<![CDATA[This quantitative study assessed Critical Thinking (CT) proficiency, explored Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) strategies, and examined the relationships between SRL and CT and their components. Additionally, it examined the effect and predictive roles of SRL strategies in shaping CT skills and addressed the extent to which self-reflection mediates the effect of performance control on CT skills. The sample consisted of 150 students from Moroccan preparatory classes. The Collegiate Academic Achievement Proficiency (CAAP) Critical Thinking Test (CTT) was administered to assess CT proficiency. The Academic Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire (ASRLQ) was used to examine SRL strategies. The results demonstrated students’ average level of CT and statistically significant correlations between the components of SRL and CT. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis indicated a statistically significant high path from SRL to CT (β = 0.75, SE = 0.07, t = 10.71, p < .001), confirming the effect of SRL on CT. Additionally, the findings of the mediation analysis with bootstrapping confirmed the indirect effect of self-reflection on the relationship between performance control and CT. This study highlights the importance of enhancing students' SRL strategies and the role of self-reflection in developing learners’ higher-order thinking skills. These findings highlight the use of differentiated instructional approaches that consider planning, monitoring, and reflection strategies as central mechanism for developing CT, metacognitive awareness and promote learner autonomy.]]>
