Guide · Autism
RAADS-R test: scoring, accuracy and what your score means
The RAADS-R is an 80-question autism scale for adults, published in 2011 and now hosted on many websites. If you have just scored it, here is what the number means, what the research says about how far to trust it, and what to do next.
Updated 5 October 2026 · About 10 minutes to read · All guides
In short
- The RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised) is an 80-question scale for adults 18 and over with average or above intelligence. Each answer scores 0 to 3, so the total runs from 0 to 240.
- A score of 65 or more is the published threshold. In the 2011 validation study it picked up 97% of adults already diagnosed as autistic and cleared 100% of the comparison group.
- Studies of adults actually referred for an autism assessment found the RAADS-R could not reliably tell who would be diagnosed. In a 2021 UK clinic study the score had no association with the outcome.
- A high score is a reason to consider a formal assessment, not a diagnosis. A low score makes autism less likely but does not rule it out, especially if you mask.
- The RAADS-R was designed to be completed with a clinician present. Doing it alone online is not how it was validated.
What the RAADS-R is
The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised is a self-report questionnaire designed to help clinicians assess autism in adults. It was published in 2011 by Riva Ariella Ritvo and colleagues after a validation study across nine research centres on three continents, three of them in Australia (Monash University, Griffith University and Aspect in Sydney). The paper calls it “a useful adjunct diagnostic tool”: something to help a clinician, not a test that decides. It was built for adults aged 18 and over with average or above-average intelligence (an IQ of 80 or more in the study), not for children or people with an intellectual disability.
The 80 questions and four subscales
Sixty-four of the 80 statements describe autistic experiences and sixteen describe non-autistic ones, which are scored in reverse. They fall into four subscales:
- Social relatedness (39 questions): reading people, friendships, conversation.
- Sensory-motor (20 questions): sensitivity to sound, touch, light and texture; coordination.
- Circumscribed interests (14 questions): deep, narrow interests and attachment to routine.
- Language (7 questions): taking things literally, tone of voice.
We have not reproduced the questions because the scale is copyright. They are plain first-person statements about everyday social and sensory experience.
The answer format
Every statement is answered across time, with four options: true now and when I was young; true only now; true only when I was younger than 16; or never true. Autism is lifelong, so an experience that has been with you since childhood counts for more than one that started recently.
Designed for a clinic, not a browser
The 2011 paper says the scale was “designed to be administered by a clinician in a clinical setting”, where a question can be explained and under- or over-reporting noticed. The free online versions are the same questions in a different situation, and the accuracy figures below were not produced that way.
How the RAADS-R is scored
Each answer is worth 0 to 3 points. For the 64 autism-related statements, “true now and when I was young” scores 3, the two “only” options score less, and “never true” scores 0. The 16 non-autistic statements run the other way, so “never true” adds points.
Because there are 80 questions worth up to 3 points each, the total runs from 0 to 240.
The 65 threshold
The validation study set the threshold at 65. A total of 65 or more was treated as consistent with autism; below 65 was not. Nobody in the comparison groups reached the threshold.
- It is the only published cut-off. Bands above 65 on sites that host the test (labelling 106 or 150 as “strong”, for example) are those sites’ own interpretations. No study has shown that a score of 120 means something different from a score of 80.
- The score is not a severity grade. It reflects how many statements you agreed with and for how long, not how much support you need.
How accurate the RAADS-R is: the original study
The 2011 study gave the scale to 779 adults: 201 who already had an autism or Asperger’s diagnosis, and 578 comparison participants. Of the comparison group, 276 had no psychiatric diagnosis and 302 had another condition such as depression or anxiety.
| Measure | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | 97% | 97 in 100 diagnosed autistic adults scored 65 or more |
| Specificity | 100% | Nobody in the comparison group scored 65 or more |
| Test-retest reliability | r = 0.987 | 30 people retested about a year later gave almost the same answers |
Why the original figures were optimistic
The study compared two groups that had already been sorted. The autistic participants were diagnosed before they sat the scale, and the comparison participants were recruited separately and were not wondering whether they might be autistic. Separating those groups is a much easier job than the one the test is now used for: telling apart adults who have all come to a clinic with the same question. The comparison group did include people with other psychiatric conditions, but not people seeking an autism assessment.
