Screening Test for Fatigue and Lack of Energy
An assessment for fatigue symptoms and how they impact your daily life
Key takeaways
- Spend about 2 minutes answering 15 questions
- Rate symptoms like tiredness, motivation, concentration, and memory
- Explains how lack of energy affects your mental health and next steps
- Offers tips for how to improve energy levels
- Not a diagnosis; prompts action if needed
- You can retake it to monitor change over time
About This Test
This fatigue screening tool is a free online test that assesses symptoms such as tiredness, lack of motivation, loss of focus, and memory lapses. Your score highlights the severity of your fatigue and explains the common causes of fatigue and how to manage it. Use your results as an educational tool, not an official diagnosis. If you are concerned about fatigue, seek professional help.
Step 1: Answer 15 Questions
Rate how often you experience common symptoms of fatigue — like feeling tired, having low motivation, being unable to focus, and having memory slips — on a scale of “less than usual” to “much more than usual.”
Step 2: Get Instant Results
See your score ranging from mild to severe fatigue with a clear explanation of what your symptoms suggest.
Step 3: Know Your Next Steps
Understand what your score means, and get guidance on self-help strategies and treatment options to help you feel more energized.
How the test works
You’ll rate how often you experience: attention slips (easily distracted, losing track mid-task); memory lapses (misplacing items, forgetfulness); action slips (doing the wrong thing by mistake); energy & motivation issues (lethargic, exhausted, tired after routine tasks). Scores map to bands (lower to higher impact) and suggest next steps: sleep and routine tweaks, nutrition and activity ideas.
Scientific basis
The above questionnaire on fatigue and lack of energy is inspired by the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), a widely used self-report measure of everyday slips across attention, memory, and action over the past 6 months. We adapted CFQ concepts to connect cognitive slips with fatigue and lack of energy in your everyday life. Please note: this adaptation has not been independently validated and is intended as an educational, self-reflective tool only.
Test Author
This tool was inspired by the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), originally developed by Donald E. Broadbent, Prof. P. F. Cooper (PhD), Prof. P. FitzGerald (PhD) and K. R. Parkes (PhD)
Medical Reviewer
Public Health Professional
FAQ:
What does constant fatigue or lack of energy mean?
Feeling constantly tired can have many underlying causes. In some cases, constant tiredness may indicate chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS, also referred to as ME/CFS — Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). It’s a condition characterized by extreme tiredness, no matter how much rest you get, malaise after physical exertion, and cognitive difficulties. However, ME/CFS is one of many causes, and persistent fatigue warrants clinical evaluation.
What causes low energy or fatigue?
Low energy can be caused by many factors, such as poor diet, lack of sleep, too much or too little exercise, certain medical conditions, or certain medications. Chronic fatigue syndrome, specifically, may be triggered by infections (like Covid or Epstein-Barr virus), immune system dysregulation, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and possibly genetic factors.
When is fatigue considered abnormal?
When it comes to fatigue screening, fatigue is considered clinically significant if you feel tired all the time and it’s affecting your daily life. Examples include feeling unmotivated by things you used to love, being unable to focus on things that once interested you, and forgetting things. In the context of the screening results, you may want to consult a healthcare provider if your score indicates you’re moderately to severely fatigued.
Is it hard to get a CFS diagnosis?
There’s no official test to diagnose CFS. Typically, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and take your health history. They will also do a physical and cognitive exam and a blood test to rule out any other health conditions.
How should I interpret my results?
This fatigue quiz helps identify patterns associated with fatigue and cognitive strain, but it does not provide a medical diagnosis, which requires clinical evaluation. You can bring your results to your primary care physician, who may want to run tests to rule out other conditions.
When should I seek medical advice?
If fatigue is affecting your daily life, there’s no harm in seeing a doctor to rule out underlying medical issues and CFS.
What scientific research is this fatigue assessment based on?
The above questionnaire on fatigue and lack of energy is inspired by the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), a widely used self-report measure of everyday slips across attention, memory, and action over the past 6 months. We adapted CFQ concepts to connect cognitive slips with fatigue and lack of energy in your everyday life. Please note: this adaptation has not been independently validated and is intended as an educational, self-reflective tool only.
What is the fatigue assessment scale?
The fatigue assessment scale (FAS) is a separate tool that evaluates symptoms of chronic fatigue. Questions range from “I get tired very quickly” to “I have problems thinking clearly” to “I have problems starting things” and are answered on a scale of “never,” “sometimes,” “regularly,” “often,” or “always.” (Note: this assessment is an adaptation of the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), not the FAS.)
What are the limitations of this fatigue symptom test?
This fatigue symptom test relies on self-reported symptoms rather than those of a professional. However, it is a good starting point to assess the level and impact of fatigue on your life and whether it warrants bringing it to a doctor’s attention.
This questionnaire is not a diagnostic tool. It’s designed as a screening and educational tool, and is not a substitute for medical advice. If your symptoms persist, worsen, or you feel unsafe, contact a qualified professional, your local emergency number, or a mental health helpline.
Last Updated:
26 April 2026
