Spotting the hidden spark: Identifying giftedness beyond the obvious

Top marks aren’t the only sign of gifted potential. 

When we think of a gifted child, many of us imagine a student with sky-high grades, perfect test scores, and a love of school. But giftedness is far more complex, and it doesn’t always look the way we expect.

Some gifted students do shine in academic settings. Others, however, may coast through lessons, act out in class, or appear disengaged entirely. Some gifted children are perfectionists who fear failure. Others may mask their abilities to blend in socially. And some may even struggle in school – not because they aren’t capable, but because the work doesn’t challenge them enough to hold their interest.

So, how can we really identify a gifted child?

Giftedness isn’t always straight A’s
Gifted children can show advanced ability in many ways – not just academically. They might be emotionally insightful, show a remarkable memory, have a knack for solving complex puzzles, or spend hours immersed in a particular topic they love. Some gifted children are natural leaders. Others are inventors or daydreamers with vivid imaginations. What ties them together is their ability to think differently, deeply, or quickly in ways that are unusual for their age.
That’s why giftedness is often said to be asynchronous. A gifted child might read at a high-school level but have the emotional self-regulation of a typical eight-year-old. They might solve maths problems years ahead of their grade level but struggle with handwriting or organisation.

This is also why giftedness is sometimes missed – especially in students who are twice-exceptional (gifted and have a learning difficulty), from diverse cultural or language backgrounds, or simply don’t fit the typical “gifted” mould.

Traditional tests don’t tell the whole story
Many schools rely on formal assessments like IQ tests, NAPLAN results, or teacher nominations to identify gifted students. But these methods have limits.
For instance, IQ tests can overlook students with test anxiety, language barriers, or learning differences. Teachers – while well-meaning – may not always have training in recognising gifted traits, especially when they show up in less traditional ways.

That’s why it’s essential to look beyond the test scores.

A gifted student might:
🔹 Finish tasks quickly and become disruptive due to boredom
🔹 Ask questions that go far beyond the topic
🔹 Get frustrated when others don’t understand things as fast
🔹 Be highly sensitive to fairness, injustice, or others’ feelings
🔹 Show strong leadership – even if it’s not always in conventional ways
🔹 Obsess over specific topics and dive deeply into research on their own

As a parent, if you see these traits in your child – even if their school performance seems average – it’s worth digging deeper.

Observation and conversations matter
Teachers and parents are both powerful allies in identifying gifted children. While tests offer one snapshot, daily interactions paint a richer picture. Paying close attention to how your child engages with learning – what excites them, frustrates them, bores them – can provide vital clues.

You might notice that your child:
🔹 Needs fewer repetitions to grasp a concept
🔹 Gets annoyed with rote or repetitive work
🔹 Invents their own more complex rules to games
🔹 Enjoys spending time with older peers or adults
🔹 Becomes intensely focused when working on something they love

Open dialogue with your child’s teacher is key. Ask what they’ve observed in the classroom. Share what you’re seeing at home. Together, you can build a clearer understanding of your child’s needs and strengths.

Equity matters in gifted identification
Sadly, giftedness is often under-identified in students from disadvantaged backgrounds, minority groups, and those learning English as an additional language. But gifted potential exists in every community. That’s why it’s so important to use multiple ways of identifying gifted learners – formal tests, informal observations, portfolio assessments, interviews, and more.

Every child deserves the chance to show what they’re capable of – and to be met with the right challenge, support, and care.

How The Swot Shop supports gifted identification
At The Swot Shop, we look beyond labels. We know that giftedness isn’t always obvious – and that traditional tests alone don’t capture a child’s full potential.
That’s why our entry testing process is just the beginning. We observe how children think, respond, and grow once they’re in our programs. We offer challenge without overwhelm, and nurture both ability and confidence.

Our team is experienced in recognising high-potential students in all their diversity – whether they come bursting with questions or quietly processing deep thoughts.

We know what to look for. And we’re here to help your child be seen.

Do you have a child who might be gifted, but hasn’t quite been identified as such? Let’s explore it together.