The authors also noted the limits of self-report. Six diagnosed autistic participants (3%) scored below 65, and younger participants tended to minimise their difficulties, which the paper describes as an investment in appearing as normal as they could be.
What later studies found
Several groups have since tested the RAADS-R the way it is actually used: given to adults referred for assessment, then compared with the diagnosis they ended up with.
| Study | Who | What the RAADS-R did |
|---|---|---|
| Sizoo et al. 2015, Netherlands | 210 adults referred for assessment (139 diagnosed autistic, 71 given another diagnosis) | Picked up 73% of those diagnosed. About 8 in 10 who scored above threshold were autistic, but only about half of those who were not autistic were correctly cleared |
| Conner et al. 2019, United States | 93 adults at an outpatient autism clinic (31 diagnosed) | Sensitivity 52%, specificity 73%. Autistic participants did not score significantly higher than those not diagnosed |
| Jones et al. 2021, United Kingdom | 50 adults at an NHS specialist autism service | No association between score and diagnosis. The authors concluded that, used on its own as a self-completed questionnaire, it “is not a suitable screening tool for adults awaiting autism assessments” |
The Dutch team’s conclusion covered every questionnaire they tested: “None of these instruments have sufficient validity to reliably predict a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in outpatient settings.” A 2019 systematic review of 20 studies agreed: questionnaires did well in people with a confirmed diagnosis and worse in referrals, and “in mental health settings, the use of a single structured questionnaire is unlikely to accurately identify adults without autism spectrum disorder or differentiate autism spectrum disorder from mental health conditions”.
Why so many non-autistic people score above 65
Most adults who seek an autism assessment have something going on. Anxiety, ADHD, social anxiety, depression and the after-effects of trauma all change how you experience conversation, noise, routine and other people, which is exactly what the RAADS-R asks about. The Swedish RAADS-14 study shows the overlap: autistic adults had a median score of 32 out of 42, but adults with ADHD had a median of 15, above the threshold of 14.
What the scale does well
None of this means the RAADS-R measures nothing. A 2024 study of 839 adults found it performed consistently across gender and age, with no systematic bias between adults with a diagnosis and those who identify as autistic without one; a small number of items, four in that analysis, carried most of the information that separated autistic from non-autistic adults. Its high sensitivity also means a low score carries information: most autistic adults do score above 65, though 3% in the original study and 7% in the Swedish RAADS-14 study did not.
What to do with a high score in Australia
A score of 65 or more tells you that you recognised a lot of autistic experience in the questions, and that much of it goes back to childhood. That is a reason to take the possibility seriously. It is not a diagnosis, and the studies above show a high score is common among adults who turn out not to be autistic. Equally, a score below 65 does not close the question, particularly if you have spent years masking; our guide to autism in women and girls explains why.
Where to start and what an assessment involves
Autism CRC’s national guideline suggests adults start with their GP, who should take a broad look at your experiences from childhood to now. Healthdirect says adults are diagnosed by a psychiatrist or a psychologist using standardised tools.
The guideline describes three parts: an assessment of how you function day to day, a medical evaluation to check for other explanations, and a diagnostic evaluation using clinical interviewing and standardised questionnaires. The assessment must always consider all possible explanations for your experiences, which is the part a questionnaire cannot do. A developmental history reaching back to childhood is central (clinicians often ask for input from someone who knew you then), and some clinicians add structured observation tools such as the ADOS.
