Field-Tested Tips from 11 Years of Experience

After 11 years working as a Mountain Leader — from leading global expeditions with the British Army’s Joint Service Mountain Expedition Leader scheme to holding civilian Summer and Winter ML qualifications — I’ve supported countless SML candidates through their journeys.

The assessment can feel like a big hurdle, but with the right mindset and preparation, it can also be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding weeks you’ll spend in the mountains.

This guide is here to help you get there.

You Don’t Need to Be an Expert — But Being Proficient Makes It Easier

Let’s start with this: you’re not expected to be perfect. Nobody passes their SML assessment by being flawless. You pass by being safe, competent, and confident enough to lead others in summer mountain terrain.

You’re not expected to know everything. But the more proficient you are in the core skills — navigation, group management, movement on steep ground, emergency procedures — the less pressure you’ll feel on the hill. That frees you up to enjoy the experience and even learn a few extra things along the way.

Prepared candidates not only perform better — they tend to relax more, ask better questions, and take more from the assessment process. So don’t aim for perfection. Aim to be well-practised, well-organised, and ready to lead.

1. The Logbook: It’s More Than Just Numbers

Mountain Training requires at least 40 Quality Mountain Days (QMDs) and 8 nights of wild camping. But don’t treat that as a target — treat it as a minimum.

Assessors will often discount QMDs that don’t meet the standard or that are too similar to each other. Give yourself a margin for error — aim for 50–60 QMDs and a range of experience across multiple UK mountain areas.

Make your logbook count:

• Include meaningful detail — what you did, what you learned, how you led.

• Add photos, GPS tracks, and reflections that tell the story of your development.

• Be honest with yourself: if it doesn’t truly count as a QMD, don’t include it.

This is your mountain CV. Own it.

2. Preparation: The Professional Difference

Every good mountain leader prepares. It’s what separates a walker from a guide. So apply that principle to your assessment.

Start with the area: Even if you’re not familiar with the location, you should research it like you’d research it for a group. Think about:

• Key plants, animals, and terrain features

• Local geology and mountain trivia

• Historical or cultural stories that bring the landscape to life

You’re being assessed on your leadership — not just your walking. Can you engage and inform a group? That matters.

On the logistics side:

• Pack early, check your gear well ahead of time, then repack once and leave it.

• Know your pacing numbers over 100m across different terrain — test and record them.

• Get used to your kit. Don’t bring anything you haven’t tested.

Some assessments include a short written test or verbal questions — typically around mountain knowledge. If you don’t know an answer, be curious. Assessors want to see that you care enough to ask questions and back your decisions.

3. Navigation: The Backbone of the Assessment

Navigation is often said to be 80% of the SML assessment — and for good reason. Your ability to accurately, efficiently, and confidently find your way through complex terrain is fundamental.

Expect to:

• Navigate to precise, often subtle features

• Relocate under pressure

• Keep moving with intent and purpose

Get used to talking through your process. Practice answering:

1. Where are we?

2. Where are we going?

3. What’s the bearing and distance?

4. What features should we expect?

5. How long will it take?

Pro tip: Practice visualising the route ahead, not just following a bearing. That way you can move more naturally and avoid over-reliance on your compass and map.

Stay calm under pressure. Assessors may intentionally rush or distract you. Take a breath, double-check your plan, and execute with confidence.

4. Technical Skills: Safety Over Speed

Steep ground, spotting, ropework, group management — these are areas where safety is everything. You don’t need to be a ropework ninja, but you do need to be calm, deliberate, and clear in your approach.

Key things to focus on:

• Be methodical when setting up systems — rushing creates risk.

• Always think like a leader: how are your “clients” (aka fellow candidates) doing? Are they safe and engaged?

• Check your skills regularly before the assessment. Practice confidence roping, movement coaching, and basic emergency scenarios.

Remember: competence breeds confidence. Take your time and do it right.

5. Attitude: Professional, Calm, and Authentically You

Assessors aren’t just looking at your skillset — they’re looking at you. How you carry yourself, how you respond under pressure, how you lead when the group is tired and it’s raining sideways.

You don’t need to perform. You just need to lead as yourself.

Practical mindset tips:

• Be tidy and efficient with your kit. Don’t show up with gear hanging off you like you’re heading to Mordor. Look like someone who could take others into the hills.

• Be a team player — this isn’t a competition.

• Be curious. If you don’t know something, ask. It shows maturity, not weakness.

• Don’t overthink it. You’ve done the work. Now just go out and show it.

Final Thoughts

The Summer ML assessment isn’t a test of perfection. It’s a test of judgment, safety, and leadership under pressure. It’s about proving that you’re the kind of person who can look after others in real terrain.

So arrive ready. Be honest, be calm, and back yourself.

More than anything — enjoy it. After all, it’s just another week in the hills, you have earned it!