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Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-10)

Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-10) Test

Understand how childhood adversity may still affect your health and behavior in just 2 minutes. A quick 10 item check that supports screening and helps pinpoint key risk areas for follow up.

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Questions: 102 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

25,871 view

1,874 completions

1,431 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

1/3

Neglect (N)

Measures indicators of emotional/physical neglect in childhood and exposure to a household member with serious mental health difficulties or suicidality.

Low

Moderate

High

0: Low | 1 – 2: Moderate | 3: High

A score of 1 falls in the Moderate range, indicating at least one neglect-related adverse experience endorsed on this scale.

example score

1/3

Maltreatment (M)

Assesses whether emotional or physical abuse and parental separation were reported during childhood.

Low

Moderate

High

0: Low | 1 – 2: Moderate | 3: High

A score of 1 falls in the Moderate range, indicating at least one abuse-related adverse childhood experience was reported on this scale.

example score

2/4

Household Dysfunction (HD)

Measures the presence of adverse family-environment factors in childhood such as domestic violence, substance use in the household, incarceration of a family member, or sexual abuse experiences.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1: Low | 2 – 3: Moderate | 4: High

A score of 2 falls in the Moderate range, indicating that multiple family dysfunction factors were reported during childhood.

example score

7/10

Adverse Childhood Experiences Total Score (ACETS)

This scale counts the number of adverse childhood experiences (e.g., abuse, neglect, family dysfunction) reported before age 18.

Low exposure

Moderate exposure

High exposure

0 – 3: Low exposure | 4 – 6: Moderate exposure | 7 – 10: High exposure

A score of 7 falls in the High exposure range, indicating a larger number of reported adverse childhood experiences and a higher overall risk load compared to lower scores.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Adults seeking self-understanding

41%OF USERS

People who suspect childhood experiences still affect their relationships, emotions, or coping habits take it to clarify what may be influencing them.

Therapy and counseling clients

34%OF USERS

Those already in psychotherapy or starting counseling use it to quickly map key childhood stressors to discuss with a professional.

Health and helping professionals

25%OF USERS

Clinicians, counselors, and researchers use it as a fast screening tool to estimate risk factors linked to later mental and physical health outcomes.

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.

Neglect (N)

Average

0.9

Normal range

0.4 — 1.4

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.

Abuse (A)

Average

1.9

Normal range

1.4 — 2.4

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.

Family Dysfunctions (FD)

Average

2.8

Normal range

2.1 — 3.5

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.

Negative Childhood Experience Scale (NCES)

Average

6.1

Normal range

4.2 — 7.9

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 screens for common adverse experiences that occurred before age 18. Items cover abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.

How is it completed?

Each item is answered with a yes or no response. Responses are based on recall of childhood experiences.

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

Completion time is about 2 minutes. The form includes 10 items.

How are scores interpreted?

The total score is the number of yes responses. Higher totals indicate greater exposure to adverse experiences and are used for risk screening, not diagnosis.

What should be done if completing the items causes distress?

Stop the questionnaire and use available support if distress becomes significant. Seek assistance from a qualified health professional when symptoms persist or safety is a concern.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Questionnaire for Assessing Adverse Childhood Experiences, ACE-10 Test

Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-10) Test - Symptoms and Signs

childhood trauma

This brief self-report measure screens for exposure to common adverse experiences during childhood. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-10) is often used to support initial case formulation and to inform follow-up clinical interviewing.

It consists of 10 items and typically requires about 2 minutes to complete. Items are answered in a yes/no format and assess retrospectively reported adversities such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. The instrument is commonly used in clinical and research settings as a structured indicator of cumulative childhood stressors, with results interpreted in context rather than as a standalone diagnosis.

Originally described by Vincent J. Felitti and Robert F. Anda, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-10) may help identify individuals for whom a more detailed trauma, mental health, and health-risk assessment is warranted.

Author: Robert F. Anda, Vincent J. Felitti

Literature: Anda, R. F., Butchart, A., Felitti, V. J., & Brown, D. W. Building a framework for global surveillance of the public health implications of adverse childhood experiences. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2010.; Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 1998.; Bernstein, D. P., & Fink, L. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire: A retrospective self-report manual. The Psychological Corporation. 1998.; Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A., Turner, H., & Hamby, S. A revised inventory of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2015.

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