Students mathematical communication ability in geometry

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study is to describe the communication ability of grade 8 students in Euclidean solid space topics based on Prior Mathematical Ability (PMA). The subject of this study consisted of 30 students. This research approach was quantitative with a descriptive method. Data collected by the test which developed based on indicators of mathematical communication. The indicators of mathematical communication used in this study are: (1) expressing a mathematical idea to the form of image; (2) expressing real objects or image to the form of mathematics; (3) state daily events in a language or mathematical symbol; (4) explain ideas, situations, and pictures in writing to mathematical form. The results showed that the average percentage of communication ability of all students was 47.68%. While the average percentage of students achieving in a high category was 62.5%. That was above the overall average of students. The average percentage of student achievement in a moderate category was 45.54%, and the percentage of students achievement in a low category was 45.00%.