Adult ADHD Self-report Scale (asrs V1.1): A Practical Guide for Australians
Last updated 27 October 2026 · 9 min read · By Sarah M., Support Coordinator
In short
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) is a questionnaire you fill in about your own attention, restlessness and impulsivity. It is a screening tool that can prompt a conversation with a clinician, not a test that confirms or rules out ADHD.
This guide explains how the scale is used in Australia, what scoring means, how it differs from other tools, and what to do with your answers. It sits alongside our wider guide to getting an ADHD diagnosis in Australia.
Key points
The WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale is named in the Australian ADHD Guideline as an adult screening tool, and a positive screen should lead to further assessment.
A questionnaire score cannot diagnose ADHD: the Guideline says a thorough assessment by a trained, credentialled clinician is needed.
Free ASRS forms online are for reflection only, because ADHD cannot be diagnosed online or through a quiz.
Take your completed form to your GP, along with examples of how symptoms affect work, study and home life.
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) at a glance
What it is
A self-completed screening questionnaire for adults, not a diagnostic test
Who can assess ADHD
An appropriately trained and credentialled clinician; your GP can explain referral options
Cost of the form
Free forms circulate online; check the cost of any clinical assessment with the clinician
Support available
GP, specialists and the ADHD Foundation on 1300 39 39 19
NDIS relevance
A screening result is not a clinical assessment; ask the NDIA what evidence it needs if you are checking access requirements
Official source
Australian ADHD Guideline, AADPA
What the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) is
The scale is a short checklist where you rate how often certain experiences happen to you. It is one of several tools clinicians and GPs may use as a starting point.
It asks about attention, organisation, restlessness and impulsivity, so you can describe patterns you may not have put into words before.
The Australian ADHD Guideline names the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) among adult screening tools, alongside Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale – Short and the Wender Utah Rating Scale – Short (AADPA).
It relies on your own view of yourself, which is useful but can differ from what a clinician hears from you, your family and your history.
It does not replace an assessment: rating scales can help with diagnosis but should not be used alone (AADPA clinician factsheet).
How the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) is used in Australia
The scale can be a useful conversation starter for a GP or clinic appointment. Different people may use it in different ways.
Who uses it
How it is used
You, at home
To organise your thoughts and examples before you book a GP appointment, as reflection only.
Your GP
As a screen, where a positive result should be followed by further assessment.
A psychiatrist or other specialist
As one piece of information alongside an interview, history and other reports.
Bring a list of examples to your appointment, such as missed deadlines or trouble finishing tasks, so the clinician can see the real-life picture.
Who the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Part A is for
Part A is a section of the form that can be used as a quick screen, and the scale is written for adults rather than children.
It suits adults who wonder whether long-standing attention or restlessness difficulties are worth raising with a doctor.
It is not designed for children, who healthdirect says are usually diagnosed by a paediatrician or a child psychiatrist or psychologist (healthdirect).
It is not suitable as the only evidence for a workplace, study or disability application, because it is not a clinical assessment.
It can feel confronting, so consider doing it with a trusted friend, family member or support worker beside you.
Looking for NDIS support at home?
TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.
ADHD self report scale PDF and ASRS ADHD test online free
You may come across a downloadable form or a free online version. These are fine for reflection, but they have limits you should know about.
ReachOut Australia states that ADHD can’t be diagnosed online or through an ADHD quiz, and that symptoms must be present before age 12 (ReachOut Australia).
If you use an adult ADHD self-report scale PDF, ask your GP whether they would like to see it, as your clinician may prefer to use their own forms.
For teenagers, an ADHD adolescent self-report scale PDF from a website is no substitute for an assessment by a qualified clinician.
Keep a copy of your answers and the date, so you can compare notes if you complete a form again later.
Whatever form you use, an appropriately trained and credentialled clinician needs to assess ADHD.
ADHD self report scale scoring and ADHD ASRS scoring
Scoring turns your answers into a result that indicates whether further assessment is worthwhile. It does not tell you whether you have ADHD.
