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Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)

Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) Test

In about 5 minutes, it helps you understand how you mask autistic traits in social communication. Quick 25 questions offer clear insights to support more tailored coping and support plans.

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Questions: 255 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

29,032 views

4,909 completions

3,098 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

27/56

Masking (M)

Measures how often a person uses strategies to hide autistic traits or present a more neurotypical persona in social situations.

Lower masking

Higher masking

8 – 34: Lower masking | 35 – 56: Higher masking

A score of 27 falls in the Lower masking range, suggesting relatively infrequent use of camouflaging strategies in daily life.

example score

49/63

Compensation (C)

Measures how often a person uses active strategies to compensate for social-communication difficulties during interactions.

Lower compensation

Higher compensation

9 – 27: Lower compensation | 28 – 63: Higher compensation

A score of 49 falls in the Higher compensation range, suggesting frequent use of deliberate strategies to manage or overcome social-communication challenges.

example score

103/175

CAT-Q Total Score (CQTS)

Measures how strongly a person tends to use camouflaging (masking) strategies to hide or compensate for autistic traits in social situations.

Low–moderate masking

Elevated masking

25 – 90: Low–moderate masking | 91 – 175: Elevated masking

A score of 103 falls in the Elevated masking range, suggesting frequent use of strategies to manage or conceal autistic traits during social interaction.

example score

32/56

Assimilation (A)

Assimilation measures how often a person tries to fit into social situations by masking internal discomfort and adapting their behavior to social norms.

Low

High

8 – 29: Low | 30 – 56: High

A score of 32 falls in the High range, suggesting frequent use of assimilation strategies to blend in socially despite possible internal discomfort.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Socially exhausted high-achievers

41%OF USERS

People who seem socially skilled but feel drained from constantly monitoring expressions, tone, and small talk to fit in.

Late-diagnosis self-explorers

34%OF USERS

Adults who suspect autistic traits and want to understand whether masking has been hiding their difficulties for years.

Clinicians and support seekers

25%OF USERS

Therapy clients and professionals using the results to discuss coping strategies, burnout risk, and the need for accommodations.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Camouflage (C)

Average

35.8

Normal range

26.8 — 44.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Compensation (C)

Average

43.4

Normal range

35.8 — 51

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Overall CAT-Q Score (OCS)

Average

101.6

Normal range

77 — 126.2

min.

max.

175

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Assimilation (A)

Average

20.3

Normal range

12.3 — 28.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures how often a person uses strategies to hide or compensate for autistic traits in social situations. It focuses on behaviors used to appear more socially typical.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adolescents and adults who want to assess camouflaging behaviors related to autistic traits. It may be used in research or as part of a broader clinical assessment.

How long does it take to complete and how many items are included?

It includes 25 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Most people can finish it in one sitting.

How should responses be selected?

Choose the option that best reflects typical behavior across everyday situations. If unsure, select the response that fits most of the time rather than an exceptional case.

Does this questionnaire provide a diagnosis?

No, the results do not diagnose autism or any other condition. They describe the level and type of camouflaging strategies reported and should be interpreted alongside other information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Autistic Traits Masking Questionnaire, CAT-Q Test

Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) Test - Symptoms and Signs

autism

This self-report measure assesses the extent to which an individual uses strategies to manage or conceal autistic characteristics in social contexts. The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) focuses on behavioral and interpersonal adaptations that may be used to fit social expectations.

The instrument includes 25 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Items ask respondents to rate how often they engage in specific approaches to navigating social situations, such as monitoring social presentation, adjusting communication style, or relying on learned social scripts. Scores are intended to inform clinical formulation and research by characterizing patterns of camouflaging that may affect observed functioning and self-reported experience.

As referenced by psytests.org (2023), results from the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) should be interpreted in the context of developmental history, current context, and other assessment data; it is not a standalone diagnostic tool.

Author: psytests.org (2023)

Literature: Hull, L., Mandy, W., Lai, M.-C., Baron-Cohen, S., Allison, C., Smith, P., & Petrides, K. V. Development and validation of the camouflaging autistic traits questionnaire (CAT-Q). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2019.

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