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In recent years there has been a proliferation of EQ tests developed with the aim of assessing an individual’s strength in perceiving and managing emotions in themselves and others. The aim is to provide increase self-awareness, either to the individual or to a work team they are a part of, and to provide a foundation for improvement in creating a more fulfilling life.

Despite the wide variety of testing tools and methods, all of them can essentially be broken down into three major approaches:

1.Self-observation EQ tests.

Here are some questions you may ask yourself, when making causal assessment of your current strengths in emotionally intelligent behaviour.

Am I able to see when strong emotional reactions are related to experiences from my past?
Am I able to listen effectively to understand the feelings and point of view of those around me?
Am I able to adapt easily to changing life circumstances?
Do I have the ability to admit how I am feeling, and consider the causes of those states?
Am I able to express my thoughts and emotions clearly?
Are you able to perceive reality as it actually is, rather than the way you wish or fear it might be?
Do I have the ability to resist impulses to react based on conditioned responses?
Do I generally feel happy and fulfilled with my life?
The Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) is one of the most common self-reporting tests used.

When you are using a self-assessment EQ tests such as the tools described above, it’s important to be as honest as possible in selecting your answers. Choose the response that genuinely reflects what you usually feel or think in that situation, rather than being tempted to select the ‘right’ answer for the question. The results you’ll get will then be far more accurate in reflecting where you currently stand with you level of emotional intelligence, and you’ll be empowered to build on it from there.

2. 360-degree EQ assessments.

These tests are often used in workplace settings and use multiple assessments of emotional intelligence completed by the participant themselves, their colleagues, subordinates and superiors, meaning that multiple individuals rate the person's emotional and social skills.

A good example of this is the Genos Emotional Intelligence Inventory (Genos EI). This is a 360-degree measure of emotionally intelligent behaviour in the workplace. It measures how consistently an individual displays emotionally intelligence in the workplace according to a seven- factor model of emotional intelligence that was identified by Dr Benjamin Palmer and Professor Con Stough from Swinburne University.

3. Performance EQ tests.

These tests include various tasks or exercises that the participant is asked to perform, with the aim of assessing emotional intelligence as objectively and honestly as possible. It could include things like interpreting various pictures presented in order to recognize the emotions they contain or describing anticipated responses and solutions to certain difficult life situations.

These tests are performed by a supervisor who compares your score to thousands of others who have undergone the same test. The most well- known of these types of EQ tests is the the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT).

Depending on the purpose you have in mind for testing your own EQ, one or a combination of these tests will be most suitable. If you’re goal is to create a more fulfilling and satisfying life for yourself, then a simple self-observation and reflection EQ test is brilliant. If on the other hand you are looking to take your career or business to the next level, or you’re managing a team, then utilization of the more objective 360- degree EQ assessments and performance based EQ tests will be your best tools.