Abstract
This study employed the quantitative descriptive method and examined the research competencies of 278 Grade 10 students at Doňa Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School, Division of La Carlota City, for the school year 2023-2024. The data on the research competencies were gathered through survey questionnaires, Google Forms, or printed copies that evaluated the respondents' profiles and level of competency in writing the research paper, with 28 items including choosing the right topic, selecting a research objective, choosing related literature, and selecting appropriate methodologies using the three-point Likert scale. The data was analyzed quantitatively by measuring the frequency, percent distribution, and One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results revealed that there were more females than males overall. The vast majority of respondents had a monthly income below the minimum wage, and most parents attained a high school education. Most resource materials available were online resources. Moreover, most of the respondents agreed on the level of research competencies in terms of choosing the right topic, selecting a research objective, choosing related literature, and selecting appropriate methodologies. This study concluded that there was no significant difference between male and female students in terms of their levels of research competencies, even considering economic status and parents' educational attainment. It was recommended to develop supplementary learning materials that significantly contribute to the overall educational development and research skills of Grade 10 English students, and further studies should intensively investigate students' research competencies.
