Dr Reuven Bar-On described the EQ-i, a standardised psychometric measure, as "a self-report measure of emotionally and socially competent behaviour that provides an estimate of one's emotional and social intelligence. As the first emotional intelligence test to be published, it may be more accurately described as "a self-report measure of emotionally and socially competent behaviour that provides an estimate of one's emotional and social intelligence".

The EQ-i inventory takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. It assesses 133 social 'standards', 'statements', or 'competencies' and measures how you perform these 'competencies' in your environment. The total EQ-i scale score encapsulates how successful you are in coping with environmental demands, and presents a 'snapshot' of your present emotional well-being measured over a five point scale – 1 being very seldom true, and 5 being very often true. Scoring is grouped into five EQ composite scale scores and 15 EQ subscale (Appendix F) scores.

Mayer, Salovey and Caruso determined, "Bar-On's theoretical work combines…mental abilities (e.g., emotional self-awarness) with other characteristics that are considered separable from metal ability, such as personal independence, self-regard, and mood; this makes it a mixed model".