Identify the root inside an unfamiliar word and state the meaning it contributes.
Recognise the fifteen or so Greek and Latin roots that recur most often across HESI A2 vocabulary and health terminology.
Use a known root to narrow down the meaning of a word you have never seen before, even without the prefix or suffix attached.
What the lesson concludes
A root carries a word's core meaning. Once you know it, every word built on it becomes easier to guess.
Most HESI A2 roots come from Greek or Latin, and a surprising number overlap directly with clinical terminology you will meet on the wards.
The same root often shows up with a slightly different spelling (duc, duct or vid, vis), so learn the sound and the meaning, not just one fixed string of letters.
When a question stumps you, isolate the root first. It usually gets you close enough to eliminate two of the four answer choices.