Follow the scoring instructions that come with the exact version of the form you completed, rather than a score guide from an unrelated page.
A high screening result is a reason to ask for a proper assessment, and the Guideline says positive screening should be followed by further assessment.
A low result does not mean your difficulties are not real, so speak to your GP if everyday life is still hard.
Your clinician considers your result alongside history, current functioning and other conditions that can look similar.
Other ADHD self report questionnaire options: WURS, DIVA and young DIVA
The adult self report ADHD scale is only one of several tools. Here is how some of them differ.
Tool
What it is
Who completes it
ASRS
A self-completed screening checklist named in the Guideline
You, on your own
WURS (Wender Utah Rating Scale)
A rating scale whose short form the Guideline names as an adult screening tool
Ask your clinician how they use it
DIVA questionnaire for ADHD
An interview-based tool some clinicians use, not a self-test
A clinician with you
Young DIVA
A related interview-based tool; ask your clinician whether it applies
A clinician
Ask your clinician which tools they use and why, so you know what to expect before the appointment.
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) results: what to do next
Your answers are most useful when you take them to a doctor. These steps keep the process manageable.
1Save your completed form. Keep the date and your answers, and add short notes on when each difficulty started.
2Collect childhood evidence. Diagnosing adults needs evidence that symptoms began in childhood, and school reports may be requested (healthdirect).
3Book a long GP appointment. Tell reception it is about a possible ADHD assessment so you have enough time to explain.
4Ask about referral. Your GP can explain who can assess adults in your area, and our guide to ADHD assessment for adults online covers telehealth options.
5Prepare for the interview. A detailed clinical interview may take between 2 and 3 hours (AADPA).
For a broader picture of how ADHD shows up in daily life, read about adult ADHD symptoms.
Around 3-5% of adults in Australia have ADHD, according to the Guideline’s GP factsheet, so you are far from alone.
When to talk to a GP or specialist
Consider booking an appointment if any of these sound familiar. None of them mean something is wrong with you.
Attention, organisation or restlessness difficulties have been present since childhood and still affect your work, study or relationships.
Your screening answers keep pointing the same way over several attempts, and you would like a proper assessment.
You feel low, anxious or overwhelmed; healthdirect notes adults with ADHD may also experience depression, anxiety or substance misuse problems.
You are unsure whether your difficulties are ADHD, anxiety, sleep problems or something else, and want a clinician to look at the whole picture.
You would like to talk to someone first: healthdirect is open 24 hours on 1800 022 222 (NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).
If you are in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000.
Looking for NDIS support at home?
TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.
If you are waiting on an assessment or living with ADHD day to day, practical support can ease the load. We at TQN Care offer NDIS services such as help around the home, personal care and community access across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). We do not provide diagnosis or treatment, but our support workers can help with daily routines while you sort out your next steps.
SM
Sarah M., Support CoordinatorTQN Care is a registered NDIS provider supporting people across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC).
Common questions
FAQs about the adult ADHD self-report scale
Who is the WHO adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS) Part A for? +
Part A is written for adults who want a quick screen for possible ADHD. It is not for young children and does not give a diagnosis. If your answers raise questions, take them to your GP, who can discuss whether a full assessment makes sense for you.
Can an ASRS ADHD test online free of charge diagnose ADHD? +
No. ReachOut Australia states ADHD can’t be diagnosed online or through a quiz. A free online form can help you reflect and prepare, but only a trained, credentialled clinician can assess ADHD after a thorough interview and a look at your history.
How does ADHD self report scale scoring work? +
Each form comes with its own scoring instructions, which turn your answers into a screening result. A positive result means further assessment is worth pursuing, not that you have ADHD. Ask your GP or clinician to explain what your result suggests in your situation.
What is the difference between the ASRS, WURS and DIVA? +
The ASRS is a self-completed screening checklist. The Australian ADHD Guideline names the Wender Utah Rating Scale – Short as another adult screening tool, while DIVA is an interview-based tool used by clinicians rather than a self-test. Clinicians may use one, several or none of these, depending on their assessment approach.