Identifying More Able Learners

More able learners may display a selection of the following characteristics:

Personal traits

• Inquisitive, curious, alert and responsive to new ideas
• Quick/agile thinkers
• High self-motivation/initiative; can work well independently
• Socially adept
• Show leadership qualities
• Good/unusual sense of humour
• Sensitive/sensitivity and empathy with others
• Socially immature/isolated; prefer computers to people

Learning ability

• Learn new ideas and concepts quickly/easily/readily
• Good at reasoning/logical/analytical thinking
• Good at dealing with abstractions/abstract thinking
• See relationships between things; can generalise from specific facts
• Good at understanding things/meanings; show unusual insights
• Able to memorise quickly/easily
• Follow complex directions easily
• Keen powers of observation
• Advanced vocabulary/verbally fluent/good self-expression
• Learned to read early, often before school age; rapid readers
• Good attention; concentrate and persevere for long periods if interested

Learning styles

• Dislike repetition of concepts and closed tasks; get bored easily
• Informed/show interest in ideas and concepts beyond their years
• Creative/imaginative; original ideas in problem-solving; may be artistic/musical
• Inclined to choose unusual but effective methods of working, perhaps using a different line of logic or jumping steps
• Many interests/hobbies; read across a wide range of subjects
• Prefer verbal expression; reluctant to record things in writing
• Resent imposed timetable restrictions if interested in a task
• Perfectionists; may lean towards being obsessive