level 6

• Operating under full winter conditions with contours only.
• Night navigation in complex terrain.

level 5

• Navigating with landform features only.
• Techniques - boxing or dog legs around obstacles.
• Selecting the right mix of skills for the economic and efficient success of a leg or relocation. 

level 4

• Recognising more detailed contour features, knolls and re-entrants on a 1:25,000 and 1:50,000.
• Bearings cross country, short distances with catching features.
• Route planning techniques - aiming off, attack points, etc
• Relocation skills - slope aspect, back bearings).

level 3

• Accurate measure of distances map & ground - pacing and timing.
• Introduction of bearings – on the ground mainly used for confirmation of route at junctions and later cutting corners, short distances 100m or so.
• Relocation strategies using the compass on line features.
• Introduction of smaller scale maps 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 - Grid references.

level 2

• Introduction of contours for major ground shapes.
• Basic distance judgement, identifying and using simple catching features.
• Starting relocation skills - resetting the map with and without the compass needle and starting to process information to help locate your position.

• Introduce the concepts of map symbols, scales & map setting, through making your own classroom map. Map setting or orientation the most fundamental concept of map reading. Introduction of the compass needle for setting the map could be considered.
• Thumbing – keeping a watch on your progress, following simple line features. A map walk on a large scale map e.g. 1:10,000 orienteering map, a street map or home made map, then “Star” exercises.