In one of the most stunning upsets of the 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), Category C school Mankranso Senior High School has secured a historic first-ever semi-final berth after defeating former champions St. Thomas Aquinas SHS and Ghana National College in a dramatic quarter-final showdown.

The contest began with Ghana National College setting the pace at the end of Round One with 14 points, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas with 10 points, and Mankranso SHS trailing slightly with 8 points.

Round Two saw a rare three-way deadlock, as all schools ended with 10 points each, keeping the competition wide open.

In the Problem of the Day, the evenly matched teams each scored 6 out of 10, maintaining the suspense heading into the final rounds.

By the end of Round Four, Ghana National College had regained the lead with 29 points, while Mankranso and Aquinas followed with 26 and 23 points respectively.

But in a breathtaking finish, Mankranso SHS delivered a remarkable turnaround in the final round, answering critical riddles to end the contest with 32 points, ahead of Ghana National College’s 29 and St. Thomas Aquinas’ 26.

This triumph marks Mankranso SHS’s first-ever appearance in the NSMQ semi-finals, an achievement that cements their reputation as one of the dark horses of the 2025 edition. And also the first school to book a semi-final spot.

Their victory also eliminates 2013 champions St. Thomas Aquinas SHS, whose last semi-final appearance was in 2017, extending their wait for another title run.