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Emotional Intelligence

Empathy Test

How empathetic are you? Measure your cognitive, emotional and compassionate empathy, with tips to use it well.

  • 📝 24 questions
  • ⏱️ 5 min
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Free · No sign-up · Results instantly

What you'll learn

  • Your empathy score

    An overall score from 0 to 100.

  • Three types of empathy

    Cognitive, emotional and compassionate empathy, scored separately.

  • Your balance

    Which type of empathy comes naturally, and which you can grow.

  • Practical tips

    Simple ways to use your empathy well, and protect your energy.

How the test works

  1. Answer 24 questions

    It takes about 5 minutes. Go with your first instinct: there are no right or wrong answers.

  2. Get your results instantly

    Your answers are scored right in your browser. You get a clear chart and a plain explanation of what it means.

  3. Save or share

    Keep your result with a free account or send a link to friends. You don't need to sign up to take the test.

What this test measures

  • Cognitive empathy

    Understanding what other people think and feel — seeing things from their point of view.

  • Emotional empathy

    Feeling with other people — sharing their joy, worry or sadness.

  • Compassionate empathy

    Turning understanding into action — wanting to help and actually helping.

Possible results

  • Steady Observer

    Your empathy score is on the lower side. You tend to stay calm and objective when others are emotional, and you may not always notice what people are feeling.

  • Balanced Empath

    You have a healthy, balanced level of empathy. You understand and care about others' feelings without being overwhelmed by them.

  • Deep Empath

    You're highly empathetic. You quickly sense how others feel, feel it with them and want to help.

How to read your results

Your overall score runs from 0 to 100. 70 or more means you're highly empathetic, 41 to 69 shows a balanced level, and 40 or less suggests you tend to stay calm and objective when others are emotional.

The three scores below often differ: you might read people well (cognitive empathy) but stay calm yourself (emotional empathy), or feel deeply without knowing how to help. Look at your lowest area for the biggest room to grow, and your highest to see your natural strength.

About the method

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Psychologists often describe three types: cognitive empathy (understanding what someone thinks and feels), emotional empathy (feeling with them) and compassionate empathy (being moved to help). This three-part way of describing empathy was popularized by psychologists Daniel Goleman and Paul Ekman.

Research also shows that these types don't always go together. Someone can be very good at reading others but feel little themselves, or feel others' pain strongly without knowing how to help. That's why this test scores each type separately as well as giving an overall score.

This test has 24 original statements written for TestMyPsyche, with some worded in the opposite direction to reduce answering bias. It's for self-reflection, not a clinical or professional assessment. Empathy is a skill as well as a trait, and it can grow with practice.

Frequently asked questions

What are the three types of empathy?

Cognitive empathy is understanding what someone thinks and feels. Emotional empathy is feeling with them. Compassionate empathy is being moved to help. Most people are stronger in one or two of these.

Can you have too much empathy?

Very strong emotional empathy can lead to empathy fatigue, where you feel drained by other people's emotions. Boundaries, rest and turning feelings into helpful action can protect you.

Can empathy be learned?

Yes. Listening fully, asking open questions, noticing tone and body language and imagining others' points of view all help empathy grow with practice.

Is empathy the same as emotional intelligence?

No. Empathy is one part of emotional intelligence, which also includes self-awareness, managing your own emotions and relationship skills.

How long does the test take?

About 5 minutes for 24 statements. There are no right or wrong answers.

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