Social Intelligence Test

This brief self-report measure is used to screen perceived social intelligence in everyday interpersonal situations. Developed by D. H. Silvera, M. Martinussen, and T. Dahl, the Social Intelligence Test uses the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS) to assess how well a person understands social cues and navigates interactions with others. It consists of 15 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete.

Why Take a Social Intelligence Test

Social intelligence is often taken for granted until it becomes a source of friction — misreading a colleague's tone, missing that a friend needed support rather than advice, or feeling unsure how to navigate a new social situation confidently. These moments are usually more about specific, learnable skills than fixed personality traits, which is exactly why a structured social IQ test is useful: it identifies which particular skills are strong and which could use more attention, rather than leaving someone with a vague sense of being "good" or "bad" with people.

This test for social intelligence was designed specifically to address gaps in earlier social intelligence measures, which were often overly complex or hard to distinguish from related constructs like general intelligence or emotional intelligence. The TSIS focuses on concrete, observable social competencies — attention to others' feelings and behavior, and confidence in social engagement — making results genuinely actionable.

This assessment is especially useful for anyone navigating a new social environment, professionals who rely heavily on reading colleagues and clients accurately, and parents wanting to understand how their child or teen reads others and behaves in social situations, particularly during stressful transitions like starting a new school.

What the Assessment Measures

The TSIS assesses social intelligence across dimensions consistently identified in the research literature:

• Social information processing — the ability to understand and interpret social cues, including others' intentions, feelings, and likely reactions
• Social skills — practical competence in initiating, maintaining, and navigating social interactions smoothly and effectively
• Social awareness — attentiveness to the social environment and sensitivity to how one's own behavior affects others

Higher scores indicate a stronger perceived ability to understand social cues and navigate interactions confidently. Results can help identify areas for targeted skills support when interpreted alongside other relevant information.

Who This Assessment Is For

This Social Intelligence Test is appropriate for anyone who wants a clearer picture of their social awareness and skills — whether for personal development, workplace relationships, or general self-understanding. It is also used by parents wanting to see how their child or teen reads others and behaves in social situations, especially during stressful transitions such as starting a new school. Educators and counselors use it in educational or clinical contexts to support case formulation and monitor change over time.

Clinical Validity and Use in Practice

The TSIS was developed and validated by Silvera, Martinussen, and Dahl and is widely used in research and applied settings as a reliable, easy-to-administer measure of social intelligence. Results from this social IQ test are descriptive — they reflect perceived social competence and should be interpreted alongside other clinical or contextual information rather than as a standalone conclusion. It is not a diagnostic instrument.