Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions parents ask us most often. If yours isn't here, email hello@evidencebasedvocabulary.com. We read every message and usually reply the same day.
What is Evidence Based Vocabulary? Who is it for?
Evidence Based Vocabulary is a vocabulary app built around the books your reader is reading or preparing to read. It turns authentic passages into short personalized practice, then brings each word back on an adaptive review schedule. It is designed for independent readers, roughly ages 6 to 20. Reading ability matters more than age: the app adjusts the selected words and the support each exercise provides.
How does the app teach each word?
A new word begins with its actual passage, an accessible definition, pronunciation, and a meaning exercise. Certain card types also use a generated illustration as a clue. Illustrations are optional, so a missing image never has to block a lesson.
Reviews become more demanding as the word becomes familiar. They can move from meaning recognition to choosing the word in context, spelling, working with useful prefixes, roots, and suffixes, and rebuilding the word in a letter Jumble. Wrong answers also become more closely related, requiring a more precise understanding of the word's sense.
How do you choose the words?
We start with the selected book, then prioritize words likely to matter beyond one page. The selection considers reading difficulty, frequency, how widely a word appears across different kinds of English, useful word parts, and the quality of the exact passage. Already-mastered words, names, ambiguous senses, idiomatic uses, and passages with weak or misleading clues are skipped.
Can I review what my child is doing?
Yes. The parent dashboard shows progress charts, session history, mastery forecasts, and a per-word breakdown of where your reader is in the practice progression. There's also a live spectator mode where you can watch the session as it happens, including the cards, answers, and hesitations, without changing what the reader sees.
How long are the lessons?
Sessions have a clear stopping point. Parents choose a session time budget from 8 to 30 minutes; the default is 15 minutes. The session planner uses that budget to balance due reviews with a manageable number of new words.
What books are supported?
Once subscribed, you can upload an English EPUB you legally have the right to use. The app also includes a Project Gutenberg search, so you can find and add free public-domain EPUBs without downloading them elsewhere first. We do not currently support PDFs, DRM-protected EPUBs, or non-English titles. During the free trial, lessons use The Wind in the Willows; adding other books is unlocked with a subscription.
What happens after my free trial?
The 14-day trial ends and your reader's access pauses until you subscribe. Subscribing is $19.99/month per student, billed through Stripe; we never see your full card number. Progress, history, and uploaded books are preserved through the conversion, so the reader picks up exactly where they left off. If you don't subscribe, your data is held under our soft-delete grace policy (see the privacy policy) before being permanently deleted.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. You can cancel through the Customer Portal in your parent dashboard, or by emailing us. Cancellation stops future charges immediately, and you keep full access through the end of the period you have already paid for. The first 7 days after your first paid charge are no-questions-asked refundable; full details are in our refund policy.
How do I contact support?
Email hello@evidencebasedvocabulary.com. We are a small team, read every message, and usually reply within one business day. For billing questions, please contact us before filing a chargeback with your bank; in nearly every case we can resolve the issue directly and faster.
Still curious? Try the 14-day free trial without entering a credit card.
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