The Third Year Students’ Ability to Answer Analytical Question in TOEFL Text at the English Department of Bung Hatta University. Thesis. English Department, Bung Hatta University.

Abstrak

Reading involves numerous activities such as understanding and remembering ideas, identifying important information, monitoring comprehension and learning, synthesizing information as well as critically evaluating a text (Dilyana et.al., 2016). Reading comprehension is a complex process that involves the reader, the contextual setting, and the reader’s background knowledge (Lipka:2012). It is one of language skills tested in TOEFL, and questions on reading comprehension are elaborated according to Bloom’s taxonomy  revised by Anderson et.al (2001);  they are remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. The purpose of this research was to analyze the third year students’ ability to answer analytical question in TOEFL text at the English Department of Bung Hatta University. Specifically, it is aimed to describe the students’ ability to answer analytical question requiring them to analyze, to compare ideas, and to infer.

      The design of this research was descriptive research. The population of this research was the third year student at the English Department of Bung Hatta University. The sample members were 28 students, chosen by using total sampling technique. The data were collected through reading TOEFL-like Test. It is a standardized test, and it has been used in many countries. ETS (English Testing Service) has tested the validity, reliability, and accuracy of TOEFL itself. For example, Wainer and Lukhele (1997) found that the reliability of  TOEFL test form code with 1995-3RTF27 and 1995-3RTF07 was 0.96 and 0.95 respectively.

In general, the result of data analysis showed that the students had low ability to answer analytical question in TOEFL text. Specifically, the result of the research showed that students’ ability to answer analytical question in TOEFL text which requires them to analyze was low. It was proved by fact that 78,6%  students  had low ability. It was also found that  students’ ability to answer analytical question in TOEFL text which requires them to compare ideas was low. It was proved by fact that 85,7% students had low ability. Lastly,  students’ ability to answer analytical question in TOEFL text which requires them to infer was low. It was proved by fact that 78,6% students  had low ability.

Based on the result of this research, it can be concluded that the third year students’ ability to answer analytical question in TOEFL text at the  English Department of Bung Hatta University was low. Related to this, the lecturers are suggested to improve their students’ ability in doing  TOEFL reading comprehension test by giving more exercises, and tips to do the TOEFL test. The last, the students are suggested to learn more about the TOEFL reading comprehension test and to do more exercises to improve their ability.

Key words: Reading comprehension, analytical question, TOEFL test