because it is self-report, your answers depend on how you see yourself. That is why a professional should always review the results with you.
Part A: The 6-Question Screener
Part A is the 6-question screener. The ASRS 6 questions ask about common signs of ADHD, such as trouble finishing the final details of a project, difficulty getting organised, forgetting appointments, avoiding tasks that need a lot of thought, fidgeting and feeling overly active.
We chose these six because they best predicted ADHD in the original research. We are not listing the questions word for word here. The official form is owned by the WHO and Harvard. Want to try a version online? You can take our ASRS-based ADHD test and get your answers scored for you.
Part B: The 12 Additional Questions
Part B has 12 more questions about inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. They cover things like making careless mistakes, trouble staying focused on boring work, losing things, being easily distracted, feeling restless, talking too much and interrupting others.
How the ASRS Is Scored
The ASRS uses shaded boxes for scoring. Each answer box on the form is either shaded or not. In Part A, you count how many answers fall in a shaded box. If you have four or more shaded answers, then the screen is positive. But Part B is not scored this way. It guides the clinician’s questions. Here is a simple look at how it works for Part A.
ASRS v1.1 Score Interpretation (Part A)
In Part A, the answer that counts as “shaded” is different for the first three questions and the last three questions.
Part A Questions | Counts as shaded if you answered |
Questions 1 to 3 | Sometimes, often or very often |
Questions 4 to 6 | Often or very often |
Total Shaded Answers | What it Means |
0 to 3 | Negative screen. Your answers are less likely to match ADHD |
4 to 8 | Positive screen. Your answers match ADHD signs, so a follow-up is worth it. |
A positive screen does not mean you have ADHD. A negative screen does not completely rule it out either. If you still have concerns, book a consultation as soon as possible.
Interpreting Part B
There is no cut-off for Part B. Instead, a clinician looks at how many of the 12 answers fall in the shaded boxes and how often you say each problem happens. This helps them see the full picture and decide what to ask next. You do not need to add up Part B on your own.
A note on HelloDoc’s test:
Our test uses all 18 ASRS questions plus 2 additional items. It groups results into three likelihood bands.
Low, Moderate and Higher
This is not the same as the official Part A cutoff. If you want the official Part A result, use the scoring guide above. You can also download our free ASRS scoring guide PDF to check your answers step-by-step.
What Does a Positive ASRS Result Mean?
A positive ASRS result means your answers look similar to those of people who have ADHD. It suggests a closer look is a good idea. It is not a diagnosis. Only a trained health professional can diagnose ADHD after a full assessment.
If your screen is positive, here is what usually happens next:
- You book a visit with your GP and share your result
- You talk about your symptoms, your history and how they affect your life
- You may be referred for a full ADHD assessment
How Accurate is the ASRS?
Although the ASRS is a good screening tool, it is still not the absolute way to diagnose ADHD. In a 2005 study by Kessler and colleagues, the 6-question screener was more accurate than the full 18-question version.
It was very good at ruling out people who did not have ADHD (specificity of about 99%). It was less good at catching everyone who did (sensitivity of about 69%).
In simple terms. If the screener says positive, it is usually worth taking seriously. If it says negative, you could still have ADHD. That is why the Part A screener works best as a first step and not as a final answer.
Self-report tools are heavily dependent on how honestly and clearly you rate yourself. Mood, stress, sleep, and life events can all change your answers from day to day.
ASRS v1.1 vs ASRS-5 (DSM-5)
The ASRS-5 is the latest version of the scale. It was updated in 2017 to align with the DSM-5, the current guide doctors use. The ASRS v1.1 matches the older DSM-IV-TR. Both are adult screening tools, and both look back over the past six months.
Ustun and colleagues developed and tested the ASRS-5 in 2017. Here is how the two compare.
ASRS v1.1 | ASRS-5 | |
Based on | DSM-IV-TR | DSM-5 |
Number of questions | 18 (Part A has 6, Part B has 12) | 6 |
Answer choices | Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Very Often | Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Very Often |
How it is scored | Shaded boxes. Part A is positive at 4 or more | Answers are added to a total score, and higher totals indicate more ADHD. |
Time period | Past 6 months | Past 6 months |
Who is it for | Adults 18+ | Adults 18+ |
Many people still use v1.1 because it has been studied for so long and has the extra Part B questions. It is also imperative to note that neither version can diagnose ADHD.
What are the Limits of the ASRS?
