⚠ Educational Use Only — The GQ-ASC is a self-reflection educational tool for awareness purposes only. It does not provide a clinical diagnosis or professional evaluation. A qualified professional must be consulted for any formal assessment.
21Total Items
5Trait Domains
≥ 45Elevated Score
FreeNo Sign-up

Free GQ-ASC Test Online — Female Autism Phenotype Scoring

The GQ-ASC (Girls Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Condition) is a validated 21-item self-report tool developed specifically for adult women and gender-diverse individuals (Brown, Attwood, Garnett & Stokes, 2020). Unlike the AQ-50 — built on a predominantly male baseline — the GQ-ASC captures the specific ways autistic traits manifest in women: sophisticated camouflaging, social exhaustion, and differently-focused interests.

Complete all 21 items and receive instant results including a radar chart across 5 domains, your total GQ-ASC score with threshold interpretation, and a free printable PDF.

Free printable PDF — complete the test, export your results instantly, no account needed.

GQ-ASC Scoring Thresholds (Brown et al., 2020)

0 – 44Standard baseline — traits below the elevated threshold
45 – 56Elevated baseline — strong alignment with female autistic phenotype
57 – 84High intensity profile — extensive camouflaging and social demands
Item 1 of 21 Auto-saved
Domain: Imagination

Question text goes here...

0
Imagination
Max 20
0
Camouflaging
Max 16
0
Sensory
Max 16
0
Socialising
Max 16
0
Interests
Max 16
0
Baseline Profile
Analysis complete.

GQ-ASC Score Interpretation

Interpretation text goes here.

GQ-ASC Scoring Reference (Brown et al., 2020)

0 – 44Standard baseline — traits generally below elevated threshold
45 – 56Elevated — strong alignment with female autistic phenotype
57 – 84High intensity — extensive camouflaging, significant social/sensory demands

Academic Citation

Brown, C. M., Attwood, T., Garnett, M., & Stokes, M. A. (2020). Am I Autistic? Utility of the Girls Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Condition as an Autism Assessment in Adult Women. Autism in Adulthood, 2(3), 216–226. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0054

How to Use This GQ-ASC Test

Step 01

Answer 21 items

Rate each statement honestly based on your typical experiences. Items marked "Ages 5–12" ask you to reflect on childhood patterns. There are no right or wrong answers.

Step 02

Get instant scoring

Your GQ-ASC total score (out of 84) is calculated automatically with domain breakdown across 5 areas: Imagination, Camouflaging, Sensory, Socialising, and Interests.

Step 03

Read your radar chart

The radar visualization shows which domains score highest relative to their maximum. A high Camouflaging score in particular indicates significant social masking effort.

Step 04

Export free PDF

Save your complete results as a formatted PDF — including your score, domain breakdown, radar chart, and interpretation — to share with a professional or keep for reference.

GQ-ASC scoring explained: The tool automatically handles reverse-scored items (items 1–5 and 18 are reversed). Your raw responses are converted to scored values and summed across domains. The thresholds of 45 and 57 are based on Brown et al. (2020) validation research with adult women. Unlike most online GQ-ASC tools which show only a number, this version shows your full 5-domain radar profile — giving you a richer picture of where your traits concentrate.

GQ-ASC Test: The Female Autism Scoring Tool Explained

The Girls Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Condition (GQ-ASC) was developed by Brown, Attwood, Garnett and Stokes (2020) to address a critical gap in autism assessment: the significant underidentification of autistic women and gender-diverse adults. Traditional tools like the AQ-50 were developed using predominantly male samples and weighted toward mechanical interests and overt social withdrawal — patterns that are less representative of how autistic traits manifest in women.

GQ-ASC Scoring: Understanding the Thresholds

The GQ-ASC produces a total score out of 84, calculated across 5 domains. Based on Brown et al. (2020), two key scoring thresholds have been established: a score of 45 or above indicates an elevated baseline, suggesting strong alignment with the female autistic phenotype. A score of 57 or above indicates a high intensity profile, associated with extensive camouflaging strategies and significant cognitive load from social and sensory demands. These thresholds should be interpreted alongside domain scores — a high total driven primarily by Camouflaging carries different implications than one driven by Sensory processing.

The 5 GQ-ASC Domains and What They Measure

Imagination (max 20) assesses engagement with fantasy, fiction, and creative internal worlds, including imaginary friends and complex toy scenarios in childhood. Camouflaging (max 16) is arguably the most critical domain — it measures the degree to which a person consciously or unconsciously copies neurotypical social behavior, adopts different personas, and relies on social observation to navigate environments. High Camouflaging scores are strongly associated with late or missed diagnoses. Sensory (max 16) covers sensitivity to environmental stimuli, grooming distress, and selective mutism under social pressure. Socialising (max 16) captures social exhaustion and the effort required to maintain social connection. Interests (max 16) reflects the presence of atypical or highly focused interest patterns, including childhood preference patterns.

Why This GQ-ASC Test Is Different

Most online GQ-ASC tools show only a total number. This interactive version provides a full 5-domain radar chart visualization, automatic scoring with threshold interpretation, domain-level breakdown showing exactly where your traits concentrate, and a free printable PDF — none of which are available on standard static questionnaire sites. The radar chart is particularly valuable: it shows whether your score is driven by camouflaging effort, sensory sensitivity, social exhaustion, or another domain entirely.

GQ-ASC vs AQ-50: Key differences for female autism assessment
FeatureGQ-ASCAQ-50
Development basisFemale and gender-diverse phenotypeGeneral / historically male-centric
CamouflagingCore scored domainNot measured
Interest profilePeople, animals, arts-focusedWeighted toward systems and numbers
Items21 specific items50 broad items
Scoring threshold45 (elevated), 57 (high intensity)32+ (elevated)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GQ-ASC test and what does it measure?

The GQ-ASC (Girls Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Condition) is a 21-item validated self-report tool developed by Brown, Attwood, Garnett and Stokes (2020) for adult women and gender-diverse individuals. It measures autistic traits across 5 domains: Imagination (max 20), Camouflaging (max 16), Sensory Processing (max 16), Socialising (max 16), and Interests (max 16). Total maximum score is 84.

What are the GQ-ASC scoring thresholds?

A score of 45 or above indicates an elevated baseline — strong alignment with the female autistic phenotype. A score of 57 or above indicates a high intensity profile, associated with extensive camouflaging and significant social and sensory demands. These thresholds are based on Brown et al. (2020) validation research.

Is this GQ-ASC test free and available online?

Yes. This is a completely free GQ-ASC test available online — no account, payment, or download required. Complete all 21 items and receive instant results including a radar chart, domain breakdown, and total score interpretation. You can also export a free printable PDF.

How is the female autism phenotype different from the standard presentation?

Research shows autistic women and girls often present differently: strong social motivation combined with sophisticated masking strategies, intense interests focused on people, psychology, animals, or arts, and significant post-social exhaustion. This profile is frequently missed by standard tools like the AQ-50, which is why the GQ-ASC was developed specifically for this population.

What does a high Camouflaging domain score mean?

A high Camouflaging score indicates extensive social masking — consciously or unconsciously adapting behavior to appear neurotypical. This carries significant cognitive load and is one of the primary reasons autistic women receive late or missed diagnoses. High Camouflaging paired with lower social withdrawal scores is a hallmark of the female autistic phenotype that standard tools miss entirely.

Does this replace a formal professional assessment?

No. This is a self-reflection educational tool for awareness purposes only. It does not provide a clinical diagnosis or professional evaluation. A qualified professional must be consulted for any formal assessment using validated clinical instruments.