The real motivator for testing is when and if your child is not thriving in their current academic setting. And thriving can be a bit subjective - he may be getting all A's but is bored out of his mind or he may be getting D's because he isn't motivated enough by the difficulty level of the work ... or somewhere in between or something totally different.
My oldest was screened for an advanced math class in mid school and tested gifted, but she was thriving in regular ed with a work load that balanced her need to be challenged while giving her enough free time to pursue a sport that was her real passion. So we never pushed for gifted placement. My older son, however, did poorly in school starting in mid school and was beginning to act out. We pushed for testing and found a much better match for him in gifted classes.
What is it about your son that has you questioning whether he should be tested? How is he at school? What concerns are you struggling with?
It's a great forum with a lot of parents who have not only had to deal with the system to serve the needs of their children but also with a lot of parents who are gifted and provide wonderful perspective from their own experiences.
Welcome.
