If you’re reading this, you’ve likely heard terms like “advanced learner”, “profoundly gifted”, and more that refer to varying degrees of giftedness. But what do they each mean? Is there a difference?
Giftedness shows up in many ways, and no two gifted learners are exactly alike. This guide offers an overview of the levels of giftedness: what they mean, how they’re identified, and why understanding them matters. It’s designed to support anyone invested in a gifted learner’s growth, including parents, teachers, and the students themselves.
Let’s get started!
Why Language Around Giftedness Matters
The words we use shape our lives. This is also true in understanding how giftedness is perceived, understood, and supported.
The world of giftedness is constantly evolving. It’s also worth noting that organizations, researchers, and school systems may define levels of giftedness in different ways. These differences don’t necessarily reflect disagreement, but rather the variety of lenses through which giftedness can be viewed.
We believe that having a shared language helps families, students, and educators better navigate the complexities of advanced learning needs. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide high-level explanations that bring clarity while leaving room for nuance and growth.
How Giftedness Has Been Historically Measured
Giftedness is commonly understood as a person possessing an intellectual ability that is significantly above average. More than that, this ability is typically paired with characteristics like increased sensitivity, a quirky or mature sense of humor, intense curiosity, and self-awareness.
Over time, the methods used to measure and define this kind of ability have changed, largely shaped by IQ (intelligence quotient) testing. For the general population, the mean, or average, IQ is 100.
Early giftedness research—particularly studies using the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale—used these statistical outliers to categorize exceptionally high intellectual ability. The term “profoundly gifted”, for example, was associated with an IQ score above 180, reflecting a level of rarity found in fewer than one in a million individuals. Although modern tests are now more nuanced and the original version of the Stanford-Binet has long been updated, those early frameworks still determine how giftedness is recognized and discussed today.
Although IQ is just one way to measure giftedness, it can be a useful tool for identifying when a student might benefit from an alternative learning environment that better fits their needs.
Current Levels of Giftedness
According to the Summit Center’s framework, giftedness can be categorized into distinct levels based on IQ scores. These levels illustrate the variety within the gifted population and emphasize that students may require unique types of support, even within specialized education.
IQ Ranges
The following IQ ranges are not universally agreed upon, but they are the most up-to-date ranges that are commonly referenced by many experts and organizations in the field:
- 120–129: Advanced Learner
- 130–144: Gifted
- 145–159: Highly Gifted
- 160–174: Exceptionally Gifted
- 175+: Profoundly Gifted
How Davidson Institute Refers to Giftedness
At the Davidson Institute, our work revolves around supporting students with extraordinary intellectual abilities, specifically those who score at or above three standard deviations above average on intelligence and achievement tests. From a testing perspective, this has often been referred to as “profoundly gifted”, though clinical definitions have evolved over time.
To better reflect both accuracy and respect for these nuances, you may see a few variations in how we speak:
- “Highly gifted students, including the exceptionally and profoundly gifted”,
- “Profoundly gifted”, or
- “The highly gifted population”
These small shifts in language don’t represent a change in who we serve or what we believe. We continue to support the unique academic and social-emotional needs of learners aged 18 years old and younger who score in the top 99.9th percentile.
We’ve spent decades helping gifted learners thrive. Learn more about our programs, values, and impact.
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