This study aims to analyze the effect of the application of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model on students' critical thinking skills on the excretory system material in class XI of Panca Budi Private High School, Medan. The research method used was a quasi-experimental design with a Pretest-Posttest Nonequivalent Control Group Design. The study population was all students of class XI IPA, with a sample of 72 students selected using a cluster random sampling technique. The experimental class (XI-4) was taught using the PBL model, while the control class (XI-5) was taught using the Direct Instruction model. Critical thinking skills data were measured using essay questions based on six Facione indicators. The results showed that the average posttest score of the experimental class (81.04) was higher than the control class (75.69). The results of the hypothesis test using the Independent Samples t-test showed a significance value of 0.000 (p <0.05), which means that H₀ is rejected and Hₐ is accepted. This indicates that the PBL model has a significant effect on improving students' critical thinking skills. The systematic application of the PBL model has been proven to create more active and student-centered learning, thereby optimizing students' intellectual potential in analyzing and solving contextual problems in the excretory system material more effectively than conventional methods.
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