An ion trap mobility spectrometer calibration system and method wherein the maximum response of the spectrometer is determined. A quantity Q 0 is chosen representing a response which is a predetermined percentage of the maximum response. Input to the ion trap mobility spectrometer are at least two known quantities Q 1 and Q 2 of an analyte, which have a predetermined relationship with Q 0 . The responses corresponding to R 1 and R 2 of the ion trap mobility spectrometer are observed based on the respective inputs of quantities Q 1 and Q 2 . R 1 , R 2 , and Q 1 and Q 2 are then used to calculate the calibration constants in an equation describing a curve where the response of the ion trap mobility spectrometer is a function of the quantity of the analyte input therein. The calculated calibration constants are input to thereafter determine, from the response, the quantity of a detected analyte based on the equation.