Flesch Kincaid Calculator






Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level:

Flesch Reading Ease Score:

Reading Level:

Average Words per Sentence:

Average Syllables per Word:

Sentences:

Words:


Score Estimated Reading Grade Level
90 to 100 5th grade
80 to 90 6th grade
70 to 80 7th grade
60 to 70 8th and 9th grade
50 to 60 10th to 12th grade (high school)
30 to 50 College
0 to 30 College graduate

The Flesch-Kincaid calculator is a user-friendly tool available online that assesses the readability of a given text.

Instruction: Copy and paste the text into the box below and click “Calculate” to view the readability score of the text.

Have you wondered how easy it is to understand your website? Is your intended audience able to comprehend your writing? 

To understand the effectiveness of your writing, you need to ensure that your web pages are readable. Essential metrics like Flesch-Kincaid reading ease and grade level will assist you in understanding whether your writing is reaching your target audience.

What is the Flesch Reading Ease Score?

The Flesch Reading Ease Score, introduced in 1948 by Rudolf Flesch and J. Peter Kincaid, assesses a text’s readability and provides an approximate educational level required for a person to read and comprehend a particular text easily.

The Flesch Reading Ease Score ranges from 0 to 100. If the score is high (around 100), it indicates that the text is very easy to read, while a lower score indicates that the text is very complex and difficult to understand.

The Flesch Reading Ease score is arrived at by using this equation:

Flesch Reading Ease Score = 206.835 – 1.015 × (Total Words / Total Sentences) – 84.6 × (Total Syllables / Total Words)

What is Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level?

The Flesch-Kincaid Grade level shows the education level required for understanding a specific text. 

Here’s a breakdown of the scores:

• 90-100: Very easy (5th-grade level)

• 80-90: Easy (6th-grade level)

• 70-80: Fairly easy (7th-grade level)

• 60-70: Standard (8th and 9th-grade levels)

• 50-60: Fairly difficult (10th to 12th-grade levels)

• 30-50: Difficult (College level)

• 0-30: Very difficult (College graduate level)

The scores align with the US grade-level education that readers need to understand the text easily. For example, if the text has a Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level of 9, the reader needs to be around 9th grade to comprehend the text without any difficulty.

The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level is arrived at by using this equation:
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level = 0.39 × (Total Words / Total Sentences) + 11.8 × (Total Syllables / Total Words) – 15.59

Importance of Readability Scores

Readability scores, including those developed by Flesch and Kincaid, play a crucial role in various domains:

• Education: Teachers and educators use these scores to select appropriate reading materials for students at different grade levels.

• Publishing: Authors, publishers, and writers use readability scores to tailor their content to their target audience, ensuring it is neither too simple nor too complex.

• Healthcare: Medical professionals use readability scores to create patient education materials that are easily understandable by individuals with varying levels of health literacy.

• Legal Documents: Lawyers and legal professionals apply readability metrics to draft documents that are clear and easy to understand for the general public.

Tips to Improve Readability

Here are some tips you can implement to improve the readability of your content with Flesch-Kincaid reading ease or other readability formulas:

Know Your Audience: When creating content, always consider your target audience. If you are writing for a broader audience, make sure as many people as possible can understand the text.

Analyze Your Text: Use a Flesch-Kincaid calculator to determine the readability scores of your current text.

• Flesch Reading Ease Score: Aim for a higher score for easier readability.

• Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: Aim for a score that matches the reading level of your target audience.

Use Simple Language: Use easily understandable words without compromising on the quality of your content. Choose words that the majority of readers can understand without the need for a dictionary.

Shorten Sentences: Lengthy sentences can make it difficult for readers to grasp the meaning. Aim to keep sentences under 20 words to improve readability.

Break Up Text: Avoid large blocks of text, as they can be overwhelming. Use headers, bullet points, and paragraphs to create a visually appealing and reader-friendly layout that is easier to read and digest. 

Be Concise: Eliminate unnecessary words and redundancies. Keep your writing focused and to the point.

Prefer Active Voice: Active voice is more straightforward and easier to understand than passive voice. So, use active voice in your writing whenever possible.

Use Transition Words: Incorporate words like “and,” “because,” “so,” and “but” to guide readers through your text, facilitating better flow and comprehension.

Structure Your Writing: Use headings, subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists to break up text and improve readability. Ensure that each paragraph covers a single idea.

Revise and Edit: No piece of writing is perfect in its first draft. Thoroughly revise and edit your work to enhance clarity and readability.