Analysis of Mathematical Connection Ability and Self-Confidence on Junior High School Students

This research is motivated by the importance of students’ mathematical connection abilities and self-confidence in learning mathematics. Mathematical connection ability is an important factor in understanding mathematical concepts. The aim of this research is to analyze the level of students’ mathematical connection abilities and junior high school students’ self-confidence. The method used in this research is a descriptive-qualitative method. The research subjects were 37 students in class VIII-C of SMPN 3 Margahayu. The instruments used were four items of mathematical connection test material on the System of Two-Variable Linear Equations and non-tests of students’ confidence in learning mathematics. The results of the analysis show that the average score of all mathematical connection ability test questions in indicator 1 using relationships between mathematical topics is 5%, indicator 2 is understanding equivalent representations of the same concept (36%), indicator 3 uses mathematics in everyday life (52%), and indicator 4 uses mathematics in other subjects (27%). So the average is 30%. So the students’ mathematical connection ability is included in the low category. Most students are unable to solve problems with indicators using relationships between mathematical topics. This is shown by the results of the mathematical connection ability test; students did not connect optimally. But in learning mathematics, students already have good self-confidence.