Tamale SHS shocks St. John’s School and Accra Academy to Secure 2024 NSMQ Semi-final Spot

Tamale SHS Edges St. John’s School, Accra Academy in Thrilling Quarter-final to Secure 2024 NSMQ Semi-final Spot

Tamale Senior High School (SHS) amazed everyone at the SGS Auditorium with a spectacular victory in the 2024 National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ) Quarter-final, overcoming two other seeded schools, St. John’s School and Accra Academy, in a contest filled with suspense and excitement.

With an impressive 40 points, Tamale SHS clinched a spot in the Semi-finals, while St. John’s School narrowly missed out with 38 points, and Accra Academy trailed with 32 points.

Tamale SHS’s Stunning Performance

From the start, the contest was fiercely competitive. Tamale SHS asserted itself in Round One, where it secured 19 points to lead ahead of Accra Academy’s 14 and St. John’s School’s 17 points. The Prudential Life Insurance Speed Race in Round Two saw St. John’s School excel with swift responses, drawing cheers from the audience and taking the lead briefly. However, Tamale SHS quickly gained momentum, closing the gap with a score of 25 points.

The Intensity Builds

As the competition progressed, the tension heightened, especially during Round Three’s “Problem of the Day,” where students had to solve a complex mathematics problem within four minutes. St. John’s School emerged victorious in this round, scoring the highest with six points, increasing their total to 25 points, while Tamale SHS remained close behind with 30 points.

The Jupay Money Transfer True/False Round (Round Four) saw fortunes shift again. Tamale SHS and St. John’s School continued their back-and-forth battle, with the latter leading the round at 38 points. Tamale SHS followed closely with 34 points, while Accra Academy managed 32 points. St. John’s School’s supporters, anticipating victory, jubilantly sang their school anthem as the final round approached.

A Dramatic Finale

The Goil Super Bonanza’s Riddle Round provided a thrilling conclusion to the contest. After all three schools failed to solve the riddle, the audience was given a chance but struggled as well.

With St. John’s School on the verge of securing a Semi-final spot, Tamale SHS’s Ahmed, who had struggled earlier, redeemed himself by correctly answering the final riddle, propelling his school to victory with 40 points. His last-minute heroics earned Tamale SHS the win, leaving St. John’s School at 38 points and Accra Academy at 32.

Round-by-Round Breakdown:

• Round One – General Questions: Tamale SHS: 19, Accra Academy: 14, St. John’s School: 17

• Round Two – Prudential Life Insurance Speed Race: Tamale SHS: 25, Accra Academy: 18, St. John’s School: 19

• Round Three – Problem of the Day: Tamale SHS: 30, Accra Academy: 22, St. John’s School: 25

• Round Four – Jupay Money Transfer True/False: Tamale SHS: 34, Accra Academy: 32, St. John’s School: 38

• Round Five – Goil Super Bonanza: Tamale SHS: 40, Accra Academy: 32, St. John’s School: 38

The Road Ahead

Tamale SHS’s victory sets the stage for an exciting Semi-final as they continue their journey in the 2024 NSMQ. The contest, organized by Primetime Limited, is sponsored by the Ghana Education Service in collaboration with GOIL PLC and supported by a range of partners including Joy News, Prudential Life Insurance, and Pepsodent.

Tamale SHS’s advancement underscores the unpredictable nature of the NSMQ, where determination and last-minute heroics can make all the difference in a high-stakes competition.