The Autism Screening (AQ-10) Explained
The AQ-10 is a brief, NICE-recommended questionnaire that helps identify adults who may benefit from a full autism assessment. A score of 6 or above suggests an assessment is worth considering, but it is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, and a lower score does not rule autism out.
What the AQ-10 is
The AQ-10 is a 10-question screening tool developed by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and the team at the University of Cambridge's Autism Research Centre. It is recommended by NICE (guideline CG142) as a way of deciding whether someone should be referred for a full autism assessment.
Sources: Allison, Auyeung & Baron-Cohen 2012 (AQ-10 development); NICE CG142 (recommended as referral aid).
How it's scored
Each of the 10 statements scores 0 or 1, giving a total from 0 to 10. NICE recommends that a score of 6 or above is the threshold for considering a referral for a comprehensive autism assessment.
Sources: NICE CG142; Allison et al. 2012 (cut-point of 6).
What the score means, honestly
A score of 6 or above is a meaningful signal that a full assessment could be worthwhile. It does not confirm autism. Just as importantly, a score below 6 does not rule autism out: NICE is explicit that if difficulties suggest autism, a referral can still be appropriate regardless of the score. This matters especially for adults who mask their traits, who are often missed by brief screeners.
Sources: NICE CG142 (low score does not preclude referral); Society for Neurodiversity AQ-10 factsheet.
A note on the tool's limits
The AQ-10 is a brief triage tool, not a precise test. Its original validation was strong, but independent studies have questioned its accuracy in some clinical populations, which is exactly why it is used to decide whether to assess, never to diagnose. The formal assessment, not the questionnaire, is what determines a diagnosis.
Sources: Allison et al. 2012 (original validation, PPV 0.85); Ashwood et al. 2016 (later study found limited predictive accuracy in a referred sample).
Frequently asked questions
Is the AQ-10 a diagnosis?
A score of 6 or above is a meaningful signal that a full assessment could be worthwhile. It does not confirm autism.
What does a score of 6 mean?
NICE recommends that a score of 6 or above is the threshold for considering a referral for a comprehensive autism assessment.
Can I be autistic with a low AQ-10 score?
Just as importantly, a score below 6 does not rule autism out: NICE is explicit that if difficulties suggest autism, a referral can still be appropriate regardless of the score.
Why is the AQ-10 only a screening tool?
The AQ-10 is a brief triage tool, not a precise test. Its original validation was strong, but independent studies have questioned its accuracy in some clinical populations, which is exactly why it is used to decide whether to assess, never to diagnose.