Systems and methods of the present invention provide for estimating latent ability of responders to a digital assessment in the form of ability scores and estimating item parameters an assessment item of the digital assessment including difficulty scores and discrimination scores. Maximum likelihood estimation may be performed based on an item response theory model to estimate the item parameters. Supervisory, extraction, and worker modules of a workflow manager module may initiate general purpose graphics processing unit instances and cause these instances to perform the maximum likelihood estimation calculations. The item response theory model may be a two parameter model that is modified to account for changes in difficulty caused by the use of hints.