Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC), Legon, Accra, has won the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) for a record ninth time. PRESEC emerged victorious in the 2026 grand finale on Thursday night, securing 40 points to beat Accra Academy, which finished with 33 points, and St. Augustine’s College, which scored 27 points.
The 2026 edition of the competition began with 174 participating schools. Entering the grand finale under the tagline “The Gr8t ADO9,” a play on the Hebrew word Adonai, a respectful title for God, PRESEC delivered a dominant performance, taking control of the contest from Round 3 through Round 5.
The victory marks PRESEC’s first NSMQ title since 2023, when the school defeated Achimota School and Opoku Ware School to secure its eighth championship. That victory also made PRESEC the first school to achieve a historic second consecutive title at the competition.
Thursday’s triumph was PRESEC’s 13th appearance in an NSMQ grand finale, further cementing its position as the most successful school in the history of the competition.
For Accra Academy, the 2026 finale represented the school’s closest shot at winning the coveted trophy. The school made its maiden appearance in the grand finale this year and finished second with 33 points. St. Augustine’s College, meanwhile, entered the contest as a former champion, having won the NSMQ in 2007 and 2019.
The 2026 grand finale began on a highly competitive note, with St. Augustine’s College and Accra Academy sharing the lead after the opening round with 11 points apiece. However, PRESEC gradually took control of the contest and maintained its dominance through the crucial later rounds to eventually claim the championship
PRESEC started the contest with 9 points, leaving the three finalists separated by just two points as the competition progressed. The intensity increased in Round 2, where both St. Augustine’s College and PRESEC scored 17 points, while Accra Academy recorded 14 points.
In Round 3, known as the Problem of the Day, contestants faced another challenge. Accra Academy and St. Augustine’s each scored zero out of the 10 points available, while PRESEC managed to secure 4 points. This performance allowed PRESEC to take the lead heading into the final round.
In Round 5, the contestants tackled a series of riddles in a last-ditch effort to change the outcome of the contest. PRESEC’s strong performance in this final round ensured their victory, finishing with 40 points, ahead of Accra Academy’s 33 points and St. Augustine’s 27 points.
