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GAD-2 Anxiety Test Fast, Clinically Validated Self-Assessment

Update Date 

September 24th, 2026

Author 

Anxiety Checklist Editorial Team
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In short

The GAD-2 is a clinically validated, two-question screening tool for early signs of generalised anxiety disorder, based on experiences during the past two weeks. It takes less than a minute and scores each answer from 0 to 3; a total of 0–2 indicates minimal anxiety, while 3 or more is a positive screen for possible anxiety and further evaluation is recommended.

Key takeaways

  • Answer both questions according to how you have felt over the past two weeks.
  • Each answer scores from zero for ‘not at all’ to three for ‘nearly every day’.
  • A score of 3 or higher is a positive screen for possible anxiety.
  • Higher scores may lead to taking the full GAD-7 or speaking with a healthcare professional.
  • A printable PDF is available for offline use or sharing with a doctor.

Free self-assessment

Take the GAD-2

Two questions about the last two weeks, answered in under a minute. A quick first check before the full GAD-7.

Questions
2
Time
Under 1 min
Covers
Last 2 weeks
Cut-off
3 of 6
Start the testDownload the printable PDF

A screening tool, not a diagnosis. Your score is calculated in your browser and your answers are not stored.

GAD-2 Anxiety Test

Question 1: Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge

Question 2: Not being able to stop or control worrying

What the GAD-2 is

The GAD-2 is made of the first two questions of the GAD-7: feeling nervous, anxious or on edge, and not being able to stop or control worrying. These two are the core of generalised anxiety, which is why they work on their own as a very quick screen.

It was evaluated by the GAD-7's authors in 965 primary care patients, where it performed well at detecting generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (Kroenke et al., 2007).

How the GAD-2 is scored

Each answer scores from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), for a total between 0 and 6. The GAD-2 has one cut-off:

0–2Below the cut-offAnxiety is unlikely to be a major problem right now.
3–6Positive screenWorth a closer look: take the full GAD-7 and consider talking to a professional.

What a positive screen means

A score of 3 or more does not mean you have an anxiety disorder. It means your answers are in the range where a fuller assessment is worthwhile. The natural next step is the seven-question GAD-7, which measures how strong your symptoms are.

Next step

The GAD-7 takes two to three minutes and adds five questions on restlessness, irritability, trouble relaxing and worry.

How accurate is the GAD-2?

76%of people with generalised anxiety disorder scored 3 or more (pooled sensitivity)Plummer et al., 2016
81%of people without it scored below 3 (pooled specificity)Plummer et al., 2016
965primary care patients in the original evaluationKroenke et al., 2007

Two questions cannot catch everything. The GAD-2 is designed to be fast rather than thorough, which is why a positive screen is followed by the GAD-7 or a conversation with a professional.

GAD-2 or GAD-7?

GAD-2GAD-7
Questions27
TimeUnder 1 minute2–3 minutes
ResultPositive or negative screenSeverity from minimal to severe
Best forA quick first checkUnderstanding and tracking anxiety

Scientific references

  1. Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B. W., Monahan, P. O., & Löwe, B. (2007). Anxiety disorders in primary care: prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Annals of Internal Medicine, 146(5), 317–325. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-146-5-200703060-00004
  2. Plummer, F., Manea, L., Trepel, D., & McMillan, D. (2016). Screening for anxiety disorders with the GAD-7 and GAD-2: a systematic review and diagnostic metaanalysis. General Hospital Psychiatry, 39, 24–31. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2015.11.005
  3. Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(10), 1092–1097. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092

Frequently asked questions

What does a GAD-2 score of 3 mean?

It is a positive screen: your answers suggest anxiety may be worth a closer look. Take the GAD-7 next, and consider speaking with a professional.

Can the GAD-2 diagnose anxiety?

No. It is a two-question screen. A diagnosis needs a full assessment by a qualified professional.

Is there a printable GAD-2?

Yes. Download the PDF above to fill in on paper or bring to an appointment.

Are my answers saved?

No. The GAD-2 is scored in your browser; your answers are not sent to us or stored.

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