ANALYSIS OF HOTS-BASED INDONESIAN LANGUAGE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS IN CLASS X KANSAI VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

The implementation of exam questions based on Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) is crucial to enhance students' critical and creative thinking abilities; however, its use in Indonesian language learning remains limited. This study aims to analyze the application of HOTS-based questions for grade X students at SMK Kansai Pekanbaru. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected through interviews and document studies. Data analysis follows the Miles and Huberman model, encompassing data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. Out of 35 questions analyzed (consisting of 25 multiple-choice questions, 5 essays, and 5 short-answer questions), only 8 questions (23%) fall into the HOTS category, 11 questions (32%) into the medium-level thinking skills (MOTS) category, and 16 questions (45%) into the low-level thinking skills (LOTS) category. The findings reveal that most questions need revision, particularly regarding difficulty level and distinguishing power, to enhance the effectiveness of assessing students' thinking skills. The application of HOTS questions is useful for measuring students' critical and creative thinking abilities in accordance with curriculum requirements and learning objectives. This will help students not only master basic knowledge, but also develop higher skills that are relevant to real life.