Determine reading level of text
| Our Automatic Readability Checker takes a sample of your writing and calculates the number of sentences, words, syllables, and characters in your sample. Our program takes the output of these numbers and plugs them into seven popular readability formulas. These readability formulas (see below) will let you know the reading level and grade level of your text and help you determine if your audience can read your writing. (Note: We also have separate readability tools to calculate grade levels using the Fry Graph, Raygor Estimate Graph, Spache Formula, and New Dale-Chall Formula, located here: Free Readability Calculators and Text Tools). Directions: Paste in a sample of text and click "CHECK TEXT READABILITY. Paste a sample of plain text in the box. Your sample can be between 150-3000 words. We do not store or reuse your text in any way. Security check - Are you human?: Yes. (Click the box) Our free readability formula tool will analyze your text and output the results based on these readability formulas. Our tool will also help you determine the grade level for your text. 1. The Flesch Reading Ease formula will output a number from 0 to 100 - a higher score indicates easier reading. 2. The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level outputs a U.S. school grade level; this indicates the average student in that grade level can read the text. For example, a score of 7.4 indicates that the text is understood by an average student in 7th grade. 3. The Fog Scale (Gunning FOG Formula) is similar to the Flesch scale in that it compares syllables and sentence lengths. A Fog score of 5 is readable, 10 is hard, 15 is difficult, and 20 is very difficult. Based on its name, 'Foggy' words are words that contain 3 or more syllables. 4. 5. The Coleman-Liau Index relies on characters instead of syllables per word and sentence length. This formula will output a grade. For example, 10.6 means your text is appropriate for a 10-11th grade high school student. 6. Automated Readability Index outputs a number which approximates the grade level needed to comprehend the text. For example, if the ARI outputs the number 3, it means students in 3rd grade (ages 8-9 yrs. old) should be able to comprehend the text. 7. Linsear Write Formula is a readability formula for English text, originally developed for the United States Air Force to help them calculate the readability of their technical manuals. StyleWriter software: use it to write better content! Download your free trial! | ||
An average document has a Flesch Reading Ease score between 6 - 70. As a rule of thumb, scores of 90-100 can be understood by an average 5th grader. 8th and 9th grade students can understand documents with a score of 60-70; and college graduates can understand documents with a score of
0-30. 
The SMOG Index outputs a U.S. school grade level; this indicates the average student in that grade level can read the text. For example, a score of 7.4 indicates that the text is understood by an average student in 7th grade. 
Linsear Write Formula is specifically designed to calculate the United States grade level of a text sample based on sentence length and the number words used that have three or more syllables.Readability score | Readability test | Reading level calculator
Readability score | Readability test | Reading level calculator | ReadableYour readability toolkit
Powerful, flexible readability tools that work where you work.
Unrivalled Readability Scores
Find the most accurate scores for formulas such as Flesch-Kincaid and SMOG, as well as our own bespoke readability algorithm.
Read more about the scores that power Readable »
Actionable Insight
Readable is packed full of features you won't find anywhere else. Hone your content for clarity and engagement to captivate your audience.
Find out more about Readable's writing style features »
For Everyone
Whoever your audience or whatever your medium, Readable's user-friendly editor is suitable for all kinds of writers.
Find out how Readable can work for you »
3,000+ authors, marketers, and educators trust us to delivery accurate readability analysis.
Discover the Power of Readability
Be understood
Grow your audience with clear, readable content.
85% of people can understand your content if it is a Readable grade A.
Clarity Features »
Make an impact
Attract new customers with crisp, dynamic content.
57% of customers are more likely to recommend you if they feel emotionally connected to your brand.
Impact Features »
Build loyalty
Retain customers with direct, trustworthy content.
Readability builds customer trust. 81% of consumers said trust is essential in a buying decision.
Audience Connection features »
Readability Tools
Document Readability
Improve your document readability and connect with your readers.
ContentPro helps you to produce clear, compelling content, helping you to engage with your audience.
Website Readability
Improve your website readability and lift conversions.
CommercePro is a suite of tools with a unique algorithm. The results give you actionable steps to optimise your website for readability.
