Readability Checker
Grade your original content, then paste your simplified version to see if it meets the WCAG SC 3.1.5 target of Grade 9 or below.
WCAG 2.2 SC 3.1.5 — Reading Level (AAA)
When content requires a reading ability beyond lower secondary education (approx. Grade 8–9), you must provide a simplified version or summary. This tool grades both your original and simplified text so you can confirm the simplified version actually hits the target.
Where to apply it: Error messages, cookie/legal notices, checkout flows, support articles, product descriptions, and form instructions. Aim for Flesch-Kincaid Grade ≤ 9 with sentences averaging under 15 words.
No simplified version yet
Type or paste here — the grade updates as you write so you can see when you hit Grade 9.
When high reading levels are expected
Some websites are intentionally written for professional audiences — and a Grade 12–16 score may be entirely appropriate for the primary content. WCAG SC 3.1.5 does not require you to simplify specialist writing; it requires you to provide an alternative for users who need one.
Sites that commonly score Grade 12–18
- Legal & compliance: Contract terms, privacy policies, regulatory filings — dense subordinate clauses push grades above 16
- Medical & clinical: Patient information leaflets written by clinicians, clinical trial protocols, prescribing information
- Financial services: Prospectuses, KIDs (Key Information Documents), loan agreements — regulatory language is inherently complex
- Academic & research: Journal abstracts, grant applications, technical whitepapers — specialised vocabulary inflates syllable counts
- Technical documentation: API references, engineering specs, safety data sheets — precision requires terminology that resists simplification
- Government & policy: Legislation, impact assessments, planning documents — statutory language is formulaic and verbose
What to do when you cannot simplify
If simplifying the primary content would remove required precision, use one or more of these strategies to comply with SC 3.1.5:
- ›Plain-language summary: Write a short (Grade ≤ 9) executive summary at the top of the page. Link to it from the detailed content.
- ›Inline glossary / tooltips: Define specialist terms on first use — either inline or via a tooltip/expandable definition. This reduces cognitive load without removing precision.
- ›Layered content: Structure pages with a brief overview section followed by the full technical version. Users self-select the depth they need.
- ›Separate accessible version: Publish a dedicated 'plain language version' page and link to it prominently. This is the WCAG-compliant alternative.
- ›Worked examples: For procedures or calculations, a worked example in plain language can convey the same information more accessibly than the formal definition alone.
- ›Audio / video supplement: A short explainer video or audio summary provides an alternative for users with reading or cognitive disabilities — link it clearly.
The legal position
SC 3.1.5 is Level AAA — the highest WCAG conformance level — and is not required by the EAA or most national accessibility regulations for general conformance (which target Level AA). However, it is referenced in EN 301 549 (the technical standard underpinning the EAA and the Web Accessibility Directive), and regulators may consider failure to provide plain-language alternatives as evidence of poor cognitive accessibility practice, particularly in consumer-facing financial and healthcare contexts. The CJEU and national enforcement bodies have latitude to consider overall usability, not only checklist conformance.
Best practice guidance: Even where SC 3.1.5 is not legally mandated, providing plain-language summaries for complex legal, financial, and medical content is low-cost, high-impact, and reduces the risk of a disproportionate burden challenge.
Diagnostic: what score is causing the high grade?
Use this tool's sentence view and metrics to identify the specific driver of a high grade, then apply targeted fixes:
Long sentences
Average sentence length > 20 words
Fix: Split compound sentences at conjunctions (and, but, which). Aim for one idea per sentence.
Complex vocabulary
Many 3-syllable words (polysyllabic)
Fix: Replace with shorter synonyms where meaning is preserved. Add a glossary for unavoidable technical terms.
Passive voice
'was issued by', 'is required to be'
Fix: Rewrite in active voice: 'The regulator issued', 'You must'. Passive voice adds syntactic distance and length.
WCAG 2.2 SC 3.1.5 — Reading Level
SC 3.1.5 (Level AAA) requires a supplemental version when content needs reading ability beyond lower secondary education (approx. Grade 8–9). Targeting Grade 8 ensures the widest audience accessibility, including users with cognitive disabilities.
Read SC 3.1.5 Understanding DocumentExport as evidence
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Every export includes a legal-evidence metadata footer with the audit ID, generation date, tool version, EN 301 549 clauses, and the standard disclaimer. Legal-grade evidence — not legal advice.
Important Legal Disclaimer
This tool is a self-assessment aid only and does not constitute legal advice or a formally certified compliance assessment. Outputs — including reports, scores, checklists, and accessibility statements — are for internal use and should be reviewed by a qualified legal representative or independent accessibility auditor before being relied upon for regulatory, procurement, or public-disclosure purposes. All assessment risk lies with the internal assessor. accessibilityref, its developers, and staff accept zero liability for losses arising from use of or reliance on these outputs. Always verify against official sources: the W3C WCAG 2.2 Recommendation, the European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882), and your national enforcement authority.