ZepQuiz Game-Based Learning for Improving Students’ Narrative Reading Skills: ZepQuiz: Pembelajaran Berbasis Permainan untuk Meningkatkan Keterampilan Membaca Naratif Siswa

Santoso, Dian Rahma
Tamara, Pasya Rahma
Nabhila, Calista Ananda
Ningsih, Andini Widia
Sujarwo, Gita Desire
Fadlilah, Nurul Lailatul Qodriatil

Academia Open
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): June

General background: Reading comprehension remains a core challenge in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning. Specific background: Many high school students struggle to understand narrative text structures and implicit meanings. Knowledge gap: Few studies have investigated the integration of the ZepQuiz platform within Game-Based Learning (GBL) to enhance narrative reading comprehension at the secondary level. Aims: This study examined the use of ZepQuiz as a digital learning medium to improve students’ reading comprehension and motivation in narrative texts. Results: Using a one-group pretest-posttest quantitative design, findings from 35 students showed a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in reading comprehension and motivation scores after ZepQuiz implementation. Novelty: The research highlights ZepQuiz’s ability to integrate gamification elements—leaderboards, instant feedback, and time challenges—to promote engagement and cognitive processing. Implications: ZepQuiz can be applied as an innovative and interactive learning approach to support digital-based English education. Highlight & Keyword• Motivation improvement through gamified reading• Cognitive engagement in narrative comprehension• Technology-based EFL instruction Keywords: ZepQuiz, Game-Based Learning, Reading Comprehension,Narrative Text, English Education