ENGLISH:
This study aimed to improve the reading comprehension skills of the eleventh- grade students of SMAN 1 Simpang Teritip through the Contextual Guessing Strategy. The objectives were to examine its effect on students’ comprehension and to identify whether a significant difference existed between students taught with and without the strategy. Using a quasi-experimental design with a non- equivalent control group, the study involved 61 students divided into experimental (31) and control (30) groups. Data were collected through pre-tests, post-tests, and observations. Results showed that the experimental group’s mean score increased from 57.06 to 79.00, while the control group improved from 55.07 to 70.43. The independent sample t-test indicated that t-count (3.40) > t- table (2.00), confirming a significant difference between the groups. In conclusion, the Contextual Guessing Strategy effectively enhanced students’ reading comprehension, especially in narrative texts. Teachers are encouraged to apply this strategy to foster active learning and reduce reliance on translation.