Advanced Learners 101

Curious to know if your child is an advanced learner? Recognizing the characteristics of an academically talented student is the first step to supporting them and finding programs to develop the advanced learning skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.

 

Is Your Child an Advanced Learner?

Advanced learners are students who demonstrate exceptional abilities or potential in one or more areas beyond what is typically expected for their age group. They often exhibit rapid comprehension and a keen sense of awareness. While every child is unique, advanced learners may show a combination of some common traits, including: 

  • Strong reasoning and creative problem-solving skills
  • The ability to process information quickly  
  • Unexpected academic skills for their age or grade
  • The ability to work independently
  • Seemingly insatiable curiosity
  • A thirst for knowledge
  • The ability to reflect on their learning
  • Empathy for others

Academically talented students may shine in some domains but struggle in others. While it is common for them to excel in more than one of these areas, not all students check every box.  

Advanced learners may also vary in their social-emotional skills and level of maturity.

Identifying Advanced Learners

The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth offers above-grade-level testing as one way to identify students with advanced quantitative, verbal, and/or spatial reasoning skills. While traditional standardized tests can measure students’ abilities at grade level, our above-grade-level testing approach can give families a fuller picture of their child’s academic abilities and help match academically talented students with courses that will keep them challenged and engaged.

What Do Advanced Learners Need?

Advanced learning opportunities are important for bright students to develop their academic abilities and reach their highest potential. If advanced learners are not given the appropriate educational options, they may:

  • Lose interest in learning
  • Appear to lack motivation
  • Find the work in school “not worth doing”
  • Act out; be disruptive

As a result, they may fail to reach their full potential.

At CTY, we understand the unique needs of academically talented students and provide advanced learning opportunities, research-based programs, and a supportive environment designed to help them thrive.  

Join CTY today and learn how we can help your student reach their highest potential. 

How CTY Supports Advanced Learners

CTY’s research in the field of gifted education indicates that advanced learners value:

Rigorous Material

  • Our coursework challenges students without frustrating them, meeting them where they are.
  • We offer multiple learning options, such as independent or group work.
  • CTYers benefit from conceptual learning instead of rote review and practice.

Novelty

CTY’s research also shows that novelty is essential to engaging advanced learners. We feature content often not found in schools and courses, allowing our students to apply learning concepts in unique ways. This includes:

  • New academic content
  • Novel learning approaches  

Advanced learners are often devoted to their interests and benefit from supplemental learning opportunities that help further these pursuits.

A Supportive Peer Environment

CTY provides advanced students with learning opportunities that place them with peers who share:

  • Academic ability
  • Similar stages of social-emotional development
  • An interest in similar topics
  • A motivation to learn
  • A diverse range of experiences and perspectives

Explore CTY’s Courses and Resources for Advanced Learners

CTY is a world leader in gifted education. We provide programs, testing, research, and support for academically talented students and their families. Our advanced online and on-campus courses offer learning experiences not typically found in schools.

Learn more about identifying and supporting your advanced learner through our Bright Now Blog and YouTube videos.