Self-Assessment
Emotional Intelligence Test
Measure how you understand and manage emotions in yourself and others. Based on research by Wong & Law (2002).
What This Assessment Measures
Emotional intelligence (EI) is your ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions. This assessment measures four key dimensions of trait EI.
How to answer: Rate each statement based on how you typically feel and behave. There are no right or wrong answers. Be honest for the most accurate results.
Your Emotional Intelligence Profile
Based on your responses
Calculating your results...
Your Four Dimensions
Emotional intelligence breaks down into four measurable abilities. Here's how you scored on each.
Self-Emotion Awareness
Your ability to recognize and understand your own emotions.
Reading Others' Emotions
Your ability to perceive and understand how others feel.
Using Emotions (Self-Motivation)
Your ability to harness emotions to motivate yourself toward goals.
Emotional Regulation
Your ability to manage and regulate your emotional states.
Your Insights
Ways to Develop Your EI
- This measures trait emotional intelligence (your self-perceived emotional abilities), not ability EI (which uses problem-solving tasks).
- There's no "pass" or "fail." Scores on a 1-5 scale reflect where you see yourself relative to each dimension.
- EI can be developed. Research suggests emotional skills improve with practice, self-awareness, and intentional effort.
- Context matters. Your scores may vary depending on current stress, mood, or life circumstances.
The Science of Emotional Intelligence
From the Research
"The WLEIS is a self-report measure developed by Wong and Law (2002), consisting of 16 items to measure EI based on the revised model of Mayer and Salovey. The instrument is composed of four dimensions: (1) self-emotion appraisal, (2) others' emotion appraisal, (3) use of emotion, and (4) regulation of emotion."
โ Psychological Research Summary. Psychometric Properties of the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale . Frontiers in Psychology, 2022.
Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to how well you perceive, understand, and manage emotions. Unlike IQ, which measures cognitive ability, EI focuses on emotional skills that affect how you navigate relationships, handle stress, and make decisions.
The Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) is one of the most widely used measures of trait EI in research. It's been validated across cultures and consistently predicts outcomes like job performance, leadership effectiveness, and relationship satisfaction.
From the Research
"Criterion validity has been consistently demonstrated in numerous studies showing significant positive correlations between WLEIS scores and relevant organizational outcomes, including job performance ratings, leadership effectiveness, team cooperation, and job satisfaction."
โ Wong, C. S., & Law, K. S. (2002). The effects of leader and follower emotional intelligence on performance and attitude . The Leadership Quarterly, 13(3), 243-274.
What Research Tells Us
- EI scores correlate with better workplace performance, particularly in roles requiring social interaction
- Higher trait EI is associated with greater life satisfaction and lower perceived stress
- The four-factor structure (SEA, OEA, UOE, ROE) has been confirmed across studies in multiple countries
- Internal consistency is strong (Cronbach's ฮฑ typically 0.78-0.90 for subscales)
From the Research
"Trait EI comprises the affective aspects of personality and is defined as a constellation of emotional perceptions assessed through questionnaires and rating scales."
โ Petrides, K. V. (2009). Technical Manual for the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire . London Psychometric Laboratory.
How This Assessment Was Built
This assessment is inspired by the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), a well-validated 16-item measure of trait emotional intelligence. We've created our own item wording that captures the same four dimensions while respecting intellectual property.
Important: This is not the official WLEIS. We use original question wording based on the theoretical framework, designed for educational self-reflection rather than clinical or research use.
Scoring Method
- Each item uses a 5-point scale (1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree)
- Subscale scores are the average of their 4 items (range: 1.0 - 5.0)
- Overall EI is the average across all 16 items
- No items are reverse-scored; higher agreement always indicates higher perceived EI
Research Foundation
Our item content maps directly to the four WLEIS dimensions as defined by Wong & Law (2002). Each dimension reflects a distinct aspect of emotional intelligence:
The four dimensions of emotional intelligence measured by this assessment each capture a distinct ability. Here's what each one means:
| Dimension | What It Measures | High Score Looks Like |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Emotion Awareness (SEA) | Recognizing and understanding your own emotions | You usually know exactly what you're feeling and why |
| Others' Emotion Appraisal (OEA) | Perceiving and understanding others' emotions | You pick up on subtle emotional cues from others |
| Use of Emotion (UOE) | Using emotions to motivate yourself toward goals | You channel emotions into productive action |
| Regulation of Emotion (ROE) | Managing and controlling your emotional states | You stay calm under pressure and recover quickly from upsets |
From the Research
"The four-factor structure of the WLEIS has been consistently supported across cultures and samples, demonstrating strong cross-cultural validity for measuring these distinct emotional intelligence dimensions."
โ Summary of validation research across Spain, Korea, China, Italy, and other countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. IQ measures cognitive abilities like reasoning and problem-solving. Emotional intelligence measures how well you understand and manage emotions. Research shows they're largely independent. Someone can have high IQ and low EI (or vice versa). Both contribute to success in different ways.
Yes. Unlike IQ, which is relatively stable, emotional intelligence can be developed through practice and training. Research shows that emotional skills often improve with age and experience. Specific interventions like mindfulness training, emotional awareness exercises, and coaching have been shown to increase EI scores.
There's no official cutoff for "high" or "low" EI. Research typically finds average scores around 3.5-4.0 on a 5-point scale for adult populations. Scores above 4.0 suggest relatively high self-perceived EI; scores below 3.0 suggest areas for development. But remember: this measures your self-perception, which can be influenced by self-awareness levels themselves.
Disclaimer
About This Assessment
This emotional intelligence assessment is an educational self-reflection tool inspired by the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) developed by Wong, C. S. and Law, K. S. (2002). Our assessment uses original question wording that captures the same four dimensions (Self-Emotion Appraisal, Others' Emotion Appraisal, Use of Emotion, Regulation of Emotion) based on the theoretical framework established in peer-reviewed research.
What This Assessment Is NOT
- Not the official WLEIS: This is an independent assessment inspired by the research methodology. We have not reproduced the copyrighted item wording from the original scale.
- Not a clinical diagnostic tool: It cannot diagnose emotional disorders, mental health conditions, or any clinical issues.
- Not a hiring or screening tool: It should not be used for employment decisions, academic placement, or any high-stakes evaluations.
- Not a substitute for professional evaluation: If you have concerns about your emotional functioning or mental health, please consult a qualified professional.
Research Foundation
The theoretical framework for this assessment comes from Wong & Law (2002), published in The Leadership Quarterly. The four-factor structure has been validated in numerous studies across cultures (Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Italian, Colombian populations among others). However, our specific item wording has not been independently validated. We use the same scoring methodology (averaging item responses on a 1-5 scale) as the original research.
Limitations
- This measures trait emotional intelligence (self-perception) rather than ability EI (actual performance on emotional tasks)
- Self-report measures can be affected by self-awareness biases
- Scores may fluctuate based on current mood, stress levels, or life circumstances
- Cultural background can influence how people respond to self-assessment items
If You're Concerned
If your results cause concern or you're experiencing difficulties with emotions, relationships, or daily functioning, consider speaking with a mental health professional. This assessment is for personal insight only and is not intended to replace professional guidance.