Iranian Journal of Learning and Memory

Identifying and Nurturing Learning Capacities: A Systematic Review of Scholastic Aptitude Identification in Schools

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mahmoud Zivari Rahman 1
Fariba Dortaj 2

1 Department of Educational Sciences and Counseling, Sayyed Jamaleddin Asadabadi University, Asadabad, Iran.

2 Department of Educational Sciences and Counseling, Payam-e-Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/iepa.2026.581609.1601
Abstract
Objective: The dynamics of learning and the cultivation of cognitive capacities in the process of identifying Scholastic Aptitude (SA) constitute a complex challenge within educational systems. Thus, the present study aimed to elucidate its psychometric nature, gene-environment interactions, and developmental catalysts (2000–2025).
Methods: In this systematic review, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on 58 pivotal studies, which were screened and selected in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines spanning the 2000–2025 timeframe.
Results: Scholastic aptitude is a multidimensional construct. Although the SAT remains the most widely administered assessment instrument, its inherent socioeconomic biases necessitate the implementation of composite evaluation methods. The trajectory of talent actualization is grounded in the gene-environment interaction model and Gagné’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT). Consequently, innate intelligence and baseline cognitive capacities are insufficient in isolation; rather, four synergistic catalysts—intrinsic motivation, dynamic educational environments, multidimensional family support, and effort reinforcement—account for over 60% of the variance in academic success. Accordingly, a five-pillar roadmap was derived, encompassing multidimensional assessment, personalized learning trajectories, environmental enablement, continuous monitoring, and educational equity.
Conclusion: Scholastic aptitude is not a unidimensional phenomenon reducible to cross-sectional test scores; rather, it emerges from the intricate interplay among working memory capacities, cognitive processing mechanisms, and an enriched learning ecosystem. Transitioning toward dynamic, composite assessments and making coordinated investments in developmental catalysts are imperative to optimize learning capacities and prevent the attrition of human capital.

Keywords

Talent
Scholastic aptitude
Learning capacities
Aptitude identification
Systematic review
Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Learning and Memory
Volume 9, Issue 34
Spring 2026
Pages 63-92

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