Studying for vocabulary tests isn't just about listing words with their definitions. When students understand how to break words down into their smallest parts (prefixes, roots and suffixes), etymology becomes a great guide for making the grade - whether a weekly vocabulary quiz or the SAT. Learning basic etymology tips gives students the tools they need to break down new and unfamiliar words.

Use this colorful handout as a guide to some of the most common parts of words; the clues that these 'word parts' offer will help students shine when they are faced with an unfamiliar term on a test.

Extra Credit: have your students test their new skills with the challenge words at the bottom of the page.