Abstract: This study aims to describe the learning strategies applied by the highest and high eighth grade students in learning English at SMP Negeri 4 Kotabumi for the academic year 2025/2026 and to describe the dominant strategies applied by the highest and high eighth grade students in learning English at SMP Negeri 4 Kotabumi for the academic year 2025/2026. This study uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive method. The research subjects consisted of 15 students consisting of 9 students with the highest ability and 6 students with the high ability who were selected based on their mid-semester exam scores in the English subject. Data collection techniques were carried out through interviews which consists of 15 questions. To analyze the data, the researcher uses Miles and Huberman model consisting of data collection, data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing/verification. The results of the study showed that the highest and high ability students applied various learning strategies, which included metacognitive, cognitive, and social/affective strategies. Metacognitive strategies include selective focus, planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Then, cognitive strategies include repetition, grouping, inference, summarization, deduction, imagination, transfer, and elaboration. Then social/affective strategies include cooperation, asking for clarification, and self-talk, but each respondent showed different intensity of application of learning strategies. However, the dominant learning strategy applied by highest ability students were social/affective strategies include cooperation, asking for clarification, and self-talk and the dominant learning strategy applied by high ability students were metacognitive strategies include selective focus, planning, monitoring, and evaluation.