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What Does an ASRS Score Mean?
Learn how ASRS v1.1 scoring works, what Part A means, and why a positive screen is not an ADHD diagnosis. Plain guidance for adults after self-screening.
Quick answer
Each of the 18 ASRS items scores 0–4 (total 0–72). The validated screen is Part A: items 1–3 count from Sometimes, items 4–6 from Often; four or more positives is a positive screen — not a diagnosis.
Key takeaways
- Use Part A item-specific cutoffs for the screen decision.
- The 0–72 total is descriptive; 24 is not an official WHO ASRS v1.1 cutoff.
- A positive screen means follow-up may help, not that you have ADHD.
Quick answer
You took the ASRS. Now you want to know what your score means.
The ASRS v1.1 has 18 items. Each item is scored 0 to 4. Never is 0. Very Often is 4. Your total can be 0 to 72.
The total shows how often you report signs. It has no official WHO cutoff. The validated screen is Part A, which uses the first six items. A positive Part A is not a diagnosis.
How scoring works
Each Part A item has its own cutoff:
- Items 1–3 count when you answer Sometimes, Often, or Very Often.
- Items 4–6 count when you answer Often or Very Often.
If four or more Part A answers count, the screen is positive. This means a full check may help.
You can still use the 0–72 total to describe how often signs appear. Yet 24 is not an official cutoff for the ASRS v1.1. Do not use the total alone to decide if you may have ADHD.
What a positive screen does not mean
A high total does not mean you have ADHD. A positive Part A does not mean that either. It only means this short form found a pattern worth a closer look.
Doctors also ask about:
- How long the signs have lasted (often since childhood)
- How much they hurt work, school, or close ties
- Sleep, mood, and alcohol or drug use
- Other issues that can look the same, such as anxiety, low mood, or autism
What to do next
Save or screenshot your result if you want to talk about it later. Then read results explained for domain scores and limits. If you plan a clinical visit, use how to talk to a doctor about adult ADHD.
If sleep or low mood also fit, read ASRS vs sleep and low mood. If you are new to the form, start with what the ASRS v1.1 is.
If you are in crisis, call local emergency help or a crisis line. This site is not an emergency service.
Start the screen
When you are ready, take the free ASRS test on this site. Scoring stays in your browser.
Sources and review
- Official ASRS facts and forms, Harvard site
- Original six-question screen study, 2005
- Study on false positive screens, 2021
This page was checked against these sources on September 27, 2026. It gives general health facts, not medical advice.
The takeaway
In short: use the Part A rules for the screen. Use the total only as a broad view of how often signs appear. Neither one can take the place of a full check.
Frequently asked questions
What is a positive ASRS Part A screen?
Four or more of the first six items meet their item-specific cutoffs (Sometimes or higher for items 1–3; Often or higher for items 4–6).
Does a high total score diagnose ADHD?
No. The total shows how often you reported signs. Diagnosis needs a licensed clinician and a full evaluation.
Is 24 an official ASRS cutoff?
No. The WHO ASRS v1.1 does not define 24 as a universal diagnostic or screening threshold for the full checklist.