ML Assessment Tips
- Nick Stone: Hill Skills
- Jan 14, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 15, 2022
This is not a blog about night navigation accuracy, or anchor selection, or which stove to pack on expedition, that stuff is widely discussed, and quite rightly so. You already know what's expected in terms of syllabus and your own performance at assessment time, but here's a few less obvious ideas and tips that may just give you the edge. These are things I took away from my own journey up to and through a successful assessment which may help tick a few more boxes and get you across the line.
The following tips are in 2 categories - Preparation Tips to think about in the weeks and months prior to assessment, and On The Day Tips to keep in your back pocket during the actual ordeal.
Preparation Tip 1: Join forces!
Probably the single best thing you can do to prepare for assessment is to get out with other ML trainees at the same stage in their careers. Solo QMD's have their place, being easy to organise and great for resilience - dragging your mates over Crib Goch will really focus the mind on steep ground management, so that's a good day to log too, but in order to really nail down the syllabus I recommend finding a few regular partners that you can get out with, preferably in a group of 4+.
Not only will this be a blast, but you'll all have the same agenda, you'll all be proper mountain geeks, and if you're lucky you'll establish a real support network of mates who totally understands why you're stressing about how many types of lichen you can name - not something easily found outside of ML trainee circles!
In the year leading up to my assessment I was accepted onto a shadowing scheme with Lakeland Mountain Guides. For various reasons the actual shadowing days were not as frequent as planned at the beginning of the season, although it was still very good experience. The real bonus though, was the other people on the scheme. We set up a couple of zoom meetings and planned a handful of expeditions around the country and met for the odd day of nav practice and ropework drills. Because we were all in full assessment prep mode, we were all talking the same language. We understood where each others strengths and weaknesses were, and were able to learn loads from each other. For example, setting up a ropework exercise on some boulders with a couple of other trainees, and having an open discussion about how you all managed is so useful, and when it comes to practicing navigation legs, especially at night - I would argue you really need NEED fellow trainees in order to push your limits.
There are a few fb groups that can help with this, the MTA has regional meets too so join that if you haven't. Just get out there and meet people who are in the same boat.
Preparation tip 2; Get a Calendar.
Sounds a bit boring this, but actually it's not only a really useful tool, but will give you plenty of trip-planning fun between hill days.
Once you have booked the assessment, set up a calendar in Excel or go old skool with a wallchart. Put the assessment date in (in red of course). Next, work back from there and really decide how many more days you're going to get out to hills between real life stuff. Block out those weekends, those days off work, whatever it is that you need to allocate to the process, block them out and make them count. If, like me, you have a family - this is the point to call a meeting and have a good old grovel. Choose your moment well!
Then come the fun part, what areas of our amazing little country do you want to explore - what does the Dlog need? A bit more Scotland if you're a southerner probably - or a trip to the Beacons (never the Brecons!) for you Lakeland dwellers? Get off the beaten track and book a trip to the Rhinogydd, or the Cairngorms, get on a ferry to Arran or Rum?
Now the important bit - once it's on the calendar make it happen. If you're let down by your mate, go anyway. If the weather is forecast rain and 60mph winds, go anyway. If you get invited to a birthday party, or works drinks - "sorry folks, I have plans". This calendar will be your framework, the foundation on which to build your approach to assessment.
As well as trips and QMD's, use the calendar to mark any workshops or courses too. You'll soon end up with what looks like a pretty exciting proposition.
My calendar became a real asset during my consolidation. I added a couple more tabs to it where I kept notes from workshops, I also had a reading list on one page, with a target date next to each book, ensuring I had time to get all the background research done in time. I only read about 2/3 of the original list in all honesty, but that's still more than I would have read without this strategy.
I also had a tab with a series of subheadings, one for each major element of the syllabus, where I tracked my progress and made notes - particularly useful for things like flora & fauna, weather systems and geology. This is geekery of the highest order, I am aware, but this is a big deal and worth the effort.
On The Day Tip 1; Knowledge Bombs.
All assessors are different, but to a varying degree, all will expect you to demonstrate your passion for the mountain environment that you want to lead in. As ML's is fair to expect that we have a certain depth of knowledge, after all that's what clients will pay us for, as well as to not get lost.
You will be expected to be conversational about a wide range of topics on assessment, and this can get a bit overwhelming. Do the reading, go on the workshops, watch the Youtube videos, and soak it all in. Like me, you may even be surprised by what ends up sparking a real interest, and by how much you can actually retain.
It's a fact however, that you are not going to be able to get all of this out and show off your background knowledge on your assessment. For a start there will be 3 others on the same assessment who have read the same books and will also be trying to impress. On top of that you'll be a bit nervous, and don't forget the constant navigation and relocation and contending with the weather - not the best environment for recalling those interesting facts you learnt 2 months ago about bloody Butterwort!
My advice here is to learn all of the stuff that needs learning yes, but also have an arsenal of knowledge bombs to deploy at tactical points. Find a couple of plants, maybe a bird or two, a story about how a hill got its name, or a mythological tale, and properly learn a bit about them. To the extent that you can chat for 3 or 4 minutes without notes. Six things should do it, that's one a day and a spare! Have some notes on your phone or laptop and revise a couple of the topics every evening before heading out the next day,. You can then relax and navigate all day, whilst chatting away with the group, you can forget having to grasp at half-remembered facts about various topics.
When the time is right, take a deep breath, pull the pin and launch the knowledge bomb! Obviously this needs to seem natural, so pick the right moment. For example, I had a little chat about Ravens prepared, knowing that I would almost definitely see some, i nailed that one on day one as a nice little settler. I also had one about Clubmoss, during a toilet stop behind a small crag on day 2, I spotted a lovely example. We were halfway through my nav leg so I led the group in that direction and paused to tell them all about it. The assessor was well impressed, and my confidence took a big boost.
On The Day Tip 2; Keep Leading.
Mountain. Leader.
2 words that can pretty well explain the different types of skills we need to have. Mountain - this is the nav, ropework, the weather stuff, the environmental knowledge, etc.
Leader - this is communication, judgement, being in charge and making decisions.
The Leader part can be a bit more tricky to practice before assessment, and is overlooked by some candidates. When you're leading a leg on assessment you are in charge of the group, its your chance to show what you can do, not just in terms of hitting that ring contour, but also in terms of leading the group. Don't go too fast - you'll only be making it harder for yourself, and for the others, who are trying to work out where the hell you're taking them. It's easy to just bury your head in the map and run off over the hill strangling the compass, but try and relax, ask the group how they're doing, have a chat about what you're doing, then move off all together. This will look much more controlled and efficient.
When (not if) you make a mess of a nav leg or a relocation, DO NOT throw your toys out of the pram and start sulking. No one wants to see that, not the assessor and not your fellow candidates. Have a quick word with yourself, swear if you need to, have a handful of peanuts, but grit your teeth and get the f*ck on with it. Mistakes are allowed, so do not let them get the better of you. Why is this important? Because that's what leaders need to do in the real world. They deal with situations and keep leading, there is no other option. Dealing with mistakes, or a niggling injury, or a headache, or wet feet, is all part of assessment, and its all part of leading. If you can keep your chin up and plaster on a smile throughout what will be a difficult few days, it will not go unnoticed!
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