IOA Young Person's Competition 2026: A Parent Guide

IOA Young Person's Competition 2026: A Parent Guide

Editorial overview

The Institute of Acoustics Young Person’s Competition gives students an unusual subject to work with: sound. The Institute of Acoustics is the professional body for people working with acoustics, noise and vibration, so the competition opens a window onto a field that sits between physics, engineering, architecture, music, film, public health and environmental science. It is not asking students to reproduce a standard science-fair experiment; it is asking them to notice how sound shapes places, experiences and wellbeing.

The competition, formerly known as the Secondary School Competition, has been running annually since 2021. The 2026 theme, “Sound Unleashed”, invites individual students or teams to explore questions such as how sound affects the world, where technology helps or falls short, and how better sound design could improve lives, communities or the environment. Entries are submitted as short videos, which changes the task from simply having a good idea to explaining it clearly for an audience.

That combination is what makes the competition valuable. A student might investigate noise in a school, the acoustics of a performance space, sound in games or films, communication in busy public places, or the effects of noise on wildlife. The strongest projects are likely to connect a concrete example to an underlying acoustic question and then communicate the result with evidence, structure and imagination. A technically correct idea that cannot be explained clearly will be less effective than a focused investigation with a thoughtful conclusion.

We rate the IOA Young Person’s Competition at Intermediate Level. The age range and creative video format make it approachable, but the need to combine scientific understanding, research, visual communication and technical production requires real preparation. It is a strong fit for students who enjoy physics, engineering, design, media, music technology, architecture or environmental questions.

Quick Facts

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What Is This Competition Really Asking?

The competition is not asking students to make a generic video about "what sound is". It asks them to explore why sound matters. The official page points to the way sound shapes live music, stadiums, films, games, public spaces and everyday wellbeing, while unwanted sound becomes noise that can affect sleep, concentration and health.

That means a good entry should have a point of view. For example:

• How can better sound design improve learning spaces?
• Why does noise pollution affect wellbeing?
• How does sound shape the emotional effect of a film or game?
• How can acoustics make public announcements clearer?
• What can sound tell us about wildlife or the natural environment?
• Where does technology help with sound, and where does it fall short?

The best video will probably feel like a mini science communication project: clear, focused, visual and grounded in real life.

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Who Should Consider Entering?

This competition is suitable for students who:

• enjoy physics, engineering, sound, music or media
• like making videos or explaining ideas visually
• are interested in environmental noise or wellbeing
• want a STEM project that is more creative than a written essay
• can work independently or in a small team
• are curious about careers in acoustics, audio, design, engineering or environmental science

It is also useful for students who are not drawn to traditional Olympiad-style science competitions. The output is a video, so communication and creativity matter alongside scientific understanding.

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How Difficult Is It?

The barrier to entry is moderate. The topic is accessible, but a strong entry needs planning. Students need to avoid two weak extremes:

• a video that is visually nice but scientifically thin
• a technical explanation that is accurate but boring

The strongest entries should combine:

• a clear question
• simple but accurate science
• real-world examples
• careful sound or visual design
• a concise structure
• a conclusion that shows why the topic matters

Because the video is short, students must choose carefully. A focused two-minute explanation can be stronger than a five-minute video that tries to cover everything.

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How to Prepare

1. Choose a Narrow Topic

"Sound in the world" is too broad. A better topic is specific:

• "How classroom noise affects concentration"
• "Why railway announcements are hard to hear"
• "How sound effects make games feel immersive"
• "How traffic noise changes urban wellbeing"
• "What makes a room good for music?"

2. Learn the Basic Science

Students should understand enough to explain their topic accurately. Depending on the idea, this might include:

• frequency and pitch
• amplitude and loudness
• reverberation
• absorption and reflection
• noise exposure
• vibration
• sound design
• environmental noise

The video does not need university-level physics, but it should avoid vague claims.

3. Build a Storyboard

A simple structure works well:

1. Hook: show the sound problem or question.
2. Explanation: introduce the science.
3. Example: demonstrate the idea.
4. Impact: explain why it matters.
5. Conclusion: leave the viewer with one clear takeaway.

4. Use Sound Intentionally

This is a sound competition. Students should think carefully about their own audio:

• Is speech clear?
• Are background sounds controlled?
• Are examples of sound easy to hear?
• Does music help or distract?
• Is the final video comfortable to listen to?

Bad audio can weaken even a strong idea.

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Key Takeaways

IOA Young Person's Competition 2026: A Parent Guide is best understood as an intermediate-level opportunity with moderate skill demand, a competition-specific entry route and preparation that depends on the student's starting point. Students can enter individually or in teams of up to five, which makes it suitable for both independent projects and small school club teams. Strong entries should combine science, real-world relevance and clear storytelling rather than simply making a decorative video about sound.

Final Thoughts

This is a very good competition for students who like science but also want to create. A thoughtful IOA entry can show curiosity, communication skill and practical awareness of how sound shapes daily life. For STEM portfolios, that combination is quietly powerful.