System for test response diagnosis and assessment

A system for test response diagnosis and assessment of test responses comprises a computerized testing station for presenting a question to a responder. An initial response analyzer (114) communicates with the testing station for determining the correctness of an initial response by the responder to the question. A necessary knowledge determiner (130) is disposed to analyze an incorrect initial response from the initial response analyzer for detecting responder's deficiencies in past cumulative knowledge and in new subject matter knowledge. A cumulative knowledge analyzer (132) is provided for analyzing the incorrect initial response for identifying specific deficiencies in new subject matter knowledge. Finally, a report generator (146) communicates with the cumulative knowledge analyzer (132) and the production rule analyzer (134) for generating a deficiency report.