Adissya Elma Fitriyah, Susanah, Ali Shodikin
In the current era of education, fostering critical thinking among students is imperative. Critical thinking skills are crucial, especially in subjects like mathematics, where understanding concepts, problem analysis, and logical application are essential for finding solutions. This study examines high school students' critical thinking abilities in solving series and sequence problems based on their respective mathematical proficiency levels. Mathematical proficiency is categorized into three levels: high, moderate, and low. The instruments used for student grouping include documentation of test results and overall mathematics grades obtained previously, along with individual and classroom observations during mathematics learning sessions. Three students from Grade X at MAIT Darul Fikri Sidoarjo, representing each category of mathematical proficiency, serve as the data source for this study. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method with qualitative methodology and a descriptive approach. Analytical techniques include qualitative descriptive analysis and content analysis to identify patterns in students' critical thinking processes. Data triangulation from written tests, brief interviews, and observations ensures the validity of findings. The results indicate that high mathematical proficiency students demonstrate strong critical thinking processes in solving series and sequence problems, effectively understanding and categorizing information during problem analysis despite occasional computational errors. Moderate mathematical proficiency students engage in critical thinking during problem-solving but face challenges in constructing numerical models and correctly identifying the type of sequence given. Low mathematical proficiency students exhibit weaker critical thinking skills in handling series and sequence problems, indicating a need for further understanding to align with their peers' abilities. © 2025 Author(s).
Undergraduate Mathematics Education, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
