EQ Test (Free) - Measure Your Emotional Intelligence

Ability

40questions

3minutes

EQ, or Emotional Quotient, is often referred to as 'emotional intelligence.' It quantifies your ability to manage your own emotions and empathize with others. People with high EQ tend to communicate effectively. Discover your EQ by taking this free test.

What this EQ test tells you

Reflect on emotional awareness and relationships through 40 questions. Answer as you usually behave to see an EQ score, a rating, and an explanation.

Answer 40 questions

Reflect on everyday experiences, from reading expressions to managing your feelings.

See your EQ score

Get an overall score out of 200 and one of five ratings based on your answers.

Read your explanation

Explore prompts for reflecting on emotions and relationships.

This self-report test is a tool for reflection. It does not provide separate scores for the four abilities or a medical diagnosis.

What is EQ?

EQ is often used as a label for emotional intelligence: the ability to perceive and understand emotions in yourself and others, and to use that information in thought and action. It involves more than being cheerful or holding feelings back.

1990

Salovey and Mayer published a theoretical framework for emotional intelligence.

1995

Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence brought the concept to a wider audience.

Four abilities behind emotional intelligence

The ability model developed by Mayer, Salovey, and colleagues describes four areas. The examples below explain the theory; they are not separately scored categories in this test.

Perceiving emotions

Notice emotional cues in expressions, voices, and changes in your own body.

“Their voice is quiet. Could they be tired?”

Using emotions

Use feelings as information to direct attention or approach a task differently.

“I feel uneasy, so I’ll review my preparation.”

Understanding emotions

Consider why feelings arise, how they mix, and how they change over time.

“There may be disappointment behind that anger.”

Managing emotions

Recognize feelings and choose a response that fits the situation and your goals.

“I’ll pause before explaining how I feel.”

Another framework describes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Models differ in scope, and there is no single universal method of measuring EQ.

How do EQ and IQ differ?

Working with emotions and reasoning with information emphasize different aspects of ability. Neither score alone describes everything a person can do.

EQ / Emotional intelligence

Perceiving emotional cues, understanding feelings, and choosing responses.

Example: sorting out feelings during a disagreement so you can discuss it.

IQ / Intelligence quotient

Evaluating abilities such as reasoning, verbal comprehension, and memory through intelligence tests.

Example: finding a pattern in information to solve a problem.

This site uses its own EQ scale out of 200. Its scores cannot be directly compared with IQ values or scores from other EQ tests.

Five ratings and how to read your result

Alongside your overall score, you receive one of the following ratings and an explanation shared by people in that rating category.

Very High EQ

Explores recognizing and using emotions to support cooperation with others.

Slightly Above Average EQ

Discusses strengths in managing emotions and relationships, with room for continued learning.

Average EQ

Uses emotional awareness as a starting point for reflecting on stress and social situations.

Slightly Below Average EQ

Looks at situations where emotional expression and regulation could be developed.

Very Low EQ

Offers starting points for noticing and understanding your feelings.

Terms such as “Average” are rating labels used by this test, not population averages or percentile ranks. Mood and self-perception can affect answers. Relate your result to specific experiences instead of using a score to define yourself or others.

What working with emotions can look like

Imagine feeling upset by someone’s brief reply. Instead of trying to erase the feeling, separate what you notice from what you choose to do.

Notice

“I’m feeling lonely right now.”

Check

“They might just be busy. Is now a good time to talk?”

Choose

“Let’s find a time when we can talk calmly.”

You cannot know someone’s feelings from a guess alone. Naming your own feelings and checking your understanding with the other person are useful ways to approach the situation.