CAST
Childhood Autism Spectrum Test
Validated by Scott, Baron-Cohen, Bolton & Brayne (2002) · View paper
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Jaye Turrietta, PsyD, BCBA-D, AEP
A 39-item parent-report screener for autism features in children aged 4–11.
Answer each question based on your child's typical behaviour. Some questions are control items and do not affect the score.
39 questions · ~8 min · Auto-saved
About the CAST
The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test was developed at the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge (Scott, Baron-Cohen et al., 2002). It screens for social communication differences, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours in children aged 4–11.
39 yes/no questions completed by the parent. 31 items score; 8 are non-scoring control items. Takes about 5–10 minutes.
Scoring
For some items, “Yes” scores a point (indicating an autistic trait); for others, “No” scores (indicating absence of a typical behaviour). Items 3, 4, 12, 22, 26, 33, 38, and 39 are non-scoring. The total range is 0–31 and the threshold is 15.
Important: The CAST is a parent-report screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A score at or above 15 means a full clinical evaluation may be worthwhile, not that your child is autistic.
Scott, F. J., Baron-Cohen, S., Bolton, P., & Brayne, C. (2002). The CAST (Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test): Preliminary development of a UK screen for mainstream primary-school-age children. Autism, 6(1), 9–31.
