The Fallacy of Using the National Assessment Program–Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) Data to Identify Australian High-Potential Gifted Students

In Australia, gifted or talented students are defined according to the widely accepted model proposed by Gagné, where giftedness is understood as potential, and talent shown through competencies (or achievements); in this definition there a clear differentiation between two constructs. Most Australian education jurisdictions espouse Gagné’s definitions use variety of mechanisms for identifying students—a commonly used identification practice results from National Assessment Program–Literacy Numeracy (NAPLAN) test. This article sets out explore fallacy using NAPLAN identify high-potential (gifted) outlining key reasons why unsuitable an instrument giftedness. Moreover, it explores erroneous tool when was never designed, validated, intended such instrument.