Free online ADHD test for adults

The ASRS v1.1 is one of the most widely validated adult ADHD screening tools available, developed in conjunction with the World Health Organization and used as a first-line instrument by GPs and psychiatrists. It’s good at identifying people whose experiences are consistent with ADHD, but it has its limits.  

Adults who have built effective workarounds over the years often score lower than their underlying difficulties would suggest, because the questions reflect how things are, not how much effort it takes to keep them that way. Use the result as a signal, not a verdict. 

A high score means your self-reported experiences are consistent with ADHD at a level that makes a full clinical assessment worthwhile. It doesn’t confirm a diagnosis. A clinician will explore your history in depth, including whether symptoms have been present since childhood, how they affect different areas of your life, and whether another condition better explains what you’re experiencing. 

Book a free consultation and talk it through. Adults who have spent years managing their ADHD through rigid routines, over-preparation or sheer effort frequently score lower than their actual experience warrants. Coping strategies can mask the condition from others around you as well as the questionnaire.  

If you feel your result doesn’t match your daily reality, it may be worth discussing with a clinician. 

This test tells you whether your experiences are broadly consistent with ADHD in 3–4 minutes, but it’s not a diagnosis. 

A full assessment involves a detailed clinical interview, a review of your developmental history, exploration of how symptoms affect work, relationships and daily functioning, and results in a formal diagnostic report. It’s the only route to a diagnosis, which in turn opens access to treatment and, where relevant, workplace adjustments under the Equality Act. 

Yes, the ASRS is the same tool many GPs use as a first step to determine if a referral is suitable, so arriving with a completed version demonstrates you’ve taken time to consider the issue seriously.  

NHS adult ADHD waiting lists are long in most areas of the UK. At Xyla, there’s no wait. You can book an initial consultation today and have your full assessment within two weeks. Learn more about the assessment process. 

Absolutely, ADHD affects people of all genders, though it has been significantly underdiagnosed in women for decades. This is largely because ADHD was predominantly studied in boys, and the criteria that resulted reflect a more hyperactive, disruptive presentation that is less common in women.  

Women with ADHD more often have the inattentive type, which includes difficulty sustaining attention, disorganisation and emotional overwhelm. It’s less visible and easier to wrongly attribute to anxiety, stress or personality. Many women receive a diagnosis in their 30s or 40s, sometimes prompted by a child’s diagnosis that makes their own history suddenly make sense. 

ADHD is a well-established neurodevelopmental condition with a clear neurological basis, recognised by major healthcare bodies like the NHS, NICE and the World Health Organization. It’s associated with differences in dopamine regulation and prefrontal cortex function that are visible on brain imaging. The idea that it’s something children grow out of is not supported by evidence. Research consistently shows that 60–70% of children with ADHD continue to experience significant symptoms in adulthood. Concerns about overdiagnosis of ADHD in adults are misplaced and the opposite is the case – adult ADHD in the UK has historically been significantly underdiagnosed.  

The clinical assessment session with Xyla typically takes around two-and-a-half hours, including a detailed interview and feedback. The full process, from your free initial consultation to receiving your written diagnostic report, is usually completed within 14 days, depending on your availability. 

Adult ADHD assessments with Xyla start from £750. Combined ADHD and autism assessments are also available. We offer flexible payment options including interest-free instalments through Klarna. Full pricing is available on our pricing page. 

Yes, nothing you enter in this test is stored, linked to your identity, or shared with anyone. Once you leave the page, your responses are gone. If you go on to book a consultation or assessment, your personal information is handled separately under our privacy policy. 

This test is designed to be completed by the person it applies to, because the questions ask about personal experiences and internal states that someone else can’t accurately report on your behalf. If you’re concerned about a partner or friend, the most useful thing is to encourage them to take the test themselves. If you’re concerned about a child under 18, please use our child and teen ADHD test, which is specifically designed to be completed by a parent. 

It’s an informal phone call and not a clinical assessment. A member of our team will ask about your concerns, explain how our assessment process works, answer any questions you have and help you decide whether to go ahead. There’s no pressure and no obligation. If you decide to proceed, we’ll arrange everything around your availability. If you’re not ready, that’s completely fine. 

Yes, the two conditions co-occur more often than most people realise, with research suggesting around 50% overlap. They share some surface features but are neurologically distinct, and having one doesn’t rule out the other.  

If you think both may be relevant to your experience, our combined assessment covers both conditions in a single integrated process and produces one report. It’s also a useful option if you’re unsure which condition better explains what you’re experiencing.