Pinpoint Executive Function Strengths & Challenges in Minutes. Get Your FREE Assessment!
Quick, practical insights into executive functioning strengths and challenges across 11 key skill areas—for individuals, parents, educators, and support professionals.
What’s Included in the Free Executive Function Assessment?
"This is one of the most practical tools I’ve come across for executive function support."
I teach middle schoolers, and I can’t count the number of times I’ve had a student who was clearly struggling. I started using this assessment with a few students, and it was a lightbulb moment for both them and me. The Smiley version has been especially helpful for some of my student. Now, instead of just guessing what supports they need, we actually have data to back it up and a tool I can use and share as much as I need. This is one of the most practical tools I’ve come across for executive function support.
rachel // Special Education Teacher
"Neurodivergent adults, this isn’t just for kids. Try it."
I’ve always known I struggle with executive functioning, but I didn’t have a way to explain it. This assessment changed that. Reading through the questions, I kept thinking, ‘Oh, THAT’S what that’s called!’ It made me feel less broken knowing that these challenges are real and actually have names. Also, the scoring system helped me see what I’m actually good at too, which I wasn’t expecting since it often feels like executive functioning is talked about as one big skill and not a bunch of small skills. Neurodivergent adults, this isn’t just for kids. Try it.
JORDAN // Adult
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FAQs
Our free Executive Functioning Assessment is a downloadable, fillable PDF that evaluates 11 key executive functioning skills:
- Planning
- Time Management
- Task Initiation
- Organization
- Problem-Solving
- Flexibility
- Working Memory
- Emotional Control
- Impulse Control
- Attentional Control
- Self-Monitoring
This tool features practical, real-life questions relevant to everyday situations, making it useful for neurodivergent individuals, parents, educators, and professionals. It provides clear insights into executive functioning to support self-advocacy, independence, and personal growth.
The assessment includes:
- Two formats: A Standard Version with a traditional rating scale and a Smiley-O-Meter Version for those who prefer a more visual format.
- Built-in real-time scoring—totals update automatically as you complete it.
- A Score Summary Page to help identify strengths and areas that may need support.
- A Dynamic Scoring Spreadsheet for tracking progress over time.
- A Where to Start Guide to help interpret results and explore next steps.
- Available in both English & Spanish, accurately translated by a native Spanish speaker and professional in the field.
This assessment is designed for high school students, college students, and adults, but it has also been successfully used with children as young as 10 years old.
We recommend the ESQ-R, a free resource developed by Peg Dawson, for those looking for assessments specifically-designed for younger children.
For a better understanding of how executive functioning skills develop at different ages, refer to our Executive Functioning Skill Development by Age blog post and chart.
This assessment is designed to be flexible and accessible. It can be:
- Self-administered by individuals who want to reflect on their executive functioning skills.
- Facilitated by professionals, including teachers, therapists, psychologists, SLPs, OTs, EF coaches, and support staff.
- Completed with a trusted adult, such as a parent or caregiver, for additional insights.
Because it is not a clinical diagnostic tool, it is ideal for self-reflection, coaching, educational support, and skill-building.
This assessment stands out because:
- It covers all 11 core executive function skills, providing a comprehensive overview.
- It’s practical and real-world focused—the questions relate to everyday tasks and responsibilities.
- It’s free—eliminating financial barriers to access.
- It’s designed by professionals with experience in supporting executive function as well as lived experience with neurodivergence.
- It includes real-time scoring, a summary page, and a dynamic tracking spreadsheet, making it easy to monitor progress over time.
Unlike clinical assessments, this tool is designed for everyday use, making it easy to complete, interpret, and apply.
While this tool has not undergone traditional scientific validation, it is a *data-informed resource developed using:
- Questionnaire data from our extensive client base, reflecting common executive functioning challenges.
- Practical, real-life applications, making it highly relevant for students, educators, parents, and professionals.
- A strengths-based approach, focusing on both challenges and areas of strength.
Instead of replacing formal diagnostic tools, this assessment serves as a valuable starting point for reflection, skill-building, and professional support.
*Data-Informed vs. Data-Driven: Our assessment is data-informed, meaning it was developed based on real-world experiences and practical application rather than solely relying on clinical studies. Data informs its design, but personal insights, professional expertise, and practical observations also shape the results—providing a well-rounded, actionable tool.
Read more about the the differences here.
Yes. Because this assessment is structured as 11 discrete skill areas, you can choose to complete only specific sections if you want to focus on certain executive functioning skills, such as time management or emotional control. Each section stands alone, so you don’t need to complete the entire assessment in one sitting.
Yes! You can view a sample page here.
Please note that the downloadable version includes fillable fields for easier completion.
After completing the assessment, you’ll have a clearer picture of which executive functioning areas are strengths and which may need support.
- Track progress over time using the included Dynamic Scoring Spreadsheet.
- Explore skill-building resources, like our Real-Life Executive Functioning Workbook (use code LSA20 for 20% off).
- If professional guidance is needed, consider executive function coaching or speaking with a therapist or educator about the results.
Yes! This assessment can help identify executive functioning areas that may need support, making it a useful tool for IEP goal development. However, we recommend using it alongside validated assessments to ensure a well-rounded evaluation.
This tool was developed by:
- Chris Hanson – Special education teacher and founder of Life Skills Advocate, with lived experience as a neurodivergent adult.
- Amy Sippl, BCBA – Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over a decade of experience supporting neurodivergent learners and their families.
- Jennifer Schmidt, M.S. Ed. – School psychologist specializing in supporting diverse learners in school settings.
- Carolina Robles, BCBA – Board Certified Behavior Analyst, native Spanish speaker, and advocate for language accessibility, who professionally translated the assessment into Spanish.
There’s no catch. We believe everyone should have access to tools that support self-awareness and skill development.
