WCAG Guideline 3.1.5: Reading Level Explained
Estimated read time: 6–7 minutes
Guideline 3: Understandable
The Understandable principle ensures that web content is clear and predictable, including the complexity of language used.
Guideline 3.1: Readable
Guideline 3.1 focuses on making text content readable and understandable for the broadest possible audience.
What Is Guideline 3.1.5 Reading Level?
"When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, supplemental content or a version that does not require such ability is available."
Guideline 3.1.5 requires that content be written at a lower secondary education reading level, or that an alternative is provided for more complex content.
- Helps users with cognitive, learning, or language disabilities
- Essential for making content accessible to a wide audience
- Applies to all web content, especially instructions and critical information
For more, see UC Berkeley: What is Plain Language? .
Why Does It Matter?
- All Users: Benefit from clear, simple language
- Users with Disabilities: May struggle with complex vocabulary or sentence structure
- Accessibility: Improves comprehension and usability
For more, see W3C’s guidance on Reading Level .
What Needs to Meet Reading Level?
- Instructions and help content
- Critical information (warnings, legal, financial)
- Any content above lower secondary reading level
How to Meet Guideline 3.1.5
- Write in plain, simple language
- Provide a simplified version or supplemental content for complex material
- Use readability tools to check your content
- Test with users of varying reading abilities
For more, see the W3C's Reading Level Techniques .
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using unnecessarily complex vocabulary or sentence structure
- Not providing alternatives for complex content
- Failing to check reading level with tools
Differences Between A, AA, and AAA for Guideline 3.1.5 in WCAG 2.2
- Level AAA: Requires content at or below lower secondary reading level, or an alternative.
- Level AA: Not applicable (3.1.5 is a Level AAA requirement).
- Level A: Not applicable (3.1.5 is a Level AAA requirement).
For more, see the W3C’s official documentation for 3.1.5 Reading Level .
Quick Checklist
- Content is at or below lower secondary reading level
- Alternatives or supplemental content provided for complex material
- Readability checked with tools
- Tested with users of varying reading abilities
Summary
Guideline 3.1.5 ensures that your content is readable for the widest possible audience. Use plain language and provide alternatives for complex material.
Empower your users with clear and accessible content!