What an AQ-10 Score of 0 Means
A score of 0 means none of the 10 items prompted an autistic-direction response. This is well below the AQ-10 cut-off of 6 and indicates a very low likelihood of autism on this brief screen. Most non-autistic adults score in the 1–3 range, so 0 is uncommon but unremarkable.
Score in Context
What an AQ-10 of 0 Means
An AQ-10 score of 0 sits at the floor of the scale. It signals that across the 10 items — covering social interaction, attention to detail, communication, and imagination — you didn't endorse any of the responses that the AQ-10 algorithm associates with autistic traits. That doesn't mean you have no traits the test asks about; it means none of them rose to the threshold the AQ-10 uses to score them.
In Allison, Auyeung & Baron-Cohen's (2012) validation sample of 3,000 controls, 0 was uncommon but appeared in roughly the lowest 5–10% of the non-autistic distribution. Most adults without autism score between 1 and 3, with a population mean below the diagnostic cut-off of 6.
A score of 0 strongly argues against autism on this particular instrument, but the AQ-10 is intentionally short — it trades sensitivity for speed. Adults who have learned to mask traits (especially women, who are historically under-diagnosed) can score lower than their underlying profile would suggest. If something still doesn't fit, a longer measure such as the RAADS-R is a reasonable next step.
Recommended Next Steps
- No further screening needed on this instrument.
- If you still feel something is off, consider the RAADS-R for a four-sub-scale profile.
- Self-knowledge is more nuanced than any 10-question test — trust your lived experience over a single number.
How a 0 Compares Across Tests
An AQ-10 score in this range typically corresponds to RAADS-R scores well below 65 (the RAADS-R below-threshold band).
Take the RAADS-R for a more granular four-sub-scale profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an AQ-10 score of 0 normal?
Yes. Although less common than 1–3, a 0 is well within the non-autistic range and is not unusual. The AQ-10 is designed to flag the upper tail; the lower tail simply means the items didn't apply.
Does a 0 mean I definitely don't have autism?
No screening tool is definitive. A 0 strongly argues against autism on the AQ-10, but masking, learned behaviour, or items that don't fit your specific presentation can produce lower scores than expected. Only a clinical assessment can rule autism in or out.
Should I take a different test if I scored 0?
Only if you have a personal reason to. The AQ-10 has reasonable specificity at this end of the scale. A longer instrument like the RAADS-R can offer more nuance if you suspect mild traits the AQ-10 missed.
How does a 0 compare to the population average?
The non-autistic population mean is around 2–3 on the AQ-10. A 0 is below that mean by roughly one to two points and sits in the lower tail of the distribution.
Could I score 0 and still be autistic?
It's possible but unusual. Some autistic adults — particularly those who have spent years masking or whose presentation centres on traits the AQ-10 doesn't probe — can score below the cut-off. Persistent self-doubt about how your mind works is itself a signal worth taking to a clinician.
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Free · 10 questions · ~3 minutes · Allison & Baron-Cohen (2012)
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