<![CDATA[Vocabulary is a fundamental component of English learning that supports students’ ability to understand and express ideas. However, seventh-grade students at SMP Negeri 29 Sijunjung experienced limited vocabulary mastery, low learning motivation, and less engaging conventional instruction. This study investigated the effect of the Word Chain Game on students’ vocabulary mastery. A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design was employed. The population comprised 84 seventh-grade students from three classes, while 56 students were selected through cluster sampling. Data were collected using a 25-item vocabulary test consisting of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions administered as pre-test and post-test. Because the data were not normally distributed, the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Mann-Whitney U Test were conducted using SPSS. The findings indicated an improvement in vocabulary mastery in the experimental class, with the mean score increasing from 41.86 to 71.36, compared with an increase from 46.43 to 59.86 in the control class. The Wilcoxon test showed a significant improvement in the experimental class (Z = -4.510, p = 0.000), while the Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significant post-test difference between groups (U = 238.500, Z = -2.530, p = 0.011). Thus, the Word Chain Game significantly improved students’ vocabulary mastery and was more effective than conventional instruction.]]>
