Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test?

Question

I've done a Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test but I need something for Interpreting the Results for example,

90 - Clifford the big red dog =P
70 TV guide
50 - The Times, The Guardian
40 - Academic papers

Answer 1

That is hysterical. Just goes to show you never can completely rely on technology :)

Also, I think FK readability scores are more acurate with more words???

Too funny.

Answer 2

Scores between 90 and 100 are appropriate for 5th and 6th graders, while a college degree is considered necessary to understand text with a score between 0 and 30.

The Flesch-Kincaid Index is a refinement to the Flesch Index that tries to relate the score to a U.S. grade level. For example, text with a Flesch-Kincaid score of 10.1 would be considered suitable for someone with a 10th grade or higher reading level.

This will give you the corresponding grade level for the text:

0.39(Total Words/Total Sentences) + 11.8(Total Syllables/Total Words) - 15.59

Answer 3

My understanding is that Finnegan's Wake, by James Joyce, is the most challenging book in the English language, with the following stats. Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 14.1 Flesch Reading Ease: 39.4

Answer 4

If you have Microsoft Word, you can look up this and find out all the answers I think you are looking for.

It is in the spelling bit. Did the work for you and found this on help:

Readability scores
When Microsoft Word finishes checking spelling and grammar, it can display information about the reading level of the document, including the following readability scores. Each readability score bases its rating on the average number of syllables per word and words per sentence.

Flesch Reading Ease score
Rates text on a 100-point scale; the higher the score, the easier it is to understand the document. For most standard documents, aim for a score of approximately 60 to 70.

The formula for the Flesch Reading Ease score is:

206.835 – (1.015 x ASL) – (84.6 x ASW)

where:

ASL = average sentence length (the number of words divided by the number of sentences)

ASW = average number of syllables per word (the number of syllables divided by the number of words)

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score
Rates text on a U.S. grade-school level. For example, a score of 8.0 means that an eighth grader can understand the document. For most standard documents, aim for a score of approximately 7.0 to 8.0.

The formula for the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score is:

(.39 x ASL) + (11.8 x ASW) – 15.59

where:

ASL = average sentence length (the number of words divided by the number of sentences)

ASW = average number of syllables per word (the number of syllables divided by the number of words)