The interaction between emotional intelligence and cognitive ability in predicting scholastic performance in school-aged children

► We examine the interaction between trait EI and cognitive ability in predicting scholastic success. ► The interaction between emotional recognition ability and cognitive ability was studied. ► Increasing trait EI predicts language performance at low-and mid-levels of cognitive ability. ► Recognition ability predicts language and math performance at low-and mid-levels of cognitive ability. ► Trait EI uniquely predicts math performance irrespective of children's cognitive level.