Is the RAADS-R test a diagnosis?

No. The RAADS-R test is a structured screening and assessment aid. Diagnosis should be made by a qualified clinician using developmental history, clinical interview, differential diagnosis, and other evidence.

Who is the RAADS-R test for?

It is designed for adults aged 18 and older. Children and adolescents need age-appropriate autism assessment tools.

How long does the RAADS-R test take?

The full 80-item RAADS-R test is commonly described as taking about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on reading pace and reflection time.

What does a RAADS-R score of 65 mean?

In the original validation sample, 65 was the best threshold for separating the study groups. It is a historical screening reference—not a diagnostic boundary—and later referral-clinic data did not reproduce the same predictive performance.

How accurate and reliable is the RAADS-R?

The 2011 validation study reported 97% sensitivity, 100% specificity and .987 test-retest reliability in its 779 participants. Those figures describe that study design and sample. A later study of 50 adults referred to an NHS autism service found no association between RAADS-R score and eventual diagnostic outcome, so online results should not be interpreted as a probability of autism.

Does a higher RAADS-R score mean more severe autism?

No. A higher total means more or more strongly scored traits were endorsed under the questionnaire's rules. RAADS-R does not measure autism severity, support needs or functional impact, and online score bands such as 130 or 160 are not separate diagnostic categories.

Is the RAADS-R an ADHD test?

No. RAADS-R was designed around autistic traits in adults. ADHD, anxiety, OCD, trauma and depression can overlap with some questionnaire themes, but ADHD requires its own history and assessment process.

Should I share my RAADS-R test result with a clinician?

Yes, especially if the score is elevated or the questions describe lifelong experiences that affect daily life, work, study or relationships.

RAADS-R Test Free Online

A free 80-item self-report for adults 18+ to explore social, language, sensory-motor, and interest patterns—not a diagnosis.

Start free test

I am a sympathetic person.

Item 1/80Social relatedness· Reverse scored

Answered 0/80

True now and when I was young

True now only

True only when I was younger than 16

Never true

Progress is saved in this browser, so you can refresh and continue. No result is calculated or revealed before completion.

Start your free RAADS-R screening below. For each statement, choose whether it applies now and before age 16, now only, before age 16 only, or never. Complete all 80 items for screening context, not a diagnosis.

Local while answering

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80 items

The total score range is 0-240.

Screening only

A score is not a diagnosis.

Assessment and score are free
Complete all 80 items and view the total and four domain scores without buying a report.
Private while you answer
Incomplete answers remain in this browser and are not uploaded.
Screening, not diagnosis
The result organizes self-reported patterns and does not replace a qualified assessment.
Optional AI-generated report
Paid detailed reports are generated by a privately deployed large language model service and are not reviewed by a clinician.

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How to use a RAADS‑R result responsibly

Treat the score as one data point. A qualified assessment also considers developmental history, current functioning, clinical interview, observation, corroborating information when appropriate, and conditions with overlapping features.

Classify the result as screening data

A result at or above 65 can justify further review, but it is not proof of ASD and should not be presented as an automatic diagnosis.

Interpret with differential context

ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, masking, and current stress can affect responses and overlap with autistic traits.

Define the clinical next step

If the score is elevated, or functional difficulties remain despite a lower score, consider an adult ASD-informed clinician.

Evidence context for adult ASD screening

RAADS-R was developed as an adjunct to adult ASD assessment, not as a stand-alone online diagnosis. The original 779-person validation study reported strong discrimination; a later 50-person NHS referral-clinic study found that pre-assessment scores did not predict diagnostic outcome. Both findings matter.

Read the Ritvo et al. validation study Read the NHS referral-clinic study

Built for adult presentations

The questionnaire focuses on adults 18 and older, including people whose autistic traits were overlooked earlier in life.

Separates now from childhood

The answer format asks whether a trait is present now, was present when younger, or persisted across both periods.

Describes patterns, not a diagnosis

Domain scores help make social, language, sensory-motor and interest-related patterns easier to discuss.

Reported validation data

These figures belong to the original international validation sample and should not be treated as universal online-test accuracy. Referral populations can perform differently, so clinical history and differential assessment remain essential.

97%

Sensitivity

Reported for identifying ASD in the study sample.

100%

Specificity

Reported against comparison controls in the study sample.

.987

Test-retest reliability

Correlation reported across repeated measurement.

779

Participants

201 ASD participants and 578 comparison participants.

Important clinical limitations

The total can support reflection and clinical conversation, but it cannot establish diagnosis, autism severity, support needs or the cause of a person's difficulties.

Not a standalone diagnosis

ASD diagnosis requires clinical judgment, developmental history, current functional assessment, and often additional standardized tools.

Self-report can be biased

Memory, masking, current stress, alexithymia and wording interpretation can affect answers. In the original study, a clinician was present to clarify questions; unsupervised online use is not equivalent.

Symptoms can overlap

Anxiety, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, depression and other conditions may raise domain scores without carrying the same clinical meaning.

Not for every population

The RAADS-R test was built for adults and should not be used as a child assessment.

Professional guidance on RAADS-R results

Evidence-aware answers about accuracy, scoring, intended use and responsible next steps.

Ready to reflect on your experience?

Take the assessment at your own pace. Your answers stay local while you work, and the completed score appears without an account.

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Important Precaution

This test is a self-assessment tool and not a definitive diagnostic instrument. The results should be used as a reference and not as a final diagnosis. Autism spectrum disorders can only be diagnosed by qualified professionals. If your results indicate the possibility of an autism spectrum disorder, or if you have concerns about your mental well-being, please seek guidance from a medical professional or specialist.

Reference:

Ritvo, R. A., Ritvo, E. R., Guthrie, D., Ritvo, M. J., Hufnagel, D. H., McMahon, W., ... & Eloff, J. (2011). The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R): A Scale to Assist the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults: An International Validation Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(8), 1076-1089. View Source

Our aim is to enhance the lives of families on the autism spectrum.

©Raadsr.ai provides educational screening resources and is not a medical provider. Autism diagnosis requires a comprehensive assessment by a qualified healthcare professional. Do not rely on an online test or self-diagnosis for autism or any other health condition.