Medicare
Medicare’s autism assessment items are for people under 25: a paediatrician (item 135) or psychiatrist (item 289) can claim a comprehensive assessment once in a lifetime and refer on for up to eight allied health assessment services in total, of which a psychologist’s sessions (item 82000) are one kind. From 25, there is no Medicare item for a psychologist’s autism assessment; a psychiatrist’s assessment on GP referral can attract a rebate under item 291, which is not autism-specific. Our free and subsidised assessment guide works through the options.
RAADS-14 and other adult screeners
RAADS-14 Screen
The RAADS-14 is a 14-question short form built from the RAADS-R by a Swedish team in 2013. It keeps the same four answer options and covers three areas: mentalising (reading other people), sensory reactivity and social anxiety. Scores run from 0 to 42 and the threshold is 14. In the development study of 135 autistic adults, 301 with ADHD, 69 with other psychiatric conditions and 590 from the general population, it picked up 97% of autistic adults but cleared only 46% of those with ADHD and 64% of those with other psychiatric conditions.
AQ and AQ-10
The Autism Spectrum Quotient was published by Simon Baron-Cohen’s group at Cambridge in 2001. It has 50 questions across social skill, attention switching, attention to detail, communication and imagination; the AQ-10 is a 10-question short form. In the Dutch referral study the short AQ forms were best at clearing people who were not autistic (specificity around 70%), but still could not predict a diagnosis on their own.
CAT-Q for masking
The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire does not screen for autism. Its 25 questions measure how much you compensate for, mask or assimilate away autistic traits in social situations. It was developed in 2019 with 354 autistic and 478 non-autistic adults, and is useful alongside a screener because heavy masking is one reason autistic adults score low on the RAADS-R. Our women and girls guide covers masking in depth.
Our own free autism test is twelve plain-language questions about the same territory. It is not a validated instrument and does not reproduce the RAADS-R or AQ.
Questions people ask
What is a normal RAADS-R score?
The published threshold is 65. In the 2011 validation study nobody in the comparison group of 578 adults scored 65 or more, so the developers treat anything below 65 as not consistent with autism. Later studies of adults referred for assessment found many non-autistic people do score above 65, so a high score on its own is not conclusive.
Is the RAADS-R test accurate?
In the original study it identified 97% of already-diagnosed autistic adults and cleared 100% of a separately recruited comparison group. In clinics where everyone has been referred for an autism assessment it does much worse: a 2021 UK study found no association between score and diagnosis. It is a reasonable screener and a poor diagnostic test.
What does a RAADS-R score of 65, or over 100, mean?
Sixty-five or more is the published cut-off: your answers are consistent with the pattern the scale measures. The research defines no bands above 65, so 100 or 150 is not a stronger result in any validated sense. Any score at or above 65 is a reason to consider a formal assessment.
Can I diagnose myself with the RAADS-R?
No. The scale was designed to help a clinician, with one present. A diagnosis requires a clinical interview, a developmental history and a clinician ruling out the conditions that produce similar answers, such as ADHD and anxiety. In Australia, adults are diagnosed by a psychiatrist or a psychologist.
Is the RAADS-R free?
The scale was published in an academic journal in 2011 and versions of it are hosted on many websites, usually free to complete. We do not host the RAADS-R. Our free autism test is a separate twelve-question check in plain language.
What is the difference between RAADS-R and RAADS-14?
The RAADS-R has 80 questions, four subscales, a 0 to 240 range and a threshold of 65. The RAADS-14 is a 14-question short form derived from it in 2013, with three areas, a 0 to 42 range and a threshold of 14. The RAADS-14 is faster and very sensitive but produces more false positives, especially in adults with ADHD.
Wondering whether an assessment makes sense? The free screener takes about three minutes, for your child, your adult son or daughter, or yourself. It suggests which assessment fits, and it will tell you if one does not look like the right next step. Start the free screener.
Where this information comes from
We would rather you checked us than took our word for it. Every link below is the original source, not a summary of one.
- Ritvo et al. (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.The validation study: 80 items, four subscales, 0-3 scoring, threshold 65, 779 participants across nine centres, sensitivity 97%, specificity 100%, designed for clinician administration to adults 18+ with IQ 80 or more.
