Calculate your GAD-7 anxiety score from the 7 questions, or interpret a score you already have, and see your 0 to 21 severity level and GAD-2 subscore.
GAD-7 Anxiety Score Formula
The GAD-7 score is the sum of your answers to seven questions. Each question is scored from 0 to 3 based on how often the symptom bothered you over the last two weeks:
GAD-7 = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4 + Q5 + Q6 + Q7
The calculator also reports the two-item GAD-2 subscore, which is a shorter screen built from the first two questions:
GAD-2 = Q1 + Q2
Variables:
- Q1 through Q7 are your answers to the seven items, each scored 0 (not at all), 1 (several days), 2 (more than half the days), or 3 (nearly every day)
- GAD-7 is the total score, which ranges from 0 to 21
- GAD-2 is the two-item subscore, which ranges from 0 to 6
Pick what you want to do at the top of the calculator. In "Answer the 7 questions" mode you rate each item and the tool adds them into a 0 to 21 total, places that total into a severity band, and shows the GAD-2 subscore. A GAD-2 of 3 or more is the usual point at which a longer assessment is suggested. In "Interpret a score I already have" mode you skip the questions and type a total you already know to see its severity band, which is useful when you are tracking a score over time. The optional difficulty-functioning question records how much the symptoms affect your daily life. It is not added to the 0 to 21 score, but it is part of how the GAD-7 is normally administered.
GAD-7 Score Ranges and What They Mean
Total scores fall into four severity bands. This table shows each band and the follow-up step that is commonly suggested for it.
| Score | Severity | Commonly suggested step |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | Minimal anxiety | No specific action unless symptoms change |
| 5 to 9 | Mild anxiety | Watch symptoms and repeat the GAD-7 in a few weeks |
| 10 to 14 | Moderate anxiety | Further evaluation by a professional is often suggested |
| 15 to 21 | Severe anxiety | Prompt evaluation and active treatment are commonly recommended |
A score of 10 is the standard cut point for further evaluation. At that threshold the GAD-7 does not only flag generalized anxiety disorder; it also picks up several other anxiety conditions, though less strongly. The table below shows how well the 10-point cut score detects each condition, measured as sensitivity (the share of people with the condition who screen positive) and specificity (the share without it who screen negative).
| Condition | Cut score | Sensitivity | Specificity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generalized anxiety disorder | 10 or more | 89% | 82% |
| Generalized anxiety disorder | 8 or more | 92% | 76% |
| Panic disorder | 10 or more | 74% | 81% |
| Social anxiety disorder | 10 or more | 72% | 80% |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | 10 or more | 66% | 81% |
When you retake the GAD-7 to track progress, a change of about 4 points is generally treated as a reliable change rather than normal noise, and a change of 5 or more points is often called clinically significant. Lowering the cut score to 8 raises sensitivity to 92 percent but lets more false positives through, which is why 10 remains the common threshold.
Example Problems
Example 1: Score the questionnaire.
Your answers are Q1 = 2, Q2 = 3, Q3 = 2, Q4 = 2, Q5 = 1, Q6 = 1, Q7 = 2. Add them:
GAD-7 = 2 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 13, which lands in the 10 to 14 band, so the result is moderate anxiety. The GAD-2 subscore is 2 + 3 = 5, which is above the GAD-2 cut point of 3.
Example 2: Track a score over time.
Two weeks ago you scored 12 and today you enter a total of 6 in score mode. A 6 is mild anxiety, and the 6-point drop is larger than the 4-point change considered meaningful, so it points to real improvement rather than day-to-day variation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What GAD-7 score is considered concerning?
A total of 0 to 4 is minimal and a total of 5 to 9 is mild. A score of 10 or higher is the usual point at which further evaluation is suggested, because 10 and above has good accuracy for generalized anxiety disorder. Scores of 15 to 21 are severe and usually call for prompt attention.
Does the GAD-7 diagnose an anxiety disorder?
No. The GAD-7 is a screening and monitoring tool, not a diagnosis. A high score means it is worth looking into your symptoms with a professional, who can confirm whether a disorder is present and rule out other causes. A low score does not guarantee that nothing is wrong if you still feel unwell.
How much does my score need to change to matter?
A change of about 4 points is the smallest shift usually treated as real rather than measurement noise, and a change of 5 or more points is often described as clinically significant. This is why the calculator lets you enter a past total in score mode, so you can compare it against a new result and see whether the difference is meaningful.