Readability API
Integrate readability into your workflow and increase efficiency.
The Readability API on AgencyPro easily integrates into your website, CMS, product or service. Bring quality readability scores into your business.
What our happy customers say
Anna Bolton
Founder
Conversion Copy Co.
I use Readable to match my copy with my audience's reading level.
It's one of my top conversion optimization tools!
Candi Williams
Content Strategist
Nationwide Digital
Fact: good readability is good for everyone.
What Readable does is make it measurable. It makes readability tangible and gives the entire organisation something they can gather around.
Our promise to you
We are dedicated to providing the most comprehensive readability tools.
Accurate. Our scores are backed up by established readability algorithms and verified by over 10,000 automated tests and hand-calculated scores. You can be confident in your results.
Fresh. Our leading-edge readability checker is up to date with changes in standards. You can be sure your feedback is current and reflects real-world reading behaviour.
Here for you. We support your writing goals with our helpful resources and outstanding customer service.
Who's Readable for?
People and companies who want to make their content easy to read and understand.
Readable is used across all sectors and professions by people who value clarity and transparency in their business practice.
What is a readability score?
A readability score can tell you the level of education someone needs to easily read a piece of text. The score identifies a Grade Level relative to the number of years of education a person has. Read more about readability scores.
What is readability?
Readability is a measure of how easy a piece of text is to read. Read more about readability.
What is a good readability Score?
A Grade Level of 8 or lower is good for text aimed at the public. 85% of the public will be able to read and understand your content at Grade Level 8. Read more about readability scores.
Readability Formulas
The Readability Formulas that Power Readable
- Flesch-Kincaid
- Gunning Fog
- Coleman Liau
- SMOG
- Automated Readability Index
- FORCAST
- Powers Sumner Kearl
- Rix Readability
- Raygor Readability Graph
- Fry Readability Graph
- Flesch Reading Ease
- CEFR
- IELTS
- Spache
- Dale-Chall
- Lix Readability
- Lensear Write
Latest from the Blog
Content marketing
In an ever-changing marketing landscape, one thing remains a constant reality.
Words sell. Here's why writing is the most important marketing skill.
29 September 2022 by Laura Kelly
Content marketing
Google is always making human-centred updates to ensure helpful content for the searcher. Find out what the latest update means for creators in all areas.
22 September 2022 by Laura Kelly
The joy of English
September is Be Kind to Writers and Editors Month. Here are some reasons why writers and editors deserve appreciation.
9 September 2022 by Laura Kelly
7 Days Free Readability Scoring
Try Readable for 7 days entirely free, or cancel any time if you don't love it.
Get Started Today
Read speed test. Online simulator for developing reading speed and awareness skills in 2021!
Reading speed is an important indicator not only for schoolchildren, who regularly check it.
It is very important for an adult in the modern world to be able to navigate in huge flows of information. A reading speed test will help you determine your current level and see if you need to work on improving this skill or if you are reading fluently enough.
Content
1. How to check reading speed?
2. How can I check my reading speed myself?
3. How to test a child's reading speed?
4. What reading speed is considered normal for adults and children?
5. How to choose the right text to test reading speed?
6. The book "Everything you wanted to know about speed reading, but were afraid to ask"
How to check reading speed?
The easiest way is to take a stopwatch (you can use the application on your phone), a text to check your reading speed and read it at a normal pace for one minute. It is important that the text is non-technical, does not contain highly specialized terms and concepts, and is not familiar to the reader.
The text should not be too primitive. The testee must see the text for the first time so that the results are not artificially inflated.
But what do you care about speed, if you don't understand with what awareness you absorb the text? :)
A much better way to find out your reading speed is to take a free online test. To do this, sit back, enter your name in the form above, press the button and you will immediately see the text that you need to read, slowly, trying to understand everything that is written.
When the entire text is read - click on the button at the very bottom. The program will automatically determine the reading speed and prompt you to answer a few questions to understand the degree of assimilation of the material. As a result of testing, you will receive not only the result of your reading speed and awareness, but also recommendations for improving your reading technique in the format of the book "Everything you wanted to know about speed reading, but were afraid to ask.
