Readability Score Checker Free
Score your writing for reading ease and see the school grade it demands.
How to use this tool
- 1Paste the text you want to assess.
- 2Read the Flesch Reading Ease score and the grade level beside it.
- 3Look at average sentence length and long-word share to see what is driving the score.
- 4Shorten sentences or swap complex words, then check again.
About this tool
Readability formulas do not judge whether your writing is good, but they do reliably flag whether it is hard work. They measure two things: how long your sentences are and how many syllables your words carry. Long sentences packed with abstract nouns score badly, and readers feel it as effort even when they cannot say why. Most general audiences are comfortable somewhere around a Flesch Reading Ease of 60 to 70, which corresponds roughly to school grade eight or nine. Government and healthcare guidance often aims lower still, because clarity matters more than sophistication when the stakes are real. Use the score as a prompt rather than a target: if it dips, look for the sentence that runs three lines and split it in two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score?
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Around 60 to 70 suits a general audience. Below 30 reads like academic or legal writing; above 80 is plain and conversational.
Does a high score mean better writing?
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Not necessarily. It means easier reading. Technical material for expert readers can legitimately score lower.
How is the grade level calculated?
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From average sentence length and average syllables per word, using the standard Flesch-Kincaid formula.