What does the term "text complexity" refer to?

The term "text complexity" refers to the level of difficulty of a text as determined by various factors, including vocabulary usage, sentence structure, and thematic elements. This encompasses how challenging a text is for a reader to understand due to the intricacies of language and the depth of the subject matter it addresses. Text complexity is a crucial consideration in education as it influences how well students can comprehend and engage with the material. The correct understanding of text complexity helps educators choose appropriate reading materials that match their students' abilities while also challenging them to advance their reading skills.

In contrast, the other options do not fully capture the concept of text complexity. For instance, simply measuring the length of a text or the number of pages does not address its inherent difficulty. Similarly, understanding the age level of the audience and their reading ability provides context but does not define the complexity of the text itself. Lastly, while illustrations and pictures can enrich a text and aid comprehension, they are not direct indicators of textual difficulty or complexity.