WCAG 3.1.5 Reading Level
AAA only: content requiring more than a lower-secondary reading level has a simpler version available, or is supplemented with illustrations, symbols or audio.
Table of contents
What WCAG 3.1.5 Requires
AAA only: content requiring more than a lower-secondary reading level has a simpler version available, or is supplemented with illustrations, symbols or audio.
How to Test It by Hand
Check whether complex legal or technical content has a plain-language summary or alternative available.
Common Failures
- Dense legal terms and conditions have no plain-language summary offered.
Testing WCAG 3.1.5 With AccessBell
This criterion depends on meaning or context, so it needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it is not missed.
Run a free scan to spot issues on your own pages.
Related Criteria in Readable
- 3.1.1 Language of Page (Level A, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.1.2 Language of Parts (Level AA, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.1.3 Unusual Words (Level AAA, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.1.4 Abbreviations (Level AAA, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.1.6 Pronunciation (Level AAA, WCAG 2.0)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WCAG 3.1.5 require?
AAA only: content requiring more than a lower-secondary reading level has a simpler version available, or is supplemented with illustrations, symbols or audio.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 3.1.5 automatically?
Not fully. This criterion needs a person to judge, so AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail on its own.
What level is WCAG 3.1.5?
Level AAA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AAA is the highest, most demanding conformance level in WCAG.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 3.1.5 Reading Level (opens in a new tab)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new tab)
This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.