What is more important, EQ or IQ?

Vincent Wong, 17

Wah Yan College, Hong Kong

IQ only measures our intelligence potential, which has no direct relationship to our present intelligence, as psychologist Robert Sternberg suggested. But even with a high IQ, you cannot succeed if you are not determined enough. You also need to be sociable and creative.

You are not alone on Earth. You need to understand the emotions of others, as well as your own, to prevent misunderstandings - this is EQ. It is rare for people to succeed in life without help. Friends, families and colleagues are key factors that affect your life. You need a high EQ to build a network of these helpful people. With a high EQ, you will be able to recover from failures and manage relationships well, making life a lot easier.

Yoon Hur, 17

German Swiss International School

EQ is more important, because a prestigious degree and lucrative job means nothing if you have no-one to share your successes with. I would rather die penniless and be mourned by a few close friends, than be remembered by the world for my business reputation. Living for personal achievement is a dead end - what do you aim for when you've already attained the best? Besides, it's easy to fake a high IQ score if you study the right material. Making genuine, lasting friendships is much more difficult, and the results are far more rewarding than a few letters after your name.