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Frequently Asked Questions: Exceptionally Gifted Children

The Ministry of Education (MOE) formally identifies the academically gifted and caters to the top 1% of the national cohort through the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), beginning at Primary 4. It also caters for the exceptionally gifted.

In meeting the needs of the exceptionally gifted, MOE is guided by the following principles. First, these children should be in our Singapore school system. Second, they should receive a well-rounded education. Cognitive development should not be achieved at the expense of the development in the moral, social, physical and aesthetic domains. Third, the recommended interventions would be made within the constraints of existing resources.

Target Group

  1. Who is an exceptionally gifted child?

    An exceptionally gifted child is one whose intellectual ability is significantly advanced. Some common characteristics of exceptionally gifted children include:

    • an extraordinary speed in processing information
    • an ability to relate to a broad range of ideas and synthesise commonalities among them
    • a high degree of ability to think abstractly which develops early
    • an extraordinary degree of intellectual curiosity
    • an unusual capacity for memory
    • a long concentration span
    • a fascination with ideas and words
    • an extensive vocabulary.

    If the child has knowledge and ability far beyond those of other children of the same age, it may be an indication that the child is exceptionally gifted.

  2. How many exceptionally gifted children are there in each cohort?

    Among the intellectually gifted, there is a range of abilities. While the majority of gifted children are moderately gifted, there is a very small number among them who are exceptionally gifted. In a normally distributed population, there are about 3 such exceptionally gifted among 100,000 children.

  3. As a parent how do I know whether my child is exceptionally gifted?

    If your child has most of the characteristics listed in Question 1 and has knowledge and ability far beyond those of other children of the same age, it may be an indication that your child is exceptionally gifted.

    You may wish to send your child to a registered psychologist for assessment. Your child will be required to sit an individually administered standardised test of intelligence. The tests used should be recognised instruments for assessing giftedness, preferably the Stanford-Binet (SB-4 or SB-5 or L-M version) or Wechsler Intelligence Test (WISC 111 or IV). You will receive an assessment report that should include information on your child's cognitive profile, his/her social emotional development, adaptive behaviour, academic attainments (e.g. test scores on previously conducted tests) and medical history (e.g. any diagnosed illness, long-term medication and health issues). To ensure that a suitable psychologist is engaged, please refer to the list and guidelines provided at the Singapore Psychological Society website.

Interventions/Levels

  1. What are the interventions recommended for an exceptionally gifted child?

    The interventions come in many forms. These include:

    • Enrichment

      The student learns topics which are taught in greater depth and breadth.

    • Self-paced instruction

      The student is presented with materials that allow him to proceed at a self-selected pace.

    • Online courses

      The student takes higher level courses online e.g. Education Programmes for Gifted Youth (EPGY).

    • Mentorship

      The student is matched with a mentor who provides advanced training and experiences in a specific content area.

    • Subject acceleration

      The student is placed at a higher grade level in the specific subject while remaining with his/her age cohort for other subjects.

    • Dual enrolment

      The student is formally registered to study a course in a second school/institution.

    • Early school admission

      The student could begin Primary 1 earlier. This provision is available to a child who is at least 5 years old.

    • Level skipping

      The student is moved ahead of his/her age grade. This may be done during the academic year or at the end of the year. The student can be promoted to a maximum of 4 levels.

    In each cohort only a very small number would qualify for early school admission and level skipping.

  2. Since the GEP starts only at Primary 4, what interventions are available for an exceptionally gifted child who is younger?

    The interventions available are:

    1. For a child who is not yet in primary school

      Parents can apply directly to Pupil Placement Section, MOE for Early School Admission to Primary 1. This provision is available to a child who is at least 5 years old.

    2. For a child who is already in primary school

      The school could advise parents to write in to the Gifted Education (GE) Branch through the school. GE Branch will assess the child to determine if provisions should be offered on an individualised basis.

Identification/Selection

  1. How does GE Branch determine if a child is exceptionally gifted?

    GE Branch determines if a child is exceptionally gifted by looking at 4 sets of information. These include a psychological report, achievement and aptitude/ above-level test scores, samples of the child’s work, and teachers’ recommendations.

