Free autistic masking questionnaire
CAT-Q: Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire
The CAT-Q is a 25-question self-report questionnaire that measures how much you camouflage — or “mask” — autistic traits in social situations. Take it free, in your browser — your answers stay on your device.
What the CAT-Q measures
The CAT-Q was developed by Laura Hull, William Mandy, Meng-Chuan Lai, Simon Baron-Cohen, and colleagues to measure social camouflaging — the conscious and unconscious strategies people use to hide autistic traits or compensate for social difficulties. It looks at three kinds of camouflaging:
Unlike trait questionnaires such as the RAADS-R, the CAT-Q doesn't measure autistic traits themselves. It measures the effort you put into hiding or managing them — which is why the two are often used together.
Who should take the CAT-Q
It's designed for adults. It may be especially useful if:
- You suspect you might be autistic but “pass” as non-autistic in most settings.
- Socialising leaves you exhausted, even when it seems to go well.
- You rehearse or script conversations, or copy other people's expressions and mannerisms.
- You often feel like you're “performing” a version of yourself around others.
- You scored lower than expected on other autism screeners, but the questions still described you.
- You already know you're autistic and want to understand your masking and the toll it takes.
Because heavy camouflaging can lower your scores on trait-based tests, the CAT-Q is often taken alongside the RAADS-R rather than instead of it.
How to read your score
When you finish, the tool totals your answers into a score from 25 to 175, plus a separate score for each of the three subscales.
Your three subscale scores show which camouflaging strategies you rely on most:
| Subscale | What it reflects | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Compensation | Strategies that work around social difficulty | 63 |
| Masking | Hiding traits or performing a persona | 56 |
| Assimilation | Effort to fit in and feel you belong | 56 |
One important point: because masking hides autistic traits, a high CAT-Q score alongside a lower score on a trait test like the RAADS-R can itself be meaningful — it may suggest you're autistic and camouflaging effectively. Bringing both sets of results to a clinician gives the fullest picture.
Frequently asked questions
What is camouflaging or “masking”?
Camouflaging is the set of strategies people use — often without realising it — to hide autistic traits or compensate for social difficulty, so they appear more “typical.” It's common among adults diagnosed later in life, and is reported especially often by women and gender-diverse people. It can be effective on the surface while being genuinely exhausting underneath.
Does a high score mean I'm autistic?
No. The CAT-Q measures how much you camouflage, not whether you're autistic. A high score means you use a lot of camouflaging strategies — which is worth exploring with a clinician, ideally alongside a trait screener and your history.
How long does it take?
Most people finish the 25 questions in about 10 minutes. There's no time limit.
My CAT-Q was high but other autism tests were lower. What does that mean?
This pattern is exactly what the CAT-Q is built to surface. Effective masking can suppress your scores on trait-based tests like the RAADS-R, so a high CAT-Q with a lower trait score can point toward autism that's being camouflaged. It's a useful thing to raise with a provider.
Is my information private?
Yes. The questionnaire runs entirely in your browser. Your answers and results stay on this page on your device — nothing is sent to us or stored anywhere unless you choose to print, save, or email your results yourself.
Should I take the CAT-Q or the RAADS-R?
Ideally both. They measure different things — the RAADS-R looks at autistic traits, while the CAT-Q looks at how much you hide or manage them. Taken together, they give a clinician a much fuller starting picture than either one alone.
What do the three subscales mean?
Compensation is using strategies to work around social difficulty. Masking is hiding autistic traits or presenting a non-autistic-seeming persona. Assimilation is the effort to fit in and feel you belong. Your scores show which you lean on most.
What should I do with my results?
Print, save, or email them to yourself and bring them to an appointment — along with your RAADS-R results, if you've taken it. They're most useful as a starting point for a conversation with a provider.
Ready to talk it through?
If your results have you thinking about masking or autism, our providers offer evaluations for adults across Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Oregon — in person in Mesa or by telehealth.
Related: RAADS-R trait questionnaire · Autism care at Capstone
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