Patent ID: 8380491

Claim:
A method for grading constructed responses, said method comprising: converting, using a processing system, a model answer into a tuple representation of the model answer including at least one topic with each topic including at least one concept, the tuple representation of the model answer comprising a predicate-argument data structure; converting, using the processing system, a constructed response into a tuple representation of the constructed response; comparing, using the processing system, said tuple representation of the model answer and said tuple representation of the constructed response; and generating, using the processing system, a score based on matches of concepts between said tuple representation of the model answer and said tuple representation of the constructed response by determining whether a concept in each topic of the tuple representation of the model answer is present in the tuple representation of the constructed response; wherein converting said constructed response into said tuple representation of the constructed response includes: generating an intermediate output file based on said constructed response; selecting a word in the intermediate output file; determining whether a synonym or similar word for the selected word in the intermediate output file exists; if said synonym or similar word exists, determining whether said synonym or similar word is included in the model answer; if said synonym or similar word exists and is included in the model answer, substituting said synonym or similar word for said selected word in the intermediate output file; and generating said tuple representation of the constructed response.