Teaching Testing Vocabulary
A Practical, Research-Based Approach for Speech Therapy
Students with developmental language disorder (DLD) often struggle with more than the academic content of tests. Many also have difficulty understanding the language of test questions themselves.
Words such as compare, justify, explain, and conclude appear frequently in assessments. When students do not fully understand these testing vocabulary words, they are unable to demonstrate what they truly know—even when they understand the material.
That is why it is essential to teach testing vocabulary explicitly as part of speech and language intervention.
This page explains why testing vocabulary matters, how research informs effective instruction, and how to teach testing vocabulary in a way that supports both short-term performance and long-term language growth.
Why Testing Vocabulary Matters
Testing vocabulary consists of high-utility academic words that:
- Appear across standardized tests and classroom assessments
- Signal what a student is expected to do with information
- Are rarely taught directly
When students misunderstand testing vocabulary, breakdowns may look like:
- Poor comprehension
- Inaccurate responses
- Reduced test performance
- Difficulty explaining reasoning
Explicit instruction helps ensure that test results reflect a student’s knowledge—not gaps in academic language.
The Research Behind Teaching Testing Vocabulary
Vocabulary instruction is well established as critical for academic success, yet students with DLD often require more structured and intentional teaching to learn new words.
Research comparing instructional approaches highlights two key strategies:
Retrieval Practice
Retrieval practice requires students to repeatedly recall word meanings through activities such as:
- Matching words to definitions
- Writing or stating definitions after instruction
This approach is associated with strong short-term gains in vocabulary learning.
Rich Vocabulary Instruction
Rich vocabulary instruction focuses on building depth of word knowledge through:
- Synonyms and related words
- Repeated explanations
- Connections to prior knowledge and experiences
While this approach may not produce immediate gains, it is critical for long-term retention, flexibility, and word use.
The most effective vocabulary instruction combines both approaches.
How These Testing Vocabulary Materials Are Structured
Based on this research, testing vocabulary materials were designed to integrate retrieval practice with rich vocabulary instruction, giving students multiple ways to learn and apply academic language.
Each activity supports mastery through:
- Definition matching
Reinforces accurate understanding of word meaning - Synonym practice
Connects new testing vocabulary to familiar language - Real-life application
Encourages students to use words meaningfully - Defining and using words in sentences
Supports independent, flexible use of vocabulary
This structure helps students move beyond memorization toward true comprehension and application.
These activities ensure that students don’t just memorize definitions—they truly understand and can apply the words in academic settings. Win Win!
List Of Top 60 Testing Vocabulary Words
The materials that I created focused on the following testing vocabulary words in both English and Spanish.
adapt | correlate | fact | outline |
analyze | define | formulate | paraphrase |
apply | demonstrate | generalize | persuade |
asses | describe | identify | predict |
categorize | details | illustrate | recall |
cause | differentiate | infer | refer |
clarify | distinguish | interpret | restate |
classify | effect | investigate | revise |
claim | estimate | justify | sequence |
compare | evaluate | locate | solve |
conclude | evidence | measure | summarize |
construct | examine | modify | support |
context clues | explain | opinion | synthesize |
contrast | express | organize | verify |
Access Testing Vocabulary Materials
Members:
Please click the link below to access your materials
Not a Member Yet?
Membership includes:
- Testing vocabulary resources
- Tier 2 vocabulary materials
- Language and articulation tools
- English and Spanish resources
- Over 4,000 therapy materials
Learn about Speech Therapy Talk Membership
Final Thoughts
Testing vocabulary is not an “extra” skill—it is a foundational component of academic language. When students understand the language of assessments, they are better able to demonstrate their true abilities.
By combining retrieval-based learning with rich vocabulary instruction, speech-language pathologists can support both immediate performance and long-term language growth.
Clear instruction. Intentional practice. Real impact.
We’ve got this.
Free Speech & Language Material Every Month
Get one research-based speech or language resource delivered to your inbox each month—no prep, no overwhelm. It’s an easy way to explore the quality and approach of Speech Therapy Talk materials before joining the membership.
Free Speech & Language Materials
Fill out the form below and I'll send your first free speech and language resource.
References:
- Levlin, M., Wiklund-Hörnqvist, C., Sandgren, O., Karlsson, S., & Jonsson, B. (2022). Evaluating the effect of rich vocabulary instruction and retrieval practice on the classroom vocabulary skills of children with (developmental) language disorder. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_LSHSS-21-00101
- Lowe, H., Henry, L., Wallinger, J., & Joffe, V. (2022). Teaching vocabulary to adolescents
with language disorder: Perspectives from teachers and speech and language therapists. Child Language Teaching and Therapy. http://doi.org/10.1177/02656590211064541 [ - Hadley, E. B., Dickinson, D. K., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2018). Building semantic networks: The impact of a vocabulary intervention on preschoolers’ depth of word knowledge. Reading Research Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.225
