Have you ever felt a pang of sadness when a friend was hurting, or a surge of joy for someone else's triumph? That connection, that ability to step into another person's shoes and feel what they are feeling, is empathy. It is a quiet power that helps us build relationships, succeed at work, and navigate the complexities of daily life. It’s the glue that holds our social world together.

This short test is based on the Empathy Quotient, a tool developed by the renowned British psychologist Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen, a professor at Cambridge University who has dedicated his career to understanding empathy and the human mind. He explores how an excess of empathy can lead to emotional burnout, as being highly sensitive to the feelings of others can be draining.

This assessment consists of 36 questions, adapted from his original work. It will only take about four minutes. After the test, you'll find a guide to help you count your score and understand what it reveals about you. Let’s begin.

Test: Your Empathy in Action

For each question, answer honestly with a "yes" or "no." Don't overthink your responses. Keep track of your answers on a piece of paper or in your notes. Give yourself 1 point for every "yes" and 0 points for every "no."

Group 1: Observing Behavior (Questions 1–6)

1. Do you notice small shifts in a friend's mood during a conversation?
2. Do you often analyze why someone behaves in a particular way?
3. Do you watch a speaker's facial expressions to understand their feelings?
4. Do you recall how a person has reacted in similar situations before?
5. Do you feel you can "read" emotions from body language?
6. Do you try to understand the reason behind others' tears or laughter?

Group 2: Building Trust (Questions 7–12)

7. Do you find it easy to share personal thoughts with a new acquaintance?
8. Do you listen carefully when someone tells you about their problems?
9. Do you try to keep a conversation going to make the other person comfortable?
10. Does it happen that people open up to you for no apparent reason?
11. Can you quickly find a common topic with almost anyone?
12. Do you feel a connection with someone after just one conversation?

Group 3: The Impact of Words (Questions 13–18)

13. Do you sometimes regret hurting someone with a careless word?
14. Do you choose your words carefully to avoid hurting someone's feelings?
15. Do you notice when something you've said has upset the person you're talking to?
16. Do you try to apologize if you feel you've gone too far?
17. Do you avoid jokes that might offend someone?
18. Do you think about how your words will affect another person's mood?

Group 4: Rational Empathy (Questions 19–24)

19. Can you logically explain why someone might be feeling bad?
20. Do you look for facts to understand a friend's problem?
21. Do you advise practical steps when someone complains to you?
22. Do you believe that emotions can be controlled by reason?
23. Do you analyze situations to offer objective help?
24. In conversations, do you trust facts more than intuition?

Group 5: Emotional Empathy (Questions 25–30)

25. Do you cry while watching a sad movie?
26. Do you feel pain when you see your loved ones suffering?
27. Do you "catch" the mood of those around you?
28. Do you find it difficult to watch news about tragedies?
29. Do you hug someone to comfort them?
30. Are your emotions stronger when someone near you is upset?

Group 6: Intuitive Empathy and Beliefs (Questions 31–36)

31. Do you have a "gut feeling" about what someone is going to say next?
32. Do you believe that people always deserve compassion?
33. Do you avoid conflict because you can feel the tension?
34. Do you think that empathy is a weakness?
35. Can you easily put yourself in another person's shoes mentally?
36. Does a fear of rejection ever stop you from helping someone?

What Your Score Means

Empathy is not just one thing; it's a blend of different skills. Your score gives you a snapshot of your overall level of empathy and can highlight your strengths—whether you connect with others through logic (rational), feeling (emotional), or intuition.

Calculate Your Overall Score

Simply add up all your points. The maximum possible score is 36.

• 0–12 Points: Low Empathy. You tend to focus more on your own world and may not always notice the emotional cues of others. This isn't a flaw—it simply means that empathy isn't your primary way of relating to people. You might find it helpful to practice active listening without judgment. For some, a very low score might be one of several signs related to the autistic spectrum, which is worth exploring with a specialist if you have other concerns.
• 13–24 Points: Average Empathy. You understand people but may not always connect on a deep emotional level. This often represents a healthy balance for navigating everyday life without becoming overwhelmed.
• 25–36 Points: High Empathy. You are a natural empath, finely tuned to the feelings of others. You feel and respond with great sensitivity. As Simon Baron-Cohen's work on burnout suggests, it's vital to protect yourself from absorbing too much of others' emotional pain.

Insights From Each Group

• Group 1: Observation. A high score here means you are an attentive observer, which is the foundation of empathy. If you scored low, try to be more present: look at people when they talk, ask "how are you?" and truly listen to the answer.
• Group 2: Trust. Many "yes" answers suggest you are an open person who people feel comfortable confiding in. If you scored low, practice building bridges by sharing small, non-critical things about yourself.
• Group 3: Words. A high score indicates you are sensitive to the power of your words, which is a great strength. If your score was low, try to pause before speaking and ask yourself: "Will this help or harm?"
• Group 4: Rational Empathy. Four or more points here show a strength in logic. You help people by analyzing their problems and offering solutions. To develop this further, ask "why do you think that?" to explore the root causes.
• Group 5: Emotional Empathy. A score of 4+ suggests you are an "emotional sponge" who feels with your heart. If you scored lower, try to imagine yourself in someone else's situation and allow yourself to feel a piece of what they might be feeling.
• Group 6: Intuition and Beliefs. Your answers here reveal your underlying attitudes. A "yes" to #34 ("empathy is a weakness") or #36 ("fear of rejection stops you") points to internal barriers that may block your natural empathy. Recognizing these beliefs is the first step to changing them. A "yes" on #35 shows you can easily take on another's perspective, a core empathic skill.

Empathy helps us avoid conflict and build meaningful connections, but as research shows, excessive empathy can lead to exhaustion. If your result surprised you, that's okay. A test is simply a tool to show us where we can grow. Try applying one small change: the next time you're in a conversation, simply ask, "What are you feeling right now?"

References

• Baron-Cohen, S., & Wheelwright, S. (2004). The Empathy Quotient: An Investigation of Adults with Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism, and Normal Sex Differences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34(2), 163–175. This is the original scientific paper that introduced and validated the Empathy Quotient (EQ) test. It provides the full 40-item questionnaire and the clinical research behind the concept of measuring a person's capacity for empathy.
• Baron-Cohen, S. (2011). The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty. Basic Books. In this book, Baron-Cohen proposes that cruelty and evil can be understood in terms of an "empathy erosion." He describes an "empathy circuit" in the brain and examines what happens when it is hypoactive, framing empathy not as a soft emotion but as a critical cognitive function. The entire book expands on the ideas presented in the article, especially the concept of an empathy spectrum.