THE NINTH GRADERS’ PISA-BASED READING LITERACY COMPETENCE

Indonesia's reading literacy score is below the average for 18 years as a participant in pisa assessment from 2000 to 2018. In 2018, the average reading literacy score of Indonesian students showed a significant decrease of 371. The scores obtained by Indonesian students do not meet the average minimum score of international literacy. Test sampling conducted by PISA is also one of the factors that determine the test results. Sampling is done randomly and not thoroughly so that the results do not represent the picture of literacy in a school. SMPN 5 Mandai, Maros Regency is a school that does not become a PISA test sample. Thus, measuring students' reading literacy in SMPN 5 Mandai is important to obtain specific and uniform data. The measurement results can later be used as a foundation to produce appropriate learning methods and design the right reading program for students. The present study aimed to examine: (1) students’ competence in finding text information; (2) students’ competence in understanding the text; (3) students’ competence in evaluating and reflecting on the text. A quantitative research design was used. The sample was selected using a simple random sampling technique. The data were gathered using the internationally acknowledged OECD-PISA questions. The data collection technique is carried out by providing a test for 60 minutes. Data analysis steps, namely (1) performing a score, (2) converting the score into a value, (3) creating a value matrix, (4) establishing a competency category, and (5) making conclusions. Data analysis was run in SPSS version 25. The findings revealed that: (1) students’ competence in locating text information was sufficient, with a mean score of 63.92; (2) students’ competence in comprehending a text was very poor, with a mean score of 52.55; and (3) students’ competence in evaluating and reflecting on the text was very poor, with a mean score of 45.27.