Abstract
This study aims to determine the effect of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model on students’ critical thinking skills at SMP Muhammadiyah 2 Taman Sidoarjo. The background of this research is based on the importance of education in shaping the quality of human resources and the necessity for mastering 21st-century skills, particularly critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. This research employed a quantitative experimental method with a population consisting of students from classes VIII B and VIII E in the 2024/2025 academic year. The sampling technique used was non-probability sampling, and data analysis included validity testing, reliability testing, normality testing, homogeneity testing, N-Gain testing, and hypothesis testing. The results showed that the implementation of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model had a significant effect on improving students’ critical thinking skills. Students who were taught using the PBL model demonstrated better abilities in analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting information compared to those who experienced conventional learning methods. Therefore, it can be concluded that the implementation of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model is effective in enhancing students’ critical thinking skills and can serve as a relevant learning strategy to address the challenges of 21st-century education.