Autism Spectrum Quotient - 10 (AQ-10)
What it is
The AQ-10 is a brief 10-item screening questionnaire designed to identify adults who may benefit from a full autism assessment. It is a shortened version of the 50-item Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), developed by Allison, Auyeung, and Baron-Cohen (2012) at the Cambridge Autism Research Centre. The AQ-10 is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a screening tool for autism in adults, and is commonly used in primary care, hospitals, education, and other services to help decide whether a referral for a comprehensive autism assessment is appropriate.
The tool is not diagnostic — it identifies the possible presence of autistic traits and supports clinical decision-making around referral.
How is it used
- Suitable for adults aged 16 and over
- Takes approximately 2–5 minutes to complete
- Used as a brief "red flag" screener rather than a standalone diagnostic tool
- Recommended by NICE (CG142) for use by GPs and non-specialist professionals
- Can be used alongside other measures such as the CAT-Q, particularly when masking is suspected
What do the scores mean?
The AQ-10 consists of 10 items rated on a four-point scale (definitely agree, slightly agree, slightly disagree, definitely disagree). Scoring is binary — responses are converted to either 0 or 1 regardless of whether the rating is "slightly" or "definitely." The total score ranges from 0 to 10.
- Score of 0–5: Below threshold — autism traits at a level that does not typically warrant referral, though clinical judgement should always apply
- Score of 6–10: At or above threshold — further assessment for autism should be considered
A score of 6 or above is the NICE-recommended threshold for considering referral for a full autism assessment. However, NICE guidance also makes clear that a referral can still be made below this threshold if the clinician suspects autism based on the individual's reported experiences.
It is important to note that a high score does not confirm an autism diagnosis, and a score below the threshold does not rule it out — particularly in individuals who may camouflage their autistic traits.
Developer
The AQ-10 was developed by Carrie Allison, Bonnie Auyeung, and Professor Simon Baron-Cohen at the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge.
References:
Allison, C., Auyeung, B., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2012). Toward brief "red flags" for autism screening: The short autism spectrum quotient and the short quantitative checklist in 1,000 cases and 3,000 controls. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(2), 202–212.
Brugha, T. S., McManus, S., Bankart, J., Scott, F., Purdon, S., Smith, J., Bebbington, P., Jenkins, R., & Meltzer, H. (2011). Epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders in adults in the community in England. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(5), 459–465.