Table 1. A comparison of international climbing grades. UIAA is the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme. In the UK traditional (where gear is placed during the ascent) routes receive two grades, a number grade for the hardest technical move on the route and an adjectival grade describing the overall feel of the climb including the amount of gear that can be placed on route.
| UIAA |
USA |
UK |
Sport Grade |
| I |
5.1 |
Moderate |
1 |
| II |
5.2 |
Moderate |
2 |
| III |
5.3 |
Difficult |
2+ |
| IV |
5.4 |
Very Difficult |
3- |
| IV+ |
5.5 |
Hard Very Difficult |
3 |
| V- |
5.6 |
Severe |
3+ |
| V |
5.7 |
3c/4a |
4 |
| V+ |
5.8 |
4b VS |
4+ |
| VI- |
5.9 |
4c |
5 |
| VI |
5.10a |
5a HVS |
5+ |
| VI+ |
5.10b |
5b E1 |
6a |
| VII- |
5.10c |
5c E2 |
6a+ |
| VII |
5.10d |
5c |
6b |
| VII+ |
5.11a |
5c |
6b+ |
| VII+ |
5.11b |
6a E3 |
6c |
| VIII- |
5.11c |
6a |
6c+ |
| VIII |
5.11d |
6b E5 |
7a |
| VIII+ |
5.12a |
6b |
7a+ |
| IX- |
5.12b |
6b E6 |
7b |
| IX- |
5.12c |
6c |
7b+ |
| IX |
5.12d |
6c |
7c |
| IX+ |
5.13a |
6c E7 |
7c+ |
| X- |
5.13b |
7a |
8a |
| X- |
5.13c |
7a E8 |
8a+ |
| X |
5.13d |
7a |
8b |
| X+ |
5.14a |
7a |
8b+ |
| XI- |
5.14b |
7b E9 |
8c |
| XI |
5.14c |
7b |
8c+ |
| XI+ |
5.15a |
7b |
9a+ |