" Enter a name. Click the button and find out your real reading speed. Have a good day.
How can I test my reading speed myself?
We have prepared for you a tool with which you can independently check the speed of reading. Our tool include a certain amount of text that you need to read as quickly as possible. You will then have the opportunity to answer a series of questions about the text, allowing the program to determine your level of understanding. Based on the data received, a result and a certificate are issued. This certificate can be shared with your friends on social networks and challenge them to a battle to test the speed and awareness of reading :).
If you want to do it yourself, you can do it according to the following scenario. A text of medium complexity is taken, located on one sheet. You will need an assistant who will keep track of the time and will be able to test the level of your understanding of the information. Check algorithm:
Simultaneously with the start command and the start of the stopwatch, you begin to silently read the text.
When the text is finished, you say stop - time stops.
Then you need to answer a few questions regarding the content (reading speed implies a full reading comprehension).
The last step is to count the words in the text and determine the average number of words per minute (words in the text can be counted before reading).
This is the certificate you can get based on the results of passing the test
How to check the reading speed of a child?
A child's reading speed can be tested in a similar way. The child should read aloud, at least in elementary school. Then you can switch to the usual way of checking for adults.
Schools often test reading skills by counting the number of words read per minute. This gives a small error, since words come in different sizes, but a similar verification method can also be used.
What reading speed is considered normal for adults and children?
The average reading speed for an adult is 200-230 words per minute.
Below average, but an acceptable rate is 150-200 words per minute. Adults who read more than 230 words per minute are considered fast readers. For the speed reading technique, the optimal speed is 350-400 words per minute.
In children, the indicators are dynamic and change depending on age. Approximate norms used in elementary school:
20-30 words per minute for first grade;
45-60 words per minute for second grade;
70-85 words per minute for third grade;
90-125 words per minute for fourth grade.
How to choose the right text to test reading speed?
The criteria for selecting text to test reading speed are identical for adults and children. The only difference is the volume and complexity of the information. The text must match the following parameters:
medium difficulty appropriate for age;
the absence of specific unfamiliar words or their minimum number;
no dialogs;
location on one page;
large, comfortable to read font;
lack of pictures and other distracting elements.
In our tool for testing reading speed and comprehension, we tried to take into account all these factors so that the resulting tool would be convenient for both adults and children. At the same time, he gave a fairly clear answer to the question about the real reading speed.
It should be remembered that reading speed is a variable parameter, which decreases if a person rarely sits down at a book, and increases with constant reading. There are many special techniques aimed at significantly increasing the speed of reading text information.
Everything you wanted to know about speed reading but were afraid to ask test. So don't waste a second,
go back to the very top of the page and go take the test!Reading speed test online is simple, convenient and fast
We have already written so much here about how to correctly measure your reading speed, achieve awareness and interpret the results, that every second of delay before you pass the online reading speed test and receive a personal certificate is just like death.
Return to the very beginning of the page, enter your name in the field under the video and go to the enchanting world of unfamiliar texts and tricky questions :).
📖 Reading speed Q&A section
📕 What formula is used to calculate reading speed?
If it’s very short, then the formula for calculating the reading speed is as follows: V = (Q / T) x K. This formula allows you to get a real figure for reading speed with a correlation to the coefficient of meaningfulness. You can read more about the formula here in this article .
📗 What books do you recommend reading to develop speed reading?
We have compiled a list of the most useful books for the development of speed reading and posted it in a separate post on the blog. The list is constantly updated and gives an idea of the main books with which you can develop speed reading skills.
📘 What if I want to increase my reading speed?
You can start by learning the theory, or you can download our workbooks , which we have created especially for those who who wants to start learning speed reading. There are two of them: one notebook for adults, the second for children. Contains some theory and practical exercises designed for several weeks of regular classes.
📙 How to check a child's reading speed?
The reading speed test, which is located on our website, is suitable for both adults, as well as for children. We specifically tried to choose mostly literary texts that will be easy to read. to understand the child. Just go to the reading speed test page from the link above, enter child's name and start reading. Then the program will do everything for you.
