ARAT has shown high reliability, validity, and responsiveness, demonstrating strong correlations with the upper extremity motor section of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment. It is considered to have higher responsiveness in detecting changes in upper limb function than traditional assessments such as the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function (STEF).

Assessments of severely paralyzed patients used to be problematic.  ARAT enables assessments of a wide range of patients, from those with severe upper limb dysfunction on the affected side to those with milder impairments.

The assessment consists of 19 test items across 4 categories: Grasp, Grip, Pinch, and Gross Movement.
Each evaluation can be completed in a short time, typically within 5 to 10 minutes.