British Grade
British Grade is a way to measure how difficult a rock climbing route is, specifically in the British style of climbing. It's different from other grading systems because it considers both the technical difficulty and how dangerous the climb might be. When you see this on a resume, it shows that the person understands and can work with traditional British climbing methods, which is important for guides who work with international clients or in areas that use this system. Think of it like a skill level rating that combines both how hard something is to do and how careful you need to be while doing it.
Examples in Resumes
Led client groups on routes up to British Grade VS 4c in the Peak District
Instructed beginner courses covering British Grade systems from Moderate to Severe
Safety managed outdoor climbing sessions incorporating British Grade and UIAA grade conversions
Typical job title: "Mountain Guides"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Mountain Guides
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Online Communities
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you explain British Grades to international clients who are used to other grading systems?
Expected Answer: A senior guide should be able to explain how British grades compare to other international systems and provide clear examples of how they convert between different grading systems for clients.
Q: How do you assess if a client is ready for a particular British Grade route?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of both technical and safety aspects of the grading system, and explain their process for evaluating client abilities and matching them to appropriate routes.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors do you consider when choosing routes of different British Grades for guided clients?
Expected Answer: Should discuss weather conditions, client experience, protection available on route, and how the overall grade affects route selection for different skill levels.
Q: How do you teach the British Grading system to beginners?
Expected Answer: Should explain their method of introducing the concept gradually, using simple examples and practical demonstrations to help clients understand both technical and safety aspects.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What does a British Grade of VS 4c mean?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that VS means 'Very Severe' for the overall grade and 4c refers to the technical difficulty, showing basic understanding of the two-part grading system.
Q: What's the difference between Moderate and Severe in British Grades?
Expected Answer: Should explain the basic progression of difficulty and give examples of what makes a Severe climb more challenging than a Moderate one.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Understanding of basic British Grade system
- Ability to guide on Moderate to Difficult routes
- Basic route selection for clients
- Knowledge of safety procedures
Mid (2-5 years)
- Confident guiding on VS routes
- Grade conversion between different systems
- Client assessment and route matching
- Emergency response planning
Senior (5+ years)
- Expert knowledge of all grade aspects
- Advanced client assessment
- Training other guides
- Complex route planning and risk assessment
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain British Grade system clearly
- No personal experience climbing at various British Grades
- Lack of understanding about protection and safety considerations
- No knowledge of grade conversions to other systems
Related Terms
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