Climbing grade progress

To climb a harder grade, build a base of climbs below it first. Log your sends below the target and see how full your pyramid is.

Your details

From 6A (V3) to 6B (V4)

71%

of the pyramid below your target

6A+ (V3+)1 of 2
6A (V3)3 of 4
5+ (V2)6 of 8
Grade steps to go2 (IRCRA 15 to 17, 2 points)
IRCRA group now (women)advanced, IRCRA 15
Grade you can claim (3:3:3 rule)yes: 3 problems at 6A in the last 3 months
Target groupadvanced: the same group as now

A wide base of problems just below your target builds the movement skill and finger strength the hard ones need. Grades vary between walls, so count sends at your usual wall.

Pain at the base of a finger, or a pop during a hard move, means stop climbing and see a GP or physio.

The working

From 6A (V3) aiming for 6B (V4)

The pyramid asks for 2 at 6A+, 4 at 6A and 8 at 5+, then the target itself. You have 1, 3 and 6: that is 10 of 14 sends, so the pyramid is 71% full. Two grade steps to go.

The International Rock Climbing Research Association (IRCRA, Draper 2016) puts Font grades on one 1 to 33 scale and groups climbers by sex. 6A is IRCRA 15 and 6B is 17: for women both are in the advanced group (15 to 20); for men both are intermediate (10 to 17), with advanced from 6B+. IRCRA counts a grade as yours under its 3:3:3 rule: three different problems at that grade in the last three months.

The pyramid

Classic shape

Grade	Sends
Target	1
One below	2
Two below	4
Three below	8

Climb smarter

Not just harder

Try problems in styles you avoid
Warm up fingers gradually
Rest properly between hard attempts
Film yourself and watch your feet

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

Grade driftGrades vary between walls and setters.
StyleSlab and overhang grades feel very different.
FingersTendons adapt slowly; do not rush grades.

Questions

Common questions

What is a grade pyramid?

A training idea: build a wide base of climbs below your target before trying it.

How do Font and V grades compare?

Roughly 6A is V3, 6B is V4, 6C is V5 and 7A is V6. Conversions are approximate.

What grade is an advanced boulderer?

In the IRCRA groups, women are advanced from about 5+ or 6A to 7A, and men from 6B+ to 7B+. Elite starts at 7A+ for women and 7C for men.

How long does it take to go up a grade?

It varies a lot. Consistent climbing and rest matter more than any timeline.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Before you push on

New to exercise, or got a heart, lung or joint condition? Have a word with your GP or practice nurse first. Stop and get help if you feel chest pain, faintness or unusual breathlessness, and call 999 if it is severe.