NSMQ 2026: The Lions Roar Back! Tamale SHS Reclaims Seed from St. Thomas Aquinas!

Day Two of the One-eighth Stage began with an intriguing rematch, as St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School and Tamale Senior High School met again a year after their contest at the same stage. Held at the CNC Auditorium, the contest featured St. Thomas Aquinas, Tamale SHS and Edinaman SHS.

For St. Thomas Aquinas and Tamale SHS, the contest renewed their battle for seeded status. St. Thomas Aquinas had taken over Tamale SHS's seed after defeating them in 2025, and this year's meeting gave the Tamale Lions an opportunity to reclaim it.

The contest began with Round One, the General Questions round, as Tamale SHS missed its opening question, allowing Edinaman SHS to pick up the bonus. The schools exchanged questions and bonus opportunities throughout the round, with St. Thomas Aquinas taking the early lead on 17 points. Edinaman SHS followed with 13 points, while Tamale SHS had 12 points.

Tamale SHS turned the contest around in Round Two, the Trustur AI Speed Race, taking control of the round by answering most of the questions. The school moved into the lead with 26 points, while St. Thomas Aquinas reached 19 points and Edinaman SHS moved to 11 points.

Round Three, the Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star, Problem of the Day, proved challenging for all three schools, with none of them being able to secure the perfect score required for the GH₵2,400 NSMQ Star Prize. Tamale SHS scored eight points to increase its total to 34, while St. Thomas Aquinas added six to reach 25. Edinaman SHS scored two points, taking its total to 13 points.

Tamale SHS strengthened its position in Round Four, the Jupay Money Transfer True/False round, answering all the questions correctly to earn the GH₵700 Jupay Clean Sheet Prize. The school extended its lead to 50 points, while St. Thomas Aquinas moved to 32 points and Edinaman SHS to 26 points.

In Round Five, the GOIL Riddle Bonanza, Tamale SHS answered two riddles correctly to finish on 56 points. St. Thomas Aquinas answered one riddle to reach 35 points, while Edinaman SHS ended on 29. Tamale SHS's victory secured the school a place in the Quarter-final Stage and restored the seed it lost to St. Thomas Aquinas in 2025.

The Round-by-Round Scores for this contest stood as follows:

Round One General Questions (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology)

St. Thomas Aquinas SHS 17points

Edinaman SHS             13points

Tamale SHS                  12 points

Round Two (Trustur AI Speed Race)

Tamale SHS                  26 points

St. Thomas Aquinas SHS 19points

Edinaman SHS             11points

Round Three Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day)    

Tamale SHS                  34points

St. Thomas Aquinas SHS 25points

Edinaman SHS             13points

Round Four (Jupay Money Transfer True/False)                         

Tamale SHS                  50points

St. Thomas Aquinas SHS 32points

Edinaman SHS             26points

Round Five (GOIL Riddle Bonanza)                      

Tamale SHS                  56 points

St. Thomas Aquinas SHS 35 points

Edinaman SHS             29 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, Trustur AI, Jupay Money Transfer, Lumevax, GTP, SpinCiti Laundromat, Didi Jollof, Bel Beverages, Accra College of Medicine, Coronation Insurance, Academic City University and YFM.