  2. What documents should the parent/school submit to GE Branch when requesting initial assessment?

    The following documents need to be submitted for initial assessment:

    • A letter of request for special provisions from parent or guardian, if the request is initiated by the parent/guardian. If the request is initiated by the school, the parent’s consent is required.
    • The child’s academic records since admission to the school.
    • Feedback from the relevant subject teachers (both current and previous). The feedback should include an assessment of the child’s ability as well as the child’s social emotional behaviour and interactions with his/her schoolmates and teachers.
    • Psychological report as described in Question 3.

    All documents must be submitted for an application to be processed.

  3. How will GE Branch support the exceptionally gifted child?

    Once a child is identified as exceptionally gifted, a team comprising the child, teacher(s), school leader(s), parents and officers in GE Branch is formed. The team draws up an Individualised Education Plan (IEP) for the child. Each IEP will take into account the child’s readiness for faster academic progression, as well as his/her social emotional development. The IEP is reviewed at the end of every semester.

  4. How will GE Branch support a child who is found to be not in the exceptionally gifted range?

    GE Branch will advise the parents and the school on educational options that they may wish to explore with the child.

  5. What is the role of the school once a student receives an IEP?

    For a student identified as exceptionally gifted, the school will implement the Individualised Education Plan (IEP) and subsequently monitor the student’s progress.

    For subject acceleration, dual enrolment and level skipping, the school will provide GE Branch with a report at the end of each semester.

Transition

  1. What if the recommended intervention(s) is/are not a good match?

    Although the vast majority of individuals who are receiving interventions find them beneficial, these interventions may not be a “good match” for every family. In these rare cases, GE Branch, together with the other stakeholders retains the right to modify or terminate the intervention. Parents may also choose to terminate intervention(s) at any time.

  2. At the end of primary school what information will be given to the parent of an exceptionally gifted student who has been receiving interventions?

    Primary 6 pupils who have been receiving interventions provided for the exceptionally gifted will be given a letter from GE Branch. The letter will indicate the type of intervention(s) the student has been receiving. The student can use this letter when he/she submits his/her applications for Direct School Admission (DSA). If the secondary school requires additional information, it can contact GE Branch directly.

  3. What happens to an exceptionally gifted student when he/she goes to secondary school?

    The student will continue to be monitored and interventions, if any, will be recommended.

Secondary school and beyond

  1. What are the interventions recommended for an exceptionally gifted student at the secondary level?

    The secondary school can offer all the types of intervention mentioned in Question 4 except level skipping and dual enrolment with a tertiary institution. For these 2 provisions, approval from GE Branch will need to be sought.

  2. How can the secondary school determine if the student would benefit from intervention?

    The school can conduct an assessment of the student in the specific subject. Assessment should include teacher recommendation; achievement testing (record of all the scores on achievement tests); aptitude/above-level testing; and portfolio of student’s work including awards (e.g. Olympiads).

  3. What documents are required to support the application for level skipping?

    All the documents mentioned in Question 7.

  4. Will tertiary institutions accept a secondary or post-secondary/JC student for dual enrolment?

    Both NUS and NTU have agreed to consider all recommendations made by GE Branch and make provisions for the student on a case-by-case basis.

  5. What documents should the secondary school submit to GE Branch when requesting dual enrolment with a tertiary institution?

    All documents mentioned in Question 7, except the psychological report.

  6. Can the students take the ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels before their age peers?

    Students are discouraged from taking these exams earlier if the sole purpose is to reduce the number of subjects they would have to do at a later date.

  7. In the case of male students how will level skipping affect National Service enlistment?

    MINDEF will consider requests for deferment on a case-by-case basis.

  8. To whom in GE Branch should I send the information?

    Contact details in GE Branch

    Mailing Address:
    Gifted Education Branch
    51 Grange Road, Blk 1 #01-09
    Singapore 249564
    Attention: Mrs Vijaya Ganesh
    Email: Vijaya_ganesh@moe.gov.sg
    Tel: 68319582
    Fax: 68354465