Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills in Plant Growth and Development at Cinta Rakyat 3 Private Junior High School, Pematangsiantar

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential for understanding biological processes and developing scientific reasoning. This study aimed to analyze these skills among ninth-grade students studying plant growth and development at Cinta Rakyat 3 Private Junior High School, Pematangsiantar, Indonesia. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed involving 96 students from three classes, with 32 students per class. Data were collected using essay-based assessments and analyzed through descriptive statistics and indicator-level comparisons. Of the 20 initial assessment items, 10 were classified as valid, while the initial instrument demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha of 0.830. Mean critical thinking scores were 86.67, 76.67, and 75.05 for classes IX-A, IX-B, and IX-C, respectively. Corresponding problem-solving scores were 87.19, 74.45, and 82.81. Indicator-level analysis revealed variations in critical thinking performance across classes. Problem comprehension consistently achieved the highest scores, whereas planning and implementing solutions showed relatively lower performance. These findings highlight differences in students' cognitive skills and the importance of targeted instructional support. Further assessment is needed to strengthen instrument reliability and evaluate instructional effectiveness.