Reading Level

An estimate of the education or skill level a reader needs to understand a text, usually expressed as a U.S. school grade (e.g., grade 4) or an equivalent band. Reading level is the target output of most readability formulas and automatic readability assessment systems, and it is the unit in which accessibility and plain-language guidance is typically framed (for example, "write below an 8th-grade reading level"). Reading level is a coarse proxy for comprehension and does not capture domain knowledge, cognitive load, or interest — practitioners should combine it with user testing when producing content for readers with cognitive disabilities or low literacy.