How do the above grade level tests work for students who have skipped grades? Do the Talent Search programs take age into account or only grade level? If a student is eligible for the Talent Search course offerings and summer programs based on a WISC V score, is there a benefit to taking additional tests?

To my knowledge, most talent searches are based on grade. Typically, they explain this by noting that grade-advanced students will have had instruction in higher levels than their non-grade-skipped age-peers. There is something to be said for this placement rule, even though it feels like there is a penalty for having programmatic and cognitive access to above-age-level instruction, because it does seem a bit inequitable to compare the math achievement of someone who has not had the opportunity to receive instruction in algebra to someone who has, even if they are of equivalent learning ability.

Some might find above-grade-level testing to be valuable beyond access to supports/programming because it may provide more finely-grained measures of a student's true instructional level. (Above grade level --> how far above grade level) Along those lines, some of us use them as progress-monitoring tools, or documentation for homeschooling portfolios. It's achievement testing; it doesn't measure the same qualities as a WISC does, so outside of the access function, it doesn't provide the same kind of data as cognitive assessment does.

Thanks for the thoughtful response!

In addition to the reasons you posted, I see the benefit of early exposure to the SAT and ACT. Maybe also the PSAT for NMS qualification? I noticed that students under 13 who score above 700 on either math or verbal on the SAT are invited to join the CTY SET. Are there any other achievement tests that would open doors for a student?

Well, the SAT and ACT are both qualifying tests for DYS.

You'd want to look at each activity which you are interested in for your child, and see what the criteria are.

As seen on the list of qualifications for the Davidson Young Scholars program, the results of some achievement tests are accepted.

I should have said "other than DYS". :-) Just trying to get my head around everything that is available, and prioritize things a bit. Thanks for the feedback!