I would very strongly encourage you to have her take the Explore. The only way to get some indication of where she is is an above level test. What do you mean "ready" for it? I would just make sure she knows that there will be stuff she has never been taught because it is for 8th graders. It was the first clue that my daughter really needed much more, and led us to get her tested with WISC and subsequent extremely successful grade skip. She is happy and thriving. I had come to the same conclusion re: bright but I was wrong.

I have two younger complicated kids, so I get when the needs of one get put on the back burner. It is a really easy way to start to understand and address her needs to have her take Explore.