In 2011/2012 the IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control was presented at five centres based in Higher Education Institutions (Derby University, Leeds Metropolitan University, NESCOT, Salford University and the University of the West of England, Bristol), and a further six centres (St. Albans, Dublin, Bristol, Napier Edinburgh, Cornwall and Southampton Solent) hosted the tutored distance learning version. The 2011 /12 Diploma presentation was the fourth year after the revisions made to the Diploma in 2008. Five candidates failed to meet the 50% pass threshold for Part A of the General Principles of Acoustics written examination. The first Part A question involved calculations of SWL and SPL and was answered well, thereby meeting its intended role of being straightforward. The third Part A question about the addition of coherent sound levels in and out of phase caused difficulty and was the only part A question with a mean mark of less than 50%. Another Part A question about sound propagation from a planar source had the next lowest mean mark, closely followed by questions involving vibration velocity and acceleration, calculation of octave band levels from one third octave band levels and point source propagation. Two Part A questions about frequency weighting were answered relatively well. One of the long answer (Part B) questions involving railway noise and a barrier calculation was popular and was answered well. Another Part B question involving room acoustics was popular but not answered well. A Part B question about vibration isolation was least popular but resulted in the highest mean mark. Except for a long answer question requiring a sound insulation calculation, the part B questions had mean marks above 60%. The mean GPA mark this year was the highest since 2009 which in turn was the highest since 2001. There were larger than expected differences in mean GPA coursework marks between centres since there is a common marking scheme. This is to be monitored closely over the next year or so.
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