Building a Great Mindset: The Relationship between Critical Thinking Skills and Selangor Tahfiz Student Achievement

Critical Thinking Skills (CTS) can assist students in their academic achievement. Additionally, attention and clear exposure to generating critical thinking ideas among school students, particularly tahfiz students, is necessary. This study aims to assess the level of critical thinking skills, the level of academic achievement of students, and to analyze the relationship between critical thinking skills and the academic achievement of tahfiz students at selected tahfiz schools under the Persatuan Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Negeri Selangor (PITAS) in the Kuala Selangor district. A total of 302 tahfiz students from four tahfiz schools in the Kuala Selangor district, namely Smart Tahfiz Masjid Unisel, Akademi Syahadah Tahfiz Al-Faizin (ASTAF), Sekolah Menengah Islam Addimyati, and Maahad Tarbiah Islamiah Al-Ansar (MTIAA), were involved as the study sample using convenience probability sampling. This study employs a quantitative design with a survey method approach. Data were analyzed using descriptive methods and Pearson's correlation test to determine the relationship between CTS and the academic achievement of tahfiz students. The findings indicate that the level of critical thinking skills is moderate with a mean score of 3.264. Meanwhile, the academic achievement of tahfiz students is also at a moderate level with a mean score of 3.221. Furthermore, the relationship between critical thinking skills and the academic achievement of tahfiz students shows no significant correlation. These findings suggest that stakeholders must seek immediate solutions to ensure that CTS can be enhanced continuously.