What this test is — and what it isn't
This is a screening test. It counts how many common ADHD signs you (or your child) have, using the same questions doctors and researchers use for screening.
It can tell you one useful thing: whether talking to a specialist is worth your time. It cannot tell you that you have ADHD. Only a qualified clinician can do that, after a proper assessment.
One promise other online tests won't make: no honest test can give you a "percentage chance" of having ADHD. Screeners count signs; they can't compute probabilities. Any quiz that shows you "78% ADHD" made that number up. We won't.
Where the questions come from
We didn't write these questions. The adult track uses the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) screener — six questions developed by the World Health Organization together with a research workgroup that included Harvard Medical School's Ronald Kessler. It was validated in a peer-reviewed study published in Psychological Medicine (2005), and you can see the original questionnaire (PDF) hosted by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association.
The child track is a plain-language checklist built from the DSM-5 symptom areas — the same two areas (attention, and hyperactivity/impulsivity) that clinicians assess. The CDC's ADHD diagnosis page lists the full clinical criteria.
Under each official adult question we add a small "in other words" line in simpler English. The scoring uses only the official questions and the published thresholds.
How the scoring works (no secrets)
Adults: each of the 6 questions has a research-set threshold. Answer at or above the threshold and that sign counts. 4 or more of 6 signs is a positive screen — in the validation study, most adults who scored in this range and were then formally assessed did meet criteria for ADHD. It's still a screen, not a verdict.
Children: the checklist counts how often you see 12 common signs, 6 per area. Many "often" answers in one area means that area is worth describing to your pediatrician — take a screenshot of the result and bring it to the visit.
If you score high, here's the calm next step
- Adults: book a visit with a doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist who assesses adult ADHD. Bring your result. Many adults — especially women — are diagnosed late, and finding out is often described as a relief, not a burden.
- Parents: start with your pediatrician. Bring the signs list, and our executive-function age chart — it helps the conversation.
- Either way: a high score is information, not a label. And a low score with real struggles still deserves attention — trust your experience.
While you wait for an appointment
Whatever the assessment says, the daily struggles are real right now. The strategies that help are the same either way: get tasks out of your head, make time visible, and work in short blocks with real breaks. Our free visual timer works in your browser, and the TimeNinja app turns these strategies into a daily system.
Frequently asked questions
Is this ADHD test a diagnosis?
No. This is a screening test. It can tell you whether your answers look similar to people who have ADHD, and whether talking to a specialist is worth your time. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose ADHD.
Where do these questions come from?
The adult questions are the 6-question Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) screener, developed by the World Health Organization with researchers including Harvard Medical School's Ronald Kessler, and published in a peer-reviewed study in 2005. The child checklist is based on the DSM-5 symptom areas that doctors themselves use.
Is this ADHD test really free and private?
Yes. No signup, no email, no payment. Your answers are processed in your browser and never sent anywhere — we could not read them even if we wanted to.
What should I do if I score high?
Take a screenshot of your result and book a visit with a doctor or ADHD specialist — for a child, start with the pediatrician. A high score doesn't mean you definitely have ADHD; it means an assessment is worth your time.
Can this test tell me my percentage chance of having ADHD?
No honest test can. Screening tools count how many common signs you have — they can't compute a probability of diagnosis. Any online test that gives you a percentage is making that number up.
What age is this ADHD test for?
The adult track is for ages 16 and up, answered about yourself. The child track is for parents of children roughly 4 to 16, answered by the parent.
Adult questions adapted from the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) Screener — © World Health Organization, developed with the Workgroup on Adult ADHD. Used for educational screening with attribution. This page is educational and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. If you're concerned about yourself or your child, please talk to a qualified clinician.