Flesch–Kincaid readability tests

Measure how hard text is to read.

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    The Flesch-Kincaid tests measure how easy or hard text is to read. There are two versions: one gives a reading ease score (higher numbers mean easier reading), and another gives a grade level (like 8th grade or 12th grade). The tests look at sentence length and word length - shorter sentences and shorter words make text easier to read. Schools, the military, and even insurance companies use these tests to make sure their writing is clear and understandable.

    Reading ease scoreGrade levelWhat it meansExample
    100–905th gradeVery easy. An average 11-year-old can understand it."The cat sat on the mat." scores 116, above the scale
    90–806th gradeEasy. Conversational English for consumers.
    80–707th gradeFairly easy.
    70–608th–9th gradePlain English. 13- to 15-year-olds can understand it.Reader's Digest scores about 65
    60–5010th–12th gradeFairly difficult.Time magazine scores about 52
    50–30CollegeDifficult.Harvard Law Review scores in the low 30s
    30–10College graduateVery difficult. Best understood by university graduates.
    10–0ProfessionalExtremely difficult. Best understood by university graduates.

    Indicators

    Standards

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