<![CDATA[Nonformal religious education may be associated with learning outcomes in Pendidikan Agama Islam (PAI), but studies comparing learning outcomes based on MDA/MDTA backgrounds at the junior secondary school level remain limited. This study aimed to analyze differences in PAI learning outcomes between students with an MDA/MDTA background and those without this background at SMP Negeri 7 Bukittinggi. The study employed a quantitative approach with a comparative method and an ex post facto design. The sample comprised 69 Grade VIII students: 39 with an MDA/MDTA background and 30 without an MDA/MDTA background. Data were collected from records of PAI learning outcome scores and analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Shapiro–Wilk normality test, Levene’s test for homogeneity, and an independent-samples t test with SPSS 27. The findings showed that the mean PAI score of students with an MDA/MDTA background was 81.54, higher than the mean score of 74.67 among students without this background. The difference was statistically significant (p = .005). These findings provide empirical evidence of differences in PAI learning outcomes based on nonformal religious education backgrounds and broaden research on their association at the junior secondary school level. Further research can broaden the sample and range of study sites and examine other factors associated with PAI learning outcomes.]]>
