GAD-7 Anxiety Scoring Calculator

Score the GAD-7 anxiety scale in under 2 minutes. Same 7 questions, same 0-21 scoring, same severity bands your doctor uses. Results explained plainly, with sources.

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Quick answer

The GAD-7 is scored 0 to 21. 0-4 is minimal anxiety, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-21 severe. The standard clinical cutoff for further evaluation is 10 (Spitzer et al., 2006).

GAD-7 Scoring Interpretation

The GAD-7 is scored on a 0-21 scale. Each of the 7 items is rated on a 4-point frequency scale (0 = Not at all, 1 = Several days, 2 = More than half the days, 3 = Nearly every day). Your total score is the sum of all 7 item scores.

Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms. The four standard severity bands below are the same cutoffs established in the original 2006 validation study and used worldwide by the ADAA, NICE, WHO, and primary care clinicians.

Score	Severity	What it means	Clinical note
0-4	Minimal anxiety	Typical range for adults without an anxiety disorder.	Generally no clinical concern. Average US adult scores around 3.
5-9	Mild anxiety	Noticeable symptoms, usually manageable with self-help strategies.	Monitor over 2-4 weeks. Consider lifestyle adjustments and evidence-based self-help.
10-14	Moderate anxiety	Anxiety is likely interfering with daily life — sleep, concentration, work, relationships.	Standard clinical threshold for further evaluation. 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity for generalized anxiety disorder at this cutoff.
15-21	Severe anxiety	Anxiety is having a significant impact on quality of life and functioning.	Professional evaluation and treatment strongly recommended. Effective treatments exist — CBT, medication, or both.

How to calculate your score

For each of the 7 items, select how often the symptom has bothered you over the past 2 weeks.
Assign points: Not at all = 0, Several days = 1, More than half the days = 2, Nearly every day = 3.
Add all seven item scores together. The total will be between 0 and 21.
Find your total score in the scoring interpretation above to see your severity band.

Sources

Take it yourself

Want to score yourself right now? Answer the questions below to see which band your total falls into.

Important: This is a screening tool based on the GAD-7, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose anxiety disorders.

GAD-7 Anxiety Assessment

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?

7 questions · Takes about 2 minutes

About the GAD-7 Anxiety Assessment

The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) is the gold standard screening tool for generalized anxiety disorder. Developed by Drs. Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, and Lowe in 2006, it's used by healthcare providers worldwide to quickly and accurately assess anxiety severity.

Each question asks how often you've been bothered by a specific anxiety symptom over the past two weeks. The seven symptoms — nervousness, uncontrollable worry, excessive worry, trouble relaxing, restlessness, irritability, and dread — capture the core experience of generalized anxiety.

This online version uses the exact same questions and scoring as the clinical instrument. What it can't provide is the clinical context, patient history, and professional judgment that a healthcare provider brings to the assessment. Use it as a starting point for understanding your anxiety, not as a final answer.

How It Works

Clinically Validated

The GAD-7 has been validated in multiple large-scale studies with proven sensitivity and specificity for anxiety disorders.

4-Point Frequency Scale

Each symptom is rated 0-3 based on frequency over the past 2 weeks: not at all, several days, more than half the days, or nearly every day.

Standard Severity Cutoffs

Scores of 5, 10, and 15 represent established cutpoints for mild, moderate, and severe anxiety respectively.

The Science Behind the GAD-7

The GAD-7 was validated in a landmark 2006 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The study included 2,740 adult patients and found the GAD-7 to have excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92) and strong test-retest reliability.

At the standard cutoff score of 10, the GAD-7 has a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 82% for generalized anxiety disorder. This means it correctly identifies the vast majority of people with GAD while minimizing false positives. These numbers make it one of the most reliable brief anxiety screening tools available.

While designed for generalized anxiety disorder, research shows the GAD-7 also has good sensitivity for detecting panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This makes it a useful general anxiety screening tool, though specific assessments exist for each condition.

The GAD-7 is now included in clinical guidelines from organizations including the American Psychiatric Association, the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the World Health Organization. It has been translated into over 100 languages and validated across diverse populations.

When to Use This Tool

-When you want to understand how severe your anxiety symptoms are
-Before talking to a doctor or therapist about anxiety
-To track anxiety levels over time (every 2-4 weeks)
-When deciding whether to seek professional help
-To have an objective measure to discuss with your healthcare provider

Limitations & Disclaimer

- This is a screening tool, not a clinical diagnosis
- Only a qualified professional can diagnose anxiety disorders
- The GAD-7 is optimized for generalized anxiety and may miss other anxiety subtypes
- Results can be affected by current mood, stress, and other factors
- It does not account for medical conditions that can mimic anxiety symptoms
- If you're in crisis, contact 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)

This is a screening tool based on the GAD-7, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose anxiety disorders. If you're in crisis, contact 988.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you score the GAD-7?

Each of the 7 items is scored 0-3: Not at all = 0, Several days = 1, More than half the days = 2, Nearly every day = 3. Add all seven item scores together for a total between 0 and 21. The item scoring system was established in the original Spitzer et al. 2006 paper and is identical across all clinical GAD-7 administrations worldwide.

What is a normal GAD-7 score?

A score of 0-4 is considered minimal anxiety and is the typical range for adults without an anxiety disorder. The average GAD-7 score in the general US adult population is approximately 3. Scores of 5 or higher indicate symptoms worth monitoring; 10 or higher is the standard clinical threshold for further evaluation.

What does a GAD-7 score of 10 mean?

A GAD-7 score of 10 is the standard clinical cutoff for identifying probable generalized anxiety disorder. At this score the GAD-7 has a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 82% for GAD (Spitzer 2006). A score of 10+ typically prompts a healthcare provider to recommend further evaluation, and is a reasonable threshold for seeking professional support if you haven't already.

How do you interpret GAD-7 scoring bands?

The GAD-7 has four severity bands: 0-4 Minimal anxiety (typical range), 5-9 Mild anxiety (symptoms worth monitoring), 10-14 Moderate anxiety (clinical threshold, professional evaluation recommended), 15-21 Severe anxiety (strongly recommend professional treatment). These cutoffs were established in the original Spitzer et al. 2006 validation study and are the same thresholds used by the ADAA, NICE, and WHO guidelines.

Is the GAD-7 the same test my doctor would use?

Yes. The 7 questions, 4-point response scale, and 0-21 scoring on this page are the exact same instrument used by primary care doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists worldwide. The only difference is that a clinician integrates your score with history, context, and professional judgment to make a diagnosis — this self-assessment cannot do that.

What is the difference between GAD-7 and PHQ-9?

Both are short self-report screening tools from the same research group (Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams). The GAD-7 measures anxiety (7 items, 0-21 scale). The PHQ-9 measures depression (9 items, 0-27 scale). They are frequently administered together because anxiety and depression commonly co-occur. If you want to screen for both, take our GAD-7 here and the PHQ-9 at /tools/phq-9.

Can the GAD-7 diagnose an anxiety disorder?

No. The GAD-7 is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic one. Even a score in the severe range (15-21) cannot confirm that you have a DSM-5 anxiety disorder — only a qualified mental health professional doing a full clinical evaluation can make that determination. The GAD-7 tells you whether your anxiety symptoms are at a level that warrants further evaluation.

How often should I take the GAD-7?

Clinicians typically re-administer the GAD-7 every 2-4 weeks when monitoring anxiety treatment. Taking it daily isn't useful because the questions ask about patterns over the past two weeks. A meaningful change in score (generally 4+ points) is used as an indicator of clinically significant improvement or worsening.