Analysis of EFL Students’ Ability in Reading Vocabulary of Synonyms and Antonyms

Abstract

Reading is an important thing for academic level. Every student must have many
vocabularies to encourage her/his reading skill. The aim of this research is to analyze
the students’ understanding of reading vocabularies of synonyms and antonyms in the
higher education level. Synonyms and antonyms are two important things should be
mastered to get better reading comprehension. The method used in this research was
quantitative with survey design. The population same as the sample of this research was
from fifth semester students of STIBA Persada Bunda Pekanbaru. The procedures of the
research were divided into 3 parts. First, students were asked to choose the best choice
in the multiple choice for synonyms and anton, number and the wrong number, and
grouped the wrong number into difficulties level. Last, the researcher analyzed the
students’ ability in reading vocabulary of synonyms and antonyms and concluded the
result of students’ ability in reading vocabulary of synonyms and antonyms in
elementary, intermediate, and advanced level. The result of this research showed that
the students’ ability in reading vocabulary of synonyms and antonyms was categorized
into “excellent” level with mean score 85. From the three difficulties level of question,
the findings of this research were explained every level of question. In synonyms, the
mean score of students’ ability were 89, 85, and 84 for elementary, intermediate, and
advanced level of question. Whereas, in antonyms, the mean score of students’ ability
were 97, 85, and 69 for elementary, intermediate, and advanced level of question.