This research aimed to find out instructional model cognitive strategies based leaded to increase the higher order thinking abilities of the students with cognitive expressing difficulties. The reason to do this research is because the emptiness of the research findings dealing with the instructional model cognitive strategies based to enhance higher order thinking of the students with cognitive expressing difficulties. Consequently, the rapid change at higher education teaching and learning approach will not be able to follow by the students with cognitive expressing difficulties. Furthermore, the condition will prevent the students to reach educational goals, as far as, they can achieve. Mix method research is conducted in the form of action research which involves quantitative research method aimed to get to know the increase of the students' higher order thinking and qualitative research method leaded to get information of the instructional process which applied to develop the students' higher order thinking. the research sample are 40 undergraduate students. qualitative research data analysis are analyzed in order to identified the existing of conceptual frameworks underlined the case studies' problems solving, critical thinking, productive thinking and creative thinking, as well as, cognitive strategies based instructional approach used during learning and teaching process. qualitative data analysis come out with cognitive strategies instructional model for increasing higher order thinking of the students with cognitive expressing difficulties. quantitative research data analysis revealed that the higher order thinking abilities of the students are increased in average 228.28 % after participating the cognitive strategies based instructional approach. Keywords: cognitive strategies 1; instructional model 2; the higher order thinking 3; cognitive expressing disabilities 4; mix method research 5. I.