The war of words continues as contestants ready themselves for an exciting second season of the Emmy® Award-nominated show The Arena.

This season, students from all walks of life go head to head on issues that question national identity, the education system and yes, the hottest topic of the moment, the environment.

Only 12 schools have made it to the preliminary rounds after 2 levels of grueling auditions. Among this year’s newcomers are Madrasah Al-Maarif Al-Islamiah and Global Indian International School, who will be giving Arena veterans like Hwa Chong Institution a run for their money.

Hosted by Jason Chan, this year's fight promises to be tough, with schools like the Singapore American School, Raffles Institution and Hwa Chong Institution joining the fray.

Although the structure has been tweaked to better facilitate the arguments, the energy remains the same. This season will see a group of accomplished guest judges helping the 2 Resident judges.

In-your-face, sleek, contemporary, and fun, the motions take their inspiration from headlines and popular social issues.