Can you create the longest word from a random set of letters in just 45 seconds? 

Can you solve a mathematical problem while the clock is ticking down every second? 

And do you have the confidence to press the buzzer and turn the game around at the decisive moment? 

That is the spirit of Countdown – the English competition for Olympia Secondary students that took place on April 13, 2026. 

In a context where technology is increasingly present in students’ learning lives, many thinking processes are gradually being “handled” by devices and software. This unintentionally reduces opportunities for students to develop essential abilities such as memory, concentration, language use, and logical thinking. 

With the goal of fostering students’ overall cognitive development, Olympia organised the Countdown competition as a structured academic experience, where students strengthen their “mental muscles” through challenges that require active thinking, knowledge connection, and decision-making under time pressure. 

Inspired by the well-known British game show, Countdown is designed as an integrated academic playground, combining language, logical thinking, and decision-making within time constraints. Across eight consecutive rounds (Word – Number – Conundrum), the teams demonstrated strong focus, flexible problem-solving, and a positive competitive spirit. 

Each round lasted 45 seconds, requiring students to balance speed and accuracy. The Word rounds allowed students to maximise their vocabulary and flexible language use; the Number rounds challenged logical thinking and calculation skills; while the Conundrum round created intense moments where a single correct answer could completely change the outcome. 

The competition is inspired by the British intellectual game show of the same name. 

The two teams were cross-grade teams, with each member being a representative student selected from each grade level. 

In the Olympia version, students had 45 seconds to provide the most optimal answers in both vocabulary and calculations. 

Not only the competing teams, but all students, as audience members, actively participated by solving challenges in each round, contributing to an interactive and energetic atmosphere throughout the event. 

The final results are as follows: 

Champion – Team 1, with members: 

- Hoàng Gia Huy – Grade 6 

- Saya Noemi Ngo Komuro – Grade 7 

- Hồ Ngọc Chi Mai – Grade 8 

- Huỳnh Bảo Nguyên – Grade 9 

Congratulations to Team 1 for their victory in Olympia Countdown 2025–2026. 

Runner-up – Team 2, with members: 

- Lê Ngọc Khánh Quỳnh – Grade 6 

- Hồ Hồng Ngọc – Grade 7 

- Trần Hải Phong – Grade 8 

- Kazuya Ngo Komuro Noah – Grade 9 

Congratulations to Team 2 for their achievement in Olympia Countdown 2025–2026. 

Outstanding Audience Awards: 

- Doãn Gia Linh - Grade 7

- Ngô Đăng Khoa - Grade 7

- Mai Bảo Khang - Grade 7

Congratulations to the three outstanding audience participants. 

The school would like to congratulate all contestants for their excellent performance and to recognise the enthusiastic participation of all students. 

More than just a competition, Countdown delivers meaningful learning value. Through each challenge, students develop their language use, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills under time pressure. 

In addition, the competition contributes to building a positive learning environment where students are encouraged to express themselves, collaborate with peers, and appreciate each other’s efforts. It is also one of the key English learning activities that reflects Olympia’s educational direction in fostering students’ holistic development in both competencies and character.