ASRS is not a diagnostic tool. It’s just a self-assessment screening tool. It can point to a possible problem, but it cannot prove one. A real ADHD diagnosis needs a clinical interview with a trained professional.
Here are some limits of ASRS:
- It is Based on Your Own View. Your answers may be different from how others see you.
- ADHD Signs Must Start in Childhood. To diagnose ADHD, a clinician looks for symptoms that began before age 12.
- Symptoms Must Show Up in More Than One Setting. Symptoms tend to show up at home, at work, and in your social life.
- Symptoms Must Cause Real Problems. Severe ADHD symptoms that are interfering with your everyday life.
- Other Conditions Look Similar. Anxiety, depression and autism can all cause trouble with focus, restlessness or organisation. Sleep problems and stress can too.
Keep in mind that the ASRS cannot tell these apart. This is another reason a professional should review your result. If you are curious about other conditions, you can explore our other mental health screening tools.
ASRS v1.1 PDF and Online Versions
You can find the ASRS v1.1 as a PDF and in several online versions. The official PDF is free to download and print. It includes the shaded box scoring system. Many clinics and websites also offer online versions that score your answers.
Here are some places you might come across the tool:
- The official ASRS v1.1 PDF:The WHO form, with the symptom checklist and the shaded boxes.
- ADDA (Attention Deficit Disorder Association):Shares a copy of the form.
- CADDRA (Canada):Shares the form as part of its ADHD practice guides.
- NovoPsych (Australia): Offers an online version used by clinicians.
- DIVA-5: This is not a screener. It is a structured interview that clinicians use for a full adult ADHD assessment.
If you want an easy way to score your answers, you can also download the free ASRS scoring guide PDF. It walks you through Part A and Part B, step by step.
What to Do Next in Australia
If your ASRS result is positive, or you still have concerns after a negative one, the next step is to speak ot a doctor.
In Australia, you usually start with your GP. Your GP can talk through your symptoms and refer you to a psychiatrist for an ADHD assessment. Many psychiatrists offer telehealth, so you can often do this from home. Here is what a simple plan might look like:
- Complete the ASRS or an online attention deficit test, and write down your result.
- Note down examples of how your symptoms affect work, study, relationships and daily life.
- Think about your childhood too. If you can, ask a parent or family member what they remember, or find old school reports.
- Book a GP appointment and bring your notes.
- Ask your GP for a referral to a psychiatrist if they agree it is a good idea.
If you ever feel overwhelmed, or things feel urgent, please speak to your GP or call a crisis line right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ASRS?
The ASRS is the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. It is an 18-question screening tool developed by the WHO. It asks how often you have had signs of ADHD over the past 6 months.
How is the ASRS scored?
You score Part A using shaded boxes. Questions 1 to 3 count if you answered Sometimes or more. Questions 4 to 6 count if you answered Often or Very Often. Four or more shaded answers are a positive screen. Part B has no cut-off and helps clinicians guide their questions.
What does a positive ASRS result mean?
A positive result means your answers are similar to those of people with ADHD. It does not mean you have ADHD. It means a full assessment with a GP or a psychiatrist is a good next step. Only a clinical interview can diagnose ADHD.
How accurate is the ASRS?
The ASRS is a useful screener. In a 2005 study, the 6-question Part A was more accurate than the full 18 questions. It is better at ruling out people without ADHD than at catching every person with it. It works best as a first step.
What should I do next after taking the ASRS?
Book an appointment with your GP and bring your results. Share examples of how your symptoms affect your daily life. Your GP may refer you to a psychiatrist for a full assessment, often available via telehealth in Australia.
How do I interpret an ASRS v1.1 score?
Start by counting the shaded answers in Part A. Four or more is a positive screen. Fewer than four is a negative screen. Part B is not scored the same way. A clinician uses it to see more detail about your symptoms.
What does v1.1 mean?
The v1.1 is the version number of the ASRS. It is the WHO-published version of the scale with 18 questions and shaded-box scoring. A newer version, the ASRS-5, was released in 2017.
Talk to a HelloDoc Psychiatrist About ADHD
If your ASRS result has left you with questions, you do not have to work it out alone. A HelloDoc psychiatrist can talk through your symptoms, explain what your result means and tell you if a full ADHD assessment is the right next step. You can book an online assessment 24/7. Find out more about an ADHD assessment with a HelloDoc psychiatrist and book when you are ready.
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