When homeschooling parents see that their kids may be gifted, they often wonder if they should have them tested to find out. After all, most traditional schools and institutions determine eligibility for gifted courses and programs based on test scores.
The answer to this question is “it depends.” Many gifted children actually enjoy taking tests. If your child is like them, then let them take the test. However, some children find testing to be a very stressful and uncomfortable experience, no matter how gifted they may be. If this is the case, carefully consider the potential benefits of testing before subjecting them to it.
There are a few problems with testing though. For one, you may not actually learn anything new from the test results. Chances are, from your time spent working with your kid, you have a very accurate idea of where he or she stands. Furthermore, tests are not always accurate. Standardized tests have a number of serious shortcomings. They may be misused, or may only measure certain aspects of intelligence, rather than taking a holistic view. Tests may also have a cultural bias which puts your kid at a disadvantage. At any rate, be cautious of tests and of putting too much stock into test scores.