Flesch–Kincaid readability test - How readable is your PS? Forum

[duodora]

Alright, just noticed a biig flaw here

My PS is *almost* chatty, and it's telling basically my life history. Although it has some "big" words in it, it's VERY readable. It scored a 53.

Out of curiosity, I also tested my most recent bioethics essay--it's talking about the ethics of using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and in-vitro fertalization to create a second child in order to save the life of a first child with a lethal disease. It scored a 52. I'm pretty sure my bioethics paper is significantly harder to understand than the PS.

Just saying...

gasp

I thought all those little people inside my computer making decisions and giving me information were infallible.

damn little homunculi. They make mistakes in my head too

[srb]

LSAT: 167
GPA: 3.8
FSE: 58
FKG: 10
HRA: 16 (though I didn't apply anywhere between 7 and 16, and was WLed at 4 and 7...)

[tomhobbes]

.

[tintin]

This is very interesting!!

LSAT: 168
GPA: 3.9
Readability: 46.9
Grade level: 11.0
I have no acceptances yet, and fwiw, 2% passive sentences.

now if we could just figure out if that's good or bad.....

[Lyov Myshkin]

now if we could just figure out if that's good or bad.....

well that's sort of the point. no one has so this is all sort of ridiculous.

i suppose someone could go and do an analysis on every single essay from some of those 'successful law school essays' books but who the hell is gonna do that?

i call not it.

[joshhoward]

now if we could just figure out if that's good or bad.....

well that's sort of the point. no one has so this is all sort of ridiculous.

i suppose someone could go and do an analysis on every single essay from some of those 'successful law school essays' books but who the hell is gonna do that?

i call not it.

I suppose by this point I've conceded the practicality of doing a comprehensive enough study to determine the relation between one's Flesch score and one's acceptance, but I still maintain that it would be in an applicant's best interest to pay attention to the average Flesch scores that are being reported in the poll. If one's score is vastly different than the reported mean, then he or she should be certain that their essay style sufficiently warrants its deviation.

[Lyov Myshkin]

now if we could just figure out if that's good or bad.....

well that's sort of the point. no one has so this is all sort of ridiculous.

i suppose someone could go and do an analysis on every single essay from some of those 'successful law school essays' books but who the hell is gonna do that?

i call not it.

I suppose by this point I've conceded the practicality of doing a comprehensive enough study to determine the relation between one's Flesch score and one's acceptance, but I still maintain that it would be in an applicant's best interest to pay attention to the average Flesch scores that are being reported in the poll. If one's score is vastly different than the reported mean, then he or she should be certain that their essay style sufficiently warrants its deviation.

yeah but that's besides the point since you have no data to indicate that deviating from the mean would be a bad thing.

[AngryAvocado]

My readability is 97.2, which isn't surprising considering my longest sentence is:

"Then the Chinese man smiled, and I knew I was ready to study international law."

Is this sentence really and truly in your PS?

It's my final conclusion. You know, it's like the "WHOA" moment for the adcomm.

[joshhoward]

My readability is 97.2, which isn't surprising considering my longest sentence is:

"Then the Chinese man smiled, and I knew I was ready to study international law."

Is this sentence really and truly in your PS?

It's my final conclusion. You know, it's like the "WHOA" moment for the adcomm.

my question is, is it really your longest sentence?

[DEANBIGBROTHERALMI-T]

checking in.

lsat: in december
f-k level: 76.95
grade level: 7

[Kant]

For the record you probably want readability levels no higher than tenth grade level and no lower then 8th. Once you get into the high levels it is more likely that your ps is verbose nonsense then good writing.

[AngryAvocado]

My readability is 97.2, which isn't surprising considering my longest sentence is:

"Then the Chinese man smiled, and I knew I was ready to study international law."

Is this sentence really and truly in your PS?

It's my final conclusion. You know, it's like the "WHOA" moment for the adcomm.

my question is, is it really your longest sentence?

Actually, I just counted again. There's a longer one.

"'CACAW,' said the Chinese man as he imitated the angry bird flying high in the sky like an American Eagle."

[tomhobbes]

my question is, is it really your longest sentence?

Actually, I just counted again. There's a longer one.

"'CACAW,' said the Chinese man as he imitated the angry bird flying high in the sky like an American Eagle."

I can vouch for this. I've read AA's personal statement and, in context, this line is actually quite powerful.

[AngryAvocado]

my question is, is it really your longest sentence?

Actually, I just counted again. There's a longer one.

"'CACAW,' said the Chinese man as he imitated the angry bird flying high in the sky like an American Eagle."

I can vouch for this. I've read AA's personal statement and, in context, this line is actually quite powerful.

My thoughts exactly. You can't really appreciate it until you see it in context, especially once you realize that the text of the paper actually outlines the face of the Chinese man.

[joshhoward]

my question is, is it really your longest sentence?

Actually, I just counted again. There's a longer one.

"'CACAW,' said the Chinese man as he imitated the angry bird flying high in the sky like an American Eagle."

I can vouch for this. I've read AA's personal statement and, in context, this line is actually quite powerful.

My thoughts exactly. You can't really appreciate it until you see it in context, especially once you realize that the text of the paper actually outlines the face of the Chinese man.

why don't you link to where his statement is posted, if it is.

[facetious]

hmm, ok. i'll play along:

LSAT: 171
GPA: 3.77
FSE: 63.2
FKG: 9
HRA: TBD

still dont know what it means.

[Carlisle]

For the record you probably want readability levels no higher than tenth grade level and no lower then 8th. Once you get into the high levels it is more likely that your ps is verbose nonsense then good writing.

i agree completely. complicated writing is not good writing.

[0 and 16]

For the record you probably want readability levels no higher than tenth grade level and no lower then 8th. Once you get into the high levels it is more likely that your ps is verbose nonsense then good writing.

Just because you don't have the capacity to write coherently above a tenth grade level doesn't mean that other, more intelligent people, can't either.

[joshhoward]

oh, and by the fellows, just a little paid advertisement: please read and comment on my personal essay here:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 18&t=93701

dirty trick, I know.

[superserial]

LSAT: 176
GPA: 3.5
FSE: 52.1
FKG: 10.5
HRA: 4

[oneforship]

LSAT: 152
GPA: 3.11
FK: 65.2
FKGL: 8.7

Looks like I'm still stuck freshman year of high school. Think my essay is readable enough for T14?

[02122015]

.

[superserial]

apparently Word doesn't measure grade levels over 12.

[capitalacq]

I'm also in the 1-30 crowd/12th grade, but my PS is actually a pretty easy read.

My Y250 that I decided not to use came in at 15.

[toolfan]

Does anyone else have a PS with a score lower than 30? I'd be interested in swapping personal statements to get a feel for another that has a similar level of readability. This all may or may not be meaningless, but it is certainly interesting...

I have a critical essay (literary/ rhetorical analysis) with a 30/12. I could post an excerpt if you're interested.