Looking for ways to identify and nurture your gifted child’s potential while being homeschooled? The good news is that you have options! In today’s digital age, there are more options for online gifted testing, offering an accessible option for families across the country.
These tests help your child access remote learning environments, such as Davidson Academy Online, an academically rigorous, synchronous online school for profoundly gifted middle and high school students living in the United States and Canada. Students can enroll full-time or in individual courses, all of which are entirely online.
Understanding Giftedness and Its Characteristics
Giftedness is more than good grades. It describes children who learn and process information faster than their peers and who need steady mental stimulation to stay engaged. The Davidson Institute points to a recognizable set of traits: intense curiosity, an advanced vocabulary, heightened sensitivity, and strong self-awareness.
Every gifted student is unique, so a child may show many of these traits, only a few very intensely, or a mix that doesn’t match any single description. If you’re still weighing the signs, the Davidson Institute’s Is My Child Gifted? guide and its overview of giftedness levels are good places to start.
Types of Gifted Assessments
Once you suspect a child is gifted, an assessment can confirm and show how to support them. The two categories of gifted testing are ability tests and achievement tests.
Ability tests measure a child’s cognitive ability, or IQ. A trained professional, usually someone with an advanced degree in psychology or education, gives them one-on-one and returns both a numerical score and a written interpretation that includes observations and recommendations. Common examples include the WISC, the Stanford-Binet, and the RIAS.
Achievement tests measure what a child has already learned in a subject area. Some are group-administered, like the SAT and ACT; others are given individually by a professional, like the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement.
It also helps to know the difference between a screening test and a full evaluation. Schools often start with a short group screening to flag students who may need a closer look. A full individual evaluation is more involved, mapping a child’s learning profile so parents and teachers can plan around specific strengths and needs.
For a breakdown of which tests fit which situation, see the Davidson Institute’s guide on how to get your child tested.
Fully Online Gifted Testing for Homeschooled Students
Every person deserves access to education. Yet, for homeschooled students, it can be difficult to get the academic support they need, learn more about themselves, and connect with like-minded peers—especially if they are gifted individuals who haven’t been tested. We wanted to make two of the tests our school accepts more readily available to families. That’s why we collaborated with Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) to offer two virtual eligibility assessment opportunities:
- Davidson-specific, above-grade-level testing for 3rd-5th grade students
- An official practice SAT for 6th-10th grade students
If you are interested in signing up or signing your child up for either of these, check out this page for dates and more information. Scores from these tests are accepted by the following Davidson Programs:
- Davidson Academy
- Davidson Academy Online
- Davidson Institute’s Young Scholars program
- Davidson Institute’s Gifted Summer Programs
- Davidson Institute’s Explore program
Third-Party Gifted Testing Options
After the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of businesses shifted to remote work and schooling options. With the convenience of online platforms, third-party gifted testing options became more accessible than ever before, enabling homeschooled students to undergo testing from the comfort of their own homes. This flexibility empowers families to seek out specialized education for their children while simultaneously fostering a more inclusive approach to supporting highly capable individuals who may not have access to gifted testing otherwise.
Here are a couple of third-party centers that offer online gifted testing:
- Summit Center: They offer a variety of neuropsychological tests, including but not limited to intelligence, achievement, executive functioning, memory, auditory processing, and visual-motor integration for children, adolescents, and adults.
- Please note that those seeking virtual testing outside of California must review licensing laws for their specific state or country of residence.
- Belin-Blank Center
- Child Mind Institute
Support Resources for Parents and Teachers
A test score is a great starting point, but it’s only the beginning of a gifted student’s journey. The next step is creating a plan for school and home life. The Davidson Institute’s Resource Library collects guides written by professionals on gifted identification, educational options, and social and emotional development. Families of profoundly gifted students who qualify can also apply to the Young Scholars program, a free service that offers ongoing guidance and consultation as a child grows.
Teachers have a place to turn, too. If you’re weighing what comes after an assessment, the Davidson Institute’s overview of gifted education and support options walks through acceleration, enrichment, and online learning as paths worth considering.
Let’s Unlock Your Child’s Potential
Once your gifted child takes one of the online tests available, they can enroll in an institution that offers tailored support—from academics to social and emotional—and tap into their talents. At Davidson Academy Online, we believe students need more than just an appropriately challenging curriculum; they also need access to experiential opportunities and peers who share the same interests. Our courses and seasonal programs, such as the Davidson Institute’s Gifted Summer Programs, focus on providing a well-rounded education to achieve this.
If you have more questions about Davidson Academy Online beyond what’s in our FAQs, consider attending one of our virtual open houses.
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