Abstract: A system for assessment of a subject is disclosed, that system having: a first test item, at least one subject response elicited from the subject by the first test item; a reference response corresponding to the first test item, to which the at least one subject response is compared; a means for providing to the subject predetermined assistance corresponding to the first test item if the subject response to the first test item is not equal to the reference response, that assistance eliciting a further subject response; and a second test item selected as a function of the number of subject responses elicited until the subject response matches the reference response. The test items may be hierarchically related based on cognitive learning theory in a content area.