Free Anxiety Test: GAD-7 Self-Assessment
Anxiety affects millions of adults, yet many people are unsure whether what they are experiencing is typical stress or something that warrants professional attention. The GAD-7 (Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) is one of the most widely used anxiety screening tools in clinical practice, trusted by GPs, psychiatrists, and researchers worldwide. This free, evidence-based self-assessment takes just two minutes and gives you immediate, personalised results. No data is stored or transmitted.
If you live with ADHD, a brain injury, MS, or another neurological condition, anxiety is one of the most common co-occurring challenges. Understanding your anxiety levels is a practical first step toward managing them. You may also want to try our ADHD self-assessment questionnaire if you experience difficulties with focus, organisation, or impulsivity alongside anxiety.
Take the GAD-7 Anxiety Screening
GAD-7 Anxiety Self-Assessment
Clinically validated screening tool · Takes 2 minutes
Instructions: For each question, consider how often you have been bothered by the following problems over the last two weeks.
Your answers are not stored or transmitted. Everything runs in your browser.
Minimal
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Managing Anxiety Day to Day
Recallify helps reduce cognitive load through voice capture, smart reminders, and structured task management, so you can offload mental effort and focus on what matters.
What Is the GAD-7?
The GAD-7 is a brief self-report questionnaire developed in 2006 by Drs Robert Spitzer, Kurt Kroenke, and Janet Williams, with funding from Pfizer and in line with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. It asks seven questions about how frequently you have experienced common anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks, each scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The total score ranges from 0 to 21.
The scale was validated in a landmark study of over 2,700 primary care patients published in the Archives of Internal Medicine and demonstrated strong reliability and validity. At a cut-off score of 10, the GAD-7 has a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 82% for identifying generalised anxiety disorder. It also performs reasonably well as a screen for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as confirmed in a 2016 meta-analysis published in General Hospital Psychiatry.
Since 2010, Pfizer has made the GAD-7 freely available without copyright restriction. No permission is required to reproduce or distribute it.
How Is the GAD-7 Scored?
Each of the seven questions is scored 0 to 3, giving a maximum total of 21. The standard severity bands are: 0 to 4 (minimal anxiety), 5 to 9 (mild anxiety), 10 to 14 (moderate anxiety), and 15 to 21 (severe anxiety). A score of 10 or above is generally considered the threshold at which further clinical evaluation is recommended, as outlined in the NHS guidance on generalised anxiety disorder. The follow-up question about functional difficulty is not included in the numerical score but provides useful context about how much anxiety is affecting your daily life.
If you score in the moderate or severe range, you may wish to speak with your GP. The NHS page on generalised anxiety disorder provides a helpful overview of symptoms, causes, and treatment options available through the NHS.
Why Anxiety Screening Matters for Cognitive Health
Anxiety is not just a feeling. Research shows it directly affects cognitive performance, including working memory, attention, and the ability to plan and organise tasks. A 2019 review in Psychological Bulletin found that anxiety significantly impairs working memory and attentional control, especially under cognitive load.
For people already managing cognitive challenges, whether from ADHD, a brain injury, MS, or age-related changes like MCI, untreated anxiety can significantly worsen these difficulties. In fact, research suggests that up to 50% of adults with ADHD also meet criteria for an anxiety disorder. Recognising anxiety early means you can take steps to address it, whether through self-help strategies, talking therapies like CBT, or a conversation with your GP.
How Recallify Supports Anxiety and Cognitive Load
Recallify is designed to reduce the mental effort of everyday tasks. By capturing information through voice recordings, automatically extracting tasks, and providing structured reminders, it helps offload cognitive burden so you can focus on what matters. Many people with anxiety find that having a reliable external system for capturing thoughts, appointments, and to-dos significantly reduces the background worry of “forgetting something important.”
Whether you need help with memory support, task management and daily planning, or learning and revision, Recallify uses evidence-based techniques like active recall and spaced repetition to support your cognitive health. It is available on iOS and Android.
iOS App
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Android App
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this anxiety test a medical diagnosis?
No. The GAD-7 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It helps identify patterns of anxiety symptoms and their severity. A formal diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder or any other condition can only be made by a qualified healthcare professional after a comprehensive assessment. Our ADHD self-assessment follows the same principle: screening tools are for self-reflection, not diagnosis.
How accurate is the GAD-7?
The GAD-7 has been extensively validated in clinical research. At the recommended cut-off of 10, it correctly identifies generalised anxiety disorder in approximately 89% of cases (sensitivity) and correctly rules it out in about 82% of cases (specificity), according to the original validation study. It is one of the most widely used anxiety measures in both primary care and research settings globally.
Can I take this test if I have ADHD or a brain injury?
Yes. The GAD-7 is suitable for adults regardless of other conditions. In fact, anxiety frequently co-occurs with ADHD, acquired brain injuries, MS, and other neurological conditions. If you have a pre-existing condition, sharing your results with the clinician who manages your care can be particularly helpful. You can learn more about how Recallify supports cognitive challenges alongside conditions like these.
How often should I take the GAD-7?
The GAD-7 asks about the past two weeks, so taking it more frequently than fortnightly is unlikely to show meaningful change. It can be useful to repeat it periodically to track whether your anxiety levels are improving, staying stable, or worsening over time. Keeping a record of your scores can be a useful conversation starter with your GP.
What should I do if my score is high?
A score of 10 or above suggests moderate to severe anxiety. We would encourage you to speak with your GP, who can discuss options including talking therapies (such as CBT), self-help resources, or referral to a mental health professional. The [NHS talking therapies service](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/) allows self-referral in England without needing a GP appointment. If you are in crisis, contact the [Samaritans](https://www.samaritans.org/) on 116 123 (free, 24/7) or text SHOUT to 85258.
Does Recallify store my answers?
No. This screening tool runs entirely in your browser. No answers or scores are stored, transmitted, or shared. You can take it as many times as you like with complete privacy. Recallify takes data privacy seriously and is GDPR compliant, ICO registered, and Cyber Essentials certified.