Wired 9.12: Take The AQ Test http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.

html

Wired Home
Subscribe

Sections
Cars 2.0
Culture
Entertainment
Gadgets
Gaming
How-To
Med Tech
Multimedia
Politics
Product Reviews
Science
Software
Tech Biz
Tech Jobs
Wired Biz
Dual Perspectives
Wired Insider
Blogs
Autopia
Danger Room
Epicenter
Gadget Lab
Game | Life
GeekDad
Monkey Bites
Raw File
This Day in Tech
Threat Level
Underwire
Wired Science

1 of 8 12/22/2009 7:03 AM
Wired 9.12: Take The AQ Test http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

All Blogs
Reviews
Automotive
Camcorders
Desktops
Digital Cameras
Gaming Gear
Home Audio/Video
Household
Mobile Phones
Notebooks
Media Players
Sports/Outdoors
Televisions
All Reviews
Video
How To
Magazine
Sign In |
RSS Feeds

Issue 9.12 | Dec 2001

Take The AQ Test

Print, email, or fax

this article for free.

Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues at Cambridge's Autism

Research Centre have created the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, or AQ, as a
measure of the extent of autistic traits in adults. In the first major trial
using the test, the average score in the control group was 16.4. Eighty
percent of those diagnosed with autism or a related disorder scored 32 or
higher. The test is not a means for making a diagnosis, however, and
many who score above 32 and even meet the diagnostic criteria for mild
autism or Asperger's report no difficulty functioning in their everyday
lives.

Definitely Slightly Slightly Definitely

agree agree disagree disagree

2 of 8 12/22/2009 7:03 AM
Wired 9.12: Take The AQ Test http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

1 I prefer to do things
with others rather than
on my own.

2 I prefer to do things the

same way over and
over again.

3 If I try to imagine
something, I find it
very easy to create a
picture in my mind.

4 I frequently get so
strongly absorbed in
one thing that I lose
sight of other things.

5 I often notice small

sounds when others do
not.

6 I usually notice car

number plates or
similar strings of
information.

7 Other people frequently

tell me that what I've
said is impolite, even
though I think it is
polite.

8 When I'm reading a

story, I can easily
imagine what the
characters might look
like.

9 I am fascinated by
dates.

10 In a social group, I can

easily keep track of
several different
people's conversations.

11 I find social situations

easy.

3 of 8 12/22/2009 7:03 AM
Wired 9.12: Take The AQ Test http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

12 I tend to notice details

that others do not.

13 I would rather go to a
library than to a party.

14 I find making up stories

easy.

15 I find myself drawn

more strongly to people
than to things.

16 I tend to have very

strong interests, which
I get upset about if I
can't pursue.

17 I enjoy social chitchat.

18 When I talk, it isn't

always easy for others
to get a word in
edgewise.

19 I am fascinated by
numbers.

20 When I'm reading a

story, I find it difficult
to work out the
characters' intentions.

21 I don't particularly
enjoy reading fiction.

22 I find it hard to make

new friends.

23 I notice patterns in
things all the time.

24 I would rather go to the

theater than to a
museum.

25 It does not upset me if

my daily routine is
disturbed.

26 I frequently find that I

don't know how to keep

4 of 8 12/22/2009 7:03 AM
Wired 9.12: Take The AQ Test http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

a conversation going.

27 I find it easy to 'read

between the lines'
when someone is
talking to me.

28 I usually concentrate
more on the whole
picture, rather than on
the small details.

29 I am not very good at

remembering phone
numbers.

30 I don't usually notice

small changes in a
situation or a person's
appearance.

31 I know how to tell if

someone listening to
me is getting bored.

32 I find it easy to do more

than one thing at once.

33 When I talk on the

phone, I'm not sure
when it's my turn to
speak.

34 I enjoy doing things

spontaneously.

35 I am often the last to

understand the point of
a joke.

36 I find it easy to work

out what someone is
thinking or feeling just
by looking at their face.

37 If there is an
interruption, I can
switch back to what I
was doing very quickly.

5 of 8 12/22/2009 7:03 AM
Wired 9.12: Take The AQ Test http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

38 I am good at social
chitchat.

39 People often tell me

that I keep going on
and on about the same
thing.

40 When I was young, I

used to enjoy playing
games involving
pretending with other
children.

41 I like to collect
information about
categories of things
(e.g., types of cars,
birds, trains, plants).

42 I find it difficult to
imagine what it would
be like to be someone
else.

43 I like to carefully plan

any activities I
participate in.

44 I enjoy social occasions.

45 I find it difficult to work

out people's intentions.

46 New situations make

me anxious.

47 I enjoy meeting new

people.

48 I am a good diplomat.

49 I am not very good at

remembering people's
date of birth.

50 I find it very easy to

play games with
children that involve
pretending.

6 of 8 12/22/2009 7:03 AM
Wired 9.12: Take The AQ Test http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

How to score: "Definitely agree" or "Slightly agree" responses to

questions 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 33, 35,
39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46 score 1 point. "Definitely disagree" or "Slightly
disagree" responses to questions 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 24, 25, 27,
28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50 score 1 point.

copy; MRC-SBC/SJW February 1998. Published: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31,

5-17 (2001).

Previous Story: The Geek Syndrome

Next Story: For More on Autism

Wired Product Reviews

Get daily reviews of the latest consumer electronics, gadgets, cars, gaming gear
and more.

Get gadgets on the go with Wired's Product Reviews app for the Apple iPhone
and iPod Touch. Download the application for free on the iPhone App Store.

Wired Blogs

From gaming, cars and geek dads to science and security, Wired.com's blog network covers what
you need to know today.
Read Wired magazine editor in chief Chris Anderson's blog, The Long Tail.

Wired ewsletter

The Wired newsletter delivers links to our most popular articles, blogs and multimedia features
to your e-mail inbox every month. Sign up.

7 of 8 12/22/2009 7:03 AM
Wired 9.12: Take The AQ Test http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

Wired Top Stories Feed

Get Wired

SUBSCRIBE TO WIRED!
Less than $1 an issue. Click Here.

Give Wired
· International Subscriptions
· Renew
Customer Service

Wired Blogs
Beyond the Beyond
by Bruce Sterling
Gadget Lab
Subscribe to Newsletter
Gadget Lab Archive
Gadgetlab feed
Wired 40
Introduction
Advertising
Contact Info
General Ads
Market Display Ads
Advertiser Links

Browse Issue Archive

Browse by cover

8 of 8 12/22/2009 7:03 AM