Defining and Measuring Giftedness

In truth, there is no universally-accepted definition of gifted.  For some, being gifted could mean having an extraordinary ability in, say, music, art or athletics.  Others might argue that those strong in leadership skills are gifted.  However, experts typically use IQ scores to measure giftedness.  In fact, giftedness is a continuum, with a range consisting of five levels.  So not all giftedness is created equal, and it is very lonely at the top.  The higher the IQ score, the smaller the pool of individuals that share it.  No wonder many gifted kids feel isolated and different - in many ways they are!

IQ Tests & Giftedness

IQ tests, as they are known, are tests that measure an individual’s intellectual ability or potential.  They do not measure what someone has learned already.  IQ tests measure innate ability.

Group IQ tests are sometimes given to an entire class to screen for gifted programs, but individual IQ tests, given one-on-one by a trained examiner, provide more reliable results and a great deal more information.  Typically, parents who want their child tested must go outside of the school/school district and pay for an assessment.  While there are IQ tests for children as young as 2 years of age, most professionals believe waiting until a child is 5 or 6 offers results that are likely to stay stable over time.

Giftedness in our population

What percentage of our population is gifted?  This is a subject of some debate.  Many experts would tell you that only 3-5% of the population is gifted.  Looking at the data below, using a 130 point IQ score as a basis for giftedness, then less than 3% of the population is gifted.

Either way, it is clear that a child that is on any level of the gifted spectrum is very unique and will probably stand out from his or her peers in the classroom or in a social situation.  In future blogs, I will discuss how gifted kids are different and have different needs, as well as examples of enrichment programs that I’ve researched and can recommend to you.

 familiar with the Wechsler tests (WHPPSI or WISC) and the Stanford-Binet (SB).  IQ scores for our population fall along a bell-shaped curve, meaning that 50% of the population scores around the average (IQ scores of 90-109) and as the curve drops on either end, the percentage of people scoring in that range gets smaller and smaller.  We can divide those upper levels of IQ into various levels, each with their own characteristics.

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