GAM 2022 Conference (Gifted Association of Missouri)

The Naglieri General Ability Tests apply an innovative method for equitable identification of gifted students from diverse populations using verbal, quantitative and nonverbal tests. The tests were explicitly developed to maximize fairness by using test questions (a) that require minimal knowledge, (b) do not require the use of a specific language, (c) with verbal instructions that do not demand verbal comprehension, and (d) do not require the student to orally articulate their answers. These three online tests can be used independently or jointly to measure general ability in 30 minutes each. Recent research using a large sample of students in grades K-12 (N = 8,105) in the United States demonstrates that these tests measure general ability and do so with little difference across race, ethnicity and parental educational levels. We propose that because these test questions can be solved using any language, that they hold much potential for identification of students with high general ability.