Why Is EI Important?

EI competencies are critical skills proven to be a key indicator of human performance, development, and well-being. People higher in EI communicate effectively, form strong relationships, and create powerful coping strategies. EI can be measured – more accessibly and less controversially than IQ – and unlike IQ, it can be substantially strengthened and developed.

Why the New MSCEIT®2 Is a Game-Changer for Emotional Intelligence Assessment

The MSCEIT®2 (The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test™ Second Edition) represents the latest evolution in ability-based assessment of emotional intelligence (EI), offering even greater precision, accessibility, and relevance.

As the role of emotional intelligence becomes increasingly central to leadership effectiveness, team dynamics, and individual resilience, the MSCEIT®2 provides a robust, psychometrically sound solution for those seeking to measure EI as an ability, rather than a self-perception.

Unlike self-report EI instruments, which can be influenced by biases such as social desirability or lack of self-awareness, the MSCEIT®2 is based on performance, asking respondents to solve problems and rate responses to emotional stimuli.

This model aligns closely with how individuals navigate emotionally charged, ambiguous, or high-stakes interpersonal scenarios, making the MSCEIT®2 highly relevant for roles that require empathy, leadership, conflict resolution, and adaptability.

The MSCEIT®2 model consists of 4 domains that combine to provide an overall sense of your ability to reason with emotions and about emotion-related information. 

FAQ

How long does the MSCEIT 2 take to administer?

The MSCEIT®2 consists of 94 items across four domains and takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete.

How does the MSCEIT®2 measure EI?

The MSCEIT®2 engages test takers in solving problems related to emotions and emotional scenarios. Using twelve different question types MSCEIT®2 provides a comprehensive assessment of the test taker. Just like when solving math problems, there are correct and incorrect answers to the emotion problems presented in the MSCEIT®2.

What makes a scientifically valid assessment?

A scientifically valid assessment is one that is reliable, valid, and fair. The MSCEIT®2 is a reliable, valid, and fair measure of EI as demonstrated through its strong psychometric properties. There is evidence to support that it is reliable (i.e. scores are consistent over time), valid (i.e., it measures what it is intended to measure), and fair (i.e., it measures the same concepts in the same ways for all individuals).

Is the MSCEIT®2 aligned with the latest research in emotional intelligence?

Over the past 35 years, the study of EI has evolved significantly. The original MSCEIT model has been updated with new findings (Mayer et al., 2016)¹ and a new appreciation of how adult training, education, and specialization can improve people’s well-being and performance, and even improve their EI levels.

Would a person’s culture impact how they respond to the
assessment items?

The MSCEIT®2 was developed with bias reduction and inclusion in mind. During the development process, a concerted effort was made to ensure that the test content was inclusive and avoids any content with distinct cultural connotations. An audit was conducted of the item content (i.e., the phrases and scenarios used in the assessment questions) and those that were identified as being potentially biased towards North American/Western contexts were removed.

How do I access the MSCEIT®2?

The MSCEIT®2 can be accessed through the MHS Talent Assessment Portal (TAP) by a certified practitioner.  

Who is eligible to take the MSCEIT®2?

MSCEIT®2 is appropriate for use with individuals 18 years of age or older.

How are MSCEIT®2 scores calculated?

The MSCEIT®2 uses a scoring system called “veridical scoring”. This is a major advance in emotional intelligence assessment. “Veridical” means that the answers to the assessment are compared against a standard of what’s considered correct
based on a comprehensive review of the research literature on emotions, emotion perception, emotion knowledge, emotion understanding, and emotion management. The MSCEIT®2 test provides standard scores for overall emotional intelligence, four domains, and additional supplemental scores.

¹ Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., & Salovey, P. (2016). The ability model of emotional intelligence: Principles and updates.
Emotion Review, 8(4), 290–300.