📔 I want to check my reading speed online for free.
How to do it?
Easier nowhere. The tool, which is located at https://bukva.info/rapid/ , was created just for this. You just enter your name, read the text and answer the questions. The program monitors the speed of your reading and its meaningfulness. After answering the questions, you will receive a certificate with your result. The certificate can be shared with friends in social networks :).
📓 What is the "Read Fast" project?
Read Fast is a project dedicated to the problem of fast and conscious reading. We believe that you can read 3-4 times faster. However, the quality of memory reading material will only increase. Let's try together :).
Textometer. Analysis of text complexity in Russian
Analysis of text complexity
Textometer allows you to assess the level of complexity of the text, conduct a frequency analysis of words, find key words and the most useful words for learning, the coefficient of lexical diversity of the text, as well as statistics on the occurrence of words in lexical minimums for learners of Russian as a foreign language.
Russian as a foreign language
Russian as a native language
Measure
Insert demo text
Textometer allows you to quickly get information about the text relevant for its preparation for the Russian lesson: the level of complexity of the text, keywords, the most useful words, statistics on the occurrence of words in lexical minima. You can read more about how to use this data when preparing a text here [1].
Determination of the text level for foreign students
Determination of the level on the CEFR scale from A1 to C2 is carried out automatically, using a regression model trained on a corpus of 700 texts from manuals for Russian as a foreign language. More details about the parameters of the model and the features on which it was trained can be found here [2].
Could she be wrong? Experiments show that the model tends to slightly overestimate the level of complexity of the text, since it makes calculations based on given lexical minimums.
Practice shows that students usually know (or guess from the context) more words than in the minimums. This is especially true for internationalisms and words that sound similar in the student's native language. This should be taken into account when preparing texts for Slavic or English-speaking students. You can read more about the experiment with comparing the work of the program, the opinions of expert teachers and the students themselves here [3].
Text level detection for native speakers
Text difficulty levels for foreigners are well standardized and documented. In texts for native speakers, the concept of text complexity is multifaceted: the text is written in short words and phrases, which allows standard readability formulas to classify it as simple, but it is difficult to “break through” unfamiliar words or stylistic features.
Therefore, our system evaluates texts for reading by a native speaker according to two criteria: structural complexity and lexical complexity.
Structural complexity takes into account the classic Flesh readability formula adapted for the Russian language, as well as the presence of parts of speech and turns that make reading difficult (participles, passive forms, etc.) Lexical complexity is calculated based on the occurrence of text words in specialized frequency lists.
Viktoriya Maksimova
RFL teacher, founder of the FB community “Storytelling in RFL”
Now that the Textometer has appeared, it’s hard for me to imagine how I would prepare texts without it. It is an indispensable tool for my work: strict objective evaluation parameters, simple and intuitive design. Thanks to the developers of the project!
Anna Golubeva
editor-in-chief of the Zlatoust publishing house
The service helps a lot in working and communicating with authors! The frequency list is especially useful, it objectifies what is expedient to leave in the text, and what to adapt or train.
Thanks to colleagues from the Pushkin Institute!
Yuliya Nekrasova
Lecturer of Russian as a Foreign Language University of Salerno
A very valuable methodological discovery! Huge potential for preparing assignments for levels B1 - C1, dictations, assignments for exams, etc. I apologize for the slang, but huge respect to the developers!
When referring to the resource, we recommend citing this work:
[1] Laposhina A. N., Lebedeva M. Yu. Textometer: an online tool for determining the level of complexity of a text in Russian as a foreign language // Russistika. 2021. Vol. 19. No. 3. C. 331-345
More publications about the program:
[2] Laposhina A. N., Veselovskaya T. S., Lebedeva M. U., Kupreshchenko O. F. Automated Text Readability Assessment For Russian Second Language Learners // Komp'juternaja Lingvistika i Intellektual'nye Tehnologii Ser. "Computational Linguistics and Intellectual Technologies: Proceedings of the International Conference "Dialogue 2018".
