Free online autism test for children & teens

This short, 10‑question autism screening test is based on the AQ‑10 child and adolescent criteria, the same evidence‑based tool used by GPs, paediatricians and child psychiatrists across the UK and recommended by NICE and the NHS.

It takes around 3–5 minutes to complete and is designed to help parents and carers explore whether symptoms could be consistent with autism and a full clinical assessment might help them understand their child better.

Who should complete this test?

Children aged 7–12

Please complete the test as the parent or carer. Think about your child across all the situations you see them in, not just at home, but at family gatherings, on days out, in shops, at parties or on holidays.

Autism often shows up most clearly in unstructured or socially demanding situations, where there are fewer rules to lean on. Those moments matter.

Teenagers aged 13–17

Either a parent or carer or the young person themselves can complete the test.

If your teenager has started asking questions about why they feel different from their peers, completing it together can be a meaningful starting point. If they’re not ready to engage yet, completing it yourself is completely fine.

Children under 7

If your child is under 7, we recommend starting with your GP or community paediatrician. Autism assessment at this age requires specialist developmental input, and your GP can guide you to the appropriate pathway.

What happens after you complete the test?

You’ll receive a clear explanation of what your result could mean.

If the result suggests that your child displays traits and behaviours that are associated with autism, we’ll point you to information that explains what a full assessment involves. You can then choose to book a free, no‑obligation consultation with our team to talk things through and decide what, if anything, you’d like to do next.

Book a free initial consultation

Your privacy

Everything you enter here is private and confidential. We don’t share your responses or link them to your child in any way. This test leaves no identifiable medical record.

What this test can and can’t tell you

What the result can tell you:

Whether the traits you’ve described are commonly associated with autism
Whether a full autism assessment would be a clinically reasonable next step

What it can’t tell you:

Whether your child is autistic
The full picture of how your child experiences the world

A score below the threshold does not rule autism out. More subtle presentations, particularly in children who are socially motivated or good at adapting, can be very difficult to capture in a short screening tool.

What your child’s result means in practice

If the result points toward autism

Your responses describe a pattern of traits that makes a specialist evaluation worthwhile. This is not a diagnosis. Diagnosis requires a clinician who can explore your child’s full developmental history, observe their communication and interaction, and consider other possible explanations.

What this result gives you is something important, a clear, evidence‑based reason to take the next step if you choose to. A free consultation can help you understand what a full assessment would involve and whether it feels right for your family.

If the result doesn’t point toward autism, but you’re still unsure

Trust what you’ve been seeing.

Many autistic children are socially motivated and work very hard to fit in. In structured settings like school they may appear to cope well. At home, where they can finally stop holding it together, things often look very different.

If one of your main concerns is the contrast between “fine at school” and “struggling at home”, that gap is meaningful and worth discussing with a specialist, regardless of a screening result.

Why autism is so often missed in children

Parents often arrive at this page with a specific kind of concern, not “my child is obviously struggling”, but “something doesn’t quite fit and I can’t explain why”. That is one of the most common presentations of autism, particularly in bright children, socially interested or good at copying their peers.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a child processes:

Social information
Sensory input
Language and communication
Change and uncertainty

From the inside, this can feel like:

Constantly trying to work out social rules other children seem to know instinctively
Being overwhelmed by sounds, textures or smells others barely notice
Needing routines and predictability to feel safe
Feeling confused or anxious about what others expect, even when trying very hard

From the outside, especially in children who have learned to mask these experiences, it can look like very little at all.

Why sensory experience matters

Sensory sensitivity is one of the most consistent features parents describe, and one that brief screenings don’t always fully capture.

For an autistic child, sensory input that others filter out can be intensely uncomfortable. This might be the seam in a sock, the sound of a hand dryer, fluorescent lights in a supermarket or certain food textures.

Managing this sensory overload across a full school day is exhausting. When a child finally gets home and stops suppressing it, what you see is often the result of that effort.

This test vs full autism assessment

The AQ‑10 screening tool is a starting point. It covers 10 behaviours commonly associated with autism and helps indicate whether further evaluation is warranted. It’s quick and involves no clinical interaction.

A full autism assessment is a comprehensive clinical process. It typically includes:

A detailed developmental history interview with parents
Questionnaires completed by both parents and school staff
Direct clinical time with your child
Review of previous reports or assessments

The outcome is a formal diagnostic report.

This report is the only document that can formally confirm or rule out an autism diagnosis, and it’s written for schools, local authorities and health services to act on. It can support EHCP applications, specialist teaching input and therapeutic support.

Book a free inital consultation

Frequently asked questions

My child seems happy. Could they still be autistic?

Yes, autism does not prevent happiness. Many autistic children enjoy their interests deeply, have close family relationships and experience real joy. Autism affects how a child navigates a social and sensory world that operates on rules that may not come naturally, not their capacity for happiness.How do I talk to my child about the possibility of autism? How do I talk to my child about the possibility of autism?

My child has friends. Doesn’t that rule autism out?

No, many autistic children have friendships, sometimes very close ones. What can be different is the experience of those friendships, including the effort it takes to maintain them, difficulties in group settings or confusion when dynamics shift unexpectedly.

School hasn’t raised concerns. Shouldn’t they have noticed?

Not necessarily. Schools are structured environments with clear rules and adult support. Autistic children often manage well under these conditions. Difficulties are more likely to show up during unstructured times, socially complex situations or at home after a demanding day.

How does autism present differently in girls?

Girls are more likely to be socially motivated and to learn social behaviour through observation and imitation. This can make their autism very difficult to detect from the outside. The cost is often exhaustion, anxiety and emotional overwhelm that appears mainly at home. Girls are therefore more likely to be missed or misdiagnosed.

What does masking look like in children, and will it affect the result?

Masking isn’t usually a conscious choice. It develops through social trial and error, noticing what works and copying it. A child may make eye contact, suppress stimming or rely on learned phrases. Because of this, a child who masks well, particularly at school, may score below threshold on a screening test.

My child has anxiety. Could autism be underlying it?

Yes, anxiety is extremely common in autistic children and often develops as a response to sensory overload, social confusion and unpredictability. If anxiety co‑exists with sensory sensitivities, social differences or rigid routines, autism is worth considering.

Can a child have autism and ADHD together?

Yes, the two conditions co‑occur in a significant proportion of children. They are distinct but overlapping, and assessing them together can give a clearer, more accurate picture. Combined assessments are available.

How do I talk to my child about the possibility of autism?

Lead with curiosity rather than concern and make it clear you’re trying to understand them better. For younger children, simple explanations about different brains working in different ways can help. For teenagers who are already noticing differences, an open and respectful conversation often feels like a relief.

How does school fit into the assessment process?

School input is an important part of assessment and usually involves a structured questionnaire completed by a teacher or SENCO. We provide guidance and handle the process to make this as straightforward as possible.

What support can a diagnosis unlock?

A diagnosis can open access to school support such as EHCPs, reasonable adjustments and exam access arrangements, as well as therapeutic services including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and autism‑informed mental health support. Our reports are written to be practical and actionable.

We had an NHS assessment that was inconclusive or negative. Can you help?

Often, yes. If time has passed, your child has changed, or the assessment didn’t reflect what you continue to observe, a second clinical opinion may be appropriate. A free consultation can help you decide whether it’s likely to be worthwhile.