Assessment of Critical Thinking and Communication Skills of Grade 8 Students in Science Education at Conat Integrated School

Background and Aim: Students in Grade 8 benefit from critical thinking because it helps them comprehend information better, solve problems logically, and make thoughtful decisions. Additionally, communication skills enable them to confidently collaborate with classmates, listen to others, and clearly express their ideas, all of which support both academic success and personal development. This study explores the critical thinking and communication skills of eighth-grade students in science education at Conat Integrated School during the 2024–2025 academic year. Materials and Methods: Employing a descriptive quantitative approach, data were collected from 73 students using standardized tests and self-assessment questionnaires with established validity and reliability. Descriptive statistics, including percentages with 95% confidence intervals, were used to analyze students’ performance across five critical thinking indicators and four communication skills indicators. Results: The findings reveal notable gaps in both skill areas: students demonstrated low levels, with critical thinking skills like providing simple explanations at 65%, and communication skills such as expressing and evaluating at 45% and 42%, respectively. Conclusion: These results highlight the need for targeted instructional strategies to enhance higher-order thinking and communication capabilities. The study underscores the importance of adopting active, student-centered learning approaches to better prepare students for future academic and real-world challenges.