NSMQ: GSTS beat PRESEC-Legon in a shocking comeback to reach semi-final

The 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) delivered one of its most unforgettable upsets as Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) pulled off a dramatic late comeback to eliminate eight-time champions, Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC), Legon, from the national championship.

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The fiercely contested quarter-final clash, which also featured Our Lady of Grace SHS, kept audiences on edge from start to finish. Despite PRESEC’s dominance in the early rounds, GSTS produced a masterclass in resilience and precision to clinch victory in the final round — winning by just one point in a nail-biting finish.

PRESEC started brightly, finishing Round One with 16 points — tied with GSTS — while Our Lady of Grace followed with 13 points. The Legon-based giants then took control in Round Two, extending their lead to 24 points. Our Lady of Grace climbed to 21, while GSTS trailed with 18.

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The Problem of the Day in Round Three tested analytical depth, where PRESEC scored 4 out of 10, GSTS managed 2, and Our Lady of Grace failed to register a point. PRESEC maintained their momentum in Round Four, widening their advantage to 38 points, with GSTS on 30 and Our Lady of Grace on 28.

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But the grand twist came in the final round, where GSTS, demonstrating remarkable calm and teamwork under pressure, answered three successive riddles correctly. Their precision and composure stunned the audience as they edged past PRESEC to secure a 39–38 victory.

The result stunned spectators and sent ripples across the NSMQ community, halting PRESEC’s bid for a historic ninth title. For GSTS, the win marked not just a place in the semi-finals but also a defining moment — a comeback that will go down as one of the greatest in NSMQ history.