World Scholar’s Cup success sends CIS students to Yale

CIS students achieved outstanding results at the 2026 World Scholar’s Cup Global Round in Bangkok, competing alongside more than 2,200 scholars from around the world.

Following their success at the Singapore Regional Round in May, our students travelled to Bangkok to compete in team debate, collaborative writing, the Scholar’s Bowl and the Scholar’s Challenge. Their hard work paid off, with several CIS teams qualifying for the Tournament of Champions at Yale University in November.

Together, our students earned multiple gold and silver medals across the competition  including debate, writing, Scholar’s Bowl and Scholar’s challenge, demonstrating their ability to think critically, communicate ideas clearly and work collaboratively under pressure.

These are skills our students develop and apply every day at CIS. Through an education that encourages inquiry, independent thinking and engagement with different perspectives, students learn to question ideas, build arguments and work with others to solve problems. The World Scholar’s Cup provided an opportunity to put these skills into practice on an international stage.

Beyond the results, the Global Round gave students the opportunity to compete and collaborate with scholars from different schools and countries. Akshara S. reflected on the experience:

“What I enjoyed most was being able to compete, learn from and connect with 2,200 scholars in both junior and senior divisions, from around the world. It was an experience that challenged me on a global platform and gave me so much to learn and take away.”

For Adritha R., the competition was also an opportunity to develop confidence while connecting with students from around the world. She shared that the experience allowed her to “improve my skillset and learn how to find my voice under pressure”, while also giving her and her teammates the chance to meet students representing different countries. Adritha was also selected as the flag bearer for Singapore during the competition.

The experience extended beyond academic achievement, with students highlighting the friendships and perspectives they gained along the way. Shams T. described the Bangkok Global Round as “truly memorable”, particularly enjoying the opportunity to connect with both CIS students and scholars from around the world.

For Calvin J., competing internationally also offered a new way of looking at familiar topics. Reflecting on his time in Bangkok, he shared that the experience helped him “learn and grow as a person”, while teaching him “new ways to see different perspectives and understand topics.”

The World Scholar’s Cup challenged our students to think critically, communicate their ideas, work collaboratively and engage with different perspectives, all while connecting with a diverse community of young scholars from around the world.

Congratulations to all our CIS World Scholar’s Cup participants on an outstanding Global Round. We look forward to cheering them on as they head to the Tournament of Champions at Yale University in November!