Published in 1995, the “new” Dale-Chall readability formula uses an updated word list and table-lookup procedure to determine readability scores. Generally considered to be one of the most accurate readability formulas, the Dale-Chall formula is useful in scoring books, pamphlets, news articles... a wide variety of everyday reading materials.

Though capable of producing readability scores for the earliest primary grades, the Dale-Chall readability formula is most reliable when scoring materials for fourth grade level through college.

The Dale-Chall formula is a vocabulary-based readability formula, matching its own list of words to the words in the material being evaluated, to determine the appropriate grade level. In addition, the Dale-Chall formula factors in the total number of words and sentences, arriving at an average sentence length.

Both Readability Calculations and Readability PLUS by Micro Power & Light Co. supports the scoring of materials in either of two modes - quick and approximate, or methodical and precise. You may use either mode - whichever best fits your accuracy requirements and time constraints.