Free Masking & Camouflaging Test
Take the free masking and camouflaging test. 12 questions measuring compensation, masking, and assimilation — inspired by the CAT-Q (Hull et al., 2019; α=0.94). Instant results revealing how much social energy you spend performing neurotypicality.
Take This Test — It's FreeWhat is the Masking Test?
Masking (also called camouflaging) is the conscious or unconscious suppression of neurodivergent traits to appear neurotypical in social situations. The Masking & Camouflaging Test measures three strategies identified in the CAT-Q research (Hull et al., 2019): Compensation (learned social scripts), Masking (hiding natural traits), and Assimilation (changing your identity to fit in).
High masking is associated with increased anxiety, depression, and autistic burnout — even when it appears socially "successful." Autistic women consistently show higher masking scores than autistic men, which partly explains why women are diagnosed later or missed entirely. Understanding your masking patterns is the first step toward reducing unnecessary performance and protecting your energy.
What You'll Discover
Ready to discover your Masking Test profile?
12 science-backed questions. 3 min of your time. Instant results — no signup required for your first test.
Start the Masking Test TestFrequently Asked Questions
Is masking only an autism thing?▼
Masking is most studied in autism, but it also occurs in ADHD, social anxiety, and among people from marginalised groups who feel pressure to conform. If you score high on this test but don't identify as autistic, your scores are still valid and meaningful — the energy cost of performing is real regardless of diagnosis.
Is masking always bad?▼
No. Some masking is a useful social skill — everyone adjusts their behaviour somewhat in different contexts. The problem arises when masking becomes constant, exhausting, and prevents you from being authentic. High masking correlates with anxiety, depression, and burnout in research (Hull et al., 2019).
Do women mask more?▼
Research consistently shows that autistic women score higher on masking measures than autistic men (Hull et al., 2017; 2019). This contributes to later or missed diagnosis in women. However, masking exists across all genders — the CAT-Q showed measurement invariance across gender groups.
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