Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a transcript of a speech sample response to a test question. The speech sample response to the test question is provided to a language model, where the language model is configured to perform an automated speech recognition function. The language model is adapted to the test question to improve the automated speech recognition function by providing to the language model automated speech recognition data related to the test question, Internet data related to the test question, or human-generated transcript data related to the test question. The transcript of the speech sample is generated using the adapted language model.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for scoring a non-scripted speech sample. A system includes one or more data processors and one or more computer-readable mediums. The computer-readable mediums are encoded with a non-scripted speech sample data structure, where the non-scripted speech sample data structure includes: a speech sample identifier that identifies a non-scripted speech sample, a content feature extracted from the non-scripted speech sample, and a content-based speech score for the non-scripted speech sample. The computer-readable mediums further include instructions for commanding the one or more data processors to extract the content feature from a set of words automatically recognized in the non-scripted speech sample and to score the non-scripted speech sample by providing the extracted content feature to a scoring model to generate the content-based speech score.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for non-monotonic recognition of phrasal terms. Phrasal terms are identified from a corpus of written materials and ranked based on, for example, a mutual rank ratio. The phrasal terms are sequentially selected and a determination is made as to whether to accept or reject the selected phrasal term based on at least one predetermined criteria. The ranking of the phrasal terms may also rely on linguistic support to reduce duplication of phrasal terms and to distinguish different confidence levels for identified and accepted phrasal terms.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for identifying organizational elements in argumentative or persuasive discourse. A text that has been annotated is received. The annotated text includes argumentative or persuasive discourse that includes claims and evidence and organizational elements configured to organize the claims and evidence. Annotations of the annotated text distinguish the organizational elements from the claims and evidence. A rule set or a feature set is identified from the annotated text, where the rule set or the feature set includes textual patterns or word frequency features related to the organizational elements of the annotated text. A model is built based on the annotations and on the rule set or the feature set. The model is configured to identify organizational elements in a new text. The model is applied to the new text.

Abstract: A method of performing XSLT processing is disclosed. The method involves defining a binary tree, each node representing either an XML document or XSLT stylesheet, each leaf representing a an existing file, and each non-leaf node having two child nodes, one representing an XML document, and one representing an XSLT stylesheet, performing a post-order traversal of the binary tree, each non-leaf node being constructed by transforming the non-leaf node's respective XML document child node using the non-leaf node's respective XSLT stylesheet to create the non-leaf node, and creating a final text document as the root node.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for assessing non-native spontaneous speech pronunciation. Speech recognition on digitized speech is performed using a non-native acoustic model trained with non-native speech to generate word hypotheses for the digitized speech. Time alignment is performed between the digitized speech and the word hypotheses using a reference acoustic model trained with native-quality speech. Statistics are calculated regarding individual words and phonemes in the word hypotheses based on the alignment. A plurality of features for use in assessing pronunciation of the speech are calculated based on the statistics, an assessment score is calculated based on one or more of the calculated features, and the assessment score is stored in a computer-readable memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for scoring speech. A speech sample is received, where the speech sample is associated with a script. The speech sample is aligned with the script. An event recognition metric of the speech sample is extracted, and locations of prosodic events are detected in the speech sample based on the event recognition metric. The locations of the detected prosodic events are compared with locations of model prosodic events, where the locations of model prosodic events identify expected locations of prosodic events of a fluent, native speaker speaking the script. A prosodic event metric is calculated based on the comparison, and the speech sample is scored using a scoring model based upon the prosodic event metric.

Abstract: A method for scoring non-native speech includes receiving a speech sample spoken by a non-native speaker and performing automatic speech recognition and metric extraction on the speech sample to generate a transcript of the speech sample and a speech metric associated with the speech sample. The method further includes determining whether the speech sample is scorable or non-scorable based upon the transcript and speech metric, where the determination is based on an audio quality of the speech sample, an amount of speech of the speech sample, a degree to which the speech sample is off-topic, whether the speech sample includes speech from an incorrect language, or whether the speech sample includes plagiarized material. When the sample is determined to be non-scorable, an indication of non-scorability is associated with the speech sample. When the sample is determined to be scorable, the sample is provided to a scoring model for scoring.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for carrying out an examination with a client computer. A client computer is booted using a secondary operating system other than a primary operating system of the client computer that is accessed from a computer readable medium provided by an administrator of an examination only on the day of the examination. A broadcast message is sent from the client computer to check for the existence of a local server and to establish communication with the local server. A client application is received from the local server for presenting the examination at the client computer. Assessment content is received for the examination from the local server. The examination including the assessment content is presented to a user of the client computer with the client application, and user responses are received at the client computer and transmitted to the local server.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for ensuring quality control over a group of test reports comprising identifying a plurality of areas within a test report that contain data elements, performing optical character recognition on the plurality of areas for each test report in the group of test reports to generate text corresponding to the content in the areas, comparing the content in the areas to corresponding data in a data file from a trusted source, and creating an output report based on the result of the comparison. The test reports may indicate educational test score results and personal identification information for test takers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of training an assessment model for assessing constructed texts expressing opinions on subjects includes accessing a plurality of training texts, which are constructed texts. The training texts are analyzed with the processing system to derive values of a plurality of linguistic features of an assessment model. At least one of the plurality of linguistic features relates to sentiment and at least one of the plurality of linguistic feature relates to specificity. The assessment model is trained with the processing system based on the values of the plurality of linguistic features. Based on the training, a weight for each of the plurality of linguistic features is determined. The assessment model is calibrated to include the weights for at least some of the plurality of linguistic features such that the assessment model is configured to generate assessment measures for constructed texts expressing opinions on subjects.