Do you prefer familiar routines, become absorbed in an activity, or find some social situations easier than others? The Autism Quotient Test on Mind Indicator presents 50 statements about experiences such as these. Use it to organise your observations, paying attention to the situation behind each answer.
The test and basic information are free. This version contains 50 questions. Set aside time to read the items, think about your own experience, and choose the closest available response.
Explore several aspects of everyday experience
The items include social preferences, attention to detail, changes of focus, communication, routines, and imagination. These themes can appear in different combinations. Enjoying detailed work does not tell you everything about how you experience conversation or a change of plan.
The published Autism-Spectrum Quotient is a research questionnaire. Mind Indicator provides adapted wording and its own online presentation and interpretation. Research findings for the original instrument should not be treated as accuracy claims for this version or its translations.
What this can look like in everyday life
You become absorbed in a familiar task and later realise that time has passed. Notice whether this happens mainly with a strong interest, across most tasks, or only when interruptions are absent. That context can help you choose the response closest to your experience.
A conversation with a familiar friend might feel straightforward while joining a new group requires more effort. When answering, consider the kind of social situation described rather than using one general label for all communication.
How to approach the questions
- Read each statement and the response options carefully; do not assume that every item uses exactly the same wording.
- Use an ordinary example rather than answering only from your best day or your most difficult moment.
- Distinguish what you prefer from what circumstances require you to do. An obligation is not always a preference.
- Choose the closest available answer without trying to steer the outcome toward a label you already expect.
A useful reflection to try
Choose one setting that is comfortable and one that takes extra effort. Write down the differences: the people, noise, instructions, predictability, or activity. This creates a useful description of your needs whether or not you continue exploring autism-related questionnaires.
For persistent difficulties, a conversation with an appropriate professional can consider your history and circumstances in more depth than a questionnaire alone.
The original AQ paper from the Autism Research Centre explains the research instrument. The NIMH autism overview provides broader context. These sources do not validate Mind Indicator's adapted version.
Common questions
Is this the same as the longer autism test on this site?
No. This page has a 50-statement version focused on AQ-related themes. Other questionnaires can use different wording, themes, and interpretations.
Should I answer from a stereotype of autism?
No. Use your own experience and read the actual statement, even if your answer differs from a description you have seen elsewhere.
What is available after finishing?
The test and basic information are free. If you would like to explore the written interpretation further, an expanded report is available as an optional paid addition.