- Sizoo et al. (2015). Predictive validity of self-report questionnaires in the assessment of autism spectrum disorders in adults. Autism, 19(7), 842-849.Dutch study of 210 adults referred for autism assessment: RAADS-R sensitivity 73%, positive predictive value about 80%, only about half of non-autistic referrals correctly cleared; AQ-28 and AQ-10 specificity 70% and 72%.
- Conner et al. (2019). Examining the Diagnostic Validity of Autism Measures Among Adults in an Outpatient Clinic Sample. Autism in Adulthood, 1(1), 60-68.US clinic study of 93 adults (31 diagnosed): RAADS-R sensitivity 52%, specificity 73%, AUC 0.58; autistic participants did not score significantly higher; ADOS used alongside self-report scales.
- Jones et al. (2021). The Effectiveness of RAADS-R as a Screening Tool for Adult ASD Populations. Autism Research and Treatment, 2021, 9974791.Retrospective study of 50 adults at an NHS specialist autism service: no association between RAADS-R score and diagnostic outcome; concluded it is not a suitable screening tool for adults awaiting assessment.
- Wigham et al. (2019). Psychometric properties of questionnaires and diagnostic measures for autism spectrum disorders in adults: a systematic review. Autism, 23(2), 287-305.Systematic review of 20 studies: questionnaires performed best in people with confirmed diagnoses and worse in referrals; a single questionnaire is unlikely to separate autism from mental health conditions in mental health settings.
- Eriksson et al. (2013). RAADS-14 Screen: validity of a screening tool for autism spectrum disorder in an adult psychiatric population. Molecular Autism, 4, 49.Swedish development study of the 14-item short form: 0-42 range, threshold 14, sensitivity 97%, specificity 46% in ADHD and 64% in other psychiatric conditions; median scores 32 (autism), 15 (ADHD), 11 (other).
- Sturm et al. (2024). Psychometric exploration of the RAADS-R with autistic adults: implications for research and clinical practice. Autism, 28(9), 2334-2345.Study of 839 adults finding the RAADS-R and RAADS-14 performed consistently across gender, age and diagnosis versus self-identification, with sensory and social items discriminating best.
- Hull et al. (2019). Development and Validation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(3), 819-833.Development of the 25-item CAT-Q with 354 autistic and 478 non-autistic adults; it measures social camouflaging rather than screening for autism.
- Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge. Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) - Adult.The developers' page for the adult AQ, citing Baron-Cohen et al. (2001), Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 5-17.
- AIDE Canada. Screening tests and tools for autism in adulthood: examples and cautions.Plain-language summary of adult screeners: the AQ's 50 questions and five areas, the AQ-10, and the Jones 2021 conclusion on the RAADS-R.
- Autism CRC. National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Australia: information for adults seeking an assessment.Start with your GP; the three parts of an assessment (functioning, medical evaluation, diagnostic evaluation using clinical interviewing and standardised questionnaires); all possible explanations must be considered; a written report is provided.
- Healthdirect. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Government-funded health information: in adults, autism is diagnosed by a psychiatrist or a psychologist using standardised tools.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 135.Paediatrician assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan for complex neurodevelopmental disorder in people under 25, once per lifetime.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 289.Psychiatrist assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan for complex neurodevelopmental disorder in people under 25, once per lifetime.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 82000.Psychologist assessment item for suspected complex neurodevelopmental disorder in people under 25, at least 50 minutes, maximum eight assessment services per lifetime across the allied health items.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 291.Psychiatrist initial assessment and management plan on GP referral, no age limit, once in 12 months; not autism-specific.
Links to external sites are provided for reference. We do not control them and they may change. Last checked 5 October 2026.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about yourself or your child, talk to your GP.
Not sure where to start?
For your child, your adult son or daughter, or yourself. The free screener takes about three minutes and tells you which assessment fits — or whether you need one at all.