this post was submitted on 08 May 2026
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Luckily to clear up any self-bragging confusion, test scores and thus literacy, are standardized through tests (primarily written and distributed by McGraw-Hill, which was founded by Ghislaine Maxwell's [yes Epstein's Ghislaine Maxwell] Father.)
That totally normal fact aside, the general measurement is reading speed across age-appropriate 'Lexile' levels, which is an annoying complex metric assigned to various texts based on grammar, word count, word complexity, complexity of the plot(s), and kinda general vibe.
The Hobbit is 1000L, which is the middle of a 5th grade reading level. Pretty much any fifth grade student, theoretically, should be able to read The Hobbit with little to no trouble nor the need to look up additional words; at around 130 words per minute.
For some other fun examples, Twilight is 720L (3rd grade reading level), Robinson Crusoe is 1360L (at least 7th grade), The Lord of the Rings Trilogy ranges from 810-920L (4th grade reading level, so good brag) and War and Peace, shockingly, is only 1180L.
Second question, what's "third grade" for you?
In france it's like 15-16 (they count backwards too so second comes after third), in Sweden it's like 9-10.
In the US grades are (usually) the following:
Pre-Kindergarten (not all Americans attend this): 3-5 years old Kindergarten: 4-6 years old Elementary school is 1st-5th grade. 1st grade: 5-7 years old ... 3rd grade: 8-10 years old ... 'Middle School' or 'Junior high is 6th-8th grade. 6th usually is 11-13 years old and High school is 9th-12th grade. we typically end with 12th grade at 17-18 years old
These are general ranges as it does vary from state to state with allowances for birthdays and advanced placement (i.e. in many places you can test out of or into various grades), but the general idea is (except pre-K) you spend 12 years between 5 years old to 17 years old in grades 1-12. That plus kindergarten are all that's fully paid for as far as public education goes.
What about Umberto Ecos books, or Dostojevskijs?
The only work by Eco that is graded is Serendipities at 1480L, this would be somewhere in high school (as early as 9th grade reading level for AP/Advanced students, up to 12th grade for average students.)
Only around 700-800L, shockingly. The English translation of Crime and Punishment isn't considered that advanced apparently. I personally wouldn't think it's on the same level as Twilight, but that is what the American education system feels about it.
Any metric that lists the hobbit as a higher reading level than LoTR is not a good metric.
So the Hobbit is higher than the LOTR trilogy? That's kind of a bad metric then.