Readability refers to the reader of a submission. The number next to "Readability" indicates the reading-ability grade level needed to understand the piece of writing submitted. The Readability grade level does not refer to the ability of the writer.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Readability is calculated using word length, number of syllables, and sentence length. For example, a score of 9.3 means that a ninth grader would be able to read the document. The Kincaid engine is not "reading" the essay nor is it taking in account grammatical errors. Consequently, if words are longer or have more syllables, the readability will automatically increase.
The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Readability Formula
Step 1: Calculate the average number of words used per sentence.
Step 2: Calculate the average number of syllables per word.
Step 3: Multiply the average number of words by 0.39 and add it to the average number of syllables per word multiplied by 11.8.
Step 4: Subtract 15.59 from the result.
The specific mathematical formula is:
FKRA = (0.39 x ASL) + (11.8 x ASW) - 15.59
