---
title: How are the Total Competence, Adaptive Functioning, and Total Problems scores used?
description: "Answer:  These scores provide indices of the child's overall functioning, as seen by the respon"
url: "https://answers.aseba.org/post/how-are-the-total-competence-adaptive-functioning-and-total-problems-scores-used/"
updated: "2024-02-01"
category: ASEBA Forms
tags:
  - "Raw Scores and T-Scores"
---

# How are the Total Competence, Adaptive Functioning, and Total Problems scores used?

**Answer:**  These scores provide indices of the child's overall functioning, as seen by the respondent.  We have found that Total Competence and Adaptive Functioning *T* scores of 40 and Total Problems *T* scores of 60 provide good cutpoints for discriminating between clinically referred and non-referred children (see Chapter 2 for details of cutpoints).  The Total Problems score can also be used as a basis for comparing problems in different groups and for assessing change as a function of time or interventions.