I was fortunate that, when I was of school age, I absolutely adored standardized tests. Something about them tickled a compulsive, pattern-recognition part of m

I was fortunate that, when I was of school age, I absolutely adored standardized tests. Something about them tickled a compulsive, pattern-recognition part of my brain, linked to delight. I scored extremely well. Recently, however, I find that taking multiple-guess tests or evaluations seems much more like the waste of time that it is. I still get some pleasure from a few questions, but, like Mr. Owl, I get bored after 3 licks. Not all gifted students are good at standardized tests, possibly because they can't be bothered to care enough to pay attention to something so trivially easy. All that said, I think the student in the OP is foolish for trying to insist he have the experience of being a part of a system while, at the same time, receiving exceptional treatment from that same system. Any stifling is self-inflicted.