An Analysis of Critical Thinking Skills Students of Batik 1 Senior High School Surakarta in the 2022/2023 Academic Year

Abstract

Critical thinking is a pivotal skill that underpins academic success and readiness for contemporary life and work complexities. This research examines the students' critical thinking abilities at Batik 1 Senior High School in Surakarta for the 2022/2023 academic year. A representative sample of 100 students was randomly selected across all grades to participate in this study. They were evaluated using a critical thinking assessment, which measured their proficiency in argument identification and evaluation, problem-solving, and decision-making. Contrary to proficiency expectations, the findings indicate that the student's overall critical thinking skills trend towards the lower end of the spectrum. At the same time, they demonstrate an essential capacity to engage with arguments and make reasoned decisions; their problem-solving abilities need to be more inventive approaches. These results point to an opportunity for Batik 1 Senior High School Surakarta to bolster its critical thinking curriculum. The school could benefit from integrating enhanced learning strategies that promote innovative problem-solving and reasoning to elevate students' critical thinking capabilities to meet the demands of an increasingly digital and complex world.