Currently in computer-assisted instruction (CAI) systems a number of problems are presented to each student during a session, with each individual problem being specified by the author of the session. A better approach might be to provide the author with a language in which he can describe to the computer the general type of problem he wants his students to be taught so that the machine can generate the specific problems. A subset of English and mathematical notation which the teacher can use to describe a general problem type has been developed. The problem description processor accepts the general problem description and produces a low level language which is used by a problem description interpreter to produce specific problems. The system has been used for fourth grade arithmetic problems with success and could be extended for use in other areas of instruction. Appended are detailed descriptions of the processor and interpreter as well as a copy of the program. (Author/SH)