Abstract: A method for manipulating data in the assessment of an answer portfolio, the method comprising the steps of routing a multiplicity of answer portfolios (7) to a file server (6), each answer portfolio assigned with an identifier (9), the file server (16) having an engine (15) running an algorithm, the algorithm sorting the multiplicity of answer portfolios (7) into pairs of answer portfolios (12;i,j) using the identifiers (9) and routing each pair of answer portfolios (12;i,j) to a defined judge's computer terminal (14) of a multiplicity of judge's computer terminal, the algorithm comprising the steps of receiving data (18) from the judge's computer terminal indicative of which of the answer portfolios (7,i,j) of the pair of answer portfolios (12;i,j) wins over the other of the pair of answer portfolios (12;i,j) the method further comprising the step of the engine running said algorithm using said data, the algorithm comprising a Rasch analysis.