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How to Calculate Flesch-Kincaid Index

The "Flesch Grade Level Readability Formula," commonly called the Flesch-Kincaid Index, uses a ratio of number of words per sentence and number of syllables per word to determine the grade level of a book. The Flesch-Kincaid Index, first adopted by the U.S. Navy, is now used in education to evaluate textbooks.

Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Select a page from the book to be evaluated. Count the number of sentences on the page.
- 2
  Count the number of words on the page. Calculate the average number of words per sentence by dividing the number of words on the page by the number of sentences on the page: [words / sentence = averages words per sentence or average sentence length (ASL)].
- 3
  Count the number of syllables on the page. Calculate the average number of syllables per word by dividing the number of syllables on the page by the number of words on the page: [syllables / words = average syllables per word (ASW)].
- 4
  Calculate the Flesch-Kincaid Index which equals: [(.39 * ASL) + (11.8 * ASW)] - 15.59. The result will be the approximate grade level of the the book.

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