Yes! The assessment is a fillable PDF, so you can complete it digitally or print it out for handwritten completion.
The results can also be printed for IEPs, therapy sessions, or personal tracking.
Yes! The assessment is available in both English & Spanish, translated by a native Spanish speaker and professional in the field to ensure accuracy and accessibility for Spanish-speaking individuals, families, and professionals.
We’d love to expand access to even more languages in the future. If you're passionate about making executive function resources more widely available and would like to explore ways to help with translation, please reach out to chris@lifeskillsadvocate.com.
Our Assessment Covers 11 Key Executive Function Skills
Our assessment breaks down executive function into 11 discrete skills, helping you pinpoint strengths and challenges with clarity.
Planning
Time Management
Task Initiation
Organization
Problem-Solving
Flexibility
Working Memory
Emotional Control
Impulse Control
Attentional Control
Self-Monitoring
"It’s amazing to be able to measure executive functioning with concrete questions"
The Executive Functioning Assessment provided by Life Skills Advocate has helped me as a therapist to help my clients understand the different areas of functioning that can cause impairment with added stressors and anxiety or frustration. This understanding often helps my clients to see that they can improve in certain areas and reduce their frustrations or anxiety by decreasing behaviors that contribute to the deficits in overall executive functioning. It’s amazing to be able to measure executive functioning with concrete questions that are applicable to problem-solving, self-monitoring, planning, and so much more. I can see how parents, teachers, and therapists can use this to implement and measure obtainable goals across a variety of settings.
TOSHA // Therapist & Parent
Built-in Real-Time Scoring in the Fillable PDF
Scores update automatically as you complete the assessment and are summarized on the Scoring Summary Page (click to preview)—no manual calculations needed.
Adapted for Different Learning Needs
Two formats for different needs—The Standard Version uses a traditional rating scale, while the Smiley-O-Meter provides an accessible option for those who need a more pictorial or nonverbal format.
Standard Version
Smiley-O-Meter Version
"Highly recommend for parents who feel stuck and don’t know where to start."
I knew my son had trouble with executive skills, but I couldn’t always tell whether he was struggling with motivation, attention, or just not knowing how to get started. This assessment helped us figure out exactly which skills were the issue. Some of the results were actually surprising. Turns out, he’s better at organization than I thought, but struggles a lot with planning. Highly recommend for parents who feel stuck and don’t know where to start.
Megan // Parent
Click to enlarge
Track Progress & Visualize Growth With Our Dynamic Scoring Spreadsheet
Monitor executive function growth with an easy-to-use spreadsheet that tracks scores over time, highlights trends, and identifies key areas of progress and need.
Works seamlessly with Excel, Google Sheets, and any spreadsheet software that supports .xlsx files.
"This is the best resource for busy parents!"
I’m not an expert on executive functioning skills. And like every other parent, I don’t have the time and resources to become an expert either. So when my teenager’s math teacher suggested that I check out an EF assessment, I thought it would be one more thing to add to our already packed schedule. Thankfully, she pointed us in the direction of these assessment tools. We completed them in a couple of days and got a clear picture of what we needed to work on next. This is the best resource for busy parents!
SONIA // Parent
Available in English & Spanish – Expertly Translated
Accurately translated by a native Spanish speaker and professional in the field, the assessment is available in both English and Spanish to ensure accessibility for Spanish-speaking individuals, families, and professionals who support them.
Meet The Team: From Our Experiences to You and Your Loved One's Success
This tool was developed by Life Skills Advocate, a team of executive function coaches and specialists with both professional expertise and lived experience with neurodivergence.
CHRIS HANSON // Co-Author
Hi, I’m Chris and I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I moved to the Seattle area in September of 2008 and soon after, I met my awesome wife, Lisa
I earned my special education teaching degree while working as paraeducator in the Kent School District. Overall, I have about 8 years of classroom experience and 20 years and counting of personal experience with ADHD and anxiety. I started Life Skills Advocate in 2019 because I wanted to create the type of support service I wish I had when I was a teenager struggling to find my path in life.
With everything I do, my mission is to uplift the neurodivergent community to embrace their strengths and self-advocate with confidence.
I consider the creation of our free executive functioning assessment to be a natural extension of this mission.
Chris
AMY SIPPL // Co-Author
Hi, I'm Amy, a Minnesota-based Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and freelance content developer specializing in helping individuals with diverse learning needs and their families reach their best possible outcomes.
I earned my Masters Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from St. Cloud State University and also hold undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Family Social Science from University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
I have worked with children with autism and related developmental disabilities for over a decade in both in-home and clinical settings. My content focuses on parents, educators, and professionals in the world of autism—emphasizing simple strategies and tips to maximize success.
Amy
JENNIFER SCHMIDT // Co-Author
Hi, I’m Jennifer, a Wisconsin-based school psychologist with a passion for helping students, educators, and families create supportive learning environments.
I earned my Master of Science in Education with a focus on School Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, along with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a minor in Family, Health, and Disability Studies. My work in rural Wisconsin involves collaborating with educators, administrators, and community professionals to bridge the connection between school, home, and community.
I was excited to contribute to refining the executive functioning assessment, ensuring it can be a practical and accessible tool for a wide range of settings.
Jennifer
CAROLINA ROBLES // Spanish Translator
Hi, I’m Carolina, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) based in Southern California. I was born in Lima, Perú, and Spanish was my first language—I started learning English at age six after moving to the U.S.
I’ve spent the past nine years working with individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and as someone with a late diagnosis of ADHD and ASD, I bring both personal insight and professional experience to my work. I know firsthand how language barriers can limit access to essential tools and resources, which is why I translated the free Executive Functioning Assessment into Spanish—so even more people can benefit from this valuable resource.
Carolina