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a difficulty level of a text. A determination is made as to a number of cohesive devices present in a text. A further determination is made as to a number of cohesive devices expected in the text. A cohesiveness metric is calculated based on the number of cohesive devices present in the text and the number of cohesive devices expected in the text, where the cohesiveness metric is used to identify a difficulty level of the text.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for automatically assessing text difficulty. Text reading difficulty predictions are expressed on a scale that is aligned with published reading standards. Two distinct difficulty models are provided for informational and literary texts. A principal components analysis implemented on a large collection of texts is used to develop independent variables accounting for strong intercorrelations exhibited by many important linguistic features. Multiple dimensions of text variation are addressed, including new dimensions beyond syntactic complexity and semantic difficulty. Feedback about text difficulty is provided in a hierarchically structured format designed to support successful text adaptation efforts.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating a scoring model for responses. A computer-implemented method of calibrating a scoring model using a processing system for scoring examinee responses includes accessing a plurality of training responses for training the scoring model. The plurality of training responses are analyzed to derive values of multiple features (variables) of the training responses. The scoring model is trained based on the values of the multiple features of the training responses and one or more external measures of proficiency for each individual associated with a training response utilized in the training. The one or more external measures are not derived from the training responses. Based on the training, a weight for each of the multiple features is determined. The scoring model is calibrated to include the weights for at least some of the features for scoring examinee responses.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing a multi-modal evaluation of a presentation. A system includes a motion capture device configured to detect motion an examinee giving a presentation and an audio recording device configured to capture audio of the examinee giving the presentation. One or more data processors are configured to extract a non-verbal feature of the presentation based on data collected by the motion capture device and an audio feature of the presentation based on data collected by the audio recording device. The one or more data processors are further configured to generate a presentation score based on the non-verbal feature and the audio feature.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for scoring a constructed response. The constructed response is processed according to a set of grammar rules to generate a data structure. The grammar rules specify a set of preferred responses for the item. The grammar rules utilize a plurality of variables that specify legitimate word patterns for the constructed response. It is determined whether the data structure indicates that the constructed response is included in the set of preferred responses, and if so, a maximum score is assigned to the constructed response. If the data structure indicates that the constructed response is not included in the set of preferred responses, a partial credit score for the constructed response is determined by assessing from the data structure which ones of the concepts represented by the variables are present in the constructed response. The partial credit score is assigned based on the presence of the concepts.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a susceptibility of a computer-implemented automated scoring engine to gaming strategies. A plurality of responses to a prompt are provided to a computer-implemented automated scoring engine to receive a first set of scores. A first transformation is performed on each of the plurality of responses to generate a first set of transformed responses. The first set of transformed responses is provided to the computer-implemented automatic scoring engine to receive a second set of scores, and a gaming susceptibility metric is determined based on the first set of scores and the second set of scores.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for scoring spoken language in multiparty conversations. A computer receives a conversation between an examinee and at least one interlocutor. The computer selects a portion of the conversation. The portion includes one or more examinee utterances and one or more interlocutor utterances. The computer assesses the portion using one or more metrics, such as: a pragmatic metric for measuring a pragmatic fit of the one or more examinee utterances; a speech act metric for measuring a speech act appropriateness of the one or more examinee utterances; a speech register metric for measuring a speech register appropriateness of the one or more examinee utterances; and an accommodation metric for measuring a level of accommodation of the one or more examinee utterances. The computer computes a final score for the portion of the conversation based on the one or more metrics applied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing an assessment of a conversational aptitude of a test taker. A system includes a computer-readable medium configured for storage of a conversational aptitude assessment data structure. A conversational aptitude assessment data structure includes conversation cycle data records describing a plurality of conversation cycles between a virtual personality and the test taker, where a conversation cycle data record includes a virtual personality script and a plurality of model test taker responses and associated cycle links, where each cycle link identifies a next conversation cycle data record. A data processor is configured to access a first conversation cycle data record, determine the model test taker response with which a test taker response is most similar, and select a next conversation cycle data record identified with the cycle link associated with the most similar model test taker response.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting a grammatical error in a text sequence. A first text sequence in a first language is received. The first text sequence is translated to a second language to provide a first translated text. The first text sequence is translated to a third language to provide a second translated text. The third language is different from the second language. The first translated text is translated to the first language to provide a first back translation. The second translated text is translated to the first language to provide a second back translation. A plurality of candidate text sequences that include features of the first back translation and the second back translation are determined. The plurality of candidate text sequences include alternative grammatical options for the first text sequence. The plurality of candidate text sequences are scored with the processing system.