Analysis of problem-solving ability of high school students in Jambi

Abstract

One of the abilities that are needed in this century is problem-solving ability. The problem-solving phases, according to Polya, consist of understanding the problem, planning the problem, solving the problem according to the plan, and re-examining the results obtained. This qualitative descriptive study aims to describe students' mathematical problem-solving ability in solving an analytical circles problem. The participants of this study were 32 Indonesian grade-11 students (aged 16 years old), then were selected into three participants representing three levels of problem-solving ability: high, medium, and low, and their willingness and communication skills. The results showed that students with high problem-solving ability could understand, plan, complete, and re-examine the results obtained well, thoroughly, precisely, and in an organised manner. Students with medium problem-solving ability could understand and plan problems well but still have difficulty solving them because they could not connect the relevant concept with the problem and understand the problem. Students with low problem-solving ability could not solve, plan, solve, and re-examine correctly because these students had limitations in understanding word problems and could not translate problems into mathematical form.