NSMQ 2026: Sonrise Christian High School, Islamic SHS and Presby SHTS, Osino Each Secure One-eighth Stage Spots!

CNC Auditorium - August 24, 2026

Nine schools battled for the three available spots in the One-eighth Stage of the National Championship of the National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ) during the final Preliminary Stage contests at the CNC Auditorium on Monday.

Nyakrom SHTS, St. Mary’s Boys’ SHS, and Sonrise Christian High School started the day’s contest, followed by Armed Forces SHTS, Tamale Islamic Science SHS, and Islamic SHS, Kumasi. Aggrey Memorial Zion SHS, Presby SHTS, Osino and Nkonya SHS ended the final Preliminary Stage contest at the CNC Auditorium.

Proceedings across all three contests were smoothly handled by Quiz Mistress Mrs. Rachel Annoh, with her trademark - clarity, composure and firm control, ensuring fair and captivating contests.

Sonrise Christian High School, Islamic SHS, Kumasi, and Presby SHTS, Osino sailed through from the final Preliminary Stage of the contest to the One-eighth Stage of the National Championship of the 2026 NSMQ.

The day saw Presby SHTS, Osino jointly won the Pepsodent Highest Scorer Award for the final Preliminary Stage, amassing an impressive 51 points, a GH₵1,000 prize, while Tamale Islamic Science SHS grabbed the Jupay Money Transfer Clean Sheet, worth GH₵500.  

Sonrise Christian High School Book One-eighth Stage

In the first contest for the day, Sonrise Christian High School put up an impressive performance, securing a spot in the One-eighth Stage. The contest began on a tight note: St. Mary’s Boys’ SHS and Sonrise Christian High School were tied at 16 points, just a point ahead of Nyakrom SHTS, 15 points.

In the Round Two, Trustur AI Speed Race, Sonrise Christian High School took full control, surging to 33 points to open a huge lead, while St. Mary’s Boys’ moved to 18 points and Nyakrom SHTS remained on 13 points.

Sonrise Christian High School extended their supremacy in the Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day), increasing their points to 38, with St. Mary’s Boys’ and Nyakrom SHTS, earning 18 and 13 points, respectively.

Nyakrom SHTS pushed strongly in the Jupay Money Transfer True/False and Goil Riddle Bonanza rounds, but Sonrise Christian High School emerge victorious at the end of the contest with 51 points. Nyakrom SHTS finished second with 29 points, narrowly edging St. Mary’s Boys’ SHS who ended with 28 points.

“This win means a lot, but it is just the tip of the iceberg, you are going to see more from Sonrise Christian High School from the next contest. We promise you that we will deliver,” a team member said in an interview with the NSMQ Communications Team.

Islamic SHS, Kumasi overturns True/False setback to edge Tamale Islamic Science SHS

A late rally saw Islamic SHS, Kumasi overcome Tamale Islamic Science SHS to secure progression to the One-eighth Stage in contest two of the Final Prelims, turning a point difference in the fourth round into five to win the second contest of the day.

At the end of the Round One, Tamale Islamic Science SHS and Islamic SHS and Kumasi tied on 20 points, while Armed Forces SHTS followed with 12 points. Islamic SHS, Kumasi inched ahead in the Trustur AI Speed Race, moving to 26 points. Tamale Islamic Science SHS close behind with 23 points and Armed Forces SHTS, 14 points.

The third round, Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day), saw Islamic SHS, Kumasi maintain their slim lead on 29 points over Tamale Islamic Science’s 24 points. Armed Forces SHTS maintained their 14 points.

The contest took a dramatic turn in the Jupay Money Transfer True/False round, where Tamale Islamic Science SHS delivered a flawless performance to win the Clean Sheet Award of GH₵500, surging to 40 points to overtake Islamic SHS, Kumasi who moved to 39 points. Armed Forces SHTS also improved to 27 points.

However, Islamic SHS, Kumasi responded strongly in the decisive Goil Riddle Bonanza round. They got two crucial riddles correct to finish with 45 points and snatch victory. Tamale Islamic Science SHS ended with 40 points and Armed Forces SHTS, 30 points. 

Abdul Hakeem Chentuwuni Mohammed of Islamic SHS, Kumasi who did not only kneel to pray after the contest but shared tears of joy for their victory after a keen contest, attributed the win to self-motivation.

“Our mistakes made us fall along the way, but I motivated my colleague that we can do better. We intend to reach the quarterfinals, even though at the One-eighth Stage we will meet the seeded schools, which makes the competition tougher,” said Mohammed.

Clean sheet, Two Riddles Power Presby SHTS, Osino into One-eighth Stage

The Final Preliminary Stage at the CNC Auditorium ended with a thrilling comeback as Presby SHTS, Osino overturned an early deficit to beat Aggrey Memorial SHS in the last round to book a place in the One-eighth Stage.

It was Aggrey Memorial Zion SHS who started stronger, taking a narrow 21-19 lead over Presby SHTS, Osino after the first round of General Questions, while Nkonya SHS finished the round without a point.

The Cape Coast side stretched their advantage in the Trustur AI Speed Race roudn, moving to 26 points, with Presby SHTS, Osino close behind on 23 points, while Nkonya SHS still had no point.

The Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day) round saw Aggrey Memorial SHS further extend their lead to 34 points, against 29 points by Presby SHTS, Osino, as Nkonya SHS had one point.

The contest swung in the Jupay Money Transfer True/False round, where Presby SHTS, Osino delivered a perfect round to claim the Clean Sheet Award, ending the round with 45 points, overtaking Aggrey Memorial SHS who moved to 43 points. Nkonya SHS managed three points.

Aggrey Memorial Zion SHS pushed hard in the final Goil Riddle Bonanza but could only add three points to finish on 46 points. Presby SHTS, Osino held their nerve to pick up two more riddles to win the contest by 51 points, secure a One-eighth Stage qualification. Nkonya SHS ended with three points.

A Glance at the Scores for all the Four Contests

First Contest	Second Contest	Third Contest
Sonrise Christian High School - 51 Nyakrom SHTS - 29 St. Mary’s Boys’ SHS - 28	Islamic SHS, Kumasi – 45 points Tamale Islamic Science SHS – 40 points Armed Forces SHTS - 30	Presby SHTS, Osino – 51 points Aggrey Memorial Zion SHS – 46 points Nkonya SHS – 03 points

The 2026 edition of the National Science & Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and proudly sponsored by the Ghana Education Service (GES), with support from GOIL PLC, Joy News, Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, Pepsodent, Cowbell, Trustur AI, Jupay Money Transfer, Lumevax, GTP, SpinCiti Laundromat, Didi Jollof, Bel Beverages, Accra College of Medicine, Coronation Insurance Ghana, Academic City University and YFM.