Skip to main content
This self-assessment Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) , was originally developed by Simon Baron-Cohen, Sally Wheelwright, Richard Skinner, Joanne Martin, and Emma Clubley (2001) . TraitProfiler provides an interactive digital version for educational, informational, and self-exploration purposes only.

Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)

Background

The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) is a widely used self-report questionnaire developed by Simon Baron-Cohen and researchers at the Cambridge Autism Research Centre. It was designed to measure autistic traits in adults with average or above-average intelligence.

The questionnaire explores everyday patterns related to communication, social interaction, imagination, attention to detail, flexibility, and personal interests. Rather than focusing on diagnosis alone, the AQ helps identify how strongly certain autism-spectrum traits may be present across different areas of daily life.

The AQ is commonly used in research, self-reflection, and preliminary screening settings. It provides a structured way to better understand thinking styles, social experiences, routines, sensory awareness, and attention patterns often associated with the autism spectrum.

Procedure

Participants respond to each statement using a 4-point agreement scale ranging from “Definitely Agree” to “Definitely Disagree.” The questionnaire evaluates behavioral and cognitive traits commonly associated with autism-spectrum conditions.

- Social Skills measures comfort and confidence in social situations and relationships.
- Attention Switching measures flexibility, routine preference, and difficulty adapting to change.
- Attention to Detail measures focus on patterns, details, numbers, and sensory information.
- Communication measures conversational style, social understanding, and verbal interaction difficulties.
- Imagination measures creativity, pretend thinking, and the ability to understand perspectives and intentions.

Participation

This assessment is intended for educational, research, and self-reflection purposes only. Results are anonymous and should not be considered a clinical diagnosis or substitute for professional psychological evaluation.

Scoring & Interpretation

Responses associated with autism-spectrum traits receive one point. Higher scores indicate stronger autism-spectrum related traits and behavioral patterns.

The AQ produces a total score ranging from 0 to 50:
0–15 = Very Low Autism Traits
16–25 = Low to Average Autism Traits
26–31 = Moderate Autism Traits
32+ = Elevated Autism Traits

The AQ is a screening and self-reflection tool and should not be used as a standalone diagnostic instrument.

Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) Questionnaire

Instructions & Terms

Below is the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a digitally adapted 50- items self-assessment questionnaire. This assessment does not provide a clinical diagnosis, medical determination, or substitute for professional psychological evaluation.

Question 1 of 50 Social Skills

I prefer to do things with others rather than on my own.


Question 2 of 50 Attention Switching

I prefer to do things the same way over and over again.


Question 3 of 50 Imagination

If I try to imagine something, I find it very easy to create a picture in my mind.


Question 4 of 50 Attention to Detail

I frequently get so strongly absorbed in one thing that I lose sight of other things.


Question 5 of 50 Attention to Detail

I often notice small sounds when others do not.


Question 6 of 50 Attention to Detail

I usually notice car number plates or similar strings of information.


Question 7 of 50 Communication

Other people frequently tell me that what I’ve said is impolite, even though I think it is polite.


Question 8 of 50 Imagination

When I’m reading a story, I can easily imagine what the characters might look like.


Question 9 of 50 Attention to Detail

I am fascinated by dates.


Question 10 of 50 Social Skills

In a social group, I can easily keep track of several different people’s conversations.


Question 11 of 50 Social Skills

I find social situations easy.


Question 12 of 50 Attention to Detail

I tend to notice details that others do not.


Question 13 of 50 Social Skills

I would rather go to a library than to a party.


Question 14 of 50 Imagination

I find making up stories easy.


Question 15 of 50 Social Skills

I find myself drawn more strongly to people than to things.


Question 16 of 50 Attention Switching

I tend to have very strong interests, which I get upset about if I can’t pursue.


Question 17 of 50 Communication

I enjoy social chitchat.


Question 18 of 50 Communication

When I talk, it isn’t always easy for others to get a word in edgewise.


Question 19 of 50 Attention to Detail

I am fascinated by numbers.


Question 20 of 50 Imagination

When I’m reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters’ intentions.


Question 21 of 50 Imagination

I don’t particularly enjoy reading fiction.


Question 22 of 50 Social Skills

I find it hard to make new friends.


Question 23 of 50 Attention to Detail

I notice patterns in things all the time.


Question 24 of 50 Imagination

I would rather go to the theater than to a museum.


Question 25 of 50 Attention Switching

It does not upset me if my daily routine is disturbed.


Question 26 of 50 Communication

I frequently find that I don’t know how to keep a conversation going.


Question 27 of 50 Communication

I find it easy to “read between the lines” when someone is talking to me.


Question 28 of 50 Attention to Detail

I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than on the small details.


Question 29 of 50 Attention to Detail

I am not very good at remembering phone numbers.


Question 30 of 50 Attention to Detail

I don’t usually notice small changes in a situation or a person’s appearance.


Question 31 of 50 Communication

I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored.


Question 32 of 50 Attention Switching

I find it easy to do more than one thing at once.


Question 33 of 50 Communication

When I talk on the phone, I’m not sure when it’s my turn to speak.


Question 34 of 50 Attention Switching

I enjoy doing things spontaneously.


Question 35 of 50 Communication

I am often the last to understand the point of a joke.


Question 36 of 50 Social Skills

I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face.


Question 37 of 50 Attention Switching

If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly.


Question 38 of 50 Communication

I am good at social chitchat.


Question 39 of 50 Communication

People often tell me that I keep going on and on about the same thing.


Question 40 of 50 Imagination

When I was young, I used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children.


Question 41 of 50 Attention to Detail

I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g., types of cars, birds, trains, plants).


Question 42 of 50 Imagination

I find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be someone else.


Question 43 of 50 Attention Switching

I like to carefully plan any activities I participate in.


Question 44 of 50 Social Skills

I enjoy social occasions.


Question 45 of 50 Social Skills

I find it difficult to work out people’s intentions.


Question 46 of 50 Attention Switching

New situations make me anxious.


Question 47 of 50 Social Skills

I enjoy meeting new people.


Question 48 of 50 Communication

I am a good diplomat.


Question 49 of 50 Attention to Detail

I am not very good at remembering people’s date of birth.


Question 50 of 50 Imagination

I find it very easy to play games with children that involve pretending.




Psychometric Norms

2
Participants
51%
Community Mean
0%
Sample SD
51%
Highest Observed Score
51%
Lowest Observed Score
2026–2026
Collection Period

Current normative data for theCurrent normative data for the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) are derived from 2 anonymous participant responses collected through TraitProfiler between 2026 and 2026. All response data are collected anonymously and are intended exclusively for educational, psychometric, and non-commercial research purposes.

Sources
  1. Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., & Clubley, E. (2001). The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(1), 5–17.