Gifted education is a subject for research extensively explored internationally, but in Sweden,the research on giftedness is less extensive. This study examines current theories regarding giftedness and intelligence, as well as some teaching methods used when teaching gifted children. Using the theoretical framework provided by research into intelligence and cognition, seveninterviews with active teachers at the Swedish upper secondary school level regarding their notions of giftedness and how they handle such students are analyzed. The aim is to compare the discourse regarding giftedness and intelligence in academic cognitive research to the discourse in teaching. A comparison of the working environment as related by sevenupper secondary school teachers with research and Swedish Board of Education mandates showsthat there is a discrepancy between the notion of giftedness provided by academia and the notion expressed by the Swedish Board of Education while the interviewed teachers’ notions match the academic definition fairly well.