Office of the First Lady · Zamfara State

Academic Tournament 2026

Competition Categories & Rules

Five Pillars of
Academic Excellence

Each category is designed to test a distinct dimension of intellectual ability. Students compete representing their schools, converging from all 14 LGAs to display academic excellence.

14
LGAs competing
48
Active schools
5
Categories
4
Competition days

01  ·  Parliamentary Oratory & Logic

Debate Championship

Overview

Students compete in structured parliamentary debates using the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) format. Teams of three represent the Government (Proposition) or Opposition side on assigned motions.

Competition Format

3 speakers per team: 1st, 2nd, and Reply Speaker
Government proposes the motion; Opposition rebuts
Points of Information (POIs) may be offered during speeches
Each substantive speech is 5 minutes; Reply speech is 2 minutes
Motions announced 15 minutes before the round

Scoring Rubric

Content40%

Strength, relevance, and depth of arguments and evidence

Style40%

Clarity, tone, vocabulary, persuasiveness, and delivery

Strategy20%

Structure, rebuttal effectiveness, and use of POIs

Eligibility

Teams of 3 scholars per school.

02  ·  Academic Prose & Analytical Composition

Essay Writing

Overview

Students compose a structured academic essay on a provided prompt within a 90-minute timed session. Essays are judged on argumentation, evidence, structure, and language proficiency.

Competition Format

90-minute timed writing session in a controlled hall
Prompt revealed at the start of the session
Minimum 400 words; Maximum 700 words
No electronic devices, dictionaries, or reference materials
All essays anonymized before evaluation

Scoring Rubric

Content & Argument35%

Clarity of thesis, quality of evidence, and analytical depth

Organization30%

Introduction, body, and conclusion, ensuring logical flow and paragraph cohesion

Language & Style25%

Grammar, vocabulary range, punctuation, and stylistic quality

Originality10%

Fresh perspective, creative application of ideas, and voice

Eligibility

One scholar per school per category.

03  ·  Phonetics, Diction & Spoken Literacy

Passage Reading

Overview

Students read a prescribed passage aloud before a panel of judges. Scored on phonetics, expression, pacing, and comprehension to demonstrate mastery of spoken English literacy.

Competition Format

Passages are 200–300 words in length
Students receive the passage 5 minutes before reading
No repetitions permitted during the judged reading
Comprehension questions asked immediately after reading
Judges score independently; scores averaged

Scoring Rubric

Pronunciation & Phonetics35%

Accurate pronunciation of all words including complex vocabulary

Fluency & Pacing25%

Smoothness, appropriate pausing, and natural reading rhythm

Expressiveness25%

Tone modulation, appropriate emphasis, and emotional delivery

Comprehension15%

Accurate and clear answers to post-reading comprehension questions

Eligibility

One scholar per school per category.

04  ·  Vocabulary, Etymology & Orthography

Spelling Bee

Overview

A high-pressure elimination-style oral spelling competition testing vocabulary depth, word origins, and rapid orthographic recall. Students are eliminated after their first error.

Competition Format

Round-robin preliminary heats; knockout finals
Words drawn from an approved word list covering JSS3–SS3 curriculum vocabulary
Students may request: Definition, Part of Speech, Language of Origin, Use in a Sentence
Students may be required to apply words in a sentence
Students have 60 seconds to spell each word
Finals include an Etymology Round for tied contestants

Scoring Rubric

Spelling Accuracy70%

Correct sequential letter-by-letter spelling without correction

Speed15%

Efficiency in delivering the spelling within the allotted time

Etymology Round (Finals)15%

Knowledge of word origin and language family in tiebreaker rounds

Eligibility

One scholar per school per category.

05  ·  Crafts, Applied Science & Technical Innovation

STEM Show

Overview

Students with crafts skills (Robotics, House modeling, Electronics, etc.) showcase their works and technical projects.

Competition Format

Open exhibition and demonstration of original physical models, electronics, or robotics projects
Live presentation explaining the construction, design logic, and utility of the work
Q&A session with the expert adjudication panel regarding engineering and scientific principles
Items must be designed and constructed primarily by the competing student(s)

Scoring Rubric

Craftsmanship & Engineering40%

Build quality, choice and use of materials, structural stability, and execution

Innovation & Utility40%

Originality of the concept, problem-solving capability, and real-world application

Presentation & Defense20%

Clarity of the explanation, depth of knowledge, and live demo response

Eligibility

One team or individual scholar per school.

Ready to Compete?

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