Abstract: This paper reviews three separate lines of research on the development of children’s conceptions of ability in the past three decades: (a)conceptions of ability as constant across time and situations, (b) conceptions of ability as capacity, and (c) conceptions of ability as uncontrollable. Currently, there has been a little comprehensive research exploring the convergences and divergences among the 3 aspects, and the meanings and constructs of conceptions of ability also need to be inquired.

Key words: conceptions of ability, constancy across time and situations, capacity, uncontrollability