THE CORRELATION BETWEEN VOCABULARY MASTERY AND WRITING SKILL OF THE EIGHTH- GRADE STUDENTS OF SMP NEGERI 1 UBUD IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025

Writing is a crucial skill in English learning, requiring both linguistic knowledge and creativity. This study aims to determine the correlation between vocabulary mastery and writing skill among eighth-grade students at SMP Negeri 1 Ubud during the academic year 2024/2025. Employing an ex-post facto correlational research design, this study involved 115 students selected through cluster sampling from a population of 351 students. Data were collected using a cloze task to assess vocabulary mastery and a recount writing test to evaluate writing skill. The results of Pearson Product Moment correlation analysis indicated significant correlation between vocabulary mastery and writing skill, with a significance value of 0.644 (p > 0.05). This suggests that while vocabulary mastery plays a role in writing, other factors such as text structure knowledge, coherence, and grammatical accuracy contribute more significantly to students' writing proficiency. These findings highlight the need for a holistic approach in teaching writing, focusing not only on vocabulary enrichment but also on structural and contextual aspects. The study offers valuable insights for educators and researchers in developing effective strategies to enhance students' writing abilities.