Matatabi Readers are graded by sentence complexity and headword count.

Sentence complexity is calculated using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Formula. Grade Level "3 to 4" (Level 600), for example, indicates that the sentence complexity is suitable for students in the third and/or fourth grade of school in the U.S.

The headword count in a Matatabi Reader represents the number of words with separate definitions. Even if a word, such as ship, appears on every page in a book, it only represents one headword. Likewise, verbs, adjectives, and nouns in all their forms are counted as single headwords. For example:

  1. Eat, ate, eaten, and eating represent one headword;

  2. Tall, taller, and tallest represent one headword; and

  3. Cake and cakes represent one headword.

TOEIC: In the final editing stages, sentence complexity is adapted to correspond to TOEIC scores.

  • University students with TOEIC scores:

    1. Between 400 and 495 provide feedback to ensure that Level 400 readers meets their reading needs;

    2. Between 500 and 595 provide feedback to ensure that Level 500 readers meets their reading needs;

    3. Between 600 and 695 provide feedback to ensure that Level 600 readers meets their reading needs;

    4. Between 700 and 795 provide feedback to ensure that Level 700 readers meets their reading needs;

    5. Between 800 and 895 provide feedback to ensure that Level 800 readers meets their reading needs; and

    6. Between 900 and 990 provide feedback to ensure that Level 900+ reader meets their reading needs.