NSMQ

Each school in the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) participates with a team of 3 contestants: 2 seated at the contest stage and 1 on the sideline. Irreversible substitutions are allowed during each contest, meaning a substituted contestant cannot return once replaced. The standard contest comes in five (5) rounds: 1-Fundamentals round, 2-Speed race, 3-Problem of the Day, 4-True/False, and 5-Riddles. In Regional/Zonal qualifiers and championships, the Problem of the Day round is typically omitted.

Fundamentals Round: Tests core knowledge in science and mathematics. It typically includes 8 sets of questions: 2 for Biology, 2 for Physics, 2 for Chemistry, and 2 for Mathematics. The sets are presented in a rotating order, ensuring that after a set from one subject (e.g., Biology), the next set comes from a different subject (Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics) before returning to the same subject. At the quarterfinal stage and beyond on the national level, this increases to 12 sets: 3 for each subject, following the same rotation rule. In each set, every school is asked a main question worth 3 points, with partial marks awarded at the moderator's discretion. For questions involving calculations, the main school has 30 seconds to answer; otherwise, contestants have 10 seconds. If a school cannot answer its main question, it becomes available for one other school to ring in and attempt within 10 seconds. A correct bonus answer earns 1 point, while an incorrect answer deducts 1 point. No penalty is given to a school for being unable to answer its main question.

Speed Race: A fast-paced round where all schools compete simultaneously to answer questions. It consists of 4 sets, one for each subject (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics). Questions involving calculations allow 30 seconds to answer, while others allow 10 seconds. The first school to ring in gets the chance to answer for 3 points. If incorrect, they lose 1 point. The next school that rang then gets to attempt the question for +1 or -1. If also incorrect, the last school that rang can attempt it for +1 or -1.

Problem of the Day: A single problem from one of the subjects (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics) is given to all three schools to solve for 10 points. Each school has 5 minutes to work on their solution using an electronic board. After the time is up, the moderator reviews each school's presented work. Before awarding marks, the moderator reads the consultant's solution and explains the points assigned to each section of the answer. The moderator then justifies the points awarded to each school, announcing them in ascending order.

True/False: Consists of 8 sets of statements: 2 for each subject (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics). The sets are presented in a rotating order, ensuring all subjects are covered before revisiting the same subject. In each set, every school is presented with a statement and must answer whether it is true or false. A correct answer earns 2 points, while an incorrect answer deducts 1 point. A school may choose not to answer its main statement, making it available for one other school to attempt within 10 seconds for +1 if correct or -1 if incorrect. No penalty is given to a school for skipping its main statement. Questions involving calculations allow 30 seconds to answer; otherwise, contestants have 10 seconds.

Riddles: The final round consists of 4 riddles, one for each subject (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics). All three schools compete simultaneously to answer. For each riddle, the moderator reads out clues to guide the schools toward the answer. Schools must ring in to get the chance to answer. A correct answer on the first clue earns 5 points, on the second clue 4 points, and on any subsequent clue 3 points. If a school rings in and answers incorrectly, they must sit out for the remainder of that riddle. After all clues for a riddle are read, schools have 10 seconds to ring in before being belled out if they haven’t attempted an answer.

The competition season is structured into the Regional/Zonal qualifiers, the Regional/Zonal Championship and the National Championship. It is important to know there are two types of schools in each season: seeded and non-seeded. If a school made it to the Quarter finals of the previous National Championship, it is a seeded school. Otherwise, it is non-seeded.

By virtue of a school's location, it falls under a particular region or zone. This classification system is used to organize both the Regional/Zonal qualifiers and the Regional/Zonal Championship. All non-seeded schools begin their journey from the Regional/Zonal qualifiers. This is what happens. Via balloting, non-seeded schools in a region/zone are matched in a contest of 3-5 schools and each contest's winner advances to the preliminary (prelims) stage of the National Championship.

After the qualifiers, there comes the Regional/Zonal Championship. All the schools making it to the National Championship from a specific region/zone, both seeded and non-seeded, compete for a regional/zonal trophy, pride and cash prize. Even though whatever transpires has no direct impact on performance at the National stage, it provides a competitive preparation ground for schools.

The National Championship starts with the preliminary stage. Non-seeded schools are grouped by ballot into contests with 3 to 5 schools each. 54 schools move forward by either winning their contest or being among the top-scoring schools that lost. In the one-eighth stage, 81 schools are grouped by ballot into 27 contests, each featuring 3 schools, with the previous edition's finalists assigned to either Contest 9, 18, or 27. The rule is simple: win the contest to progress to the next stage. At this point, each school’s path to the grand finale is clear. Schools in Contests 1 to 9 advance through the quarterfinals and semifinals to produce one finalist. Similarly, schools in Contests 10 to 18 and Contests 19 to 27 follow the same process to determine their respective finalists. The three finalist schools, one from each group (Contests 1-9, 10-18, and 19-27), then compete in a final contest to determine the ultimate National Championship winner.