Testing for Giftedness
Giftedness Testing in Sydney
If a child learns quickly, shows high creativity, or excels in certain areas, parents might wonder if their child is gifted. Testing for giftedness helps find out how advanced a child’s thinking and talents really are. It also helps schools and families provide the right support to help the child grow and learn happily.
What is “giftedness”?
Giftedness refers to advanced abilities in one or more areas (e.g., reasoning, problem‑solving, academic learning, creativity, leadership) compared with same‑age peers. It is not a measure of worth; it’s a profile of how a child learns and experiences the world. Many gifted children also have uneven skill development or co‑occurring learning difficulties (sometimes called “twice‑exceptional” or 2e).
Key points:
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Giftedness is about potential and learning needs, not perfection.
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Development is often asynchronous—advanced in some areas, age‑typical in others.
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Identification helps tailor support at school and home.
Common signs by age
Every child is unique. Not all gifted children show all signs, and many signs overlap with those of typical development. Use this list as a guide—not a checklist.
Early years (ages 2–5)
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Unusually curious; persistent “why?” questions
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Early or intense language—rich vocabulary, complex sentences
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Strong memory; quickly connects ideas
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Long attention for self‑chosen tasks
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Early interest in numbers, letters, puzzles, patterns
Primary school (ages 6–10)
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Reads earlier or faster than peers; devours information
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Advanced reasoning and problem‑solving
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Intense interests (dinosaurs, space, history, coding)
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Perfectionism or big emotions; sensitivity to fairness
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Boredom with repetition; prefers challenge
Pre‑teens & teens (11+)
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Abstract thinking; debates ethics and “big questions”
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Original ideas; creative or technical projects
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Self‑directed learning; deep dives into topics
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May mask abilities to fit in or avoid attention
If several of these resonate and your child needs more challenge (or is struggling despite clear strengths), testing may help clarify supports.
When to consider testing
Consider testing when:
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Your child is clearly ahead of their classmates in learning
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Your child seems bored or frustrated at school
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You want to explore special gifted programs (gifted classes, early entry, acceleration, enrichment)
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You are concerned about learning mismatch (under‑achievement, behaviour changes)
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You want to advocate for your child (objective data for teachers, individual learning plans (ILP))
Best timing: When results will inform decisions within the next 12–18 months. For very young children, rapid development can make results less stable; retesting later may be recommended.
What does gifted testing involve?
A comprehensive evaluation typically includes:
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Background review: Developmental history, school reports, work samples.
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Cognitive assessment: Standardised measures of reasoning, memory, processing, and verbal/visual skills. (Examples schools often recognise: WISC‑V, WPPSI‑IV, Stanford‑Binet 5.)
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Achievement testing (optional): Measures current academic skills (e.g., WIAT, Woodcock‑Johnson).
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Qualitative data: Observations, rating scales, and interviews.
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Feedback and comprehensive report: Scores, interpretation, and practical recommendations.
Session length: 2-4 hours across one or two sessions, depending on age and measures used.
How to prepare your child
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Make sure they are rested and have eaten well.
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Keep the experience positive—explain it’s not a test to pass or fail, just a way to learn more about how they think.
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Bring any comfort items, such as glasses, water, a snack, and any sensory supports.
Book an assessment
To arrange testing, contact us today. We do offer testing in the Hills District and Sydney CBD.
How Dolphin Tribe can help
To test for giftedness in you or your child, book an assessment with a highly experienced child and educational and developmental psychologists at our Sydney, NSW clinic.