Resource guide
3.1.5 Reading Level
Where text requires a higher reading ability than lower secondary education level, a simpler version or additional support must be provided.
By Calling All Minds·Last updated April 2026
Success criterion
Conformance level
Enhanced accessibility — beyond the legal minimum.
What it means
Complex text excludes people with cognitive disabilities, people with lower literacy, and those reading in a second language. Where content must be complex, for example legal documents or technical specifications, a simpler summary or plain-language alternative must be offered.
Lower secondary education level is approximately equivalent to the reading ability of a typical 11 to 14 year old.
In practice
Write content in plain language as a default. Short sentences, common words, and active voice all help.
Where complex content is unavoidable, provide a plain-language summary at the top.
Use tools like Hemingway Editor to assess reading level and identify complex sentences.
The GOV.UK Content Design guide recommends writing for a reading age of around 9. This is a useful benchmark even if not a legal requirement.
Common failures
- Terms and conditions with no plain-language summary
- Medical information written at a specialist level with no plain English version
AXS Audit
AXS Audit checks your site against 3.1.5 and flags issues your team can act on straight away. It covers criteria that automated scanners often miss.