Free CAT-Q test for adults
How much do you copy social behaviour, hide reactions or try to blend in? The published CAT-Q gives a free total score (25 to 175) and three subscale scores. It cannot confirm or rule out autism.
- 8 to 12 minutes
- 25 questions
- Answers stay in your browser
- No account
Opening your patterns…
What camouflaging means here
The effort of adjusting how you come across. The CAT-Q splits it into three kinds:
- CompensationWorking out and using social strategies.
- MaskingWatching and adjusting yourself mid-conversation.
- AssimilationPressure to fit in, and not feeling like yourself.
Why the three are kept separate
They feel different and carry different costs. High compensation with low assimilation is effort without a loss of self; high assimilation is closer to strain. A single total blurs that.
Autistic and non-autistic people both report camouflaging. It can come from workplace culture, being singled out, anxiety, or anywhere fitting in had a cost. The questionnaire records the effort, not its cause, which is one reason it cannot indicate a diagnosis.
What your result shows
Your total score and three subscale scores, as self-reported camouflaging patterns.
What it does not show
Results cannot confirm or rule out autism, ADHD, AuDHD or any condition, or replace a professional assessment.
Already have a score?
See what your CAT-Q score means and which subscale splits could produce it.
How the CAT-Q is scored
25 items on a 7-point scale. Totals run from 25 to 175. Five items are reverse scored.
- Compensation9 items, 9 to 63
- Masking8 items, 8 to 56
- Assimilation8 items, 8 to 56
NeuroType does not publish a cutoff. A threshold reads like a verdict, and two people with the same total can have very different subscale profiles.
Frequently asked questions
What does the CAT-Q explore?
Self-reported camouflaging across three areas: compensation, masking and assimilation. NeuroType presents it for adult self reflection with attribution. It cannot tell whether autism or any condition is present.
Does NeuroType diagnose from CAT-Q responses?
No. Scores describe response patterns only. They are not proof of a diagnosis or a substitute for assessment by a qualified professional.
Where are my answers stored?
In this browser only. CAT-Q answers are not sent to servers, analytics, payment, email or AI providers.
Does NeuroType own the CAT-Q?
No. It is shown with visible attribution and source notes, and NeuroType does not present it as its own instrument or add notes to it.
Are paid CAT-Q reports available?
Yes, an optional paid, non-clinical CAT-Q PDF report. Checkout receives only your aggregate total and three subscale scores, never your individual answers. It cannot confirm or rule out autism or any condition.
Start this reflection
It takes about 8 to 12 minutes. Your answers stay in this browser, and you can stop and come back later.
No account required. Not a diagnosis.