AN ANALYSIS OF GRADE 8 STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN COMPREHENDING READING TEXTS

The objective of this study was to analyze the Students’ ability in comprehending reading text. The research was focused on the students’ mastery of vocabulary, comprehension, and pronunciation at the level stated in 2004 curriculum. The population of this study were the grade 8 students of SMP Negeri 1, Pahae Jae. The sample was taken by using random sampling; there were 34 students to be the sample of this research. The data were acquired by administering 3 aspects: of vocabulary, comprehension, and pronunciation. The sample was given 5 reading texts. Reading one and two were for the first test, reading three and four for the second test, and reading five for the last test. The data of vocabulary was gathered through objective test (30 items). The data of comprehension was gathered through answering comprehension questions (30 items), and the data of pronunciation was gathered through oral test (30 items). Therefore, the total number of items was 90. After analyzing the data, the findings showed that 2 items (0.22%) were categorized difficult, 36 items (40%) were categorized moderate, and 52 items (57.78%) were categorized easy. The average score of vocabulary was 69.80, comprehension was 63.10, and pronunciation was 52.20. Therefore, reading comprehension score was 58.20. 16 students (48%) were classified as able, 18 students (52%) were classified as unable. It means that the students of 2009 academic year of SMP Negeri 1 Pahae Jae were unable in comprehending reading texts