ST’s What’s The News? current affairs competition kicks off with online quiz round

SINGAPORE – The quiz question was about an unusual guest at Nanyang Technology University’s chemistry lectures – and Tan Jie instantly knew the answer.

The River Valley High School (RVHS) student had recently read a news article about a seven-year-old chemistry whiz who attends university lectures.

“My friends and I went for the Junior Chemistry Olympiad, so I was astonished when I read that he had done so well at a science Olympiad... I remember the news sparking debate among my friends about talent,” said the 16-year-old.

Alongside more than 130 of his schoolmates, Tan Jie was competing in current affairs quiz competition What’s The News?, which kicked off on April 9 with its preliminary round. 

Organised by The Straits Times, the competition is open to students aged 15 to 19. More than 7,400 students from more than 70 secondary schools, junior colleges, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education have registered in 2026, up from 6,000 students from 50 institutions during the competition’s inaugural run in 2025.

The preliminary round, held from April 9 to 22, puts students’ knowledge of the news and current affairs to the test through a 30-question online quiz that must be completed in 30 minutes.

The students encountered wide-ranging questions about Malaysia’s planned ban on vaping products, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s drum-related rapport and the Oxford English Dictionary’s 2025 word of the year.

RVHS student Reeve Tan Yan Quan, who scored 24 out of 30, said he was satisfied with his results. He said: “I know I made some errors, but I performed way beyond my expectations.”

A question on high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup was an unexpected highlight. The 18-year-old added: “It was a real treat for someone (like me), who watches football a lot.”

In preparation for the 2026 competition, participating schools also received curated Kahoot! quizzes on current affairs topics, which included sample questions from the 2025 competition.

Kahoot! is an online game-based learning platform that features user-generated quizzes.

Students ST spoke to said they found the 2026 quiz more difficult than the practice quizzes they tried out. RVHS student Sun Wenjun, 18, said: “The questions were more specific, and the range of topics covered was definitely wider than our practice.”

“(Participating in the competition) reminded me that no matter how widely you read, there are always things that you don’t know. It’s important to keep up with the news not just for our General Paper or academics, but to better understand what’s happening in the world and why.”

At the end of the preliminary round, the 16 schools with the best scores will compete in the semi-final on May 14, which will involve arena-style team games and challenges based on current affairs questions.

The competition will culminate in the final on May 26, where four teams of three students each will show off their understanding of the news in a stage game show.

The winners will take home $4,000, while the second-, third- and fourth-placed teams will walk away with $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.

The 2025 edition of What’s The News? saw Temasek Junior College beat 49 other schools to claim the title. 

ST editor Jaime Ho said: “With everything happening in the news these days, it’s understandable if some younger Singaporeans might feel daunted, distant, or even distressed by what they see and read.

“It’s our hope that through What’s The News?, even as we address the realities of how events around the world impact us here in Singapore, students will be able to engage with the news in a way that’s fun, relevant, and even uplifting. We’re looking forward to an even more successful run of the quiz this year!”

Ms Candida Ho, the covering head of department for General Paper at RVHS, said: “Participating in the quiz affirms the value and purpose for students to engage with current affairs beyond the classroom.

“Whether they were selected by teachers or volunteered, the students developed a stronger sense of ownership over their learning. This can build students’ confidence in their current affairs knowledge and their ability to grow and achieve.”

The competition is supported by the Ministry of Education. The Central Narcotics Bureau is a partner.

Participating schools, including the top-scoring 16 schools that make it to the semi-final, will receive the results of the preliminary round via e-mail by April 24.

Schools with queries can write to secretariat@whatsthenews2026.com