What is this?
This tool checks whether text meets a specified CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) language level, B1, B2, C1, etc. It's useful for plain-language compliance and for multilingual content quality assurance.
When do I need this?
Use this when you need to verify that text intended for a general audience meets a specific reading level, or when checking translations for language difficulty.
Applies to:Public-facing content, translated documents, consumer communications, legal notices, and accessibility statements.
- 1Paste your text, Paste the text you want to assess into the input field.
- 2Select your target CEFR level, Choose the level you're aiming for. B1 is appropriate for general public content; B2 for professional documents.
- 3Review the assessment, The tool highlights words and phrases that are above the target level.
- 4Simplify highlighted content, Replace complex words with simpler alternatives. The tool will update the score in real time.
- 5Export the assessment, Download the results for your content quality record.
Blank checklist, printable form
CEFR B2 Readability Compliance Checklist
EAA Annex I Section IV(e) Language Requirements Checklist
Blank checklist for offline completion.
Tick one box per row. Add comments and evidence references in the Notes column as needed.
Vocabulary Complexity
CEFR B2 lexical range, ensuring banking content uses vocabulary accessible to upper-intermediate readers.
| Ref | Severity | Requirement | Status | Notes / Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Critical | No specialised jargon is used without a plain-language definition.Every domain-specific term (e.g. 'amortisation', 'collateral', 'fiduciary') must be accompanied by a plain-language definition on first use, either inline or via a linked glossary. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Critical | Financial terms are explained at first use in each document.Even common banking terms (APR, fixed rate, variable rate) should be explained at first occurrence in each standalone document. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | All acronyms are expanded on first use.Acronyms must be written in full on first use followed by the abbreviation in parentheses, e.g. 'Annual Percentage Rate (APR)'. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | Vocabulary stays within CEFR B2 word frequency lists (top 5,000 most common words).The core vocabulary of the document should draw from the top 5,000 most frequent English words (corresponding to CEFR B2 receptive vocabulary). | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | No Latin or legal phrases are used without a plain-language translation.Phrases such as 'inter alia', 'mutatis mutandis', 'pro rata', and 'force majeure' must either be replaced with plain English or accompanied by an immediate translation. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A |
Sentence Structure
CEFR B2 grammatical complexity, keeping sentence construction within upper-intermediate reading ability.
| Ref | Severity | Requirement | Status | Notes / Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Critical | Average sentence length does not exceed 20 words.CEFR B2 readers can comfortably process sentences up to approximately 20 words. Longer sentences increase cognitive load. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | No triple-nested subordinate clauses are present.Sentences with three or more levels of subordination exceed CEFR B2 parsing ability. Maximum two levels of embedding. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | Active voice is preferred over passive voice.Active voice ('The bank will send you a statement') is easier to parse than passive ('A statement will be sent to you by the bank'). | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | Each sentence conveys one main idea only.Sentences that pack multiple ideas separated by commas, semicolons, or conjunctions force the reader to parse and retain several concepts simultaneously. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Minor | Conditional and subjunctive mood are used sparingly.Constructions like 'should you wish to', 'were the account to be' are grammatically complex for CEFR B2 readers. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A |
Document Organisation
Information architecture for comprehension, structuring banking documents so CEFR B2 readers can find and understand key information.
| Ref | Severity | Requirement | Status | Notes / Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Critical | Key information appears in the first paragraph (inverted pyramid structure).The most important information must appear in the opening paragraph. Do not bury critical details after lengthy introductions. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | Numbered or bulleted lists are used for sequences and multiple items.When a document presents a series of steps, conditions, or items, they must be formatted as a list, not embedded in running prose. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | Headings are present every 3–5 paragraphs to aid navigation.Long unbroken blocks of text are difficult for CEFR B2 readers to navigate and scan. Descriptive headings every 3–5 paragraphs break content into manageable chunks. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Critical | A plain-language summary appears at the start of legal documents.Any document with legal or contractual content must open with a plain-language summary explaining the key points in simple terms. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | Visual hierarchy supports scanning, bold, spacing, and indentation used consistently.CEFR B2 readers rely on visual cues to navigate documents. Key terms, amounts, and dates should be visually emphasised. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A |
Financial Content Clarity
Banking-specific CEFR requirements, ensuring financial products and services are communicated at an accessible reading level.
| Ref | Severity | Requirement | Status | Notes / Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Critical | Interest rates are explained with worked examples.Stating '3.5% APR variable' is insufficient for CEFR B2 readers. Interest rates must be accompanied by a concrete worked example. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Critical | Fee schedules are presented in table format, not prose.Fee information must be presented in a structured table with clear columns (fee name, amount, when it applies, how to avoid it). | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Critical | Risk warnings use concrete language, not abstractions.Vague warnings like 'your capital is at risk' are insufficient for CEFR B2 comprehension. Risk warnings must state specifically what could happen. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | Contract terms have a plain-language summary alongside legal text.Each major section of a contract should have a plain-language sidebar, margin note, or preceding summary. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A | |
| EAA Annex I §IV(e) | Major | Comparison information is presented in a structured format.When customers are comparing products, the information must be presented in a structured comparison table or side-by-side format. | ☐ Pass ☐ Partial ☐ FAIL ☐ N/A |