How is the full 18-item ASRS scored?

Each of the 18 items is rated 0 (never) to 4 (very often) for a 0–72 total. The first six items are the validated Part A screener; a positive screen is four or more responses in the shaded boxes of Part A, not a particular total. The full-scale total is best read as a descriptive measure of overall symptom load.

Should I take the 6-item or the 18-item ASRS?

The 6-item Part A is the validated screen — start there if you want a clear screen-positive or screen-negative result. The 18-item version gives a fuller symptom profile that's useful to bring to a clinician for a more detailed conversation.

Mind

Full Adult ADHD Test: 18-Question WHO ASRS v1.1

All 18 ASRS symptoms across inattention and hyperactivity — a fuller picture than the 6-question screen.

~4 minTime

WHO ASRS v1.1 full 18-item Symptom Checklist (Kessler 2005)Method

FreeCost

Before you start

1Answer for the past six months — ADHD is about long-standing patterns, so rate how things have generally been, not just this week.
2It pairs with the short screener — For the validated positive-screen result, use the 6-item ASRS Part A screening test.

18 questions

4′

WHO ASRS v1.1 full 18-item Symptom Checklist (Kessler 2005)

What it measures

The full picture of adult ADHD symptoms, using the complete 18-item WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1). It covers both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity across the situations where ADHD shows up — work, conversations, restlessness, and impulse control.

How it works

You rate all 18 symptoms by how often they happen, from 'never' (0) to 'very often' (4), giving a 0–72 total. The first six items are the validated Part A screener; the remaining twelve add detail. The total here is a descriptive severity gradient — the formal positive screen is the Part-A rule, available in the 6-question screening test.

Tips for an accurate result

1Symptoms must be long-standing — An ADHD diagnosis requires that several symptoms were present in childhood, even if only noticed later.
2Other things can mimic ADHD — Anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and thyroid problems can all affect focus and need to be ruled out.
3Bring results to a clinician — This inventory is most useful as a structured way to describe your pattern during a proper assessment.

Accuracy & limits

The ASRS v1.1 is the World Health Organization's self-report scale for adult ADHD. The validated screen is the six-item Part A using its 'shaded box' rule (four or more positive responses), not a simple total. The 0–72 sum shown here is a descriptive severity indicator with no official diagnostic cut-off — only a qualified clinician can diagnose ADHD after a full evaluation.

References & further reading

The Institute of Doctors provides educational screening tools and AI guidance. They are not a medical diagnosis and never replace a qualified clinician. If you have a health concern, see a doctor.