PROCESS FOR AUTOMATED ASSESSMENT OF PROBLEM SOLVING SKILL

A process for using a computer to assess problem-solving skill includes a computer program that grades multi-step problems and is made aware of several different but equally valid formulas or methods that use answers to one or more prior steps to arrive at a correct answer to any problem step for which such choices exist. The user is allowed to submit answers, repeatedly if necessary, to any or all of a problem's steps, in any desired order, until all steps are either graded as correct or the correct answer was requested and given. A user's problem-solving skill level is assessed by compiling how many times answers to each step were submitted and on which Tries; if graded as correct, the Try on which credit was given and whether credit was given for a submitted answer, a submitted formula, or an unsubmitted answer for which prior-answer credit was given; if the correct answer was requested, the Try for which the request was made; and if hints are provided, a summary of their use. This data is stored and used to assess a user's skill level.